Throwback Thursday: Vowels

It's Throwback Thursday time!  I had this post all ready to go, but then the day got away from me.  So enjoy some extra reading on the 4th of July.  :)

One of my favorite books to read at the beginning of the year is The War Between the Vowels and Consonants.  It really helps student identify the vowels and consonants that they seem to have forgotten about over the summer.

Here's my original post!  If you stick to the end, I have a freebie that goes along with the book. ;)

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April, 8, 2013

My first day of spring break had a few bumps in the road.  I went to take my dog to get her shots and didn't realize I needed an appointment. Then I headed up to the Mall of Georgia and got there at about 9am...too bad the mall doesn't open until 10am.

At least Target was open! I was also supposed to meet a friend in the afternoon, but she ended up cancelling on me. Instead I got a mani and a pedi, took a nap, started putting my winter clothes away, walked the dog and made burrito bowls for dinner. (You have to try this recipe!) 

Luckily yesterday was a little more relaxing. I can't even remember what I did.  I took a walk with my husband....and I think that's about all.

Today I'm linking up with Collaboration Cuties' Mentor Text Linky.

I discovered The War Between the Consonants and Vowels my first year teaching. I distinctly remember asking my students the first week of school to name all the vowels.

There was a blank stare, people.

And then one student said "What's a vowel?"

Now I know you kindergarten teachers taught them about vowels and consonants. It's just that summer took it out of their brains.

Therefore every year, I read this book the first week of school.  Perhaps even the first day of school.

You see, in this book, the vowels and consonants don't get along.  They strongly dislike each other (you know I can't use the h word).

A war breaks outs.

Don't worry it's not violent. The capital T's turn into airplanes.

All of the sudden a squiggle comes to town. 

Eventually the vowels and consonants work together. They form words and scare that darn squiggle out of town.

Because squiggles are Scary (with a capital S).

Since I have a lot of time on my hands, I decided to link up with Flying into First Grade's Let's Get Acquainted Linky Party. 

This week's question is "What 3 things would you take with you if you were stranded on an island?"

1. Sunscreen.  I'm a redhead and I burn fairly easily. Except if I use that spray on sunscreen.  I started using that stuff about 2 summers ago and I haven't gotten burned since. A-mazing!

Side note - I bought a Groupon for a spray tan.  Any advice? I've never done one before and my legs are 12 shades of pasty. 

2. Bathing suit.  Would it stink to get stuck on an island with no bathing suit??

3. Kindle.  Because you know my stranded island would have an outlet and access to Amazon. Honestly I love to read so much! On the note of stranded islands, you should read On the Island by Tracey Garvis-Graves

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To keep the idea of vowels and consonants fresh in their minds, one of their morning work assignments is to color the vowels on a printable.  The one I had been using was from 1990.  Let's just say I needed to update it.

Click the picture to download the printable!

Spring Break: Mentor Text Edition & More

My first day of spring break had a few bumps in the road.  I went to take my dog to get her shots and didn't realize I needed an appointment. Then I headed up to the Mall of Georgia and got there at about 9am...too bad the mall doesn't open until 10am.

At least Target was open! I was also supposed to meet a friend in the afternoon, but she ended up cancelling on me. Instead I got a mani and a pedi, took a nap, started putting my winter clothes away, walked the dog and made burrito bowls for dinner. (You have to try this recipe!) 

Luckily yesterday was a little more relaxing. I can't even remember what I did.  I took a walk with my husband....and I think that's about all.

Today I'm linking up with Collaboration Cuties' Mentor Text Linky.

I discovered The War Between the Consonants and Vowels my first year teaching. I distinctly remember asking my students the first week of school to name all the vowels.

There was a blank stare, people.

And then one student said "What's a vowel?"

Now I know you kindergarten teachers taught them about vowels and consonants. It's just that summer took it out of their brains.

Therefore every year, I read this book the first week of school.  Perhaps even the first day of school.

You see, in this book, the vowels and consonants don't get along.  They strongly dislike each other (you know I can't use the h word).

A war breaks outs.

Don't worry it's not violent. The capital T's turn into airplanes.

All of the sudden a squiggle comes to town. 

Eventually the vowels and consonants work together. They form words and scare that darn squiggle out of town.

Because squiggles are Scary (with a capital S).

Since I have a lot of time on my hands, I decided to link up with Flying into First Grade's Let's Get Acquainted Linky Party. 

This week's question is "What 3 things would you take with you if you were stranded on an island?"

1. Sunscreen.  I'm a redhead and I burn fairly easily. Except if I use that spray on sunscreen.  I started using that stuff about 2 summers ago and I haven't gotten burned since. A-mazing!

Side note - I bought a Groupon for a spray tan.  Any advice? I've never done one before and my legs are 12 shades of pasty. 

2. Bathing suit.  Would it stink to get stuck on an island with no bathing suit??

3. Kindle.  Because you know my stranded island would have an outlet and access to Amazon. Honestly I love to read so much! On the note of stranded islands, you should read On the Island by Tracey Garvis-Graves

Ok, if you've managed to read through the entire post, I hope you come back tomorrow!  I'm finishing up a new unit and there *might* be a freebie.

Must Read Mentor Texts

Collaboration Cuties is hosting a *new* weekly linky about must read mentor texts.

Love the fact that this button goes with my blog theme! ;)

I'm going to talk about my favorite book of all time.

Now you may think "Wolves mean fairy tales" right? Well, there is so much more that you can do with this book!  First off, I usually have read several other wolf books like Big Bad Wolves or The Three Little Pigs.  Check your library!  There are so many other wolf books out there. 

First, before you read the book aloud, ask your students what they have learned about learned about wolves from other stories. That's activating their schema right there!

Then give the students a little background of the book.  Here's the description from my library.

Mr. Wolf asks some of his neighbors to help him make pancakes, and even though they all rudely refuse, when the pancakes are done they expect to share the feast.

Well, low and behold, the wolf starts being nice to everyone and no one wants to be his friend because of his reputation. 

Just as you are convinced that the wolf has changed his ways, you're in for a shocking ending!  Guess you'll have to read the book to find out what happens!

I made a graph that you could use either before you read the book or in the middle or reading  to your students.  There's a part where all of the animals come to the wolf's door because they smell the pancakes. It's the perfect place to take a break and practice some predicting skills. 

Click the picture to download!

Be sure to head on over to Collaboration Cuties for some more mentor texts!

Before I leave you this afternoon, I wanted to let you know that Kimberly Ann from Live, Laugh, I LOVE Kindergarten is having a 300 follower giveaway. Click on the picture to enter!

FYI: My TPT store is 10% until midnight tonight! (3/31)