A little hard work never hurt anyone...

Hey friends :) 

I'm not going to lie, teaching with centers is absolutely HARD Work.. I know so many teachers that do not do it because of how hard it is. It's a lot of time printing, laminating and cutting. It's an investment, an investment that will pay off year after year.I still love people's reaction the moment they realize that typically everything in a classroom is almost 75% paid for BY THE TEACHER! They think all of this stuff just appears and is paid for by schools...not likely.  I understand that teachers earn a small amount of money in comparison to the cost of teaching, and the amount of hours we work. I get it..but teaching is a CALLING. I know that God put me here on this earth for three things: To be a  MOTHER, A WIFE and A T EACHER. That's my calling, those three things. I know so many of you feel the same way. And I know it's frustrating to spend our "own" money on our classrooms and feel as if we have no support from admin..I get it. But I also know what it's like to go without a teaching position (due to our family moving states). This is an emptiness like no other. I promise you. Even with ALL of the aggravation, hard work, and money spent, I wouldn't trade it a single day, to have my own classroom. Again, this is why  I'm here, this is my calling. That's it. Bottom Line. Seriously, so many times I get asked "Why don't you just go work at a bank"..I always reply "Everyone who works a bank can READ"... The crazy thing is this has been on my heart all week....this little message. Then, today at church, we had a speak from Big Oak Ranch..oh my word..if you have a second take a look at this video..it will remind you why we are doing what we are..and God Bless the Croyle family :) John Croyle talks a lot about how we were all put here on this earth for something...what is God using you for? Take a look at this little Video Clip

okay.. back to literacy centers ;) I'm a little scatterbrained tonight :) 

Build yourself a "center library"..and just think of how many students will benefit from it! Hands on instruction is the way to go these days...students NEED an approach to their education that fits in with things they do on a daily basis...children aren't going home and playing with sticks anymore people...they are playing with iPhones, tablets, e-readers, video games..etc...... So why not use fun, colorful and engaging literacy (& math) centers? Paper and pencil has it's place in the classroom, and ALWAYS will, but adding some variety to your instruction will pay off! I promise!  Someone asked me the other day "Why do you use all of these materials"..and my answer is ALWAYS this "My kiddos love coming to school because of the fun and engaging activities we do".  So yeah, it might require a little work on your end..but as my daddy always told me 

"A little hard work never killed nobody.." 

Remember going into a teacher store? Spending $29.99 on a "Literacy Center Book"...??? Getting it home, flipping through, and only being able to use one or two things from it? This is when I started creating my own materials..materials that MY students needed. Materials that were created with students first. So yeah, it's a lot of work...but the good news is, since the launch of TpT, you can now go and find centers already created for the exact skill that you need. Then, you have a digital copy FOREVER. So what if your computer crashes and you lose all of your files...guess what? TpT SAVES it ALL For you! What if students tear up your centers that you purchased with your (own) money?? Once again, just visit "My Purchases" and print the file that you need AGAIN. I am such a fan of TpT because of this, I can find exactly what I need and most of the time it is a huge hit with my classroom! 

Even once an item is purchased, I realize, it is  work for teachers...I get that...and I applaud you! For going above and beyond and making your students successful...isn't that the real reason we all sought out this path we call education? That might mean cutting things out while sitting in front of the tube with your spouse..or you could be like me and get your spouse to cut for you :) He's such a sport! Haha!

Okay..that's my rant and soapbox... 

I wanted to share with you my center calendar that I have used for the last few years in First Grade!! Now that I'm in 4th grade, I am developing a calendar to keep up with what products I use and when :) But here is what I have used for the last few years in First Grade :) 

For September through November, I relay heavily on these four packets:

Fall-Literacy-and-Math-Center-Mega-Packet21-Centers-

Fall-Sight-Word-Literacy-Centers

Fall-is-Here-Math-and-Literacy-Center-Packet

Autumn-Math-and-Literacy-Centers-

Here are a few FREE Centers that I like to use as well!! 

Fall-Fact-or-Opinion-Freebie

Fall-Word-Wall-Words

Fall-Writing-Prompt-Cards-Freebie-

Roll-Read-and-Color-Sight-Word-FREEBIE-

Till Next Time 

CVC Words Practice

Hey friends! I wanted to share with you some resources for teaching CVC Words!!

Interactive Flip Charts are a great resource when teaching CVC Words!

I use these in my small groups. I give the students a word, and ask them to make it. You can also start with the picture, have them sound out the  word and build it. Once students are familiar with CVC words, you could also use these at a center as writing prompts. I included blank picture cards for “nonsense” words. You do not have to attach all the picture cards at once. I sometimes just use certain vowel sounds.

Another great resource is my Soaring-Through-Math-and-Literacy-Fun-8-Centers

 CVC Word Sort- (Two Sets included, one with pictures and one without pictures )                               

                                    

This packet includes several centers, but my favorite, is the CVC Word Sort! 

This airplane and hot air balloon themed center mini packet is perfect for any time of the year! It's great to get those reluctant readers engaged in the reading process. My boys LOVE this packet! 

Included:

CVC Word Sort- (Two Sets included, one with pictures and one without pictures )
Soaring Sight Words (A Sight Word Game)
Hot Air Balloon Fun (Synonym Matching Game)
Rainbow Rhyming Fun (2 Levels)
Flying High With Word Families (Word Sort)
Soaring Through Parts of Speech
Soaring Double Facts
Flying Time (A time telling center)

This rhyming activity is also included!

*Great TpT CVC Word Packets*

CVC-Words-Literacy-Center-Packet-

CVC-Word-Searches

CVC-Words-Phoneme-Replacement-

Kindergarten-Morning-Work-continued-Daily-Language-Arts-and-Math-Review-

I also use magnetic letters and scrabble tiles to have students build CVC Words.  For more CVC Word Ideas--follow my CVC Word Pinterest Board!!! 

Back To School Work Stations and Centers

Hey friends! In case you haven't heard...TpT is having a HUGE sale!!! 

Shop in my my store and receive 28% off!! ALSO, If you purchase 3 items, you receive one item for free! Just e-mail me at Benoitcreated@gmail.com with your TpT User name and the item you wish!!

This is a great time to load up on some of my  best sellers--like my Making Words Packet! This packet is great for literacy centers or 

independent work!! 

This packet includes 10 printables for making words. Students cut letters out and arrange them together to make words. Several different levels included to meet the needs of all your students.

Happy Shopping Friends! I am headed over to empty my wish list NOW!! 

CVC Words and Legos..Endless Possibilities!

I know you are all probably so exhausted from getting your rooms ready and the beginning of the year frenzy! It is SUCH a rush! But I tell ya what..I'd give anything to be feeling that right now! I miss it so much!

One thing about me is that I LOVE Legos! I love using them at home and in the classroom! They promote higher order thinking and creativity, and those are skills that are very hard to teach!

I wanted to share a few of my favorite things and resources with you all!

This next trick as been around for a while.. but I wanted to tell you how I use it!

 Magnet tape and a cookie sheet!!! I bought my cookie sheets at Wal Mart for a STEAL of .92 cents!

I am working with my little guy on sight words! We are always working on these I feel like. But  I need to change it up.  So I used my Sight Word cards from my Ultimate Literacy Center Packet and good ole fashioned Legos! My kiddos LOVE Legos...what kid doesn't??!?! 

 We used two different color Legos as our game pieces :) 

We just played a good ole fashioned Tic Tac Toe...only with reading..and Legos! This really got my kiddo excited about reading! That is a VERY hard thing to do! I was so proud of my little one, after a few different levels of this, the little one was breezing through the sight words! The Legos really helped because it got the little one to WANT to play the game! That's a hard thing to do! 

Once we got the sight words down pat, we moved on to ABC Order

The card arranged nicely onto the cookie sheet! It's amazing how a little magnetic tape makes a difference with kiddos! I wanted to shout, we've done this activity before and you could care less!! Haha, but I kept those thoughts to myself :) 

I just thought I'd share an easy way to spruce up your literacy centers...it's an old trick..but boy is it a good one!!! 

All of these activities came from my Ultimate-Literacy-Center-Packet-20-Centers

Reading Resources and Literacy Center Resources

I wanted to put together a few of my favorite resources for teaching reading! Especially the little ones, isolation of sounds is such an important step in building a strong reading foundation. 

One resource I LOVE for my reluctant readers are these puzzles from Lakeshore Learning!! I have students say the letter sound while putting it together so they can actually see how the letter stands alone. My struggling readers LOVE this activity and it also helps them build up their confidence. You can check out these puzzles right HERE

Another great resource is my printable I-Can-Make-Words-

This is hands on activity includes 10 printables for making words. Students cut letters out and arrange them together to make words. Several different levels included to meet the needs of all your students.

I just posted my CVC-Interactive-Flip-Charts!! 

I use these in my small groups. I give the students a word, and ask them to make it. You can also start with the picture, have them sound out the  word and build it. Once students are familiar with CVC words, you could also use these at a center as writing prompts. I included blank picture cards for “nonsense” words. You do not have to attach all the picture cards at once. I sometimes just use certain vowel sounds.

The pictures do not have to be in any order, as the activity should require them to make each word. They should have to move most of the parts to make a new word. 

You still have time to enter my giveaway for a $50.00 TpT Gift Certificate!! You can enter right HERE!!!!

Back To The Basics

Well, it's that time of the year....

Back..To.. School!

You are either on cloud nine, or dreading it!! We are never in the middle! 

For me, I am super excited for school to start this year!!

My biggest project this summer was my classroom library! It was a WRECK! I've been organizing my books and bins! I wanted a new label system so I made some cute yellow and crazy ones!! 

I am using the gray chevron and yellow theme! Here are a few pictures:

Name Plates- You can use these as tented name plates or flat ones :)

48 Library Labels plus blank ones for you to customize

48 General Supply Labels

Plus: Subject labels

Days of the Week

Months of the Year

Objective Posters

Rules

Alphabet (Uppercase and Lowercase) 

Click  HERE To Check Out The FULL Packet!!

I also just posted my Back-To-The-Basics-Math-and-Literacy-Kit-!!!

This back to school themed math and literacy kit has 8 centers! 
The literacy activities are great for guided reading, differentiated instruction or at home practice! The activities are easy to prepare for and are great anchor stations. 
Literacy:
Sight Word Memory
Sight Word Flash Cards (two sets, one full color, one partial)
Missing Letter Deck Set 1
Missing Letter Deck Set 2

Math:
Number Line Fun
Addition Fun- Triangle card game
Subtraction Fun- Triangle card game
Addition and Subtraction Fun- a mixed center activity

Both of these items are on sale for a few days :)


Be sure to check out my Sight Word FREEBIE I posted a few weeks ago!

That's what I'm up to--organizing my library and hoping that I get to move into a classroom soon :)
I know God is in control, and I am turning it all over to him!!

Till Next Time 

November ideas and freebies!

Where has this month GONE?!?!? Seriously! I can't believe next week is THANKSGIVING! How exciting! I am super excited as we we will be traveling this year!! It's been a while since we've seen our family and we couldn't be happier to spend the holiday with them!!!

I am not sure if you've had a chance to check out my Thanksgiving-Color-by-Word FREEBIE on TpT! Be sure to head on over and download it! It's great for morning work! 

Here are some of the things I have planned for the rest of my month: 

My Turkey-Math-and-Literacy-Center-Mini-Packet

This packet includes 4 Centers:

*Turkey Compound Words
*Turkey ABC Order
*Turkey Money Match
*Turkey Addition Facts

My Fall-Literacy-and-Math-Center-Mega-Packet21-Centers

This product is actually reduced for the next day or so :) 

Caitlin's (Kindergarten Smiles) 

 Pilgrim-Craftivity 

This little craftivity is just adorable and I can't wait to try it out!

Katie's(Queen of The First Grade Jungle) 

 Blends-and-Digraphs-Mega-Pack-Posters-Handouts-Games-Centers

Oh my! I'm in LOVE with this packet! It has EVERYTHING you need!!!!! Love LOVE LOVE IT! 

AND I made these word wall cards for November! Just clickHERE!

Gearing up for November!

Whew! Halloween in the middle of the week is *not* so much fun! Ha! Now is a GREAT Time to start preparing for November! Here are few things that I *always* find helpful!!!

One of my BEST Sellers is my Fall-Literacy-and-Math-Center-Mega-Packet21-Centers. I've reduced this product since Halloween is over :) So now is a GREAT time to head on over and pick it up!! It has 21 Centers that you can use throughout fall!!! 

My kids LOVE this--Sight-Word-Literacy-Centers! And it's FREE! 

And another GREAT  freebie Color by Sight Word Packet for November! You can check it out HERE

I also broke my Mega Packet into Smaller ones, for those who do not celebrate Halloween. You can check out the Thanksgiving-Literacy-Centers-Mini-Packet! 

Now, TpT is FULL of great products! Here are some of my November FAVORITES! 

* Made For First Grade - Turkey-Time-Math-Literacy-Centers

*Katie "Queen Of The First Grade Jungle"-Sum-Fall-Fun-10-Fall-themed-addition-activitiescenters

*Rowdy In Room 300-Compound-word-Pumpkin-Puzzles

*The Bubbly Blonde- Fall-Fact-Families; Awesome-Autumn-Activities-8-Literacy-Centers

*Miss Kindergarten Love- Soldier-Boy-and-Girl-Craft-and-Writing-Templates

November-Games-and-Centers

*LMN Tree- Fall-Leaves-Fall-Leaves-ELA-Reading-Poetry-and-Fall-Plays-K-1st

Till Next Time

Batty for Literacy Centers and a FREEBIE!

Hey everyone! I am excited to about this post! Sometimes as teachers we get SO busy, we don't get to "plan ahead"! Well I am gearing up for "Bat Week"! Some of us do not celebrate Halloween in our classrooms and so bat week is a great way to tie into the season :) I just go by what my students backgrounds are  and then determine if I will recognize Halloween. 

I am so excited about all of the things I was able to pull together. 

First off, I created this little mini packet to tie  Bat Week together!! As you know I LOVE, *Skill* Based Literacy Centers! But I also like for the *Skills* to correlate with our *Theme*! So I combine *Skill and Themed Based Literacy Centers*!!!

Here is the unit I came up with:
This mini packet includes 3 Bat Themed Literacy Centers and 4 Printables!

*Batty for ABC Order- Students arrange the short vowel cards in ABC Order (1 Printable)
*Batty for Blends- Students read the cards and then sort them onto the correct mat ( 3 Printables)
*Batty for Sight Words- A Sight Word Game

You can check it out HERE!! For Today and Tomorrow ONLY--- it's $2.00!!!

Some other resources I am using: 

I am using Caitlin from the wonderful Kindergarten Smiles 

Bats-Math-Literacy-and-So-Much-More!

I love this because I am able to differentiate  instruction. Some first graders still need help with those letter sounds, so this is a great tool!

Another GREAT Resource is from Erica Bohrer! I am in *LOVE* With her newest packet! Batty-for-Bats is SO user friendly. She does a great job with examples of how you can use the packet in a variety of ways. I also love how the packet uses higher order thinking skills. This is probably one of my favorite packets out there right now!

A few FREEBIES to check out :

Bat-Fact-Families

going-batty-free-craftivity

Some other *GREAT* Seasonal Resources: 

Halloween-Math-Common-Core-Center-Packet

Fall-Literacy-and-Math-Center-Mega-Packet21-Centers

Thank you so much for  stopping by my blog! Here is a Math FREEBIE! Click the word "Freebie" To download your file! What a great way to practice doubles facts! This is great for those fast finishers, or in small group instruction :)

Till Next Time