Using Flash Cards With Struggling Readers

I have two girls in my class this year that began the year reading just below a first grade level.  They struggled with phonics and didn't seem to know many sounds, but they both have exceptional memories.  So, I decided to try to work on developing their sight word capabilities by using flash cards. This has worked extremely well and they are both close to reading at a second grade level right now!

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Each day we practice sight words using flash cards and the method outlined below.  Recently, we have begun doing word hunts for books they are independently reading as well as for texts we are going to work on as a class.  The girls go through the text, and find words they do not know and write them on index cards.  I then rotate them through with the sight words they are working on.

You can see here that we were working on reading a Scholastic news article about reindeers that live in tundra areas. (the pink is simply covering the student's name). I think it gives the student ownership to write their own words (although I have had to fix spelling from time to time).

I put the flashcards in order this way:

Known word
Known word
Unknown word
Known word
Unknown word
Known word
Unkown word
Known word

This helps the students to feel successful on the majority of the cards.  I based the amount of new words on research that found that third graders can retain 3 to 4 new pieces of information at a time.

As we go through the pile of cards, I put tally marks on each card that the student says correctly.  Once a card has 5 tally marks, they become a known word.  When the card has 10 tally marks, the student gets to take the card home because they "own" it!  They love taking cards home and they even continue to practice at home.

This has worked so well, that I have started using them to practice math facts for some of my other students who are struggling with that as well.

Do you use flash cards?  If so, how?

Currently - December (Plus Freebie For Followers!)

I love Farley's Currently posts and I try to participate whenever I can remember to get it done - or when I have a few extra minutes.  I thought it was interesting that she had a RAK (Random Act of Kindness) because of something that happened on Friday.  I have a girl in my class who has a very difficult home situation.  She came into the class bawling on Friday morning.  The other girls in my class told me that she was crying because she was wearing boys shoes.  Supposedly her younger brother had thrown her shoes up on the roof, so she was wearing his shoes which were 2 sizes too small. 

I called my hubby and he was gracious enough to bring down some socks and a new pair of shoes - girls shoes.  I never would have thought of doing this in the past, but something made me just do it.  Have you ever done something above and beyond for a student?

Special Bonus Random Act of Kindness for My Followers

I really appreciate all of my followers who stop by and see what I have to say!  As a special random act of kindness, I am giving away one free item of your choice from my TPT store!  Simply leave a comment below telling me that you follow my blog, along with your email address and your choice, and I wil email you the item!

Thank you so much for following!

My TPT Store

Word Of The Day - Friday Freebie

Many of the students in my class this year are struggling with vocabulary.  It is really interfering with their reading comprehension, so I have been trying to come up with as many ways as I can to add any extra vocabulary instruction that I can.  Enter the word of the day!

I was actually inspired by a few of the Rotary members who visited our classroom to give dictionaries to each of the students.

They handed out the dictionaries and told the students that whenever they looked up a word, they should underline it.  Years later they could look back and see all of the words they learned in third grade.  I really liked the idea, and have over the past few weeks, have developed it further.

I started by putting a new vocabulary word on the board each day as our word of the day.  I write the word in black and do not put the definition at first.  I have the students look up the word in their dictionary when they come in during the morning.  The students come up to me and show me the word underlined in their dictionary and tell me the meaning.  I give them a sticker for our sticker economy.

During our morning meeting, we put the definition under the word of the day in red.  Throughout the day when we have transitions, I say either the word of the day or the definition, and they respond with the opposite. 

I have really noticed a difference as they begin using the words in their writing and conversations.  They also get really excited when they see our words in the books they are reading.

Today I thought up an additional enhancement.  I am having the students complete this graphic organizer that lists the word, the dictionary definition, and a place for them to write the meaning in their own words.  I am hoping that it will strengthen the lesson even more.



You can find the template for the word of the day here.

My Shopping List for The Big Sale on Teachers Pay Teachers

                              Special thanks to The School Supply Addict for this adorable button!

Unless you have been under a rock, you no doubt have heard about the big sales over at TPT and TN this Monday and Tuesday!  I can tell you that as a shopper I am super excited - I have 58 items in my wish list as we speak (I may be in need of help - lol!).  There must be a support group for those of us addicted to Teachers Pay Teachers!  Hello, My name is Kelly and I am addicted to cute lesson plans! LOL!

Anyhow, I thought I might share a few of the goodies that are at the top of my list. 

The first on my list is this Interactive Math Journal packet from Jen at Runde's Room. I LOVE her math journal Sunday posts and I can't wait to get started on this in my classroom.  I plan on buying it during the sale and then implementing it when we get back from Christmas Break.  That will give me time to really explore the concept and get my mind wrapped around it.

Next up is the Reading Response Journals Made Easy packet from Christina at Bunting, Books, and Bainbridge. (Are we noticing a theme here? I really want my kiddos journaling and writing!).

And in between all that writing and journaling - we are going to be in need of some brain breaks (have I mentioned that my class is mostly boys?)!  So, another item that will be hitting my cart is Brain Breaks for the classroom from Stephanie at  Third Grade Thoughts.

Do you own any of these items?  Your thoughts? 

Any other items I should add to my list?

Liebster Award

I had been nominated for this award in July, but was recently awarded it again from Caitlyn at Fourth Grade Lemonade and the rules were slightly different, so I decided to play along (Plus - I really like her blog and am honored to be nominated again!)  The rules for this one are:

•You must post 11 random things about yourself.


•Answer the questions that the nominators set for you.

•Create 11 questions for the people you nominate.

•Choose 11 blogs you love (with less than 200 followers) and link them in your post.

•No tag back, (but please leave me a comment on this post with the URL to your Liebster post so that I can learn more about you!)

Here are some random things about me:

1. I have an accounting degree and a teaching degree - both from University of Nevada, Reno

2. I have 6 boys - yes all boys!

3. I serve on my city's ciy council - I am currently serving my second term.

4. I direct children's theater.

5. I grew up in Lake Tahoe.

6. I hate seafood

7. I have a major slight addiction to Starbucks -- two words -Chai Latte - yummy!

8. My three youngest sons and I are hooked on Dance Moms (they have crushes on the girls and I can't help but stare at the train wrecks that happen between the moms).

9. I cannot function without my iphone (it is my mini-brain).

10. My hubby has several tattoos - but I could never get one EVER! I am deathly afraid of needles.

11. I have lived in the same city for the past 12 years - but as a child I moved a lot!  I have lived in four different states and actually went to school in all four different states in my 6th grade year.

Happy Thanksgiving and SALES!

Almost time to get off the computer to get some Thanksgiving cooking done!  But... I did want to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving and let you know that I am jumping on board the Cyber Monday train with sales at both my Teachers Pay Teachers and Teacher's Notebook stores.

Both sales are a great opportunity to save some money on items you have been coveting!  My wishlist already has 32 items and growing :) 

Here are a few of my favorites from my store:

My newest unit for The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

My recently updated Officer Buckle and Gloria unit

My new third grade math journals

I am also linking up with the 3 AM teacher where you can find a ton of TPT sellers who will be joining the sale!  Plus - she has some great clip art!

We Are Thankful Writing Prompt and Craftivity FREEBIE

I am not one of those lucky ducks who gets all of next week off - we have school on Monday and Tuesday.  So... I was trying to come up with a few fun learning activities, and I came up with this We are Thankful writing prompt and craftivity.

I have posted the template and graphic organizers as a freebie on my TPT store for anyone who is in the same boat as me :)  I will post final pics from the kiddos when they are complete, but for now hopeful my sample gives you a rough idea of what it will look like.

We Are Thankful Writing Prompt and Craftivity