Homophones: Brain Food for Your Students!

Did you know that mastering homophones is actually the secret sauce to supercharging language skills for your students, not just for today but for their lifetime?  Think of homophones as "brain food", because those small words have a big impact!

1. 1. Vocabulary Expansion: Learning homophones introduces children to new words and increases their vocabulary, giving them the ability to express themselves better.

   
   

2. 2. Language Play: Exploring homophones allows kids to engage in language play and experiment with sounds, fostering creativity and a deeper understanding of phonetics.

   
   

3. 3. Critical Thinking: Telling the difference between homophones requires critical thinking as students must consider context and meaning to choose the correct word, sharpening their analytical skills.

   
   

4. 4. Contextual Understanding: Using homophones correctly helps kids understand the importance of context in communication, improving their comprehension skills.

   
   

5. 5. Spelling Proficiency: Learning homophones reinforces spelling skills as children need to differentiate between similar-sounding words and choose the right spelling for the given context.

   
   

6. 6. Enhanced Listening Skills: Identifying homophones requires attentive listening to subtle differences in pronunciation, enhancing auditory discrimination skills.

   
   

7. 7. Improved Reading Comprehension: Recognizing homophones aids in understanding text better, leading to greater reading comprehension and interpretation of written material.

   
   

8. 8. Language Precision: Understanding and using homophones correctly encourages kids to be precise in their language, promoting effective communication.

   
   

9. 9. Cognitive Flexibility: Grasping the nuances of homophones promotes cognitive flexibility, helping children adapt their communication skills in various contexts.

   
   

10. 10. Linguistic Awareness: Learning homophones builds an awareness of the complexities of language, fostering a lifelong appreciation for language diversity and structure.

I have to add this one:

Have you ever noticed the wrong use of a homophone (there, their, they're is a big one) in a note a parent has sent you? It doesn't make a very good impression, does it? Mastering homophones in elementary school saves your students later...maybe when they write a note to their own child's teacher!

If you are looking for FUN homophone resources that are a guaranteed roadmap to homophone mastery for your students, check out these resources from Dragon's Den:

8 Slam-Dunk Activities to make Maps and Globes FUN!

 Maps!  It's time to put a unit together that will really grab your 2nd, 3rd or 4th grade students' interest.  Where to begin? (heavy sigh here).  Rest easy!  Read on for a few ideas to really boost map skills for your students while putting FUN into your unit.  There's more... download the included great freebie to get you started!

Can't miss ideas to make your unit hit the mark!

• Include storytelling: Learning for millennia has been through stories.  Why?  It works.  It's the way our brain works. So use stories about characters that travel.  Plot their paths on a map.  For example, think about Alice in Wonderland.  Making a map of her adventures really pulls in students! It puts map skills to work!
• Create personalized maps: Once your students have learned about maps, give them the chance to make maps about their own world, or a fictional world from their favorite book.
• Map-inspired Art:  Encourage artistic expression by having your students create art pieces inspired by maps.  For instance, paint a landscape from a map, design a map-themed mural, etc.
• Create a community map with the class: Showcase points of interest in the community, landmarks, rivers and such.  Don't forget the map key. 
• Map-based Storytelling: Divide students into small groups and provide each group with a map of a different imaginary world.  Challenge them to collaborate and create a story based on their map, complete with characters and plot twists.  It's a chance to use map skills in a fun a creative way.
• Map-themed Snack Time:  Have a map-themed snack time, students enjoy snacks from different countries or regions.  Discuss the locations on a world map while enjoying flavors of the world.  This would be really fun if students brought in a simple snack from their heritage.
• Map Show and Tell:  Have students bring in or draw their own maps of a place they'd like to visit.  During a show and tell session, they present their maps and describe the locations and why they'd like to go there.
• Map Design Challenge:  Challenge your students to design a fantasy map for a fictional world, complete with landforms and landmarks. This stimulates critical thinking and creativity...that's another way of saying they LEARN the curriculum.  

Want a fun Freebie to drop into your unit?  Check out:

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Make Dry Erase Boards for Pennies!

 

Dry-erase boards are the one pice of equipment I just can't teach without! They are easy to carry anywhere, allow me to check answers for everyone in the class at a glance, and kids love to use them. It's a win, win, win!

My problem was always the cost. They are pricy little devils. Then I found a quick and easy (and cheap) way to get a whole class set in only a few minutes. I always let the kids take them home at the end of the year, but NEVER during the year. I always have a few extra, but they are to replace boards that get beaten up for one reson or another. There aren't many that go bad, but when they do, they need to be replaced. 

So, follow the simple directions below and you'll have your class set!

Materials:

I live near a Home Depot, so I go there. I'm sure other stores like it would also have everything you need. BUT, if you want a Home Depot there are a lot of them out there! It takes one 4' by 8' piece of Eucatile. It sells for $13.97.  That's 43 cents per board. It has a slick white surface, which is perfect for a dry-erase board. I've also heard it called "white board". 

Home Depot will cut it up for you at a small cost, BUT I have always told them I was a teacher, and it will be dry-erase boards for my students. They have always cut if for me for free, which I always appreciate!  Each finished dry-erase board is 12" by 12".

This is what Eucatile looks like. It is found in the Millworks section of the store. You will recognize it because it is white, shiny and slick.

The first step is to get someone who looks friendly (you want it cut for free----right?) and he will take it to the cutting station. 

I just tell them that I want it to be cut into one foot sections. The first thing they do it cut it into one foot by four foot strips. There are 8 of these strips.

Next he will take the 4 by 1 foot strips and cut them into one foot squares.

When he is done you have 32 boards.

The whole process takes about 15 minutes.

You don't have to tape the edges. I have never had a child get cut on an edge in over eight years. Have each child write their name on the back with a sharpie, and bring an old sock from home for an eraser. My school provided dry-erase markers, but with cut backs you may need to ask students to bring a couple of those as well. I only used black, since it was easy for me to see when they held up the boards. I told my students that the board was theirs, but they could NOT take it home until the last day of school. That rule came about after my first year of using them. Many, many, many never came back to school. Irritating, and not fun for me. The boards hold up amazingly well throughout the school year, but there are some that get pretty beat-up. Since 32 boards come from one sheet of Eucatile, I always had extra to replace boards with. 

How to use dry-erase boards in class?

1.  Reading: Answer question and hold up the board. You can see immediately see who needs help. They are perfect for guided reading!!

2. Math: Work together or alone, hold up the board for teacher to check. It's an easy way to check for understanding...very quick!

3.  Spelling: Practice words, homophones, etc.

4. Writing: Practice hooks, better adjectives etc.

5. They are perfect fore groupwork, individual practice and centers. Honestly, I used them many, many times throughout the day!

The ways to use dry erase boards in the classroom are endless...and kids love them!

What is Guided Reading Instruction?

 So! You're in the lion's den.  You've been told to teach guided reading, given some materials and set free to create reading miracles.  Cool.  But as you sit at your desk, do you ask yourself, "How do I do guided reading anyway?"  You are not alone!

I struggled for months trying to get it right.  I went to workshop after workshop, read everything I had time to read about guided reading, (not a ton of time, I assure you) and set to work trying one thing and then another to find strategies that work with my reading groups.  

To answer the question posed by this post, guided reading is small group reading instruction that uses a group of strategies to help students increase to higher and higher levels of difficulty and achievement. Sounds straight forward, but it takes knowledge about the process.  It's not magic, it's teaching at its best. 

Take a deep breath.  Your guided reading program may be a little different from other teachers.  That's ok. Like everything else in teaching, it's an art.  There are basic principals that work, and elevate your instruction to a level that helps student learning not only take place, but soar.  Guided reading really does work, and it works well.  Below are links to five guided reading posts that take on five areas that will set you on the right path to guided reading mastery.  There are freebies included with most posts, and lots of information you can implement today.  So, if you are just starting your guided reading program, or if you are looking to make it run better and smoother, The posts below will take you step-by-step through the process.

Getting Started!

Searching for Guided Reading Materials

Don't Hide from Running Records

Guided Reading: What Are the Other Kids Doing?

Creating a Guided Reading Schedule That Works

Here Comes Guided Reading

Take a Closer Look At Guided Reading

If you want a detailed resource that will lead you step-by-step through the guided reading process, check out:

Trying to find good math games for math centers or cooperative learning can be a time consuming prospect. I've found some really good ones for different areas of the math curriculum. One site has PDFs, and the IXL site is an amazing resource for Common Core activities. Hope you enjoy them!

This is a great game called "Ivy's Meadow". It's perfect for second and third graders to practice addition and subtraction. Click the lady bug to begin, then choose easy, difficult, or expert. Then start playing! Students can choose to add or subtract a particular number by clicking on the up and down arrows. Cute, colorful and good practice!

This is a FUN way to practice those math facts in addition, subtration, multiplication and division! Enjoy!

Click Here

If you are not familiar with IXL, don't waste another minute. This link goes to fourth grade, but you can click your grade level on the left hand side. Every Common Core math strand is listed, with a corresponding activity to use in the classroom. OHHH so helpful!

Click Here

Defeat the Math Monster is terrific practice for grades 1-4 (you choose the difficulty, plus addition, subtraction, multiplication or division). It's great for math centers. Students get 15 answers right to defeat the monster. There is a video to watch that shows just what to do!

Click Here

I love this one! Kids drag and drop answers and the pictures are totally engaging!

Click Here

This site is FILLED with second grade math PDFs, activities and handouts for many strands of the math curriculum. (Great for 3rd grade review too). It includes penguin math, snowflake activities, snowmen and glyphs! Don't miss this one!

Click Here

OMG! I LOVE this one for fast math practice. Kids choose the pretzel they want to be, then arm wrestle another pretzel. To win they must answer a math question fast! It includes an instructional video on how to play the game…it doesn't get much better than this!

Click Here

Are you working on time? This fun game has four skill levels that include time to the half-hour, to the quarter hour, the minute and elapsed time. Be sure to watch the instructional video to learn how to move the clock hands. VERY nice game!

Click Here

Freebie Time!

Mental Math is a vital skill for all students.  Here's a little freebie to get them started on developing this important skill!

Are you are interested in Math resources?  If so, check out the resources below, just click on the cover.

Text Features Freebies!

 

I may be crazy, but I love teaching text features!  It's a great time to pull out the informational texts that kids love.  Dinosaurs, bugs, monkeys, you name it! To make it even easier I've included in this post two of my favorite text feature teaching videos, plus a 14 poster text feature freebie.  I hope you enjoy!

This video gets straight to the point!

Now for the Freebie!  It uses emojis to grab your students' attention and keep them on the task at hand.  It includes 14 posters that cover:

Below is an example of only two of the 14 posters included in the freebie!

  

If you'd like the freebie, click on the picture below.  

This Freebie comes from a second grade Task Card resource that addresses Common Core RI.2.5.  If you'd like to check it out (It includes the posters) Click on the picture below:

Grab their attention with Movement!

Our kids aren't little brains that come rolling in the door each morning, they have bodies attached to those brains!  And those bodies need to MOVE, some more than others!  In fact, movement "turns on" the brain!  Sitting for too long hinders a kid's ability to learn, retain information, and control behavior. There are lots of ways to give kids the movement they need, without stopping the class for a 15 minute movement activity. Movement can be integrated into every part of your lesson to make learning and remembering easier for all kids! How to do it is the key! Below are just a few examples of how to bring movement (plus better focus, faster cognitive processing, and better memory retention) into your lesson plans.

1.  Are you teaching grammar?  Use body movements to represent punctuation marks. For example, when you read along and a period is needed, ask kids to stand up to show it's time for the period, clap hands for a comma and so on.  The movement you choose isn't as important as the fact kids are moving. 

2.  Are you teaching multiplication?  Ask groups of students to show a quick skit to demonstrate how to remember/do the problem.

3.  Use rhymic call backs.  As you may remember in the first installment of this series rhymic call backs are perfect for grabbing your kids' attention. Add clapping, a stand-up, sit-down, and you've got a terrific movement activity.  To see the "Grab Their Attention with Small Celebrations" click here

4.   Any work done in pairs or small groups automatically includes movement.  (get up, find your group, etc.) In fact, working with other kids builds not only on their need for movement, but on their inborn need for social communication.

5.  Bring recess back to your school!  Tying kids to their seats is destructive to learning, and creates behavior problems. A 15 minute break helps kids tackle the rest of the day, plus it builds social skills all kids need.

6.  Try Gallory Walks.  Put paper to write on at different places in the room. Ask students to write what they know or want to learn about an upcoming lesson.  Students can get into groups to answer questions you post around the room about a current topic, etc.

7. Include a midmorning snack.  It's a great way to hold their hunger in check. Hunger is one of the biggest distractions to learning, plus eating is a physical activity.

8. Take a short stretch break.  This can resharpen not only a kid's focus, but our own.

9.  Take a brain break.  There are lots of great websites for quick energizing brain breaks. Here are just a couple:

Energy and Cal: Brain Breaks and Focused-Attention Practices

From Rachel Lynette

20 three-minute Brain Breaks

To see the other two installments of this series check out:

Grab Their Attention With Small Celebrations

Grab Their Attention With Music

Visit my store to get LOTS of resources for 2nd-5th grade that grab and hold your students' attention!

Happy Moving! (and better learning) to you and your students!

Follow my Pinterest page to get TONS of freebies!

Dragon's Den Curriculum