Hello! I'm still here!

Hey'all! I'm back after a little blogging vacation!! (yes, that is what I'm going to refer to as my temporary "life-is-crazy-and-it's-kicking-my-butt" leave!). So without further adieu, let's jump right in to some fun!

I'll start off with a quick little reading comprehension FREEBIE!

I use these cubes often during whole group after reading any story (the actual cubes are from a teacher supply store...maybe Lakeshore Learning?? I can't remember). I also use them in small group/guided reading, and am now planning a centre activity for next week where the kiddies can use the cubes on their own:

Here is a screenshot of one of the worksheets for our centre activity (I have included 3 different versions: one for just writing, one for writing and a picture, and one for just a picture). 

Click HERE (or the pic above) to download the FREE cube inserts & extension worksheet!

Next I thought I'd share the reading program I run in my classroom. Our school has a school-wide reading program called "Reading Rocks." Each student gets one of these bags to take home for a week and bring back to school each Monday. At the beginning of the week, the kids choose 3 new books to take home (one levelled reader, one guided reading book, and one general book from our classroom library--does not have to be a book they can read. I also send their sight word rings home every once in a while)

In my classroom, I have an added reading incentive to get them reading, reading, reading; Also in their Reading Rocks bags are their reading log duotangs, where parents record any books read with their child:

Click HERE to download my FREE reading log!

For every 10 books read at home, the student gets to choose one bead to add to their necklace:

This is the reading bulletin board, displaying our necklaces.

Like I said, for every 10 books read a student gets 1 "regular" bead (seed beads). AND for every 50 books read, the student gets to pick out a "special" bead. I have a massive collection of beads from my childhood and a "special bead" is one from my collection:

The beads on the left are regular beads and on the right are the special beads:

The kids are SO excited when they have read 10 books and I usually hear about it first thing in the morning and throughout the day...they are *obsessed* with putting beads on their necklaces! Love it. At the end of the year, the kiddies get to keep their reading necklaces as a token of how much progress they made in first grade!

And, since I haven't blogged since LAST MONTH!!! I figured I should throw in a festive activity to welcome December:

This little writing craftivity was inspired by one that we did last year. Rather than just using red and green, I had my kiddies choose from brightly coloured paper...I love the final product so much more!!

First we read this book:

and discussed how getting toys and lots of other presents is not at all the true meaning of Christmas. 

(click the pics to enlarge)

Their answers were so sweet!

That's all for now. I will hopefully be back at the end of this week for another update. Have a great week, everyone!