Short Vowel Fluency

I just finished the short vowel fluency unit that I'm going to use to start my year next year with my first graders.  Since I'll have a combo I'll start long vowels with my second graders.  I love the way this unit turned out and below are a few pages from the unit.  The unit combines phonics, fluency, and common core language skills.  I'm going to use these units as focus lessons for phonics, but also as work work and a work on writing option for daily 5.  If interested check out the link below to find the entire unit on TPT. 

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Short-Vowel-Fluency-Word-Work-Unit-Differentiated-1293951

New Phonics Unit

Just finished the long i word work unit...PHEW!  One more to go and then I'll bundle them for TPT.  These units have been great for my first grade super stars.  The kids love the games (especially Roll and Read and Slap it!) and they love the little phonics characters.  Because all of the reading is differentiated, each student has access, which is so important for their success.  We are cycling back on long vowels now, and the kids needed it!  With so many spelling and phonics patterns swirling in their heads I'm so happy I went back and used the last few weeks and these units to review the long vowels so that they are nice and firm for the kids in second grade.  I'm definitely going to use them at the beginning of the year for my second graders in the 1/2 combo I'm going to teach next year.  If interested the link is below.

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Long-i-word-work-unit-Differentiated-1252637

Making Phonics Fun

I've been searching for ways to increase student engagement this year along with maintaining rigor and covering the Common Core standards.  It's been sort of like a puzzle to see what has worked and been successful for my fabulous first graders.  We've tried A LOT of new things, and this group of students I have this year are awesome, adventurous, and it makes for a "laboratory" full of ideas.  Here are some of our favorites!  The kids love playing Slap it!  There are many versions, but ours is best played with 4 in a group.  So much fun!

The next video and photo shows a Guess My Word game.  The word pages are differentiated so that all students can play regardless of language or reading level.  Having the different versions of the I have a word page helps a ton.  The kids love it because they get up and walk around having their friends trying to guess their words.

This kids love reading about the "Phonics Friends".   They get interested in the characters, and they love highlighting and sorting words from the stories.  To the left is an example of one of the oo stories in the oo word work packet.  I always include several versions of the same story to accommodate all learners.  I even put simple pattern text mini-books in the units for emergent readers.

If you are interested, the following products explain these fun phonics activities in more detail and include many more ideas and resources.  They are centered around the combination of learning phonics through reading and Common Core Reading Foundational Skills.

OO Word Work

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/oo-Word-Work-Unit-Differentiated-1201784

Long e Word Work

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Long-e-Word-Work-Unit-Differentiated-1214981

Oi/Oy Word Work

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Oi-and-Oy-Word-Work-Differentiated-1178301

Differentiated Phonics

Just made this pack and plan to try it out when we get back.  I just feel my kids need more practice internalizing the spelling patterns... hope this works.  We've played the game with other spelling patterns, and they LOVE it!  It's great to get them up, moving around and talking (about words!).  I differentiated the pack so it'll be good for all levels in my class! See below if interested:)
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Oi-and-Oy-Word-Work-Differentiated-1178301

First Grade Phonics

This is my phonics or CCSS Reading foundational skills wall.  This wall displayed when we studied ways to spell long vowel i.  Along with this work the kids work on differentiated sorts in word work and for homework available at my TPT store.  There is a 60 page set that goes through all long vowels for only $5.  Each vowel has 10 sorts!
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Long-Vowels-Super-Sort-Pack-1111233