Calendar Journal/Morning Work

   
      I have been out of the teaching mode for quite sometime due to a big move to a newly built house. It has been a tiring, stressful yet rewarding experience. My daughter and I moved from the big city to the province as decided by my hubby and I because everything is CHEAPER. We have a big plot, with a view of the sea, so what more would you want?

      When everything was settled in the house, I was able to sit and do wonders with my laptop again, doing what I love the most as a teacher mama...making fun teaching materials.

      This year is different for me and the little one as she won't be going to a regular school. The academic school year has started and it would be quite a challenge for me and her to change routines and Sam adjusting to a new environment. Moreover, from the Special Education point of view, I wanted to address her delays in fine motor. So this year I've started homeschooling.

      It was quite a daunting task thinking of ways to make her write, do the calendar and a review of the days lesson rolled into one. I did a few searching online and found something quite interesting. In the US, they do a morning work paper with the kids and I said to myself, that might just work. Sam is a very good reader but a very stubborn writer. This worksheet might just be the answer to encourage her to write more and have the correct pencil grip and follow the lines. 

       So this was the product of my editing skills:

       It actually worked! We are now in day 12 and it was a miracle! Not only was she encouraged to write, she has developed her calendar skills and was looking forward to answering it after our circle time! I even added a graph the weather worksheet! 

      Now on to my next worksheets....

Teaching Fluency

    During the course of my teaching years, kids starting to learn how to read often struggle with identifying letters and letter sounds.

    Reading is quite a complicated task for young kids. If we look into phonemic awareness, or the ability to identify  the letter sounds and use these sounds to make words, it would take a lot of practice to be able to master each letter and its corresponding sound. Some kids would be able to do it quickly and quite well, while others would be struggling doing these tasks.

    As parents and or teachers, we need to help these kids practice, practice and practice and make reading fun. I have made a fluency helper accordion book to practice fluency on CVC A words, simple sentences and simple passages. At the end of each word or passage, the teacher, parent or guardian can check which have been read easily and independently.

    Here is an example of the accordion fluency helper for CVC A Word Families 
-am, -ag, -ab, -ad, -ar, -at, -ap, -an. You can find it in my store here.  Just print and cut!

     

    You can read more on the subject of fluency at the Reading Rockets website.
    
    Have fun reading!

My Mini Short Story Tab Books

``When I was creating stories for our little one so she can practice her fluency and comprehension, i wanted it to be different and interesting for her.

    The first story I made was about our little one Sam, Sam's jam. Finished the story, and I had to think of an interesting format. Sam loves to read books and flip so why not a mini tab book? I showed her the finished product and  asked me to immediately print it. I just had to print, cut and glue and voila I have a mini book! She read the story, answered the 2 sets of reading comprehension questions and still wanted more. So I added another story. 

   The only thing was when I added another story, i had a blank page at the back. And I was like, "What can I put in the last page?" Had to search for ideas and clipart and found it! Why not a Superhero Reader Award to motivate them to read more and make them feel they have accomplished something great! 

14 CVC A short story covers in colored and black and white

with the Superhero Reader Award

   Here is the link for the mini tab books. It has 14 stories, 2 sets of reading comprehension questions on every story. There are two covers available, one for a boy and one for a girl. Kids can even color the clipart in each story!

   Here are some samples of the mini tab books. 

  

Mag's Bag -- An -ag word family story

Matt's cat -- An -at word family reading comprehension

Question Set A

  Happy reading! Share to your teacher and parent friends!

   

Finally back!

    I'm finally back!

    It's been awhile since I have posted something online. I have been quite busy with sorting and packing stuff for moving on our new house next month.

    It is not an easy task sorting our 5 year old daughter's toys, art stuff and books!! Seriously, I had to ask her for every toy she has, "Sam, how about this one? Keep, sell or give away?" And with what other people call rubbish, pre loved or used stuff, I have actually sold loads, getting back a decent amount of money worth more than a month's utility bills!

    After the never ending packing and sorting still, I HAD to find time to upload and edit products online. The newest on the store is the CVC Word Family A short stories/reading comprehension passages. It has 14 stories and 2 sets of reading comprehension questions. Just print, cut and glue and voila! You have 7 new books! Your kiddos and or students can even color the pictures in each 
story!

    Look at the sample mini tab books!

    

   Check out the CVC Short Stories here . Happy reading!   

   

Mrs Graders is OPEN

       It's finally open! 
     
     It was in between coffees, mum errands and sleepless nights that finally I was able to finish my first product.

     I had so many ideas in my mind and every time I plan to upload it, it just wasn't enough! Sam, our 6 year old daughter is the one who tests each and every page. Everytime I tell her, "I'm done, wait for the printer!" Sam would rush and grab her markers, glue and scissors!

Sam having fun with CVC -at Build It worksheet

     If our Sam loves my worksheets, I hope your kids and or students will love it too.  This worksheet is available with the CVC -at bundle here.