Ah the joys of teaching first grade. Such a wonderful, magical grade. The students are full of wonder and awe and are so much fun to teach. However, these bright-eyed students enter our classrooms all over the academic map.
I have had students come to me reading, “The Magic Tree House” chapter books and then I have students who might not know how to decode CVC words. {some might not even know all their letters and sounds!}
So… how as teachers can we meet the needs of ALL these students?
The answer is easy… but perhaps a little bit daunting to some: small groups and differentiated instruction.
The key to this is knowing where your students are academically and having the resources {and time} to meet with different groups daily.
In order to get the “time” piece down, I use Literacy Centers in my classroom. If you would like to read about my Literacy Centers, you can do so here. While my students are busily working at their Literacy Centers, I meet with small groups of students. I keep track of where each one is and then create activities to help them.
This year I have been putting my resources into binders. I love it. I bought multiple packs of 50 “page protectors” from Walmart for $3.00! They are awesome! I also picked up a whole bunch of cheap binders for less than $2.00.
I then organized my binders by “intervention skills.” This one is called “Help me sound it out.” It’s a new packet that I created to help my students who struggle at the beginning of the year.
In it I include games that will help you meet your students where they are. This packet is PERFECT for those students who struggle with CVC words, letters and sounds, rhyming patterns and the basic foundational skills needed for reading.
In my binder I put my “small group plans” to the left and then all the activities in page protectors.
I put the cards in see through “binder pencil pouches.”
This packet has games (and recording sheets) that will help you with:
– Listening for sounds
-Rhymes
-Beginning Sounds
-Ending Sounds
-Medial Sounds
-Oral Blending
-Words With Double Initial Consonants
-Words With Final Double Consonants
-Linking Sounds to Spelling
It also includes many tactile activities that will help students.
These activities will help students really grasp the phonemic principals of letters and sounds and reading. {The packet explains exactly how to use each activity.} The thing I like best is that all my resources are in one place! By putting all the “pieces” in binder pencil pouches I won’t have to scramble for anything! Even better, I put together tons of quick and easy warm up games that will really get their brains thinking about reading!
But… what about the students who are reading already?
It’s so true! While some students will NEED these activities, others are already reading! For this I have a really fun FREEBIE for y’all! My students ADORE this game. Best of all, you can use it so many ways.
For this game, students are working on reading the first 100 Fry phrases with accuracy and fluency. I created the “Fry cards” and then I use “voice cards” with them. My students pick out a “voice” and then they read in that voice with emotion and gusto!
You could also use these cards when reading books! I have found that this helps students SO much!
If you would like the “Help me Sound it Out” packet, just leave me a comment and I’ll pick a winner Thursday morning! It is also on sale until Thursday: click here to get it!
This looks great! I like how you use binders to organize small groups.
nl_scannon@seovec.org
Amazing Packet!
rachelmd93@gmail.com
Love this awesome packet!!!! Just what I need to help my emergent readers.
Roxanne
foxysexyroxy10@gmail.com
I would love to use this packet with my small groups! Looks wonderful!!
Jessica
jessc63@hotmail.com
This looks awesome! I am such a fan of all of your products already on my wishlist if I don’t win! jkroske@gmail.com
I like the binder idea to organize the center. Thanks for the chance to win your awesome pack!
Cecilia bartramsbuccaneers@yahoo.com
An amazing packet!!! You are so talented!!!
bcapwell@ccisd.net
Wow – this looks great! I would love to use with my class!
Amy
aramaker@grandvillechristian.org
I’m sitting reading this thinking I “MUST” have it–the hubs is next to me just kinda shaking his head. Thank GOD for the supportive spouse. 🙂 This binder is amazing!!! I would love to have it–and likely will, one way or the other! 🙂 thank you so much for the freebie, too!!! pcolagal1963@gmail.com
Thank you for the freebie!
This looks awesome!!! I printed the freebie cards and would love to win the packet!!!
OH MY GOSH!!! What a neat packet and I LOVE the ideas!!! I could use this in so many different ways 🙂 Thank you for the chance to win one…. I have put it on my wishlist .. you know just in case 😉
Karen
tommysmom0206@yahoo.com
This looks awesome. Definitely just added this to my TPT wishlist.
Coley
cfcoley@gmail.com
This looks wonderful! It is my first year teaching First Grade, and this would be a terrific resource!:)
Meg
meagan.newbold@gmail.com
Kicking it in First
Love this resource. This made me so excited! 🙂
Love it! This packet is perfect for my 2nd graders that also come in exactly the same way…non-readers thru above grade level readers. The “voice” reading is genius and fun. I hope that I win.
Jeanne
J28ber@gmail.com
I LOVE these! I have begun putting my resources in a binder to help me be better organized. I would LOVE to use this pack with my firsties! Thank you for the freebie!
jstephens@arabcityschools.org
Kristen, I would love to win the ‘Help Me Sound It Out’ binder. This is my first whole year in kindergarten, after teaching upper grades for 30 years. While I know where my little ones need to be in 4 or 5 years, I am still learning how to get them through their site words and phrases. This binder looks like it would be the perfect learning resource for ME as I am working with my emerging readers, especially with my Rti students. This is absolutely amazing! Thank you for offering it. Betsy in Orlando parenthed1@aol.com
Wow! This looks amazing!! I love it- cute and amazing at the same time!!!!
Crickett
crickettspuddy@gmail.com
This looks great! I’ll be teaching first grade this year and as excited as I was when I was hired, the closer its gets to the first day, the more nervous I get with all that needs to be planned for the little ones!
Kristin
kristinbrehm@gmail.com
I’d love to win!! This would be so helpful for my firsties! :o)
Cindy
ccfirstteacher@gmail.com
What a terrific resource! I love how it targets skill deficits, and how it looks so user-friendly!
Lynn
l_schnoor@hotmail.com
WOW!! This looks amazing! I’m always looking for good intervention resources and different ideas for small group reading.
Colleen 🙂
colleendembs@yahoo.com
Fun and Fearless in First
I would love to win this packet! I will be going from 6th grade to 1st grade (for the first time!) this year and am in desperate need of primary interventions!
Jessica
jeekee00@hotmail.com
What a great resource to use with those that are struggling with reading! This is definitely going on my TPT wishlist.
Ruthanne rarace81@gmail.com
So cute! I’d love it!
Thanks!
Miss M
semoellering@gmail.com
The Fabulous First Grade
This looks amazing… and I love how it is organized! I will be new to first grade this year and already know I am teaching the “at risk” reading class … this would be a great resource to have at the ready!
Anne
asugrad96@gmail.com
This looks awesome! I’d love to have it! 🙂
Mrs. Thompson
Adventures in Teaching (A First Grade Blog)
My TpT Store
wow this looks awesome. I am moving to first grade from third and this would help me a lot.
Thank you! Thank you! I especially love the voice cards. Would love your packet ~ I have so many first graders who struggle with these beginning skills.
firstgradecarousel@gmail.com
Maria
First Grade Carousel
Love, love, love this idea! I am going from a class of 33 little ones last year to 25 this year. I am planning on re-introducing LWS and would love to add this to my collection!
I would love this packet!
afren07@gmail.com
This looks like a wonderful packet!
excellinginsecond@gmail.com
The binder is a fantastic idea! And your packet looks wonderful!
kcahcrim@comcast.net
This is great! This would be great for my EIP 2nd Graders.
amandalawson4@gmail.com
This looks great! I would definitely use this. peters_ac@hotmail.com
I love this!! It would be great for my SpEd class!
kthompsondesign@gmail.com
I just wanted to thank you for the fun voice cards. My students will get such a kick out of these.
I *hope* I don’t need the sound it out packet, so if my name is chosen, please choose someone who needs it more!
Oh what a great packet! SO many of my kiddos “forget” so much over the summer. So not only would it be a great intervention packet, but a great help for most all of my kids at the beginning of the year. Great work!
Kiah
kiah.m.berg@gmail.com
What a wonderful idea! I love how organized it looks! Timesaver for sure! Thanks for the freebie! I am adding your packet to my wish list, but it sure would be fabulous to win!!! This will be my first year in first grade and I am both excited and nervous to see what these kiddos can do! Thanks again!
Kimberly
Kimberlylcalhoun@gmail.com
Amazing ideas! Love it!
Barbie Roper
Bjroper10@gmail.com
This is perfect for first grade. I always have such a diverse group. This packet will be great for small groups. Thank you!!
Maria
meemsickle@gmail.com
Your packet would be great for small group instruction! I’m new to your blog and love your ideas!
~ Amy
ahunt@narragansett.k12.ri.us
I’d love to have the “Help me sound it out” packet as a resource in my first grade class. It would be put to great use and help me tremendously as a first year teacher! Also, thanks for ALL of your great ideas- I find your entire blog to be part of my “toolkit” as I prepare for my first year.
Amanda
achambers1@mail.usf.edu
Babydoll’s Teachings
Thanks for the binder idea and the freebie. I find the voice cards funny so I know my students will love using them!
I just wanted to thank you for the fun voice cards. My students will get such a kick out of these.
I hope my name is chosen!-)
Teresa
My email: mteresaerodrigues@gmail.com
Hi! Sorry to contact you like this, but the email provided referred me to an error page. I was wondering if you would like to link up our blogs… I would love to feature your blog on my favorite blogs list. I hope you like my blog enough to want to put mine on your blog list.
Sincerely,
Jess- DIY Bride
lilmadjesse85@gmail.com
This looks TERRIFIC!
Jennifer
First Grade Blue SKies
I would love to use this in my class this year. LOVE IT!!!!
teachreason@gmail.com
This is GREAT!!!!
I love your products! I have been organizing my centers in binders as you have pictured! It makes things so much easier. I would love the opportunity to use this center in my classroom.
Debbie
Deb81992@yahoo.com
This will be my first year of daily five and guided reading. The basal is being put set aside and I am nervous and excited!! These activities will be perfect.
Ashleyp77@yahoo.com
Wow, these look amazing Kristen. I’m teaching limited English speaking kids next year and I know these would be perfect for them.
Stephanie
The Learning Chambers
sdchamb@gmail.com
This packet looks amazing ! I would love it !
Eileen2002@msn.com
These activities look like fun for my new class!
lraines78@gmail.com
Great freebie! That pack looks amazing and will be great for the beginning of the year 🙂
aconnolly 1216 @ gmail . com
( no spaces )
What a great packet you’ve created. I teach kindergarten, but have kiddos come to school ready for this and I’m not always prepared for knowing just what to do with them this early in the school year! Your binder idea has given me something to think about…great organization.
hudgins.kindergarten@gmail.com
Yet more amazing resources! Thanks so much for the freebie and for offering a giveaway!
I’d also be interested in knowing what other things you put organized into binders. Thanks for all of the great ideas!
crystaleve24@gmail.com
Such a great idea. You are so right about having to do small groups to meet needs. Your ideas make it easier. Thank you and hope I win.
Oops! I forgot to leave my email incase I win pensan@aol.com
This is great! I love how organized it is. I think it would be really helpful to have these activities all in one place, and when a kiddo is having a problem…just go to the binder and easily find the skill/ lesson that s/he needs help with !
nmchamplin@gmail.com
This packet looks amazing!! 🙂 My students would have a lot of fun with this! Thanks for the opportunity to win! jennyalarson@gmail.com
I will have the low group in reading this year, so I’m thinking this would be a fabulous resource for me! Thanks! stampmaniac at gmail.com
These looks great! I would love to win this for my firsties! 🙂
stacyprince@comcast.net
love the binder idea… thanks for sharing. 🙂
Thanks for sharing your fry phrases/voice cards. My students will LOVE them. Karen kadythomas@hotmail.com
This would be great!!! Will it still be on sale after you choose the winner?
Thanks
Abby
Abby1378@yahoo.com
I would love to win the, “Help Me Sound it Out” packet. This would be a great resource for my first graders.
Thanks for the awesome freebies!!!
I would love to use this set with my kinders. Thanks for the freebie! I have to report back to work in the morning but my mind is still on vacation!
Laura
lnabors@kingwoodchristianschool.com
Awesome freebie and great blog post. I am your newest follower here and on bloglovin’!! I would LOVE to have your new pack as I am moving from 3rd grade to 1st grade this year and I am equal parts excited and terrified!! It is my birthday today so I would love to win the pack (hint, hint) Ha! Thanks for sharing the fry cards – love the graphics!
Heather
Kickin’ It With Class
This comment has been removed by the author.
What an excellent idea to organize your groups using binders! I work on becoming more organized every year and becoming more efficient while working with my students.
I love this. Organized and very kid friendly.
This looks great! I would love to use this in my new first grade class! Thank you for the freebie! It is so cute! erinvaughn@k12tn.net
I love how organized you are! This looks amazing! Fingers crossed 🙂
Sarah
teachingiscolorful.blogspot.com
scoatoam@gmail.com
Thank you for the voice cards. They look wonderful. Your packet looks amazing. I love your organization.
~Tonya
the3shores@msn.com
Thanks for the freebie! It looks like fun way to practise reading aloud. I would love to use the other activities, too!
Rana
Hollandrana@yahoo.ca
Thanks for sharing these great ideas and resources- love them all:-)
I love this packet! What a great way to help students!
Literacy is very important. I would use these in my classroom.
Literacy is very important. I would use these in my classroom.
Wow! This is perfect for my struggling students! Also love the freebie. Definitely downloading it! I would love a chance to win.
Josie Flores
masterflores@juno.com
This is amazing and just what I need! Keep em’ coming!
Thank you!
riddzie@mymts.net
This is amazing and just what I need! Keep em’ coming!
Thank you!
riddzie@mymts.net
So helpful & visually pleasing! Thanks for sharing!
Megan
strunk_megan@yahoo.com
I am always finding myself on your blog – whether linked from others or pins on Pinterest! Your ideas are fascinating and so well explained (tho I don’t know how you have time to make/organize all this). Thanks for helping this first year teacher out!
ariel.bealer@gmail.com
WOW! This looks like a “dream” resource for a first grade teacher, especially when differentiating is such a HUGE part of this grade level. Your ideas and organization are amazing!
Lindsay
For the Love of First Grade
lnjgriffith@gmail.com
Having taught Kindergarten for a few years it amazes me where my students go academically throughout the year. They grow soooo much. Just when I think that I get them where they need to be MANY of them lose a lot of their skills over the summer. I see them in First Grade and a few of them struggling during the first few weeks into school. This year I will experience it first hand as I am back into the First Grade teaching after a few years. I would love this pack as I know that I will have a handful of students needing that beginning of the year “push.” Thanks for the opportunity. Win or lose….this will be in my basket. Thank you.
Jean Salas
Salas.Jeananne@gmail.com
Thanks for sharing!!
Kristy
The Phonics Phenomenon
Wow! I want to make all of those! They look great and so organized!
You are amazing!! What a great post on differentiating instruction! I would definitely love to win this! 🙂
Lisa
Learning Is Something To Treasure
fsuteach81@yahoo.com
I would love to win your packet! What a great way to organize!
Sara
http://www.firstgradefuntastic.blogspot.com
sara3795@gmail.com
That looks like an incredible packet! It would DEFINITELY be oh so useful! I would LOVE to win it!
Apple Blossoms
Love all of your organization for small group!
Brooke
brookebkelley@gmail.com
Looks great….just starting out in first grade and was actually asking myself these exact questions! Thanks for sharing and even if I don’t win I’ll be purchasing! hlpeever@gmail.com
I would love to win… just wishlisted this item! 🙂 I love the idea of keeping intervention/small group materials in a binder by skill…brilliant! Can’t wait to check this pack out!
Kristen this is BRILLIANT! I love how you organized all the activities by skill in the binder. The games and the activities look fabulous! Thank for the chance to win this gem! 🙂
Karyn
Kideducator@comcast.net
This is sooooo cool! I would love to use it in my class next year! Hope I would be lucky enough to win this!
Zoe
zoe.y1225@gmail.com
This looks great! I would use it in my room!
Amanda
Amandaabean@gmail.com
I would love this packet! I’m doing first grade this year, moving up with my kiddos from kindergarten and have some strugglers, this packet would be perfect!
I would love this packet! Thank you!
Robin
robinayn@yahoo.com
This looks great! Moving it to my wishlist for sure. Thanks for the chance to win it!
I forgot my email:
asouth@me.com
This looks awesome! I would love to have it.
Jada
Jadawtolbert@gmail.com.com
Perfect pack!
cheriemae@gmail.com
What a fantastic packet!! Fingers crossed!
mjadams251@gmail.com
This looks amazing for assessing my firsties at the beginning of the year! kubertte@gmail.com
I’d love to win!
melindacasas@gmail.com
Your idea is perfect, as usual. I love reading your blog. Veronicam81000@yahoo.com
Your idea is perfect, as usual. I love reading your blog. Veronicam81000@yahoo.com
Thanks for the Freebie! I started using binders last year to organize my assessments, but you have taken it to another level. I would love to win this binder!
It looks amazing!! I would love the pack! Sytlaly180@gmail.com
This would be such a great resource to have!
Chantelle
cu_later17 at hotmail.com
WOW….what a wonderful, organized pack full of fantastic activities! I would love this great resource!
This looks fabulous! And what a great way to stay organized. I would LOVE this!
Andrea
Forgot my email 🙂
montejas at hotmail dot com
This looks like an AMAZING pack! Nice work, girl! Fingers and toes crossed that I am the lucky one!
ilovekdgt@gmail.com
Sara
Polka Dot Kinders
This is an amazing pack! I teach in a Title school with four to five ethnic groups with a high ELL number! This would be perfect to use to teach them! WOW!!!! I will have this one way or another! Thanks for your hard work!
This is adorable AND awesome!!! We are implementing a mandatory RTI time next year, we’ve always done it, but now we have a mandatory school-wide 30 minute block. I have been feeling like I really need to get some things together and organized better – this will help a lot! Love it!!
This packet is wonderful! Thank you for sharing your freebie! 🙂
lorepuckett at verizon dot net
This binder is a great idea!! I plan on copying and making it as part of my beginning of the year notes!!
I would LOVE to use this in my classroom! Great ideas!!!! You rock!
I love your resources.
Your Help Me sound it out packet will be very useful to me as a First year First grade teacher.
Thanks for sharing.
You rock!!!
This pack is Ah-mazing!!! Adding it to my wish list just in case. Thanks for the freebie! Teaching with Giggles
I moved to 1st grade this year after teacher kinder for 15 yrs.
I would *love love love* this packet!! I teach in a high poverty area where 90% of my students come to first grade not knowing all of their letters or sounds. I share your {obsession} with binders and being organized so this would fit my teaching style perfectly!!! Hope I’m the *lucky* winner!! I promise to make this the first thing I run through my new personal laminator 🙂 🙂 –Sheri
This packet looks great! Cant wait – jaxclarke@gmail.com
Awesome packet!
Michelemolleda@gmail.com
Can I say Great Minds thinks alike! I have spent the summer creating binders by the standards I want (and need ) to assess. I also have been sorting the FEW activities I have into the proper binder with the standard and the assessment check off sheet. I would LOVE your product to be included! What a time saver that would be!!
Pauline
firstgradebythesea@gmail.com
First Grade by the Sea
I would love to have this resource to work with my special needs students who are learning to sound and blend.
RamsMom1@aol.com
What a great resource! I love that it is made to be kept in a handy dandy notebook; just what I need to stay organized!! Thank you for the freebie!!
Success In First
aludrick69@gmail.com
I love this binder. Thanks for sharing a different way to organized center/small group activities.
Penny
spkmw4@gmail.com
This would be a great resource to use with my struggling 2nd graders! I love the way you organized the binders. Thanks for the freebie. My students enjoy practicing their words during Daily 5.
Melindab
mkb1553@gmail.com
It’s 11:54p.m. in Alaska, so it’s almost Thursday :)Better late than never 🙂 I read your blogpost and saw your SUPER cute resource this morning on my phone but wasn’t able to leave a comment saying I’d LOVE to be the happy and appreciative recipient of this binder! How in the world do you have the time to make such great resources that are super cute to boot?! 🙂
Having a huge spectrum of readers enter my 1st grade classroom, like you were talking about, is daunting…but a fun challenge!
~Jaime The FIrst Grade Bloom
YES!!! Finally a great way to teach decoding, segmenting and blending. Thanks for the binder tips. I too use binders to store my materials but hadn’t thought to sort the activities by differentiation. Here’s my email, I’m crossing my fingers. ggarrene@aol.com
This is an outstanding resource to use at any primary level. I’m transferring from Title I to Learning Support and love the pictures that go with each skill. This is a most have!!!
dross@clearfield.org
This pack looks wonderful. I would love it.
This looks like an amazing pack! I would love to have this as it would be such a great tool for small group. I love visiting your blog and seeing such inspiring ideas and products!
dcoonts@skylineschool.org
An amazing packet!!! You are so talented!!!
I love visiting your blog and seeing such inspiring ideas and products!
mteresaerodrigues@gmail.com
I love it; my son in 5 years old reading chapter books, he reads since he is 3 years old. I am homeschooling because I am not sure regular school can match his needs. so I am doing first grade curriculum. will try to incorporate some of your activities into the curriculum. thanks for sharing your love for teaching!
This looks great! I could use it with my struggling reader at home and my ELL students in the classroom!
Wow! I love what you have done here. :0) I am new to first grade after 5 years in kindergarten and your resources would be fabulous to have. Thanks for sharing your ideas.
Wow! I love what you have done here. :0) I am new to first grade after 5 years in kindergarten and your resources would be fabulous to have. Thanks for sharing your ideas.
This looks perfect for my reading groups. Our first graders switch classes for reading and I teach the students who have more difficulties. I would love another resource to help them succeed. Great job and very well organized!
julie.gosney@frankfort.kyschools.us
thank you for the freebies
This looks great! I would love this to use wit my low and ell students! Great work!!!
Is this still available?
I love it!!! That looks perfectly what I am looking for ! Please choose me to be this Thursday winner pls pls pls! 😁
I got excited seeing this post–maybe I’d have chance to win. Scrolling through comments, I realized it was an old post! My special education kids would sooo benefit! I am going to head over and purchase if not too expensive.