State Testing Vocabulary Idea {Freebie}

Happy Wednesday!

We've been slowly unpacking from our family beach vacation and I figured I needed to share something that worked very well for me last school year.  It's called Word Rock and it's from Lady Bug's Teacher Files.  I found it on her site and printed out the complete file.  Below are the steps I took to implement her clever idea in my own classroom.

Binder available for student use any time

A completed Word Rock form 

A list of direction vocabulary found on our state tests.

1. I used the colored boom box sheet and placed it inside a binder for student access.  
2. I copied several sheets of the black and white boom box for the binder.  
3. I downloaded several Kidz Bop versions of popular songs I knew my students would like (i.e. party rock anthem, what does the fox say, moves like jagger, etc).  
4. I filled in the information on the black/white boom box sheets using state testing vocabulary words often found in directions.
5. On a Monday, I introduce one of the words to my class by playing a Kidz Bop song for about 10 seconds. 
6. I slowly turn down the music on my SMART board and introduce the track of the day.  On Day 1 I read the information in a fun upbeat way while displaying it from my document camera.  Days 2-3 I call on students to give me the information in their own words (without displaying the information on the sheet).  I introduce and practice 2 words a week.  Once I get to 5 words I do a review of each of the words (1 a day before introducing any new words).
7. When we've practiced the new "track" for the 3 days, I put it in the binder (referenced in step 1) for the children to access whenever they would like.  

It's been a blessing and a fun/quick way to cover important "direction vocabulary" students will encounter on the state tests.  I hope you can find a use for the free resource as well!  Until next time...

Vocabulary Assessment Idea

Yep, I'm back. I think I'm on a roll....FINALLY! So I wanted to share an idea I thought of at the beginning of the year. I do the same thing every week! What is it you ask?! Well, let me tell you. It is...a crossword puzzle spelling and vocabulary assessment!!! This idea came to me with the help and inspiration of my students. Basically, I have 10 spelling words each week that I expect my students to learn how to spell AND what the word means. I put the words on quizlet.com for the students to study. On Fridays I give them the crossword puzzle, call out the words like a regular spelling test, and the students apply the words to the definition clues. A good and free crossword puzzle maker site is: http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com/CrissCrossSetupForm.asp
I hope you can use this idea as well! The pictures are below. Happy Tuesday Night!

~Amanda

Seasonal Vocabulary

I borrowed this idea from littlemissglamourgoestokindergarten.blogspot.com.  She has fantastic ideas and I will be extending this idea for next year.  The long and short of it is, when the season is changing have students brainstorm a list of words that remind them of the season.  Next, a group of children can create illustrations for each word to help even the non-reader understand what the words mean.  Then, have some sort of cut out construction book to match the season at a Science table for students.  After that, have students take turns visiting the station and choosing a handful of words to use in sentences and create illustrations to match the words on the page.  Finally, create an in class bulletin board for decoration to display student work.  The differentiation is in student choice.  You could also provide sentence starters for struggling students.  Enjoy!