Primary Chalkboard

Let's Have a Ch Party!

Hi friends! I am SO excited to be here! You can find me over at My Silly Firsties when I'm not blogging here at PC! I teach 1st grade in Dallas and I have the CUTEST babies ever this year. They are wild as heck so I am in teacher heaven!

I wanted to share a fun little activity we did today to practice "ch." I have a lot of ELLs this year (about 12/20) and we are really struggling with this sound in writing.  So I racked my brain and scoured pinterest and them remembered this adorable idea! 

Sarah Cooley is one of my FAVORITE bloggers and the first blog I really started stalking! I have had this pinned for years and just never really did it! So today we busted out the CH snacks and went to town! :)


So I only had about 30 minutes to dedicate to this so I didn't go as all out as I really wanted!

Last night, I went to Wal-mart and stocked up on snacks!


 I made a little parent letter for you in case you want to send it home and have them provide the snacks! Just click the picture to grab a copy!


Before they got to eat their snacks though, they had to come up with 25 words that have "ch" in it. They worked together as a table to make it a little easier and support some of my lower level readers and writers. :) We made an anchor chart yesterday (that I forgot to take pictures of...of course!!) and we have been finding them in our books constantly! 



I just gave them a sheet of manilla paper because I'm all about last minute!! But here is a little recording sheet if that's easier for you! Just click to grab it! :) 


I really wanted them to use chalk to write their words but Walmart was out of chalk...what?!? How does that happen?? 

Here are some other fun ideas I wish we could have done if we had more time! 

Our math coach had another great idea!! You could have all the kiddos wear nametags with a "Ch" name...but I could only come up with Chester, Chuckie, and Chip hahaha. 

Now that the partying is over, here are some products we will be using to get more independent practice in! 






Thanks so much for reading! I'd love to know what fun activities you do to teach digraphs!! :) 



Getting Your Students to Not Dread Testing!


We've all been there….standardized testing. Yuck! Who likes it? Certainly not me nor my students. But it is a necessary evil. A while back I wrote a blog post on how to help your students not dread standardized testing and actually even look forward to it a little bit. I thought it would be timely to revisit this blog post because I know that glorious stressful time of year is quickly approaching. If you want to find out how I help my students wake up ready to roll on those testing days, head on over to my blog at 2 Brainy Apples and maybe my trick will help you and your students!

Until next time!

Heather

Announcing New Chalkboard Members!

Let's give a big, happy HELLO to our four newest Primary Chalkboard members! 












A "Must" Read for Teachers

Hi Everyone!

Lisa from Growing Firsties popping in to share an amaaaaaazing children's novel.

My school district has been moving to a full-inclusion model and my new school has been doing a book study on The Principal's Handbook for Leading Inclusive Schools, which is FILLED with powerful nuggets and tips! The discussion we're having is fantastic, as well! True collaboration.

That said, somehow THIS book is the one that is REALLLLY speaking to me...bringing it all home...


Told by Melody, a young girl who has an absolutely BRILLIANT mind, yet is unable to communicate verbally....she has WAAAAAY more in her head than she is able to express. She notices anything and everything and has many thoughts about it all.

Having it told from her perspective both humbles and inspires me, for I have had students with disabilities that make communication difficult for them. I always thought that I championed all of my students to be the best "them." This book inspires me to be even more so.

A powerful read for sure.

What books have impacted you as a person and/or as a teacher? Though, I guess if it impacts you as a person, it also impacts you as a teacher. Please share in the comments!

Also, I'm curious...if you've read this book and have an opinion on which grade level(s) it would best be suited for as a read aloud.

Note Taking in Science and Social Studies with a Freebie!

Hello Again Friends!

This is Jen Bengel from Out of This World Literacy.  I hope everyone is staying warm and enjoying the first few weeks back after their holiday break!

I wanted to share a couple of note taking templates I put together.  I homeschool my kids and needed something to help my fifth grader keep track of his learning in both science and social studies.

This is my son, Greyson.  He is a bit of a goofball and would prefer spending his time playing minecraft and having neighborhood nerf wards over studying science and social studies!



So, I created these note taking templates for him.  So far, they are working great for him!



Like many students his age, my son needed more structure than to be told, 'take notes.'





I hope you can find some use for these in your classroom too!

Best wishes!
Jen Bengel
Out of This World Literacy

Martin Luther King, Jr. Products Giveaway and Freebies!!!

Hi everyone!  It's Latoya from Flying into First Grade !!!

As you gear up for Martin Luther King, Jr. week with your kiddos we are happy to announce that The Primary Chalkboard is having a MLK, Jr. giveaway!!!  As you scroll down you will see many great products that you can win!!!  Check out the products below!!!
P.S. You will find some MLK, Jr. freebies too!!!
Good Luck!!!



Products You Can Win














a Rafflecopter giveaway


Some MLK, Jr. FREEBIES

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Martin-Luther-King-Jr-Freebies-461114








Don’t Burn Out in the New Year

Right, moms? #someecards #funny #moms

Listen Friends as you move into 2015, be gentle with yourself. If you are anything like me you probably worked on school stuff over Christmas Break, set a million resolutions, and have 5 students who make you want to pull your hair out!

new family pictures

Not to mention your family at home who needs you. So just look at who and what is important. Think about what is really doable today, and just do the next right thing.

Don’t push so hard that you burn out early.  I am taking my own advice and getting in a bubble bath.

New button

No Need for Back to School Blues



Hi my friends ~ ~ it's Vicky here from Teaching and Much Moore.  It's the Saturday before most of us go back....ho -hum.  Being home was fun, productive, relaxing...fill in the blank!  But going back doesn't have to be such a CHORE!  I'm here to share some helpful tips to make the ease back into school after Winter Break a little less...um painful!




DO: Be sure to spend some time the first day back allowing your students to share even if it's just 1 or 2 minutes in a class meeting.  I know, I know you are thinking I don't have the time...first off not everyone will want to share.  For instance it SNOWED here in So. Cal -- that NEVER happens so I'm guessing some of my students will want to talk about how they felt, what they did, etc.  I think it gains valuable time later when it's time to get to work.

DO:  Spend some time reviewing a few rules each day during the first week back.  My kids even in third grade love it when I act all silly sitting in the chair almost falling out ~  {don't rock in your chair rule }...it's a good time to review these crucial procedures and classroom rules.

DO: Give lots of hugs and warm welcomes!!  They missed you and want your attention.

DO:   Get right back into routine as quickly as possible.  You spent weeks setting up your procedures and you don't want them to unravel because of 2 - 3 weeks off.

DO:  This just might be the most important one in my eyes:  WEAR a CUTE OUTFIT!!!!  LOL


DON'T: Stress ~ your students will be so happy to see you and that pile you left on your desk will still be there I'm pretty sure.

Welcome back my friends!  Tell us how your week goes by commenting below or visiting our facebook page: { click picture to visit our page }


Enjoy your first week back guys!