Kindergarten and Preschool Activities Blog

Blog Moved

2012-01-05T18:56:00.000-08:00

I have moved my blog so that it is now attached to my site. My new blog will continue to feature activities and articles for Kindergarten and Preschool educators. Visit my new blog.

Click Here to Visit New Blog

Smart Board Koosh Ball Alphabetl Review Game

2011-11-11T22:34:00.000-08:00

Click Here to view on YouTube

The use of the Smart Board within the classroom has increasingly gained popularity because of the interactive component. Discovering ways to use it; can be quite exciting. I am just learning all the features of the Notebook software that is used in conjunction with the Smart Board; there are certainly some very exciting features.

I really don't know how many schools are purchasing these for their classrooms as it can be quite an expense. I will continually add activities that I discover and create as I am learning. I will be working with a trainer at the University.

KOOSH BALL ALPHABET REVIEW GAME

1. Each child is given one or two alphabet picture cards (found in the member's area). These would be a review if the "Alphabet Program" were followed. Review letters are: c, u, a, t, m, e, q, r, f, h, n and d.

2. A child would be chosen to throw the koosh ball at one of the colored circles. Behind the circles are the review letters. The students need to be fairly close to the board and throw the ball quite hard in order for it to work. They could also just touch the circle.

3. Once a letter is displayed, the child holding the related picture card would come forward. A discussion would take place if this were a match.

4. The red circle down in the lower right-hand corner would be touched in order to return back to the main page.

This could be further used for a Center activity.

Note: The template was found in the teacher tools of the Notebook software.

SCIENCE ACTIVITY

Kinderplans.com is currently creating a "Science Program" that is related to different themes. In the link below you will find an activity that could be used in conjunction with the "Family and Pets Theme".

Science Activity Related to Family and Pets

Use of Worksheets In the Classroom

2011-10-25T09:44:00.000-07:00

Research has shown that the use of worksheets within a preschool and kindergarten classroom is not beneficial for young children. A play-based curriculum has proven to be more effective; however, I feel this might be misinterpreted. I personally don't view a play-based curriculum advocates a laissez-faire approach where children don't require structure. It does not mean a classroom is filled with toys but rather literacy rich and engaging learning activities. For me, a play-based classroom is where a great deal of learning takes place at "Learning Centers". These Centers have been specifically designed to meet certain curriculum objectives but also require the children to be involved in discovery and conversation.

A Kinderplans classroom would look like this in relation to the "All About Me" Theme. I feel this follows a play-based philosophy.

LITERACY CENTERS
1. Children would be completing the interactive component of their individual readers. After, they would be reading it to others.

Cooperation Games and Activities Used At the Centers
The students would be working in pairs playing the following games. These could be played as cooperation games; where they work together to complete the game or more competitive in nature.

Review of Concepts Introduced
1. Review Color Word Game - Students take turns drawing a color word card and place it on the picture that represents that color. They can use the board with or without the color words on it.

2. Alphabet Review Game - Children take turns drawing a letter card and place it on the picture that begins with that sound. They could use the game board with or without the words printed on it; this would depend on their individual needs.

3. Students would be spinning the word family wheel to make new words representing that word family and saying the new words.

4. Vowel Fun Game - Students would be working together to place the correct vowel that represents the picture.

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Videos of Center Activities

WRITING CENTER
Students would be drawing portrait of themselves and writing about it (inventive spelling) or the child would dictate a sentence and the teacher scribes for them.

MATH CENTER
1. Estimating amounts and counting to confirm their estimation.
2. Completing activities related to the focus number.
3. Ordering and estimating size of foot outlines.
4. Graphing eye, hair color and birthdays.

SCIENCE CENTER
Students would be experimenting with shadows.

Note: We are currently working on a "Science Activity Book" that relates to the various themes. This will be filled with science activities that can be incorporated within each theme.

CRAFT CENTER
Suggested craft ideas found in the link below:

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All About Me Crafts

DRAMATIC PLAY CENTER
The students would be operating a "Party Supply Store".

PAINTING AND EASEL
The students could paint a "me" picture.

BLOCKS
Creating a home for "me".

SMARTBOARD OR OVERHEAD
The focus shared reading story could be projected on the smarboard or overhead. The students would be playing school and pointing to and reading the sentences found on the projection.

PLAYDOUGH
Creating a "Me" sculpture.

LISTENING CENTER
Listening to reading of the books related to the theme.

PUPPET CENTER
Re-enacting a positive character virtue.

SAND TABLE
Students take turns hiding a focus number amount and the others must dig and find that amount.

COMPUTER
Suggested activity found in the link below.

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Online Activities

RESEARCH ON THIS TOPIC
In the links below you will find research that has been done in relation to this topic.

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Play-Based Curriculum Research

Play-Based Curriculum Research

WHAT ARE THOUGHTS?
ADD COMMENTS BELOW

Smartboard and Computer Activities

2011-10-10T09:31:00.000-07:00

Increasingly technology has been integrated into our classrooms. The use of computers and smart boards are increasingly being used for effective teaching practices. However; the term "effective" is a key word here. There are many games and activities available but they do not necessarily contribute to assist teachers with meeting the curriculum outcomes. It can be a time consuming task finding these resources. Kinderplans.com is committed to finding or developing these necessary resources over the next few years.

SUGGESTED OCTOBER THEMES AND TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION

Colors Theme
One of the suggested themes for October is "Colors". In the link below you will find suggested activities for that theme.

NOTE: YOU WILL NEED TO HIT THE BACK BOTTOM TO RETURN TO THIS MAIN PAGE

Color Kindergarten Preschool Theme

Smart Board Activities for the Colors Theme

Color Words

Smart Board Activities for Color Words

Color Sorting Activities

Color Identification and Sorting Activities

Computer Game for Identifying Colors

Identifying Colors Computer Game

Halloween and Pumpkin Theme - Mini Lesson Idea
Together read "Pumpkin Faces" as a shared reading experience. Sample page from the link below:

Halloween and Pumpkin Theme

Follow-up Smart Board and Computer Activities

Follow-up Pumpkin Activity

YOUR SUGGESTIONS
Please feel free to post your comments and suggestions for integrating technology into the Preschool and Kindergarten classroom.

Teaching Printing in Kindergarten and Preschool

2011-09-27T09:22:00.000-07:00

MY OPINION

Focus on Lower Case Letters

When teaching printing I believe considerably more time should be spent on teaching lower-case letters.

Why?

The reason I believe the focus should be on teaching lower-case letters is because 95 percent of what we read is written in lower case letters. That leaves 5 percent written in upper case letters. In my experience, when children are taught to print words in upper-case letters it is difficult to undo this habit in the upper grades. Having taught a number grades; I have spent a great deal of time retraining children to not place an upper-case letter in the middle of a word. If focus were placed on printing lower-case letters first; this problem might be reduced. Children could be trained when upper-case letters are appropriately used in conjunction with proper grammar usage.

Handwriting for Preschoolers and Kindergarten Children

What is your opinion on this? COMMENT BELOW...

Center Suggestions

2011-09-07T11:21:00.000-07:00

CENTER SUGGESTIONS FOR A PRESCHOOL AND KINDERGARTEN CLASSROOM
Listed below are center suggestions:
1. Literacy
2. Reading
3. Writing
4. Listening
5. Math
6. Science
7. Social Studies
8. Computer
9. Crafts
10. Playdough
11. Easel
12. Blocks
13. Puzzles
14. Puppets
15. Housekeeping
16. Dressup

In the link below you will find signs that can be used to identify these centers.

Signs for the Learning Centers

Preschool-Kindergarten Lesson Plans on Bugs

2011-05-17T12:13:00.000-07:00

The video demonstrates lesson plan ideas for incorporating your Bugs theme within your classroom. Click on it to preview it.

For more ideas visit the link below:

Preschool and Kindergarten Lesson Plans on Bugs

Below you will find a list of related books that can be used in conjunction with this theme.
1. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
2. The Very Clumsy Click Beetle by Eric Carle
3. The Very Lonely Firefly by Eric Carle
4. The Very Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle
5. The Honeybee and the Robber by Eric Carle
6. Waiting for Wings by Lois Ehlert
7. The Best Bug Parade by Stuart J. Murphy
8 Bugs for Lunch by Margery Facklam
9. Bugs! Bugs! Bugs! by Bob Barner
10. Charlie the Caterpillar by Dom De Luise
12. Creepy Crawlies by Kathryn Kilpatrick
13. Hey, Little Ant by Phillip and Hannah Hoose
14. How Many Bugs in a Box? by David Carter
15. Icky Bugs Counting Book by Jerry Pallotta
16. I'm a Caterpillar by Jean Marzollo
17. I'm as Quick as a Cricket by Audrey Wood
18. In the Tall, Tall Grass by Denise Fleming
19. Inch by Inch by Leo Lionni
20. Insect by Robin Bernard
21. Insects Grow and Change by Elaine Pascoe
22. Ladybug, Ladybug by Ruth Brown
23. Monarch Butterfly by David Schwartz
14. Sam and the Firefly by P.D. Eastman
15. Snappy Little Bugs by Claire Nielson

Preschool and Kindergarten Math - Adding and Subracting

2011-04-29T22:30:00.000-07:00

Click on video to view on YouTube or Click Here
View on School Tube Click Here

This video in this post demonstrates how adding and subtracting can be introduced using well-known nursery rhymes and two-sided counters for kindergarten math.

More Information on Pre Kindergarten Math

Preschool-Kindergarten Math on Numbers and Problem Solving

2011-03-25T18:44:00.000-07:00

View the Video on YouTube Click Here
View the Video on SchoolTube Click Here
Kinderplans.com is in the process of developing a full kindergarten math program which is meant to cover the majority of the math outcomes. This video demonstrates activities that can be implemented to achieve the outcomes outlined below. The templates mentioned are available to members of the site.
1. Identify whether the number of objects in one groups is greater than, less than, or equal to the number of objects in another. This is best developed through the use of graphing activities.
2. Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.
3. Reason abstractly and quantitatively.
4. Model with mathematics.
5. Use appropriate tools strategically.
6. Look for and make use of structure.

Preschool-Kindergarten Math Games

2011-03-12T06:55:00.001-08:00

View on YouTube Click Here
View on SchoolTube Click Here

Learning numbers and number sense is a important curriculum outcome for Preschoolers and Kindergartners. The video demonstrates follow-up games that can be implemented for review, once the numbers have been introduced. This offers an engaging learning experience and reinforces number sense for children in the early years of learning.
More Preschool-Kindergarten Math Games

Preschool-Kindergarten Math - Numbers

2011-02-26T06:37:00.000-08:00

One of the biggest challenges in teaching Preschool and Kindergarten math is a child's ability to understand cardinality. Cardinality is a child's ability to attach meaning to a number. A young child may be able to count by rote and even use one-to-one correspondence but may not understand that the set represents a specific number. They may not understand that the last number counted represents the total amount. For example, ask a child to count a set and ask them how many there are. Can they confidently relay the total amount (understand the last number counted represents the total)? If you rearrange the set, will they still understand it represents the same number? According to research this is a challenging concept for children and requires them to be actively involved in activities and games that help them develop this. Games and activities that involve counting and comparing are great for developing this. It is a key concept for children because it is the framework for developing other math concepts.
Kinderplans.com has developed a Math program which addresses many of the Kindergarten curriculum outcomes. The video above demonstrates activities that are found in the "Number Sense" strand from the curriculum. It provides ideas of how specific numbers can be introduced and follow-up games and activities can be used to develop the concept of cardinality.
Note: Numbers to 20 are introduced in the program to address the different school jurisdictions curriculum outcomes.

More Preschool-Kindergarten Math Ideas

Preschool-Kindergarten Writing

2011-02-12T09:22:00.001-08:00

Children are best encouraged to engage in an activity when they
see others participating in it. This is why it is important for
educators of young children to model the writing process.
Outlined below are a few ways in which this can be
accomplished.

1. Many teachers like to begin each class with writing a short
morning message. This message outlines what activities are
planned for the day. As the teacher is writing she models the
writing process. She might focus on how words make a sentence,
stretching sounds to determine how they are spelled or the use
of capitals and periods. This modeling is a very important
component in a child's learning process as it demonstrates to
them that writing is an important means of communication.

2. Within a learning environment should be a safe and encouraging
place where the children can develop this skill which would be the
"Writing Center". The "Writing Center" would consist of a table,
chairs, paper, envelopes, pencils, crayons, felts, tracers, rulers,
whiteboard, chalkboard and clipboard. The alphabet, in upper and
lower case letters should be posted nearby at the child's level.
Plenty of print should be displayed within the classroom for the
children to use as models for reading and writing. As a member
of the Kinderplans website you will have access to hundreds of
picture cards related to specific themes. Each of the cards have
the words printed on them. These were designed to use for this
purpose.

3. Writing develops at different rates. For many children in the
younger years they draw pictures to convey their ideas. This
begins with scribbling to something that resembles a picture.
The educator (teacher) may ask the child to dictate what the
picture conveys and print this in words and read it back to the
child. This is another means of modeling the writing process.

4. Large classroom books can be made for the children to read.
These books were designed around each child's conveyed message.
for example, if you are working on a "Colors Theme", each child
would dictate a sentence telling what their favorite color is.
After, they would would draw a picture displaying the color. The
teacher would include the printed text of what each child said
below the picture drawn. This would be bound together to make a
classroom book.

WRITING PROCESS
It is important to understand that writing is a process and each
child develops at their own pace. The more support and
encouragement provided the greater the success!

WRITING/CRAFT ACTIVITIES
In the link below you will find some suggested craft/writing
activities that can be done together as a class.

Preschool-Kindergarten Writing Activities

Preschool-Kindergarten Lesson Plans for Community Helpers Theme

2011-01-24T19:19:00.000-08:00

Click on the video to view a demonstration of Preschool-Kindergarten lesson plan activities that can be used in your Community Helpers theme. The readers are great to use to teach beginning reading skills. The matching game can be added to your Literacy Center. These are resources that have been added to the "Community Helpers" theme found our sister site Kinderplans.com.

More Lesson Plan Ideas for Community Helpers Click Here

Nutrition Lesson Plans

2011-01-14T19:44:00.000-08:00

Click on Video to View on YouTube or Click Here

View on SchoolTube or Click Here

The video on the left demonstrates how literacy and games can be integrated into your Nutrition lesson plans. You can find more videos and ideas in the link below:

Nutrition Lesson Plans

Preschool and Kindergarten Math

2010-11-28T08:26:00.000-08:00

MATH WORKSHEETS
Free Math Worksheets
Our philosophy has been more focused on providing hands-on learning experiences but sometimes worksheets do come in handy. In the link below you will find free math worksheets that you can use in your classroom.

Free Math Worksheets

MATH CURRICULUM BEING DEVELOPED
Currently at kinderplans.com we are working on completing a full math program that can be used in conjunction with current themes or used on its own. It will cover all the math strands outlined below:

Pre Kindergarten Math

Matching, Sorting and Classifying
1. Identify, sort and classify objects by a specific attribute.
2. Patterning

Number Sense
1. Compare sets of objects if equal, more than, or less than (up to 10).
2. Print numbers 1-10
3. Count, recognize, represent, name, and order a number of objects (up to 30)
4. Use concrete objects to describe simple addition and subtraction to 10.

Measuring and Comparing
Geometry(Shapes)
1. Compare the length, weight and capacity of objects (e.g., longer, shorter, taller, lighter, heavier or holds more).
2. Demonstrate and understanding of time (e.g., morning, afternoon, evening, today, yesterday, tomorrow, week, year).
3. Identify time to the nearest hour.
4. Identify and describe common geometric objects (e.g. circle, triangle, square, rectangle, cube, sphere and cone).

Statistics, Data Analysis and Probability
Activities for graphing, collecting data and probability will be spread throughout the lessons.

Preschool and Kindergarten Math Activities

2010-11-12T09:56:00.001-08:00

Click on Video to View Activities to Meet the Curriculum Outlines

MATH OUTCOMES
Outlined below are math outcomes for Kindergarten, however, this does differ according to the country or state. It does cover a broad spectrum so this can be adjusted to your situation. Also below is a link to free activities that cover these various strands. The video outlines these activities.

Matching, Sorting and Classifying
1. Identify, sort and classify objects by a specific attribute.
2. Patterning
Number Sense
1. Compare sets of objects if equal, more than, or less than
(up to 10).
2. Print numbers 1-10
3. Count, recognize, represent, name, and order a number
of objects (up to 30)
4. Use concrete objects describe simple addition and
subtraction to 10.
Measuring and Comparing
Geometry(Shapes)
1. Compare the length, weight and capacity of objects
(e.g., longer, shorter, taller, lighter, heavier or holds more).
2. Demonstrate and understanding of time
(e.g., morning, afternoon, evening, today, yesterday,
tomorrow, week, year).
3. Identify time to the nearest hour.
4. Identify and describe common geometric objects
(e.g. circle, triangle, square, rectangle, cube, sphere and cone).
Statistics, Data Analysis and Probability
Activities for graphing, collecting data and probability will be
spread throughout the lessons.

Preschool and Kindergarten Math Activities

Learning Centers

2010-10-20T18:55:00.001-07:00

Pre Kindergarten Reading - Literacy Centers

2010-10-06T19:54:00.000-07:00

In this blog I have posted ideas for your reading Literacy Centers. The Kinderplans website has more ideas and the resources to complete the activities.
1. Match letters to picture cards
2. Matching upper-case letters to lower-case letters
3. The letters of the alphabet can be typed in different types of fonts and sorted accordingly
4. Write each student's name on a card. Write the names on another set of cards and glue their picture to the back. The children must locate the name/picture match.
5. Children match words cards (visual discrimination). This can be used with color words.
6. Children can build words using stamps, cut-up letters or magnetic letters.
7. Individual words can be cut and the children build sentences with these. For younger children they would need a model to follow.
8. Children match rhyming picture cards
9. Children can read CVC picture cards or match the words to the correct picture.

The Kinderplans website has many ideas and resources for building your Literacy Centers. The video above demonstrates some of the activities that can be included in your Literacy Centers. Click in the link below for more ideas and resources.

Literacy Centers and Reading Activities

Preschool and Kindergarten Lesson Plan for Reading

2010-09-20T19:58:00.000-07:00

Printable emergent readers are a very cost effective method in teaching beginning reading to young learners. In the video on the left you will view how printable readers can be used. If you wish to access this reader and more ideas on how to use it, click on the link below.

Preschool and Kindergarten Lesson Plan for Reading

Preschool and Kindergarten Lesson Plan for Teaching Phonics

2010-09-08T09:06:00.000-07:00

PHONICS CENTER
As with any center activity, a considerable amount of work would have been done prior to the children going to the center. The center is meant as a means for children to practice previous skills taught. These activities should be hands-on.

MATERIALS FOR THE CENTER
Magnetic or wooden letters
Alphabet charts
Alphabet Stamps
PVC P-Trap from a hardware store
Pictures with words
Learning games

Activities for the Center
1. PVC P-Trap (phonics phone) would be used for the children to hear beginning and ending sounds.
2. Match word cards to pictures with the words printed on them.
3. Match upper and lower case letters.
4. Match beginning sound toys to letters or pictures (the member's area contains 156 picture cards related to all the alphabet letters with and without the words printed on them).
5. All the letters of the alphabet are printed in different fonts and sorted.
6. Make words using stamps or magnetic letters using a model (picture with the word on it).
7. Word family and sight word practice.

GAMES, GAMES AND GAMES
Interactive learning games to reinforce skills taught in the classroom are the most effective method of children retaining what they have learned. In the link below you will be able to view videos on effective games that can be used.

Preschool and Kindergarten Games for Reading

Preschool and Kindergarten Reading Video

2010-05-22T13:08:00.000-07:00

In this video you will learn how a literature book like the "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" can be made into a simpler emergent reader for Preschool and Kindergarten children to successfully read on their own after it is introduced as a shared reading experience. You will also be introduced to a number recognition learning game.

Click on the video to preview it.

Click Here for More Preschool and Kindergarten Reading Strategies

Kindergarten and Reading Activities

2010-05-01T10:01:00.001-07:00

In this video you will be able to view a game where children are required to use their knowledge of letter sounds and blend them together. If you have been following the Kinderplans.com "Alphabet Program" where children learn their letter sounds and word families they can now begin blending these together to read words. This game offers a fun way of practicing this skill.

In the video you will also learn how fairy tales can be transformed into a reading activity for young children and combine this with a character virtue.

Note: The game board templates will be available in the "Fairy Tale" theme unit on May 5th in the Kinderplans.com member's area.

More Preschool and Kindergarten Reading Strategies

Preschool and Kindergarten Reading Activities Video

2010-04-10T13:00:00.000-07:00

In the video you can view how the interactive component in one of the readers found in the Community Helpers theme is used, as well, a game incorporating identification of final consonant sounds is demonstrated.

More Preschool and Kindergarten Reading Strategies

Online Games for Kindergarten and Preschool

2010-04-07T09:31:00.000-07:00

In the link below is a great online game site for Kindergarten and Preschool children.

Online Games

Building a Community

2010-03-26T19:18:00.000-07:00

It is my hope that we begin to share our ideas with each other. Many of you have wonderful ideas that you can contribute. Post your ideas below where it says "comments". They will not be displayed immediately as I edit them first. Unfortunately, people like to spam blogs so this allows me to choose valuable information that will contribute to this blog.

I recently received an e-mail from a member (sorry I accidentally deleted it) about how he /she uses the Smart Board to display the readers. They can be displayed using the notebook software. This allows you to easily highlight and cover words using the toolbar. I will give you the steps I use to transfer the pdf. into notebook.
1. open the pdf.
2. File then press "Print"
3. Scroll down to where it says "print capture". Follow the steps outlined. The reader will be displayed on your Smart Board and transferred into notebook.

Again, I encourage you to contribute your valuable ideas below in the "comments" area.

Preschool and Kindergarten Reading Video

2010-03-26T19:14:00.000-07:00

Preschool and Kindergarten Reading Video

Click on the video below to view how interactive readers can be used as an engaging reading experience for Preschool and Kindergarten Reading. How to create another alphabet review game will also be shown and demonstrated.

More ideas for reading strategies can be found in the link below:
Preschool and Kindergarten Reading

Preschool and Kindergarten Worksheets - An Alternative

2010-03-12T21:11:00.000-08:00

Personally, I am not found of using worksheets. There are times when they are necessary, however, I find games are far more effective in encouraging more engaging learning opportunities for the children. View the video below on how games can be used for practicing skills.

Preschool and Kindergarten Reading

2010-02-23T07:31:00.000-08:00

WHAT IS SUPPORTIVE READING?

PURPOSE
To give as much support as is necessary to make reading a successful experience for students.

PROCEDURE
1. Text is read with the students using s shared reading procedure. See procedures in the link below. AFTER, PRESS YOUR BACK BUTTON TO RETURN TO THIS PAGE.

Preschool and Kindergarten Reading

Text may be in a big book, written on chart paper, displayed on an overhead or smartboard. The alphabet readers have been specifically designed to use for this purpose. Many of them have enlarged pictures that can be made into a big book.

2. Teacher and students reread the text several times as in the shared reading procedure until the text is very familiar to the students.

3. The teacher undertakes a series of activities to help students move from reading from memory to
-transfer the knowledge of the sight and sounds of alphabet letters
-transferring this knowledge of letters and how they blend together to make words
-recognizing individual words in the text
-acquiring some basic word recognition skills
-transfer the recognition of familiar words to other contexts

4. A sample set of procedures might look like the following:

DAY ONE
Teacher reads, students listen.
Teacher reads and tracks, students join in as they are able.
Teacher reads and pauses, students fill in and continue reading.
Teacher resumes reading with students.
Teacher introduces the new letter and its related sound within the context of the story.
The students pick out that letter(s) and its related sound used within the text.

The link from the site below has good link on how to introduce a new letter and its related sound. AFTER, PRESS YOUR BACK BUTTON TO RETURN TO THIS PAGE.

Introducing a New Alphabet Letter

NOTE: If you are using the alphabet readers from the Kinderplans.com site, these readers already have a focus letters and specific sight words built into them (from Dolch and Fry's word lists).

Students complete an activity on the text, e.g., draw in illustration and print something about it (using invented spelling).

NOTE: Many of the readers have an interactive component built into them.

DAY TWO
Teacher and students reread the text.
Students share their independent work completed on the previous day.
The focus alphabet letter is reviewed. The picture mnemonic activity would be introduced at this time.

The link below also gives ideas on how letters and their related sounds can be reviewed. The alphabet pictures on the Kinderplans.com membership site could be used for this purpose. AFTER, PRESS YOUR BACK BUTTON TO RETURN TO THIS PAGE.

Reviewing the Alphabet

DAY THREE
Teacher presents text with selected words masked. The marked words are written on individual word cards. These word cards are distributed to the students.

Teacher and students read the text together, stopping to identify each masked word. As the masked word is identified by the students, they search their cards for the appropriate word. Once found, the student is asked "How do you know what the word are your cards is ...? The text is used for verification as masked words are uncovered.

At the end, students read the word cards they held.

Students can underline these words in their individual readers that have been copied off for them.

DAY FOUR
1. Particular word patterns are selected from the text for a lesson on word structure e.g., if the word "sat" is in the text, students might have a simple lesson on the "at" word family and other words that rhyme.

NOTE: If you follow the "Alphabet Program" on the Kinderplans.com site, each theme sequence and the suggested emergent readers to use to develop these reading skills already have suggested word family activities incorporated into the lessons. If you wish to learn more about the "Alphabet Program".

Preschool and Kindergarten Reading - Alphabet Program

2. Individual word which have become sight words for any student are written on word cards and the student can place these in his/her word bank. Several times each week students take out their word banks to read their words and to engage in activities using these words.

NOTE: Within the "Alphabet Program" themes you will find engaging suggested games that can be used for this purpose.

3. If the text is appropriate, teachers can use the frame of the original to help students create their own books. They can brainstorm for superstitions, and read the text putting in the substitutions they suggested.

Preschool and Kindergarten Reading Literacy

2010-02-13T17:16:00.001-08:00

Suggestions from Members for Preschool and Kindergarten Reading and Literacy Activities

I would suggest the morning message, it gets the children ready for what's happening during the day, and its a great way to develop reading and writing skills.
by Michelle

We make a Classmate book designed like the Brown Bear book. We use our kid's names instead of the animals and include a picture of each kid. They love it and we take turns taking it home for the night the first few weeks of school so that families can get to know the kids in our class.
Jane Ayers

I do the Kissing Hand the first day of school. I paint the students' hands white, post on black paper, and put a red heart in the middle. Then I paste a poem about the first day of school underneath. As a parent, I like to send something home right away!

More Preschool and Kindergarten Reading Literacy Activities

More Literacy Activities for Centers

Preschool and Kindergarten Reading

2010-01-29T17:17:00.000-08:00

How to Display Predictable/Emergent Reader Books for Whole Class Reading

It is important that during shared reading time that all the students are able to see the print and pictures. The following methods could be used for this purpose.

1. The readers are copied onto an overhead transparency and shared in this manner.

2. Made into a predictable chart.

3. Many schools are now investing in smartboards or other whiteboard software. If the books are in downloadable formats you can share them directly from the computer to the board.

Shared Reading Procedures

1. Relate the story to the student's background experiences. Have students talk about their own experiences related to the book topic.

2. Ask students to predict what the story will be about based on the title and cover picture of the emergent/predictable book.

3. Read the story to the students, pointing to the words as you are reading (modeling the reading process).

4. As you read, encourage the students to begin to "chime in" on the sentences, phrases or words that repeat themselves. Complete the interactive components of the readers together (if the reader has one).

5. You may want to pause as you read in order to encourage students to predict the word(s) that comes next. This is especially valuable if you are working with rhyming words.

6. Discuss any new or unusual vocabulary with students as you read those words in the story.

7. After or during reading, encourage students to confirm or disconfirm predictions.

8. Read the story again. Encourage students to read the repetitive parts of the story with you or alone.

9. Pause for students to predict words - give a glue by saying the initial sound of the word.

10. Extend the presentation by acting out the text.

11. Have children complete the interactive component (if there is one) of the reader and share it with other students.

Click on the link below for more information on shared reading:

Preschool and Kindergarten Reading

2010-01-12T18:34:00.000-08:00

Below you will find suggested game activities for reinforcing the alphabet and sight words.

Please Participate!

Please feel free to add your ideas, just click on the comments button at the end of this posting, type your comment. I will add your suggestion when I receive notification that a comment has been added.

1. Alphabet and Sight Word Bingo
Children really enjoy playing alphabet or sight word bingo. This is a really worthwhile activity in reinforcing letters or words they have previously learned. The link below provides a free software to make bingo cards. It allows you to shuffle the letters and words to different locations.

Bingo Card Software

2. Alphabet or Sight Word Musical Chairs
This would be a great activity to do during gym time. Post letters or words on chairs or just taped to the floor. Play music and once the music stops children must find a letter or word. They must say the name of the letter or identify an object that begins with the same letter sound or sight word.

3. Easter Egg Hunt
Purchase a large container of different colored plastic eggs. Place letters or words in each egg. Hide them around the classroom or in a center. Children must hunt and find them. Once they find the egg they open it and say the name of the letter or something that begins with that letter sound or the focus sight word. If they are correct they can keep the egg. The one with the most eggs wins the game.

4. The Prize Egg (played similar to hot potato). Have different colored plastic eggs (enough for each child). Again, put a letter or word in each egg. The children assemble in a circle. As music is playing the eggs are being passed around in a circle. When the music stops, the children discontinue passing the eggs. Call out a certain color of egg as being the "prize egg". The children holding the prize eggs must open it and say the name of the letter or an object that begins with that letter sound or focus sight word(s).

5. Rolling the Dice
Make your own dice or purchase wooden ones. Print the alphabet letters or words you would like the children to practice. Children roll the dice and say the letter or word printed on it.

6. Alphabet or Sight Word Concentration
Display a few alphabet letters or sight words for all the children view. Have children practice identifying them. Have children close their eyes and take one away. The children determine which one was taken away. This would be a good game to place in a center.

7. Alphabet or Sight Word Board Game
Make a game board (chart) with the words or alphabet letters you have been working on. Make cards with these letters or words and extra cards that do not contain these. Children pick a card. If they have one that is on the game board they can color it (the board can be laminated and the children can use washable markers). The child that has the game board completed will be the winner.

Another Version - More Difficult
You can use alphabet picture cards and the children eliminate the letter that the picture begins with. They must not only identify the letter but they must also be familiar with the sound it makes. The alphabet pictures found in the members area of our sister site could be used (sister site)

8. Alphabet or Sight Word Race
Place the alphabet letters or sight words you wish the children to identify on the floor at the end of the room (this would work even better in the gym). Line children up in two rows. Call out a letter or sight word. The first two children race to find it. The one who picks it up first takes it back to his/her group. The race continues until all the children have had a chance to race. The group that has the most, wins the game.

9. Playdough and Glitter Sight Words
When I was teaching, I had my students form the sight words out of Play Dough. They loved, it, of course. It is also very effective for tactile learners or very active kids.

My son, age 5, and I are making a sight word game right now. I write a sight word with pencil, and he writes over it with glitter glue pens. I am going to have him trace over his finished cards with his finger once dry, while he says the word out loud.
THANKS CARRIE!

More Sight Word Activities
1. Children make the focus sight words by using alphabet stamps.
2. Give children the sight word with the letters cut out. They must rearrange the letters to make the focus sight word(s).

More ideas can be found in the follow links:

Literacy Center Ideas

More Literacy Center Ideas

Five Senses Theme Books

2010-01-01T16:45:00.000-08:00

Below you will find a list of books that can be used in conjunction with introducing the theme "Five Senses". Click on the titles if you wish to read the reviews and purchase.
Library - Some Suggested Books:

1. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? By Eric Carle
2. Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? by Bill Martin Jr.
3. Seven Blind Mice by Ed Young
4. My Five Senses by Aliki
5. You Can’t Taste a Pickle With Your Ear by Harriet Ziefert
6. You Can’t Smell a Flower With Your Ear by Joanna Cole
7. The 5 Senses by Nuria Roca
8. Smell by Maria Rius
9. Touch by Maria Rius
10. Hearing by Maria Rius
11. Taste by Maria Rius
12. Sight by Maria Rius
13. The Listening Walk by Paul Showers

CHRISTMAS CENTER IDEAS

2009-11-24T10:15:00.000-08:00

Christmas Center Ideas
These center ideas are related to the kinderplans.com website. Photographs of these suggestions can be found on that site under the heading "Christmas Theme" and "Christmas Crafts".

Literacy Center Ideas
1. The children will be completing the interactive component in the chosen emergent reader
(related to using their five senses).

2. Match the lower-case letter Christmas trees to the upper-case letters. Younger children can match the letters that are the same. Templates found on the "Christmas" theme website page in the member's area.

3. Play "Alphabet Review" game, "Vowel Fun" game, "What's Missing" game found in the ALL ABOUT ME theme unit found in the link below:

All About Me

4. Sort alphabet pictures beginning with the same sounds. Alphabet pictures found in the member's area under the heading "Alphabet Pictures".

Writing Center
Children can be writing a letter to Santa or how they experience Christmas using their five senses. This activity will vary according to the age of the children you are working with. They will likely need to dictate what they want printed and an adult assistant scribes it for them. A writing template (children print on Santa's beard) can be found in the theme unit.

Math Center
1. Children can be working in their number booklet found on page 23 in Week 2 Plans in the theme unit. They will be adding the correct amount of stars (sticky stars) to correspond with the number.

2. The children can add the correct amount of decorations to the number tree templates found on the theme unit web page.

3. Children can be counting and sorting Christmas tree decorations according to common characteristics.

Science Center
Children can test small musical instruments and experience sound and vibrations.

Craft Center
Activities displayed on the website.

Dramatic Play Center
Santa's Workshop as outlined in the theme unit.

Listening Center
A copy of the suggested Christmas books would be placed at this center.

Library
Below you will find suggested books for the "Christmas" theme. You can click on the name of the book to find where the book can be ordered. Press back button to return back to this page.

1. If You Take A Mouse To The Movies by Laura Numeroff
2. The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
3. How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Sueuss
4. The Mouse Before Christmas by Michael Garland
5. The Jolly Christmas Postman by Allan Ahlberg
6. Dream Snow by Eric Carle
7. The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore
8. Mrs. Wishy Washy's Christmas by Joy Cowley and Elizabeth Fuller
9. Christmas Trolls Eve by Jan Brett
10. The Wild Christmas Reindeer by Jan Brett

Other Centers
1. Painting (easels)
2. Blocks (big and small)
3. Sand or Water
4. Puzzles
5. Overhead transparency (a copy of the emergent reader could be placed here and the children would model read the story).
6. Playdough center

Click on the link below to take a tour of of more Preschool and Kindergarten Activities related to the Christmas theme.

Preschool and Kindergarten Activities - Christmas

More Preschool and Kindergarten Activities - Christmas

2009-11-09T10:28:00.000-08:00

CENTER ACTIVITIES FOR FAMILY AND PETS THEME

The activities below compliment the "FAMILY AND PETS" theme on the Kinderplans.com website.

Note: You will have to press the "back button" if you wish to return back to this page.

Family and Pets Theme

Literacy Centers
1. The reproducible emergent reader "The Perfect Pet" would be compiled, colored and the children would draw their perfect pet on the last page of the book. They could practice reading it together with a friend.

2. Sorting pictures that begin with the "i" sound (pictures found in the member's area under the heading "Alphabet Pictures).

3. Matching rhyming picture cards (found in the theme unit).

4. Practice printing the letter "i" using different methods (painting, salt tray,white eraser board, magnetic board, stamping it out with bingo markers or using the printing book found on the site).

5. Visual Discrimination - children could be matching the pet words with those on the picture cards (found in theme unit).

6. Children are reviewing previous sounds introduced by matching the clothespin with the letter printed on it to the corresponding picture. This activity is displayed on the website and the picture templates found in the theme unit

7. Word family activity - have two dice, the word families that have been previously introduced are printed on one and the initial consonants on the other. The children shake the dice and determine what word is made. This could be further extended to determine if it makes a real or nonsense word. A photograph of this activity can be found on the web site.

7. Practice sight words (new ones and previously introduced words) using game outlined on the website.

Writing Center
The children will be completing the activity displayed on the website. How this is completed would vary according to ability. The teacher might need to scribe what the child dictates to them or another child can complete this independently using a model. The children can print what their favorite pet is or information on what they have learned about pets.

Math Center - Introduction to Money
1. Children could be sorting, estimating, counting and making money patterns.
2. Matching the correct number with the number of spots displayed on the dogs (found in the theme unit).

Craft Center
1. The letter "i" picture mnemonic activity outlined on the website.

2. Activities displayed on the website,

Note: You will have to press the "back button" if you wish to return back to this page.

Family and Pets Theme

Science
Simple information books about pets could be placed in this center.

Dramatic Play Center
Pet Store - place a cash register and stuffed pet supplies in here. Each item could have small stickers or numbers placed on them. This is how many pennies it will take to purchase the item.

Listening Center
A copy of the book "I Wanna Iguana" (or another pet book) would be placed at this center along with the reading to listen to).

Library
Below you will find suggested books for the "Family and Pets" theme. You can click on the name of the book to find where the book can be ordered. Press back button to return back to this page.
1. I Wanna Iguana by Karen Kaufman Orloff
2. The Perfect Pet by Margie Palatini
3. Clifford the Big Red Dog series by Norman Bridwell
4. Oh, The Pets you Can Get: All About Our Animal Friends by Tish Rabe
5. The Best Pet of All by David Larochelle
6. Cats, Cats, Cats by Leslea Newman
7. Dogs, Dogs, Dogs by Leslea Newman
8. My Family Book by Todd Parr
9. The Mommy Book by Todd Parr
10. The Daddy Book by Todd Parr
11. My Family is Forever by Nancy Carlson

Other Centers
1. Painting (easels)
2. Blocks (big and small)
3. Sand or Water
4. Puzzles
5. Overhead transparency (a copy of the emergent reader could be placed here and the children would model read the story).
6. Playdough center
7. Read Around the Room - Pictures of pets with their names are posted and children point to them using a special pointing tool. They read the name posted on the picture. Other print in the classroom could also be read. (there are pictures found on the theme page)

Click on the link below to take a tour of of more Preschool and Kindergarten Activities
Preschool and Kindergarten Activities

2009-10-16T20:27:00.000-07:00

CENTER ACTIVITIES
All the activities below relate to the ALL ABOUT ME theme found on the kinderplans.com website.

Literacy Centers
1. The reproducible emergent reader retelling of the "Queen's Feet" would be compiled and colored. The children could practice reading it together with a friend.

2. Picture sorting - the children can sort the pictures that begin with the "qu" sound (pictures found in the member's area under the heading "Alphabet Pictures).

3. Playing the games "Vowel Fun" or "Alphabet Review" games displayed in the link below.

Literacy Games

4. Practice printing the letter "q" using different methods (painting, salt tray,white eraser board, magnetic board, stamping it out with bingo markers or using the printing book found on the site).

5. Word family activity - displayed on the website.

6. Each child has an envelope with the letters of their name in it. These letters are in mixed-up order in boxes. They must cut the boxes and place the letters in order to make their name on a strip of construction paper (their picture could also be placed here). They can use the name printed on the envelope to guide them. Older students can also print the name below it.

7. The children could practice stamping their name using alphabet stamp letters.

8. The children could be making their name using alphabet magnetic letters.

9. As a review of letters previously learned, the children could be making letter patterns using the alphabet stamps or magnetic letters. Example: c, a, q c,a,q c,a,q. Older children could print this pattern.

10. Practice sight words (new ones and previously introduced ones) using game displayed on the site.

These are just a few suggestions. You would not use all of them. Pick a few that would be suitable for your class. They can be placed in bins and the children can choose which one they would like to work with. I would have all the children complete the reader as one should go home every 3-5 days.

Writing Center
The children would be drawing a picture of themselves and writing a sentence. They can use the sentence that was modeled in class time as a guide. Note: There will be a wide range of ability with completing this activity. Some children will be only scribbling, others making a few letters to a few able to print the complete full sentence.

Math Center
Traced and cut foot outlines will be placed in this center. The children will arrange them from smallest to biggest or shortest to longest. They must estimate how long each foot is using an assigned measurement tool (I like using snap cubes because they are easier to work with). They would measure the foot to see how close their estimation was. This would be demonstrated in class prior to going to the center.

Craft Center
1. The letter "q" picture mnemonic activity outlined on the website.

2. Choose one of the activities displayed on the site.

Note: You will have to press the "back button" if you wish to return back to this page.

All About Me Theme

Social Studies
Simple board games where children learn about cooperation and taking turns.

Dramatic Play Center
The children will be preparing for "About Me" party as outlined in the theme unit. You could also place dress-up clothes in this center.

Listening Center
A copy of the book "The Queen's Feet" (or another book on self-control) would be placed at this center along with the reading to listen to).

Library
Below you will find suggested books for the "About Me" theme. You can click on the name of the book to find where the book can be ordered. Press back button to return back to this page.
1. Queen's Feet by Sarah Ellis
2. The Nose Book Al Perkins
3. My Hands by Aliki
4. I Like Myself by Karen Beaumont
5. My Two Hands, My Two Feet by Rick Walton
6. Adventures of a Nose by Viviane Schwartz
7. Eyes, Nose, Fingers and Toes by Judy Hindley
8. The Foot Book by Dr. Seuss
9. I Like Me by Nancy Carlson
10. My Feet by Aliki
11. On the Day You Were Born by Debra Frasier
12. This is My Body by Mercer Mayer

Other Centers
1. Painting (easels)
2. Blocks (big and small)
3. Sand or Water
4. Puzzles
5. Overhead transparency (a copy of the emergent reader could be placed here and the children would model read the story).
6. Playdough center (could be making their names).

Literature Books

2009-10-05T21:11:00.000-07:00

Literature Connections
In the links below you will find where you can purchase and read reviews on the literature books that are suggested to be used for the "Colors" and "Pumpkins" themes on the companion website http://www.kinderplans.com. These are only suggestions but other books can be used that relate to these themes. Libraries are an inexpensive means of attaining books.

Colors Theme
Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh
My Crayons Talk by Patricia Hubbard
Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert

Pumpkin Theme
The Pumpkin Circle: The Story of a Garden by George Levenson
Pumpkin, Pumpkin by Jeanne Titherington
Pumpkin Faces by Judith Moffat
Pumpkin People by Sandra and Ron Lightburn
Pumpkin Day, Pumpkin Night by Anne Rockwell
How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin? by Margaret McNamara

Teaching Printing in Preschool??
In the previous blog I was asked about teaching printing in Preschool. Personally, I believe this is too young to formally teach printing. The alphabet can be introduced but I would not be teaching printing. The children can attempt to print the letters but this would be without formal instruction.

Shared Reading

2009-09-20T17:24:00.001-07:00

Providing support for the children during shared reading time give the children the greatest sense of success. The teacher's job is to move the children from reading from memory to recognizing letters and their related sounds, recognizing patterns and wording families to recognizing chosen sight words and relaying this to new reading situations.

The emergent readers provided on the sister site http://www.kinderplans.com have been specifically designed to use for the purpose of introducing beginning reading skills in this supportive environment. Below you will find a weekly plan on how you can use one of the readers for the duration of a week.

DAY ONE

Relate to student's background experiences - children talk about their own experiences related to the book topic. Example, prior to reading the reader "Jiggle Worms" the students would talk about how they felt the first day of school or trying something new.
Predict what the story will be about
Teacher reads and students listen. If this is an interactive reader the teacher may have the children predict what will go on the page and he/she demonstrates how to complete the interactive page(s)
Teacher reads again, this time he/she tracks, students join in if they are able
Students complete an activity related to the text. They may illustrate, color or complete an interactive page related to the story.

DAY TWO

Teacher and students reread the text.
Students can share a page or other related activity from the previous day.
Teacher has text prepared on sentence strips
The strips are distributed to the students. The children use the master copy to reconstruct the text in a pocket chart or by lining up the strips on a bulletin board appropriately
The teacher practices removing individual lines and students identify what has been removed.
Students can complete this similar activity at the literacy center (cut out, rearrange and glue strips in the correct order). The master copy is always available for reference purposes.

YOUNGER STUDENTS: You will likely want to read the story again focusing on tracking each word and demonstrating the left to right movement. Some students may want to use a pointer and try tracking the words and model this to their peers.

DAY THREE - SPECIFIC SKILLS RELATED TO THE TEXT ARE INTRODUCED

The children are now familiar with the text and the focus is on more specific skills such as learning the alphabet letter related to the text or sight word.
The teacher presents the text with selected words masked (beginning with the focus sound or sight word). The masked words are written on individual word cards. these word cards are distributed to the students.
Teacher and students read the text together, stopping to identify each masked word. As the masked word is identified by the students, they search their cards for the appropriate word card.
Students are given a copy of the omitted words and complete this at the literacy center. A master copy is available for verification. Students put their copy in a special book and illustrate it. Other sight word activities could be employed. For example, unscramble the focus sight words, play sight word bingo or do a word search where the children locate the focus sight word.

YOUNGER STUDENTS

I would focus on the words within the text that use the letter focus sound. Determine words within the text that begin with that sound. Brainstorm for other words that begin with that sound. Act out the sound. For example for the letter "c" pretend to climb saying the sound as you do so.
Distribute the alphabet picture cards. The children say the name of the picture and determine if it begins with this sound. Place all the picture cards that begin with that sound under the correct letter corresponding to that sound. These could be used for review purposes frequently. The children could do this independently at the literacy center, sorting picture cards that begin with that sound.

DAY FOUR

Particular word patterns are selected from the text. For example, if there is a word within the text that contains the "at" word family this would be the focus of the lesson. Students might have simple spelling lesson printing or identifying words as they think of examples. Some of these words can be put in simple sentences for reading and for sentence dictation.
Individual words which have become sight words for any student are written on word cards and students can place these in his/her word bank. Several times each week student take out their word banks to read their words and to engage in activities such as sentence construction using their words.

YOUNGER CHILDREN - Again this would not be appropriate for younger children. I would just focus on hearing rhyming words. This would be in the form of reading books with rhyme (Dr. Seuss) and distributing rhyming picture cards to determine if they rhyme or not.

More shared reading activities can be found at:

Shared Reading in Kindergarten and Preschool

Teaching Printing

2009-09-07T12:37:00.001-07:00

Teaching printing to kindergarten can be a challenging task . Introducing letters in the sequence below can assist at making this task less of a problem.
Begin with the letter "c"
"c" turns into
d, a, g, q, o, s, f, e

Next letters would be the down letters like in "l"
"l" turns into
t, i, , k and u

Next letters would be the down, back up and around letters starting with "r"
"r" turns into
n, m, h, b, and p

Next letters would be the slanted letters starting with "v"
"v" turns into
y, w. x and z

The Kinderplans.com alphabet program tries to follow this letter sequence of introducing the letters, however, it does deviate slightly from this because it incorporates sound blending (word families) and themes so following the exact sequence was more challenging. More ideas and a printing book can be found in the link below:

Preschool and Kindergarten Activities for Printing

Hand Washing

2009-05-03T08:56:00.000-07:00

With the outbreak of the swine flu, it might be a good time to review proper hand washing. In the links below you will find a video and books that could be used in teaching children this concept.
Video
Proper Hand Washing Video

Books About Proper Hand Washing

Wash Your Hands! by Tony Ross

Germs Are Not for Sharing by Elizbeth Verdick

Germs by Judy Oetting

Literacy and Reading
I just stumbled on an excellent site that can be used in conjunction with your Computers Centers.

Good Literacy and Reading Site

Visit our Sister Site
Click Here for More Preschool and Kindergarten lesson plans, activities and worksheets

CHANGES IN THE CURRICULUM

2009-04-12T20:20:00.000-07:00

I often get requests for hard copy versions of the theme resources, however, I think the trend is moving towards new curriculum development becoming delivered online. I have seen this move within my school. Last year we implemented a new Social Studies curriculum and the majority of it is delivered online. Teachers (especially in my age range) have been very slow at becoming familiar with it because they are not accustomed to this new format. It takes time to browse, navigate and retrieve the information. One of the positive features of having the resources online is the use of video. I was able to take the children to a live version of children that live in another country. Pictures in a book could not immerse them like the video did. Whether we like it or not, I believe this will become the trend.

It would be impossible to offer the resources found on kinderplans.com for the current price, if it were presented in a hard copy format. Initially that was the plan, until we learned of the costs involved in producing it in hard copy. Shipping costs alone (depending where the resources were shipped to) were the price of the membership (because there is over 2,000 pages of materials). My web development company suggested that I offer them as e-books. To be honest, I didn't even know what an e-book was. I needed some educating in this area. It has been a growing and learning process for me but I can see an increasing trend in this direction and I do see the benefits. One of the biggest benefits is the ability to add and revise materials and keep them current.

Yes, teaching methods are changing. This can be a very positive move. I have seen many changes in my many years of teaching. I tend to allow the children dictate to me if it is a positive move. For example, I rarely use worksheets. I prefer hands-on type activities such as learning games. I have increasingly used the computer as a valuable learning tool. This has been a positive move because the children are far more involved in their learning and this makes me excited. Let me know your thoughts on this issue by commenting below.

Literature for the Weather Theme

2009-03-28T21:29:00.000-07:00

In the links below you will find literature suggestions for the Weather theme. Click on the title of the book to read the review
1. It Looked Like Spilt Milk by Charles G. Shaw
1. Maisy's Wonderful Weather Book by Lucy Cousins
2. What Will the Weather Be? by Linda Dewitt and Carolyn Croll
3. Oh Can You Say What's the Weather Like Today: All About Weather by Tish Rabe and Aristides Ruiz
4. Emma's Cold Day by Margriet Ruurs
5. Who Likes the Rain by Wong Herbert Yee
6. The Umbrella Party by Janet Lunn
7. The Wind Blew by Pat Hutchins
8. A Rainbow of My Own by Don Freeman
9. Caps, Hats, Socks and Mittens: A Book About the Four Seasons by Louise Borden
10. The Cloud Book by Tomie DePaola
11. Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett
12. Come on Rain! by Karen Hesse

Weather theme activities can be found in the link below:

Preschool and Kindergarten Activities

Preschool Kindergarten Activities - Transportation Theme

2009-03-13T13:29:00.000-07:00

Transportation Theme Literature Connection
Listed below are a few suggested books that can be used with the "Transportation Theme". If you click on the title of the book, it will give you a review of the book and where you can purchase it.

1. One Yak Called Jack by Darcia LaBrosse
2. The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper
3. Airport by Byron Barton
4. All Aboard ABC by Doug Magee and Robert Newman
5. The Big Red Bus by Judy Hindley
6. Car Wash by Sandra Steen and Susan Steen
7. Cars by Anne Rockwell
8. Freight Train by Donald Crews
9. I Love Trains by Philemon Sturges
10. Lisa's Airplane Trip by Anne Gutman and George Hallensleben
11. Nest Stop Grand Central by Maira Kalman
12. Planes by Anne Rockwell
13. Round Trip by Ann Jonas
14. School Buses by Dee Ready
15. Trains by Ann Rockwell

More activities related to the transportation theme can be found in the link below:

More Preschool and Kindergarten Activities - Transportation Theme

Ocean Theme Literature Books

2009-02-13T22:23:00.000-08:00

Below is a list of books that can be used for the Ocean theme. If you click on the titles you will find reviews of the books.

1. Rainbow Fish and the Big Blue Whale by Marcus Pfister
2. The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister

The Ocean and Other Sea Creatures

3. Commotion in the Ocean by Giles Andreae
4. Over in the Ocean: In a Coral Reef by Marianne Berkes
5. A Swim Through the Sea by Kristin Joy Pratt
6. The Biggest Thing in the Ocean by Kevin Sherry
7. Clumsy Crab by Ruth Galloway

Fish
8. Swimmy by Leo Lionni
9. Fish is Fish by Leo Lionni
10. Fidgety Fish by Ruth Galloway
11. Three Little Fish and the Big Bad Shark by Will Grace

Sharks
12. Smiley Shark by Ruth Galloway
13. Surprising Shark: Read and Wonder by Nicola Davies
14. Shark in the Park by Phil Roxbee Cox

Octopus
15. How to Hide an Octopus and Other Sea Creatures by Ruth Heller
16. Good Thing You're Not an Octopus by Julie Markes
17. My Very Own Octopus by Bernard Most
18. Tickly Octopus by Ruth Galloway

Whales
19. Humphrey and the Lost Whale by Wendy Tokuda, Richard Hall and Hanako Wakiyama
20. Whale of a Tale: All About Porpoises, Dolphins and Whales by Bonnie Worth and Aristides Ruiz

Phonemic Awareness

2009-01-31T13:16:00.000-08:00

In the past, educators took for granted that children had the ability to distinguish sounds. Over the past few years there has been a better understanding that not all children have this ability. These children greatly benefit in being given assistance in this area and the push towards phonemic instruction was adapted. Phonemic awareness does not relate to identifying letters but a child's ability to distinguish sounds. I attended a session where a school gave a presentation on how they have included phonemic awareness instruction daily with their kindergarten class. They devoted 10-15 minutes every day to this. They noticed an increase in the children within their school being more successful in learning to read.

I often refer to the site that you will find in the link below because it provides you with a wealth of information on this topic and a video demonstrating instruction in this area. However, in the session I attended the children were given little hand mirrors to observe how their lips and tongue moved when they made the different sounds. They would also hold their hand close to their lips and feel the air movement as they made different sounds. This gave the children an understanding of how and why different sounds are produced.

I have included the link below for more information on this topic. Maybe you can start thinking about using little mirrors in your own phonemic instructional period.

Phonemic Awareness

Five Senses Literature Books

2009-01-17T13:38:00.000-08:00

Shared Writing

2008-12-23T08:49:00.000-08:00

Shared Writing
Modeling the writing process is similar to modeling the reading process. The children learn about the writing process by watching the teacher being involved in doing it. The teacher begins the writing by gathering the students around an easel and starts a discussion about a shared experience--it can be related to the focus theme. The teacher introduces the topic of discussion. The children share their ideas while the teacher records them on chart paper. As the teacher writes he/she verbalizes the skills he/she wants the children to learn about writing. She/he might verbalize the following:

1. How writing moves from left to right and top to bottom.
2. Review the formation of certain letters.
3. Stretch out sounds of words to model how they can do the same when they are attempting to spell words.
2. Make use of the words that are posted in their environment when trying to figure out how to spell them.
3. The use of capital letters and stop marks (periods, question and exclamation marks).

It is important that the children be actively involved in helping present ideas and attempting to spell new words.

Writing Center
This model can be posted in the writing center for the children to use in their own writing. This would need to be modified according to the group you are working with.

CENTER ACTIVITIES FOR FAMILY AND PETS THEME

2008-11-04T12:32:00.001-08:00

The activities below compliment the "FAMILY AND PETS" theme on the Kinderplans.com website.

Note: You will have to press the "back button" if you wish to return back to this page.

Family and Pets Theme

Literacy Centers
1. The reproducible emergent reader "The Perfect Pet" would be compiled, colored and the children would draw their perfect pet on the last page of the book. They could practice reading it together with a friend.

2. Sorting pictures that begin with the "i" sound (pictures found in the member's area under the heading "Alphabet Pictures).

3. Matching rhyming picture cards (found in the theme unit).

4. Practice printing the letter "i" using different methods (painting, salt tray,white eraser board, magnetic board, stamping it out with bingo markers or using the printing book found on the site).

5. Visual Discrimination - children could be matching the pet words with those on the picture cards (found in theme unit).

6. Word family activity - have two dice, the word families that have been previously introduced are printed on one and the initial consonants on the other. The children shake the dice and determine what word is made. This could be further extended to determine if it makes a real or nonsense word. A photograph of this activity can be found on the web site.

7. Practice sight words (new ones and previously introduced ones) using games and activities posted on the previous blog below.

These are just a few suggestions. You would not use all of them. Pick a few that would be suitable for your class. They can be placed in bins and the children can choose which one they would like to work with. I would have all the children complete the reader as one should go home every 3-5 days.

Writing Center
On the theme book page there are large and simple outlines of pets. These could be used to make shape books. The children could be drawing a picture of their favorite pet. They can use the sentence that was modeled in class time as a guide. Note: There will be a wide range of ability with completing this activity. Some children will be only scribbling, others making a few letters to a few able to print the complete full sentence

Math Center - Introduction to Money
Children could be sorting, estimating, counting and making money patterns.

Craft Center
1. The letter "i" picture mnemonic activity outlined on the website.

2. Activities displayed on the website,

Note: You will have to press the "back button" if you wish to return back to this page.

Family and Pets Theme

Science
Simple information books about pets could be placed in this center.

Dramatic Play Center
Pet Store - place a cash register and stuffed pet supplies in here. Each item could have small stickers or numbers placed on them. This is how many pennies it will take to purchase the item.

Listening Center
A copy of the book "I Wanna Iguana" (or another pet book) would be placed at this center along with the reading to listen to).

Library
Below you will find suggested books for the "Family and Pets" theme. You can click on the name of the book to find where the book can be ordered. Press back button to return back to this page.
1. I Wanna Iguana by Karen Kaufman Orloff
2. The Perfect Pet by Margie Palatini
3. Clifford the Big Red Dog series by Norman Bridwell
4. Oh, The Pets you Can Get: All About Our Animal Friends by Tish Rabe
5. The Best Pet of All by David Larochelle
6. Cats, Cats, Cats by Leslea Newman
7. Dogs, Dogs, Dogs by Leslea Newman
8. My Family Book by Todd Parr
9. The Mommy Book by Todd Parr
10. The Daddy Book by Todd Parr
11. My Family is Forever by Nancy Carlson

Other Centers
1. Painting (easels)
2. Blocks (big and small)
3. Sand or Water
4. Puzzles
5. Overhead transparency (a copy of the emergent reader could be placed here and the children would model read the story).
6. Playdough center
7. Read Around the Room - Pictures of pets with their names are posted and children point to them using a special pointing tool. They read the name posted on the picture. Other print in the classroom could also be read. (there are pictures found on the theme page)

Click on the link below to take a tour of of more Preschool and Kindergarten Activities
Preschool and Kindergarten Activities

Center Activities for the ALL ABOUT ME theme

2008-10-19T08:49:00.000-07:00

The activities below compliment the "All About Me" theme on the Kinderplans.com website.

Note: You will have to press the "back button" if you wish to return back to this page.

All About Me Theme

Literacy Centers
1. The reproducible emergent reader retelling of the "Queen's Feet" would be compiled and colored. The children could practice reading it together with a friend.

2. Picture sorting of ones that begin with the "qu" sound (pictures found in the member's area under the heading "Alphabet Pictures).

3. Locating pictures that rhyme with the word "me" (pictures found in the theme book).

4. Practice printing the letter "q" using different methods (painting, salt tray,white eraser board, magnetic board, stamping it out with bingo markers or using the printing book found on the site).

5. Word family activity - one foot template would have the "et" word family on it and the children must find another foot with an initial consonant on it. The children would say the new word when joining the two feet together. Note: This would need to be demonstrated in class previously. This would be a difficult activity if most of the children do not know their initial letter sounds yet, however, it offers a challenge to those children who are ready for this.

6. Each child has an envelope with the letters of their name in it. These letters are in mixed-up order in boxes. They must cut the boxes and place the letters in order to make their name on a strip of construction paper (their picture could also be placed here). They can use the name printed on the envelope to guide them. Older students can also print the name below it.

7. The children could practice stamping their name using alphabet stamp letters.

8. The children could be making their name using alphabet magnetic letters.

9. As a review of letters previously learned, the children could be making letter patterns using the alphabet stamps or magnetic letters. Example: c, a, q c,a,q c,a,q. Older children could print this pattern.

10. Practice sight words (new ones and previously introduced ones) using games and activities posted on the previous blog below.

These are just a few suggestions. You would not use all of them. Pick a few that would be suitable for your class. They can be placed in bins and the children can choose which one they would like to work with. I would have all the children complete the reader as one should go home every 3-5 days.

Writing Center
The children would be drawing a picture of themselves and writing a sentence. They can use the sentence that was modeled in class time as a guide. Note: There will be a wide range of ability with completing this activity. Some children will be only scribbling, others making a few letters to a few able to print the complete full sentence.

Math Center
Traced and cut foot outlines will be placed in this center. The children will arrange them from smallest to biggest or shortest to longest. They must estimate how long each foot is using an assigned measurement tool (I like using snap cubes because they are easier to work with). They would measure the foot to see how close their estimation was. This would be demonstrated in class prior to going to the center.

Craft Center
1. The letter "q" picture mnemonic activity outlined on the website.

2. Have children pretend they are "king" or "queen" for the day by making the craft activity displayed on the website.

Note: You will have to press the "back button" if you wish to return back to this page.

All About Me Theme

Social Studies
Simple board games where children learn about cooperation and taking turns.

Dramatic Play Center
The children will be preparing for "About Me" party as outlined in the theme unit. You could also place dress-up clothes in this center.

Listening Center
A copy of the book "The Queen's Feet" (or another book on self-control) would be placed at this center along with the reading to listen to).

Library
Below you will find suggested books for the "About Me" theme. You can click on the name of the book to find where the book can be ordered. Press back button to return back to this page.
1. Queen's Feet by Sarah Ellis
2. The Nose Book Al Perkins
3. My Hands by Aliki
4. I Like Myself by Karen Beaumont
5. My Two Hands, My Two Feet by Rick Walton
6. Adventures of a Nose by Viviane Schwartz
7. Eyes, Nose, Fingers and Toes by Judy Hindley
8. The Foot Book by Dr. Seuss
9. I Like Me by Nancy Carlson
10. My Feet by Aliki
11. On the Day You Were Born by Debra Frasier
12. This is My Body by Mercer Mayer

Other Centers
1. Painting (easels)
2. Blocks (big and small)
3. Sand or Water
4. Puzzles
5. Overhead transparency (a copy of the emergent reader could be placed here and the children would model read the story).
6. Playdough center (could be making their names).

Literature Selections for Colors Theme Unit

2008-10-11T10:05:00.000-07:00

Listed below you will find some recommended books for the "Colors" theme. You can click on each title to find a copy of the book online.

Note: If you click on the book link, hit the back button to return to this blog.

1. Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh

2. Little Blue and Little Yellow by Leo Lionni

3. The Big Orange Splot by Daniel by Daniel Pinkwater

4. A Color of His Own by Leo Lionni

5. Of Colors and Things by Tana Hoban

6. Leaves Change Colors by Betsy Maestro

7. What Makes a Rainbow by Betty Ann Schwartz

8. I love the book What Makes a Rainbow? My kids love the book. The illustrations are inviting, and of course the ribbons going through the book is lots of fun! THANKS CARRIE!

Click on the link for more Kindergarten and Preschool Activities related to the "Color" theme.

Alphabet and Sight Word Games

2008-09-27T13:34:00.000-07:00

Follow-up Shared Reading Activities

2008-09-20T19:09:00.000-07:00

After the children have been exposed to the text of a shared reading experience and have become familiar with it, the following follow-up activities could be employed. This would be appropriate for kindergarten aged children but not preschool.

Sentence Strips
The sentences from the story are placed on sentence strips. Students are asked to reconstruct the story using the strips. The teacher may do this together with the children and then they do this independently at the literacy center.

Cut-up Sentences
Give the children cut-up words from a sentence. The children are asked to rearrange the words to complete the sentence. A copy of the text is available to act as support. After, the children read and track as a final check.

Omitting Words
Provide the children with a sentence or sentences from the shared reading passage but this time omit words. The children are to find the words that are omitted. Again, you may want to provide the complete passage for verification.

Drawing
The above activities could also followed by a drawing to illustrate the sentence or sentences.

In the link below you will find more suggested reading activities

More Shared Reading Activities

Shared Reading Daily Plans

2008-09-07T08:53:00.000-07:00

Relate to student's background experiences - children talk about their own experiences related to the book topic. Example, prior to reading the reader "Jiggle Worms" the students would talk about how they felt the first day of school or trying something new.
Predict what the story will be about
Teacher reads and students listen. If this is an interactive reader the teacher may have the children predict what will go on the page and he/she demonstrates how to complete the interactive page(s)
Teacher reads again, this time he/she tracks, students join in if they are able
Students complete an activity related to the text. They may illustrate, color or complete an interactive page related to the story.

DAY TWO

Teacher and students reread the text.
Students can share a page or other related activity from the previous day.
Teacher has text prepared on sentence strips
The strips are distributed to the students. The children use the master copy to reconstruct the text in a pocket chart or by lining up the strips on a bulletin board appropriately
The teacher practices removing individual lines and students identify what has been removed.
Students can complete this similar activity at the literacy center (cut out, rearrange and glue strips in the correct order). The master copy is always available for reference purposes.

The children are now familiar with the text and the focus is on more specific skills such as learning the alphabet letter related to the text or sight word.
The teacher presents the text with selected words masked (beginning with the focus sound or sight word). The masked words are written on individual word cards. these word cards are distributed to the students.
Teacher and students read the text together, stopping to identify each masked word. As the masked word is identified by the students, they search their cards for the appropriate word card.
Students are given a copy of the omitted words and complete this at the literacy center. A master copy is available for verification. Students put their copy in a special book and illustrate it. Other sight word activities could be employed. For example, unscramble the focus sight words, play sight word bingo or do a word search where the children locate the focus sight word.

YOUNGER STUDENTS

I would focus on the words within the text that use the letter focus sound. Determine words within the text that begin with that sound. Brainstorm for other words that begin with that sound. Act out the sound. For example for the letter "c" pretend to climb saying the sound as you do so.
Distribute the alphabet picture cards. The children say the name of the picture and determine if it begins with this sound. Place all the picture cards that begin with that sound under the correct letter corresponding to that sound. These could be used for review purposes frequently. The children could do this independently at the literacy center, sorting picture cards that begin with that sound.

DAY FOUR

Particular word patterns are selected from the text. For example, if there is a word within the text that contains the "at" word family this would be the focus of the lesson. Students might have simple spelling lesson printing or identifying words as they think of examples. Some of these words can be put in simple sentences for reading and for sentence dictation.
Individual words which have become sight words for any student are written on word cards and students can place these in his/her word bank. Several times each week student take out their word banks to read their words and to engage in activities such as sentence construction using their words.

Shared Reading

2008-08-31T08:10:00.000-07:00