Monday Motivation {Word Walls}

I am linking up with my friend Jen Ross over at Teacher By the Beach again this week to talk about Word Walls.

Word Walls can be so many different things and can be very useful. I hear teachers say all the time that kids don't even look at them, so what's the point? I might have actually said that myself a time or two! The thing is, you have to teach students how to USE the word wall and what it's purpose is and it can be a VERY powerful and useful for tool for students.

What I don't recommend doing if you implement a traditional word wall like this...is placing it somewhere up high where you can't easily get to it each week to add your words. I promise your words won't get added if you do this...I sure didn't add mine like I was supposed to when the word wall was out of reach.

I'm ashamed to say that this was one of my first word walls and it's pretty pitiful looking. I have NO idea what possessed me to put the letters on gingerbread men other than the fact that my name is Ginger and I thought it was somehow cute...

It was suggested to me to have strips of paper and add velcro dots so that the words could be easily added each week and reused from year to year. This plan works well if you have your words already planned out before the year begins like our district did for each grade level.

As the years passed, my word walls became more functional and more appealing.

This particular year, I had room for two word walls and I loved it! One was for the traditional word wall words and the other was for content words.

The first word wall, I created with laminated letters and 2 inch wide ribbon. As the week's passed, I would add our weekly no excuse word wall words to that word wall. It was also at a reasonable spot on the wall that I didn't have to climb like a monkey to get to it and add my words!

My other word wall is my ALL TIME favorite! It is a writable word wall for content words. I wish that I had taken a picture of it later in the year when it had words that had been added to it, but it was marvelous! Each content word was written in a different color which made it easier for students to distinguish between and use. Math words ended up taking up the most space and were what students used the most. It definitely served its purpose!

I haven't ended up having a room that enabled me to do the writable word wall again, but I'm hoping to figure out a way to make that happen this year. It was so SO easy!!

I have also done content related word walls.

Excuse the poor quality of the following two pictures.

I would place the words on the board next to the anchor chart or poster. The board's words changed with each unit.

I don't have a picture of this, but I have also done a personal word wall folder for each student. When we would add a word to the wall or when students had a word they wanted to add, they could do so to their own individual folders. This was very effective and it was like they had their own mini dictionaries.

I would love to hear how you use word walls in your classrooms! You should definitely go link up with Jen if you have some fabulous ideas of your own to share!

St. Patricks Day Writing

So I used to love Lucky Charms as a kid. As I was laying in bed the other night, I was thinking how perfectly that little treat goes along with St. Patrick's Day and how fun it would be to use Lucky Charms for some fun writing! So this little pack was born!

I came up with two different writing activities. First, students can write about their favorite Lucky Charms marshmallow. I even included a fun little class graphing activity! The second writing activity is for for students to persuade someone to eat or not eat Lucky Charms!

Just a little preview from the pack!

Click on my blog button below to head to my shop and grab your copy!

2014 Classroom Sneak Peek

I've been steadily working in my room every day this week and I feel like it's slowly coming together. I'm not ready for the full reveal yet, but I do want to show you some "snapshots" of things I've been working on. 

As you may know, I've doing a Bold and Bright theme in my room this year. Think of the Crayola Bold Markers...that's kinda what I'm going for. =)

 My new room isn't as big as my old room, but I like the space. There is tons more storage space so I can keep the clutter contained to the cabinets! {This could be a bad thing for my inner hoarder...}

I'm going to have to do something about that horribly chipped paint. I just didn't think I would have time to repaint the whole thing this year. It's pretty big.

You can snag yourself a copy of those adorable iRead Labels from The Brown Bag Teacher HERE!

My room didn't have a teacher desk, but honestly...I prefer having a table. I have found there is more space on top for my "things." I just use plastic drawers underneath for my personal supplies. I also used the cabinets behind me for all of my teacher books since there wasn't a spare bookshelf for them.

You can purchase Amy Lemons numbers HERE. Hers are more customizable for your own classroom since they come in chevron and in black and white outline so you can print on whatever color paper you want. 

My numbers are already set in the bright and bold colors.

If you like the look of these word wall labels and numbers and think to yourself you need them for own classroom, you can download them for FREE from my TPT shop by clicking the image below!

I have also been working on a black and white classroom decor set which I hope to be sharing with you sometime this weekend! 

Happy Wednesday!

Painting Your Writing with Colorful Words {Shades of Meaning Mini Unit}

Thinking about my classes in the last few years, writing has always been something they have struggled with. Really being able to describe or use vivid words to tell their stories has been challenging. I can model all day long, but I needed something that would really teach them to use more interesting words in their writing. I teach at a very high poverty school so many of my students have limited vocabularies. This "Paint Your Writing" mini unit is just the thing to get your students using powerful words in their writing and speaking.

And look for a freebie from this unit coming Monday from my collaborative blog's "Show Us How You Use It: Paint Chip Samples" over at Owl-ways Be Inspired! 

I am excited to have finally created and posted something new for you all! It is available in my TPT shop by clicking my button below!

And as always, I like to give away one free set when I create something new! All you have to do to win is comment below with your email, be a follower of my blog, and guess where I'm headed on my babymoon/honeymoon in two weeks! HINT: See picture below! 

Best of luck! =)

The Ultimate Science Word Wall Pack!!

I have finally completed my materpiece of science content words! It is by far my largest ever creation and I am super proud of it!! It includes over 375 words and an editable page for adding your own, because this will inevitably miss some of the words you teach. I also included subject area headers to hang as you teach each unit! 

It is available in both of my shops by clicking my buttons below! 

I will be givng this set away free for the seventh person to comment with how you will use these in your classroom! =) 

Get creative people...

IMPORTANT NOTE: I moderate comments so you don't have to add multiple comments if yours doesn't show up. It won't show up til I approve it! If you add multiple, the second one will be deleted!

Good Luck!!

I'm baaaack with an Ultimate Science Pack Preview!!!

So it's been a hot minute since I've blogged. Let's just say life has been happening and I've just kind of taken a long and MUCH NEEDED hiatus from the blogging world. But it's summa time and I'm feeling inspired again! Maybe it's the lazy days being spent by the pool or my new boyfriend *hehe* Whatever the cause, I am glad to be back! 

I have had so many people message me asking for Science Word Wall Cards similar to my Math and ELA cards, but I wasn't able to find a set of "common" standards for every state so I decided that I would make an ULTIMATE set of science vocabulary word cards instead. It will also include an editable page where you can add your own words and pictures because I am sure with it being summer and all....I'll leave out some important words. =) 

I am also including Header Posters for each science topic covered in the pack.

So far, I've only completed the Header Posters. I will tackle the rest of the pack and hopefully have it finished and posted by Sunday or Monday night...but no promises...

Here is sneak peek!

Let me know if you have any suggestions! 

I'm feeling like I am getting my groove back! Whoo hoo!

I'm Still Alive and a TPT and TN Sale

I want to apologize for taking such a long leave of absence from my blogging duties, but things have been CUH-razy in my life lately. Honestly, my heart just hasn't been in it these last few weeks. I am feeling much more myself and so I am glad to be back in action!! Woot woot! 

But, oh how I have missed you all so much! 

I am here to share a little working with words freebie. We are working on Antonyms next week and so I wanted to share a fun little spin on a homophone hunt I found last year. Just click the picture to download yourself a copy!

I will also be having a sale in both my shops on Monday and Tuesday! See the button below for more details!

Thanks to Ashley Hughes for the adorable button!

I hope to have some new stuff coming soon friends! I just need to get a little more inspiration and motivation and I'll be there!

Go TIGERS!! Beat those Gamecocks! =)

Kindergarten Common Core ELA Vocabulary Cards

I am embarking on the task of breaking up my K-2 vocabulary card bundle into Kindergarten, first, and second grade. I just finished the Kindergarten set and it is available in both my shops!

Today's "Win This Product Challenge" is going to be a bit tougher than the last few items! If you aren't familiar, every time I post a new product, I pose a challenge and the first one or two commentors who answer correctly, win the product!

If you do not teach Kindergarten, you can have your pick of your grade level. I have not completed the individual ELA sets for first and second grade. I hope to have those finished tomorrow!

Win This Product Challenge

You must leave a comment stating what you think my favorite ELA strand is. Please also leave your email so I can send you the file of your choice! =)

Strands include Literature, Informational Text, Foundational Skills, Speaking and Listening, Language, and Writing.

The first correct answer wins! When a commentor guesses correctly, I will reply to that commentor and say they were the winner!

Good Luck!! 

SALE and more Common Core ELA

So I decided to keep my FLASH sale going until tonight because I can. =)

After receiving several emails, I decided to break up my ELA Common Core cards into individual grades! You people are hard to please! LOL Now, at least you will have the choice of a the bundle (grades 3-5) or your own individual grade! 

And the vocabulary cards look like this...

Go grab your set since they are HALF OFF in my TN Shop until tonight at midnight!!

I will begin grades K-2 soon! 

I have been getting emails from people about doing cards for 6th grade. I just don't know guys! It was enough work creating 3-5! If I have time at the end of the summer, we will see about getting those done! I know you middle school teachers like cutesy stuff too!

ELA Common Core Vocabulary Grades 3-5

FINALLY, after what seems like forever, I have finished the ELA vocabulary cards for grades 3-5! There are 187 words included in this pack along with the standards for each grade, a list of each grades vocabulary words, and posters for each standard cluster!

They are available in my both of my shops for $12.50! I debated long and hard about how much to charge for these, but I have spent DAYS working on these and there are over 140 pages in the document.

I need a break from vocabulary words, so I probably won't have grades K-2 done until next week sometime. I hope you can use these! I am so excited to have finally completed them!!

First to comment will snag a FREE set!!