Alphabet Poems for Shared Reading

Alphabet Poems for Shared Reading

By 2:02 PM
I am always looking for new ways to introduce the letters of the alphabet! I use anchor charts, centers, songs, digital games, books, play-doh, and almost every other kind of manipulative that I can to make those alphabet letters and sounds stick. A couple of years ago, I observed an amazing teacher modeling shared reading during a professional development day. It was at that moment that I decided, shared reading would be the perfect way to not only introduce the letters of the alphabet, but also help those new readers develop phonemic awareness, understand concepts of print, be exposed to rhyming, and so much more! I sat down one quiet Sunday afternoon, and started writing these alphabet poems for shared reading. It was my goal to write one for each letter of the alphabet, and then let my kinders create a poetry notebook with all of the poems included. I am happy to say that I was able to get this accomplished. (Some of those letters were tough!) Now that they are complete, we will add a poem to our poetry notebook each week as we focus on a new letter. I will also keep these displayed in the classroom so that they can be used as a reference by the kiddos. If you would like to use these poems in your classroom, follow this link to get the printable version.













Read more »
Crystal McGinnis
1 Comments
10 Pattern Centers for Kindergarten

10 Pattern Centers for Kindergarten

By 5:47 PM

Morning Math Tubs are a great way to keep your kiddos busy while you are taking care of attendance, lunch count, and those other morning tasks that need your attention. I created this set of morning math tubs, or math centers, to use at the beginning of the school year when patterns are introduced. This set includes 10 math tubs, with 10 separate patterning activities. I tried to include math manipulatives that most kindergarten classes have such as teddy bear counters, pattern blocks, linking chains, and more. I also created them in BLACK OR WHITE to save ink. Check them out below. If you want to use them in your classroom, click this link to get them.


 Teddy Bear Patterns
The kiddos create patterns, and extend patterns using teddy bear counters.

Number Patterns
Students extend patterns using numbered clothespins.

Pattern Block Patterns
The kids create and extend patterns using pattern blocks.

Linking Chain Patterns
Students create linking chain patterns, and extend them using colored linking chains.

Pattern Clip-It
Students complete each pattern by clipping the missing picture.

People Patterns
Students complete each pattern card by placing the correct missing person in each box.

Unifix Cube Patterns
The kiddos create and extend colored patterns using unifix cubes. They create ab, abb, aab, and abc patterns.

Pattern Mats
Students use these pattern mats to create patterns using manipulatives of their choice, such as pom poms! These could be used with target erasers or any other counters. Whatever small counters you have on hand would work!

Play-doh Patterns
The kiddos create and mimic patterns using play-doh. 

Popsicle Stick Patterns
Students match pattern cards, and then create the pattern with popsicle sticks. I colored the popsicle sticks with marker, but crayons would work. It was simple!


Grab this pin if you want to come back later!
Get these 10 pattern centers in my tpt store, by clicking here.






Read more »
Crystal McGinnis
0 Comments
Color Word Poems for Shared Reading

Color Word Poems for Shared Reading

By 6:29 AM

Do you teach color words in kindergarten? If you do, poetry is a perfect way to make those color words stick! Each year, I create a color words poetry journal with 11 color word poems. As we learn how to spell and write each color word, we also learn a new poem from the journal. In each poem, we highlight the color words and color the pictures of each "colored object."
After reading them several times, we use these poems during our guided reading sessions as a familiar read. We also use them as a resource for writing because they are filled with words we know.


Sometimes I write the color word poems on chart paper, and we display the poem for the kiddos to use as a resource. You are welcome to use these poems in your classroom! If you want a copy of the poems in the poetry notebook, click here to get them in my tpt store.










I also created this set with the color words missing, so that the students can practice their color words by writing them! Grab this set here!






I also created a pocket chart for each of my color word poems. After the kiddos learn the poems using their poetry notebook, we put the poem together in the pocket chart. This makes the perfect addition to the pocket chart center. Simply change the poem each week!















Read more »
Crystal McGinnis
2 Comments
Ocean Animals

Ocean Animals

By 6:06 AM

One of my favorite units to teach during the school year is the Ocean! I usually teach this unit at the end of the school year right before summer break. The kids LOVE learning about ocean animals, and it is a great way to keep them engaged all the way up to the end of school when they are more difficult to keep focused. I am going to share with you some of the activities that we complete during our study of the ocean. They are all available in my Ocean Unit on TPT. 



We begin our ocean unit with a focus on ocean animals. We focus on one ocean animal each day. I love to develop my kids' prior knowledge by completing this "What We Already Know" chart. The kids write one fact about the ocean animal on a sticky note and add it to the chart. We then look at each sticky note and talk about what they wrote.


 I then introduce that animal using these nonfiction animal slides. The kids stay really engaged when I project the images as we discuss the ocean animal information.



We then complete a Can/Have/Are chart as a class. This is a great way to organize our newly learned information. We keep this displayed to use during our writing projects.


After completing the chart, we color and read the ocean animal book that matches the animal we are studying. These books provide more information about each ocean animal. These books are in a  "teacher led" format, but the kiddos still love them!



After we read our ocean animal book for the day, we complete some additional activities that include reading, writing, labeling, organizing, and more!





Each day during our ocean unit, we will sing an ocean animal themed song. We will also create an ocean themed craft to match the animal we are learning about that day. Here is an example of the shark craft and song!




I like to display the song on the projector to create a "shared reading" experience.




Here are some of the additional activities that we complete during our 2 week ocean unit! 

Sea Turtle Research Project


Ocean Animal Writing Book


Shark Labeling Activity


Life Cycle of a Sea Turtle


Favorite Ocean Animal Graphing


Goldfish Graphing


If you would like to use my Ocean Animal Unit in your classroom, you can grab it here. You can stretch this unit out over a 2 week period. I hope your kids love it!


Pin this pin to come back later!







Read more »
Crystal McGinnis
0 Comments
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)