Zap! The Easy Sight Word Game

We are all constantly looking for new games to help students practice skills.  Recently I have been looking for games to motivate my students to practice reading their sight words.  My team teacher gave me this great idea that the students absolutely love, so I have to share it with you!  The game could not be easier to create, explain to students, or to play!  Here is what to do:

Materials:
*popsicle sticks
*small plastic cup
*permanent marker

How to make:
*Write one sight word on each popsicle stick.  (Depending on how many sight words you have, you may wish to write each word on more than one stick)
*Write ZAP! on about 5-6 popsicle sticks.

How to play:
*Students take turns pulling sticks (their words are down in the cup) out.  If they read the word correctly (the other students are helping to check) they get to keep the stick.
*The game continues with each student pulling out a stick and reading the word.
*When a student pulls out a stick that says ZAP!, they must return all of the sticks they have earned to the cup.
*The game continues, and since the game just continues until the next activity, there is no specific winner.

I know that my students are in love with this game, and a I've had a ton of parents telling me that their students are creating this game to play at home too.  I'm sure it could be used to practice vocabulary, numbers, letters.... the possibilities are endless!  Enjoy!

Kindergarten - it's not state mandated!

In light of all of the economic issues and budget cuts, academic areas are under fire.  There have been a lot of discussions about what is necessary for students, and what is not.  It has come to many people's attention that kindergarten is not a state mandated grade level.  For the same reason that we cannot hold students accountable for attendance like other grade levels, kindergarten is technically an "unnecessary" element in schools.  I know that one local district is moving from a full-day, to a half-day kindergarten program, while another is discussing cutting kindergarten completely.  I am shocked.  I guess that as a kindergarten teacher I just see how important kindergarten is for students.  Not only are we teaching the most basic of academic skills to help build the foundation for students, but we are also teaching students school routines, expectations, and how to socialize appropriately with others.  I try to image school without kindergarten.  Yes, these concepts would still be taught, students would still adjust to routines and exceptions, but I feel like each grade levels material would have to be simplified.  First grade would be the new kindergarten, second grade the new first grade, and so on.  I know that schools have many amazing programs that are being cut because they are "unnecessary," but I just can't wrap my head around getting rid of kindergarten.  I don't see how that solves any problems for school districts, other than adding new academic issues in the future.  Is this just a quick fix?  What are your feelings?

Using Google Reader in the Classroom

The following is a podcast that I created about using Google Reader in the classroom.  Please check it out!
http://justinablack.podbean.com/#

Welcome!

Welcome to Miss Black's Blog!  I look forward to sharing tips and tricks that I have learned by being a kindergarten teacher, sharing some fun stories, and getting some feedback from you!