Swap Til You Drop! (Product Swap)

I'm so excited to participate in the "Swap 'til You Drop" Product Swap!

The talented and creative Vera of The Tutu Teacher is my partner!!

SUPER EXCITING!!  :)

Vera is reviewing one of my best-sellers...Play Doh Sight Words pack!

I was lucky to be able to go shopping in her store to pick out one of her FAB products to review for you.  We are really working hard to increase our decoding skills and fluency with CVC words, so I picked Vera's "Kaboom" Math & Literacy center pack.  It has been such a fun way to review CVC words!  

Click the picture to find it on TPT!

Here in the midwest, we've had about a million snow/cold days.  

So, especially being a 1/2 day kindergarten teacher, I am VERY behind!!  

As a result, I couldn't step away from my guided reading groups to snap any pictures of my kids playing Kaboom during centers.  So sorry!!  

I dug around in my gift bag collection and found this fun little Spiderman bag.

It gave a perfect superhero touch to the game...my boys were HUGE fans!!

Prepping this center is SO simple!!  Just print, cut, and toss the cards in a bag!  

To play, the kids reach into the bag and pull out a card.  If they can read it correctly, they get to keep the card.  If they aren't able to read it, they put it back and keep taking turns.  If they select one of the KABOOM cards, they have to put all of their cards back into the bag! 

I also love that we could do a little word family activity, too!!  

I love the way this game just keeps going and going!! It kept my kids engaged all the way through center time and they are begging to play it again!  

This center pack includes SO many activities:

Ten Frames

Number Words

Number Recognition

CVC Words

Uppercase & Lowercase Letter Recognition

Sight Words

I will be SO thrilled to have this pack right from the beginning of the year next year!!

For the remainder of this year, it will be a great way to review & reinforce skills in intervention groups.  My kids know how to play the game, so any of the skills cards can now be placed in the bag and the kids will know what to do!  Win!!

Now, here are the details for the giveaways!

1. Start anywhere on the map below.

2. Stop by each blog and read about the products swapped between each set of bloggers.

3. Enter to win the resources that are featured by each blog pair. Each pair of bloggers has the same raffle, so you only have to enter on one of the two blogs.While you are at each blog, if you are not already a follower, sign on to follow!

4. The raffles are open until midnight March 15th.

SWAP A

      

SWAP B

       SWAP C          SWAP D           SWAP E

     

SWAP F
     

        

SWAP G     SWAP H

   

Now, here's your chance to WIN a copy of Vera's Kaboom pack and my Play Dough Sight Words pack!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks so much for stopping by!!

:) Amy

Freebies, Giveaways & More!!

I'm so excited to welcome all of my new facebook followers to Happy Teacher Heaven!
Be sure to read all the way through this post to register for an awesome GIVEAWAY and scoop up a BONUS FREEBIE!

Don't miss the Snowball Fight Facebook Frenzy

Bundle up and HURRY over...  

the FREEBIE SNOWBALLS will melt away forever at 10 pm CST today!!
(Click the picture below to get started!)

You can scoop up an adorable sampler of my newest Math Pack!

I will be listing the FULL VERSION of this product for just $1 for ONE DAY ONLY on Jan. 21st!

Your kids will love this adorable DIFFERENTIATED pack of Addition & Subtraction Spinner Math Stations!!  The full version is 38 pages...an incredible value for $1!  So, don't miss the FLASH SALE!!

Also,

My ENTIRE TPT Store is on sale TODAY ONLY 20% off!!

This is a great time to scoop up some great products at FAB prices!!

I'd love to GIVEAWAY a Penguin Pals Addition & Subtraction pack to a lucky subscriber!

I'd also love to GIVEAWAY a Camera Words Sight Word Folder pack (choose your own level) to a lucky subscriber!

And, one lucky subscriber will be able to choose ANY item (under $5) from my TPT Store!

ENTER TO WIN on the Rafflecopter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

And, to celebrate all my new followers, here is a BONUS FREEBIE!

Click the picture below to grab this Groundhog Number Ordering Freebie on TPT.

If you like the freebie, please take a second and leave me some love (feedback)!

Your comments make my heart smile and I look forward to reading each one!!  

I hope you like it!!

Snowball Fight!! (Freebies Galore!)

Don't miss the BIGGEST Snowball Fight of the Year!!

22 of your favorite bloggers have teamed up to bring you a...

Our forts are built...
the snowballs are packed & stacked...
and we're about to BLAST you with FREEBIES!!

So lace up your boots, pull on your mittens,
and get ready to load up on 'SNOW' much good stuff!!

Hop on over to to the Happy Teacher Heaven facebook page to pick up my freebie!

Look for this tab on every facebook page to find the next FREEBIE.

Note: You will not be able to access the freebies from an iPad.  

To celebrate and thank all my new followers, I put my
ENTIRE STORE ON SALE 20% OFF!!
This is a GREAT time to scoop up some awesome products at an unbeatable price!
Click the pictures below to check out these effective and engaging sight word resources.

Click the image below to download a copy of the clickable map to find your way to all the 'snow forts'!

The Snowball Fight begins at 10 am CST on Saturday, January 18th.  

But don't delay because the snowballs melt at 10 pm CST on Monday, January 20th!!

We hope you have fun on the hop and find lots of fun freebies that you and your kiddos will love!

Make sure to follow our blogs & TPT stores too so you'll never miss a FREEBIE!  

Thanks for joining our Snowball Fight!!

Camera Words Sight Word Folder System

As we all gear up to head back into our classrooms in the next week, I wanted to share how my system for managing sight word progress has worked wonders for my students and I this year!

There's a Cutie-Patootie little FREEBIE at the end of this post...so be sure you read all the way to the end.  :)

You may or may not know that I teach half-day kindergarten, so time is a HUGE concern for me!  I was feeling frustrated because I just couldn't keep up with monitoring my students' sight word progress.  I knew I needed a system.  But, it had to be efficient and streamlined - or it would never work for me!  So, I got to work and created my new...

Camera Words Sight Word Folder System

My students and I call sight words "Camera Words" because students should be able to recognize them "in a FLASH"!!

With this Sight Word Folder System, I have been able to quickly and efficiently track and monitor the progress of ALL students on a weekly basis...in just a few minutes a day!  My kids have made incredible progress and have been SO PROUD of themselves!  This program makes the task of learning sight words manageable, meaningful, and FUN!!  

 Camera Words BUNDLE on TPT

My Camera Words Sight Word Folder System breaks down the most common sight words (Dolch words) into weekly word lists, with review lists and a final list included to ensure MASTERY!  Easy-to-use forms for Assessment and Progress Monitoring are included.

When I created this program, I knew I wanted to be ale to seamlessly DIFFERENTIATE so my students could make progress at their own pace.  I like how every student has a folder and all the pages look similar...so it's not obvious which students are on an intervention level and which are on an enrichment level.  

The bundle includes the Pre-Primer, Primer, and 1st Grade word sets.

I designed this program to be used as a "folder system", which makes School-Home Communication a snap!  However, the folder system WORKS even if you choose to only use it at school.  It will make it very quick and easy for you to differentiate your work work activities and provide targeted practice for students at school!

Here's How...

I like to use inexpensive, fun folders with bright colors and patterns to make my Sight Word Folders.  I found these fun folders in the Target Dollar Spot in a 3-pack for $1.  Not bad!  But, you could also use regular file folders and cover the stapled edge with a funky strip of duct tape to add some fun.  :)  

Print off the pages, insert them into the file folder, staple securely across the top, and you're set!  I provided covers (as shown in the picture) that you can attach to the front of the file folder...but that's completely optional. 

I like to send home a set of flash cards with each student.  I copy them on cardstock so they last.  However, I teach the students lots of "games" they can play with the flash cards and I make sure to continually remind parents to avoid "drilling" the sight words with the flash cards.  I included the list number on the bottom corner of each card, for management and organizational purposes.  :)

Again, I prefer using a folder because it's super easy to get from school to home and back again.  I can also collect the folders for progress monitoring without having to have a stack of binders on my desk.  However, if you already use a Daily Binder with your students, you may want to just add a "Camera Words" section to the binder.  :) Easy-Peasy-Lemon-Squeezy!!  

When I created this system I knew I wanted it to be a tool to ENGAGE and EMPOWER parents to help their children master sight words at home.  So, I included a parent letter that you can use for the introduction page of the sight word folder. . It gives parents the scoop on why sight words really matter and sets the tone for a positive partnership!  I like to sign each letter at the bottom, just to add a personal touch.   

I wanted to equip parents with the tools they would need to make sight word practice more meaningful and engaging.  So, I included a list of suggested activities for practicing sight words.  These fun, hands-on, and interactive strategies make it a "SNAP" for parents to help their children at home!

I broke down the Dolch words into lists of 5-6 words.  My goal is for students to master one list each week.  Students practice the words both at home and at school throughout the week.  When they have mastered a list, they put their folder on my desk during our "arrival" routine.  Then, throughout the day, when I have a minute, I'll pull a student over to my desk and check their progress. 

I tend to just use the stopwatch feature on my phone when assessing because my phone is usually within reach.  But, you could use any sort of timer.  I generally have students just read the words to me directly from the folder.  But, you could use the flash cards (provided) instead if you prefer.  I record their data directly on the folder for parent communication and progress monitoring purposes.  I also transfer the data onto my own spreadsheet, but I like having all their data in front of me when I'm assessing.

I use the checklist in the front of the folder to keep a running record of the student's progress at-a-glance.  It also serves as a "certificate" when the student has mastered all of the words.

I have received RAVE REVIEWS from parents about this program!  They absolutely love how manageable it is.  The Camera Words system creates a predictable routine that families can incorporate into their busy schedules.  Most importantly, I'm getting AWESOME RESULTS!  All but 2 of my kindergartners have moved on to 1st grade words before winter break!!  I hope you'll be able to use this system to BOOST student learning, engage parents, and save time!! :)

Best of all...you can get the BUNDLE for 50% OFF!!

I'm keeping it discounted until Friday, January 3rd...so don't delay!!

And, now here's your FREEBIE! Enjoy!!  :)