Phonics in First Grade

Phonics, in my opinion is one of the most important things that we first graders teach. It sets students up for the life long ability to decode and encode unknown words. Phonics is a huge part of our day in my first grade classroom. We do a whole group lesson/activity everyday that encourages students to critically think about their phonics words. Then, I also incorporate it into guided reading if the group needs it AND I also incorporate phonics into my students literacy stations for the week. So, when I say it's a huge part of my room, I don't mean I teach it all day. I mean, I teach it each day and plug it in elsewhere for consistent exposure.

Throughout my years in the classroom, I've used a few different programs. I've seen what works and what doesn't work too well. I've taken what I've learned and ideas I've gained to create my own phonics curriculum called, "Phonics Instruction." It's important to me that students have a consistent and engaging phonics curriculum. I want students to know what's coming next to save time on giving instructions, but I do not want it to be mundane and boring. In the Phonics Instruction curriculum there is critical thinking, reading, writing, comprehending and physical movement to decode and encode words. This isn't just a spelling program, but a whole language program that takes the words for the week and puts them into context so students are reading them, gathering meaning and using them to comprehend.

As a whole group in my room: the students partake in the following activities every week to grow their understanding of the phonics skill.

Here is a peek at the kind of things we do in my classroom during phonics on a weekly basis!

During my literacy station time, students are also getting more practice with their phonics skill for the week during their word work station. I place five of the activities out. Each day, students go to word work. They get to pick which activity they would like to do that day for word work. The only requirement is, is to have four of them completed by Friday. I place a checklist in the bucket and they check off their name when they finish. Also, place a folder in that same bucket for them to put their paper in for easy grading for you! I don't mind which order they do the activities, but they all will need to get done. The format of the activities is basically the same each week so I don't need to waste time explaining directions.

Here is a peek at the literacy stations included in all of the short vowel sets.

Everything needed to have a successful phonics program is included in each phonics file, including WEEKLY LESSON PLANS! I have used these activities during my years of teaching and I enjoy them because they provide students with opportunities to discuss words with one another and use critical thinking skills to problem solve with words.

Storing these activities for easy access each year is also very simple.

I simply print the plans, books and printables. I place them in a file folder.

Then, the prepped stations and correlating activity sheets go in a plastic bag.

I keep it all in a file folder until it's needed next year!

If you are interested in checking out the short vowel phonics program that is now available for purchase, you may click the image below!

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Oh, Literacy Stations are 'a' knockin'

OH WHY YES... Yes, I did find a way to make literacy stations work in my third grade classroom! I am Oh so excited about it too! I know, I just did that whole readers workshop post about independent reading and responding and don't totally ignore that because that is STILL the way I'm doing it BUT, I found a way to make stations work just a whittle bit. This is thanks to fourth and ten for the Ah-Ha moment! 

You know when you have those and then you go...um... duh!!! Why on earth didn't I think of that? That's totally fine though--that's why we have these IG accounts, blogs and facebook pages! We get to collaborate and share ideas and become better teachers (this is a whole other post in itself-so. I'm stopping this now).

So, here is the dealio... daily 3! They do two stations: spelling, task cards, word study, read to partner, read to self. But, wait THAT'S FIVE?! Jessica, can you count?! Um... why yes, I can. (I am so in the mood to talk in third person right now).

What we are doing IS THIS:

The kids visit ONLY three: 

Group 1: Spelling Station, Read to Partner, Read to self

Group 2: Word Study, Task Cards, Read to self

Group 3: Read to partner, Word Study, Read to Self

Group 4: Listen to Reading, Spelling Station, Read to Self

Group 5: Task Cards, Listen to Reading, Read to Self

Then, each day I will move each groups cards down (last row up) and the next day they get to a whole new rotation. Now, the independent reading part... notice their all read to self at the end? I plan... on having them start stations RIGHT after recess: Stop them after 2: mini-lesson and readers workshop model. I'll also do guided reading during stations (probably one group). So, yes sometimes they may miss stations-but, in my opinion, what they're learning with me is way more important than what they're doing at this station.

Why am I doing stations like this?

I want students to practice spelling, grammar and be able to read to a partner on a regular basis. I knew I couldn't fit it in everyday. This is perfect because it gives them just enough exposure to practice the concepts AND I don't have to do so much weekly prep for stations. It's basically a win-win situation! So, if you're like me and in a time crunch-then, maybe it'll work for you!

You can grab the station cards you see on my rotation board here!

Let me know if you have any questions! I'll keep updating you on my stations progress throughout the year!

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Daily Spelling Practice - the easy way!

Lately, spelling has been on the brain. I'm making a spelling work stations pack and thoughts stemmed from that like, hmmm...more practice----Oh, I know! Morning work! So, this is my plan for this year's morning work. (as of right now-it may change-who knows)

Let's go right on ahead and start!

My kids are going to have a spiral notebook for their daily spelling practice. Each day they will look at a poster (the freebie) I made to direct them to their activity for that day! 

To set up the notebook you will want to have students color and glue on their cover. You will also want to get an envelope and cut it in half. Apply glue to the back of it and glue it on the inside cover of the students spelling notebook.

In the freebie there are day by day posters. I am going to hang these posters up in my room as a visual cue for students each morning. :) I love it! They get in spelling practice everyday through meaningful activities!

Mondays activity asks students to write their spelling words on note cards and then add a sentence using their spelling word. You will need to display the weeks words for all students to see somewhere in the room on Monday so they can complete this activity. Once, the finish they can illustrate a picture to show understanding of the word. When finished students put their words in the Spelling Words pocket so they can use them for the rest of the week.

On Tuesday students write their words and then spell & check two times. You will need to create flaps for each student. You can use paper as I have in the picture or you can use card stock or a file folder.

 I stapled the side of the paper, folded it over and stapled again. Then, cut two slips and labeled each flap so the kids won't forget what to do. You can have the kids make their own and 'pretty it up.'

The paper version is really nice because it fits right over a piece of notebook paper without being too bulky. 

Students will use their cards to write one word at a time. After they write that word they close the first flap and try to write it under the second flap. They pick up both flaps and check. Then, close both flaps and try to spell it one more time under the third flap.

It looks like this. If students make a mistake they can correct it as I did with the word sunshine in green.

On Wednesdays the students work on their syllables, vowels and consonants.

Students write the word, break it apart by syllables and then tell the number of syllables. It is great to really dig into the words and notice the spelling patterns. Students will also color consonants green and vowels blue.

On Thursday, students sort their cards in ABC order, write their words 3x and then define at least 5 words. This is the perfect way to get kids looking in the dictionary = applying those ABC order skills! ;)

On Friday, students will write you a story or whatever they want using as many spelling words as you can. I didn't say all because sometimes that can just be plain hard and totally mess up a story. Then, they just need to illustrate a picture.

As always, students finish early and if you don't have something else you want them to do I made little spelling games! You can even put these at stations or use at other times in the day.

So, do you love it?! If so... guess what--IT'S FREE!!

Click below right here to grab it up!

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