Paper Bag Book Report: K-2

Today I'm linking up with A Dab of Glue Will Do for Winner Wednesday!  It's a linky that takes place the first Wednesday of every month.  I'll choose a popular product (or maybe something new since I'm in creation mode) from my TpT store and you can win it.  All you have to do it enter your name into the Rafflecopter.  

I decided to choose my Paper Bag Book Report K-2.  It's my most popular item in my store and it's a real life saver!  I have used this in my classroom in two ways. First, my students complete a report as a class activity and I only print out the templates from the packet. Secondly, I have sent out the instructions and templates as a take home book report. Students will present their book report to the class. Grading is easy using the rubrics provided!

There are 3 options in the packet for you to choose from.

Option 1: Students will create a cover for their fiction book and write the characters, setting and summary of their book. 

The students will select items that represent their book to place inside the bag. There is an option of 3 items or 5 items (2 sets of directions for you to choose from).

Option 2: Students will create a cover for their fiction book and write the main idea and 3 details. Students will also write about the characters and setting of the book.

Option 3: Students will create a cover for their non-fiction book. Students will identify the topic, choose a vocabulary word to define, and write 3 facts about the topic. Students will also fill out a "Is It Non-Fiction?" form to ensure that their chosen book fits the assignment.

My students complete option 1 because I find that it's the easiest for their first book report in first grade.  They are so thrilled to have a book report and feel like a "big kid."
Here are some samples.

Students have to send in 3 to 5 items that represent the bags.  When the students complete a sample one in class, I emphasize that they can draw objects if they can't find something at home that fits into the theme.  

How cute is that Emily Elizabeth?!?

Grading is so easy with the rubrics provided.  It seriously is the fastest thing I grade all year long!  I always send home a rubric with the packet information so the parents know what to expect too.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
If you don't win or you just have to have it right now, head on over to my TpT store to grab it.
If you want a chance to win some more items, be sure to head on over to A Dab of Glue Will Do!

Mary Mack: A Freebie

My goal for the summer is to make different reading packets for our basal reader.  I made one for The Billy Goats Gruff and saw a big improvement in comprehension (and test scores).  Plus my students thought the activities were fun and seemed genuinely excited to complete the activities.
There are several poems in the basal reader and I usually save those for our 4 day weeks.  One poem that generates lots of excitement is Mary Mack.  Even the boys get into it!

In the poem, the students highlight or circle pairs of rhyming words.

I created a cover page to the packet.  After we read the story, the students color the cover as they eat snack.

Students will cut and glue the sequence of the poem.

Students practice their visualization skills by drawing a picture of what they think Mary Mack looks like.  Then they have to prove why they pictured Mary Mack that way.
You can download the entire packet HERE for free.  I hope this will help you next school year, especially on those shorter weeks!
If you are looking for other reading packets, please be sure to follow my store this summer.  (Everything is 50% off for the 24 hours.) Here are a few that I've already made.

3 Billy Goats Gruff

Last week, our story of the week was The Three Billy Goats Gruff.  The students are really getting into the folktale stories and I wish that there were more in the basal readers.  Honestly, I think they loved this story because the big billy goat Gruff "butted" the troll into the river.  And yes, I explained what a head butt was.  Never a dull moment.

Most of the year, my students have been reading different stories from the basal reader at different times, but I've really enjoyed having them read the same story at the same time.  I know it's not perfect for every time of the year, but it sure makes my life easier!
I made this packet to go along with the story.

Day 1 - Since I want to model fluency to my students, I read the story aloud to them while they follow along.  We pause to discuss unfamiliar words, make predictions, etc. They colored the cover of the packet and we complete the story map together.
Day 2 - Students read the story with partners.  Then they complete the story sequence page.  I heard lots of squeals about how cute the little billy goat was and laughter about the picture of the troll in the water.

Day 3 - Students read independently while I walk around the room helping as needed.  We work in the glossary, looking up words, drawing a picture, and using the word in a sentence.  
I always have students share their sentences because I can give suggestions on how to change it if they don't understand and it gives other students ideas.  Plus sometimes, they are outright hilarious. Day 4 - I put up the Story Hunt cards around the classroom.  Students grabbed a clipboard and a recording sheet to write their answers.  

After they finished, we reviewed the answers.
Later in the day, during writers workshop, the students wrote a letter to the troll from the three billy goats.  They could apologize to the troll or tell the troll how they felt about his antics.

Almost all of my students earned 100% on the test (not included in the packet).  I call that a success!! Check it out in my TpT Store.  It's 50% off until midnight. Be sure to follow me on Instagram (polkadotfirsties) and on TpT to get notified when I post new things. :)

Karate Sight Words

Gosh, the first week of school went by so fast!  It was probably the smoothest first week I ever had!  No one cried on the first day at all.  That has never happened to me.  I usually have one or two firsties that cry for the first week.  Apparently one cried at home, but then the next day she made a friend and all was right in the world again. 

I scrambled to get this packet down before the start of school and I finally uploaded it to TPT this morning.

I wanted a way to track the students' sight word progress a little better.  I did track their progress before, but it was on a un-cute spreadsheet with boring font and no borders.

In Karate Sight Words, there are 8 levels - white, yellow, orange, blue, purple, green, brown and black. As students pass the tests, they earn their "belt."

The white through purple belts are the Dolch Sight Words, arranged by pre-primer, primer, first, etc.

For the green through black belts, I used the first 300 Fry Phrases.

Students can track their progress by coloring on this sheet.

Teachers can track the students' progress on this sheet.

Included in the packet are Dolch words and Fry phrases that you can print off on cardstock.  I'll be printing mine off on colored cardstock to match the different belt level.

Karate Sight Words will be on sale through Wednesday.  I'm extending my BTS sale a little.  :)

Button by Krista Wallden

Ten Pin Linky: Reading & Winners!

Isn't this the truth?  I always get a little sad when July starts because I know I only have a month of summer left.  My husband said the perfect thing when he picked me up at the airport last night. He said not to be sad for the entire month of July, enjoy the pool and look forward to our cruise.  I promised I wouldn't get sad until the evening of July 31.

I couldn't just pick one winner for the Bloglovin Giveaway, so I picked two.  Congrats to Julie P. and Yashika!  Be on the lookout for an email from me.

Today's one of my favorite linky parties.

As I mentioned last week, I divided my math and reading boards into subcategories.  Right now for reading, I have boards for sight words, fluency, non fiction, cause and effect, and author study.  My  reading board has ideas for making connections, character traits, parts of a story and general guided reading.

Source: First Grade Fabulous Fish

This is an individualized reading log for class.  The top portion tracks the students' progress on centers. The bottom part is where the students answer one comprehension question per day about the story of the week.  It's a free download when you click through to the link.

Source: Fairytale of a First Grade Teacher

Great form to plan your guided reading groups!

Love this prediction anchor chart!

Source: Tunstall's Teaching Tibits

This goes along with the book Rocket Learns to Read.  It's a great way to introduce reading in the fall.  Each student gets a puppy and practices reading with it throughout the year.  Luckily my mom saved every single one of my pound puppies, so I have a good head start.  I'd love to do this in the fall!

Write sight words on popsicle sticks and label a few with "Zap it!"  Students pull the sticks out one by one and read the words.  If they get "Zap it!" their sticks go back in the cup.

Source: The Inspired Apple

Love this anchor chart for introducing labels!

Great activity for If You Give a Cat a Cupcake.

Source: Growing Kinders

I used to do a daily message when I first started teaching, but got out of the habit.  I hope to make this part of my daily routine for the next school year.

Source: Learning With Mrs. Leeby

Track the books you read with your students throughout the year!  I have the perfect spot for this in my room and can't wait to use it!  :)

Source: Life in First Grade

Great way to introduce sequence!

Be sure to check out all the other reading ideas on Ashley's blog!

Reading Survey *Freebie*

Tan 0
Sunburn 1

I think I jinxed myself when I said I don't get burned using the spray sunscreen...I burned my back yesterday along with a random spot on my leg and my ankle.  So glad my husband isn't here to make fun of me!

Beach Day 2 was a success though!  The forecast was calling for a 60% chance of rain, but it didn't rain until almost 3pm.  The morning and early afternoon was party cloudy with a nice breeze.  I finished my first book of the summer.  Too bad I was left hanging!  I checked Amazon and the next book in the series (which I didn't know if was part of a series when I bought it) isn't due out until September.  Ugh!!

But I do have a little treat! I worked on revamping a reading survey I send out at the beginning of the school year.  It's not as detailed as my former survey, but I like to send it home the first week of school to gauge how my students feel about reading.  Click the picture to download.

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)