Internet Inspired Ideas

I've been walking down memory lane as I look at some photos from last school year. I love searching the web for new ideas to use in my classroom.  I have been so inspired by the wonderful teacher websites and blogs out there. Many times, though, I can never remember where I saw all these cute ideas. However, my newest obsession (Pinterest!) helps me keep track of great ideas and their sources. Here's a few of my favorite internet inspired ideas...

Noun Town - Inspiration came from First Grader at Last blog

R Control Posters - another idea inspired by First Grader at Last blog. She drew the pictures for her posters but I'm not as talented an artist as she is. I cheated and used clip art instead :).

How To Blow a Bubble Art and Writing Activity - They had so much fun doing this project!!!

Grammar Garden Sign

Example of Grammar Garden Project - incorporated use of noun, verbs, and adjectives

Funny Faces Plants - idea from The Teacher Wife blog...her blog even includes a download of the face parts

Lincoln and Washington Art and Writing Projects - Inspired by First Grade Parade Blog

Viola Swamp Art & Writing Activity - We just did this one! I recently saw the TLC art project on Pinterest and incorporated a venn diagram and writing activity with it.

More Grammar Songs

Here is my latest attempt at Grammar Songs. These are for Unit 5 in the first grade Reading Street Series but could be used by anyone. They're silly but fun...I'm hoping the kids learn something about grammar from them. :)


P.S. I also added a song for adjectives that compare.  It's really Unit 4 but I got a little behind.


Unit 5 Grammar Songs

Comparative Adjectives Song

Grammar Review Dunk

My kids love to play basketball and so I created a game to review nouns, adjectives, and verbs. I'm going to divide the kids into teams and if they can correctly name the part of speech of each word card then they get to shoot the basketball in the basket (soft basketball toy and unused wastebasket that closely resembles a basketball basket :).  I also made some title cards so you can sort the words, too, on the pocket chart at the same time. Have fun!


Grammar Review Dunk Game

Compound Words Shuffle

We are studying compound words this week as our spelling words and I have been trying to come up with some fun ways to practice spelling these challenging words. I woke up this morning with the song "Cupid Shuffle" in my head (don't ask...it all goes back to a workshop I did) and thought what if we did the "Compound Word Shuffle" but danced as we sang and spelled the words. My kids seem to like to move and sing so maybe they will like it.  We'll see...

Check out YouTube for a video on how to do the dance.  I changed it up and used the words "east" and "west" instead of left and right since we're also talking about cardinal directions this week, too. Hey, you have to integrate where you can! :)

Compound Words Shuffle

Grammar Songs

As the "Queen of Random" I will probably be posting random things that just "pop" into my head (again a side-effect of my undiagnosed ADD :). This year I've created some grammar songs to go along with the grammar skills presented in our Reading Street Series. I've compiled them by units but anyone can use them by just looking through them and pulling out the particular songs you need when you need them. I have three units of songs with 6 songs in each and will be working on one for unit 5. I only have one song for unit 4 because that unit was pretty much just about adjectives and I compiled all the information into one song (feeling a little lazy that unit :). My kids love the songs because I've tried to make them fun and easy for them (and me) to sing.

Unit 1 Grammar Songs

Unit 2 Grammar Songs

Unit 3 Grammar Songs

Unit 4 Adjective Song