Getting Kids Excited to Read: Read Everyday Jar

Summer Reading Ideas

Whether your child loves to read or avoids it...here is an easy way to encourage daily reading.

A Reading Jar.  It's full of simple ideas for making reading fun. Pull out a slip each day to find a fun place or way to read. They might read in the shade, under the table, wearing a hat, eating a snack or with mom...all kinds of little ways to excite them to read each day.

Read Everyday Jar

3 printable pages of ideas.

Reading Printables here.

Print, cut and fill up the jar.

Enjoy!

Preschool Practice: Word Family Worksheets

It feels like forever since I taught in the classroom, 

but now working with my kids at home it reminds me how much I loved it...and miss it.

My son is in preschool and loves reading.  He's just beginning; so as we are learning the basic skills of reading. 

And we are currently focusing on Word Families.

We talk about how they rhyme and how they look alike and how it is a "trick,"

 if you know the family, you can read all the words and read them fast.

So we have been playing lots of fun games, but to further practice the skills, I made some word family worksheets. 

After scribbling them on random papers for him to practice each day, I figured I should just print some up.

Printable Word Family Worksheets found: here

*TIP:  I love Plastic Worksheet Covers!  I got mine from the Target Dollar Bins last fall, but even a plastic sheet protector would work.  Then just use dry erase markers or crayons and the worksheet can be used over and over.

Additional Word Family Resources:

Here are some fun resources for Word Family Games.  

Word Family Flip Books

(Free Download at PositivelyLearning)

Word Family Egg Twist

(via NurtureCreek)

Paint Chip Word Family Strips

(found at JoyfullyWeary)

If you have any of your own fun ideas, please share!

Preschool Practice: Printable Color and Question Words

More with Sight Words: Color Words and Question Words.

To go along with my previous posts on Beginning Sight Words and Sight Word Practice

I made a few more worksheets for practice.

This set of worksheets includes two pages.

1. Color Words

2. Question Words

In the worksheets they read, trace, then write the word.  

These are a little more advanced than the Beginning Site Word Practice, but great for once they have mastered the beginning words.

(The worksheets come from this larger set seen above)

For those of you working with little ones at home or at school I uploaded the printables to share.

Use them for Preschool, Homeschool, Teaching, or Co-ops, but please don't redistribute. 

Download printable Color and Question Words Worksheets: here

The whole collection and other worksheets check my TeacherPayTeachers Shop: here.

For more posts Education Resources and Worksheet Printables check: here.

Preschool Practice: Sight Word Practice Worksheets

More with Sight Words.

So after my previous post on Sight Words, I decided to make a few more worksheet for practice.

These also focus on the non-decodeable sight words.

They included additional writing practice.

For those of you working with little ones at home or at school I uploaded two of the printables to share.

Use them for Preschool, Homeschool, Teaching, or Co-ops, but please don't redistribute. 

Download printable Sight Work Practice Worksheets: Page 1 & Page 2

Find the complete set of these worksheets and more at my TeacherPayTeachers Shop: here.

For more posts Education Resources and Worksheet Printables check: here.

Preschool Practice: Printable Dolch Site Word Worksheets

Sight Words.

An important step in early reading.

Sight words are often referred in two categories. 

1. Commonly used words (so readers should be able to recognize them by site, to speed up their reading)

2. Non-decodable words (tricky words that can't be sounded out)

My little preschooler is not a fan of sight words.  He doesn't like something he can't figure out (sound out) on his own.  So I made a bunch of worksheets to help him practice and get more familiar with them.

This set of sight words includes the most commonly used sight words and the "non-decodable" words.

Since the Dolch Sight Word lists includes many words he can sound out, I first want him practicing those that he can't.  Because to me, these are the most important for beginning readers.

This Set, comes with 2 worksheets.  Additional posts and links below for my other worksheets that include all of the Dolch Sight Words.

For those of you working with little ones at home or at school I uploaded the printables to share.

Use them for Preschool, Homeschool, Teaching, or Co-ops, but please don't redistribute. 

Download printable Basic Site Word Worksheets: here

The whole collection and other worksheets check my TeacherPayTeachers Shop: here.

For more posts Education Resources and Worksheet Printables check: here.

Preschool Resources

Looking for good Preschool-Kindergarten teaching resources?

 I was and am so excited with all I found.

The teacher in my has been itching for these years to come and now with a very interested 4 year old, we have started Preschool.  

He loves it and he loves "practicing" at home.  

So I have searched all over the internet and Pinterest to find free and quality printables for Toddlers, Preschool and Kindergarten work.

And these were some of my favorites. 

Oopsey Daisy Blog 

This Site is full of great Learning Packets.  They include printables, activities, songs, snacks, and so much more.  It plans everything for you!

1 Plus 1 Plus 1 Equals 1 

has a For Tots page, with great resources. The Totally Tots section is full of printables and units for every letter and lots of fun themes.

Confessions of a Slacker Mom 

This site has tons of great printable units full of worksheets that also integrate religion.

Preschool Printables from Owens Family-Gwyn

has creative printables from books, by season, and topic. It makes planning the year simple and fun.

Preschool Alphabet  

This site has great printables and units, as well as, a year plan, with calendars and simple lesson plans already laid out.

Living Life Intentionally 

has tons of fun free preschool packs.  All types of homeschooling ideas.  It is an excellent resource.

Confessions of a Homeschooler.  

Her title says it best.  She has all kinds of great ideas and printables, with plenty of experience.

Mine for the Making  

a great site with lots of toddler and preschool printables.

Wild About Teaching 

has fun printables, projects, book based lessons for free.

But she also offers Large Packets for purchase.

Creative Preschool Resources 

great collections of printables.  Fun units with letter practice, sorting, cutting, numbers and much more.

Super Mom Moments 

has free worksheets, fun activities and printables for everything even kid parties.

Education.com 

offers tons of worksheets & activities or all ages and subjects.  The one drawback, you must register.  Registration is free, but it is just less convenient than some other sites.  But the quality and selection of the resources, makes it worthwhile.

Kids Learning Station 

has tons of great worksheets, varying levels and subjects.

Amazing Worksheets 

This site is full of worksheets for every subject and level...not just preschool.  A wonderful resource for all of your kids.

Rockabye Butterfly 

is great for young learners, lots of hands on learning, with printables and activities to teach beginning basics and discovery.

Little Family Fun 

has great learning games, art, and projects for Toddlers and Preschoolers.

Lessonpix Blog 

is a great website with lots of resources.  Their blog has free ideas, lesson plans, activities and printables, and if you want to be a member of their website, they only have a small membership fee.

I hope these are helpful and be sure to let me know if you have any great sources you love for Preschool ideas, resources or printables!

Kids Pirate Party

As I discussed in the Pirate Party Invitation Post & the Adult Pirate Party Post...

we did a double birthday party for my two boys.

With Halloween so close, I worked hard to keep things inexpensive and simple.

So between free printables from the internet and some Dollar Store shopping, it was covered.

First I made made the invitations found: Here.

(Free printable download)

Then for decorations and favors we hit the Dollar Tree.

Necklaces, Skull Rings, Eye Patches, Pirate Hats, Coins, Tattoos and Hooks.  For a Dollar I got a set for each child.  $1 bought a set with: hat, eye patch, & a hook.  So I bought 1 package of necklaces, 1 package of tattoos, 1 package of pirate coins, & skull rings (which were also used in the invitations) 

With 8 kids invited that was $8 plus $4 for the extras.

I also used plastic table clothes, cut into strips, for sashes. ($2 for 1 red and 1 blue) Then all of this made for a simple centerpiece and decor around the room.  Just added a few books, a jewelry chest & some wire baskets...but use anything you have on hand.

From a previous party, I had some gravel spray painted in silver and gold. A simple addition.

For the rest of the decorations, I used 2 poster boards. (2 for $1 at the Dollar Tree)

And 1 black round plastic table cloth.  

The poster board made sails above the buffet and the table cloth, 

made the bottom of the ship under the food. Shown below.

I also printed off some cute cupcake sails and sea wave cupcake liners found at: Cottage Industrialist

The black pirate flag cupcake toppers found at:

Then I made some labels and pirate signs free printables below.

*For the Kid's Party, I didn't actually do the food above, this was from the Adult Party.  You can find it in detail in this Pirate Party Post. 

Instead for the Kid's Party, which I forgot to take a picture of, I just ordered two $5 cheese pizzas. Served with Punch, Candied Popcorn, Shark Bait (Goldfish), and Chocolate Pirate Ship Cupcakes...all of which were served for the previous party too...making life much easier.

Here is a better look at the costume pieces the kids received.

Then for entertainment.

We started with a Treasure Hunt.

Free Printable Treasure Map found below.

The treasure chest was a painted shoe box, filled with necklaces, the Hooks, and candy.

Then we played several games.

1. Bowling with Toilet Paper Rolls.

2. Fishing for Treasure: Using a Dollar Store Fishing Pole set and Printable Pirate Gold, found below.  I just attached magnets to the fishing pole and pirate gold.  

3. We also played Pin the Pirate Hat on the Skeleton: A Dollar Store Halloween Skeleton Decoration and Printable Pirate Hats found below.

4. I Had A Little Pirate: Similar to the game Duck Duck Goose, but you carry around a little pirate (I used a rubber ducky with an eye patch we previously owned. The kid carries the pirate ducky saying, "I had a little pirate and he wont bite you, and he wont bite you...but he will bite you" going around the circle then placing it behind the kid that is now "it".  Then the chosen child picks it up and chases them around the circle, just like Duck Duck Goose.

5. Musical Flags: Musical chairs/Cake walk.  So drew some pirate flags and they walked on them in a circle with music playing...when the music stopped everyone had to stand on a flag, the one without a flag was out. 

6. Then we made some Spy Glasses found: here

So the Grand Total was: $39

$8 for pirate hat & set

$4 for packs of necklaces, rings, tattoos, and coins

$2 for table cloth sashes (I actually had mine on hand)

$1 for 2 poster boards

$1 for round table cloth

$4 for treasure candy

$1 fishing set

$1 skeleton

$10 pizza

$1 for Punch (Sprite with Cherry Kool-aid)

$1 for Goldfish

$2 Candied Popcorn (estimate and used for 2 parties)

$3 Cupcakes (estimate for used for 2 parties)

Free Pirate Party Downloads:

The cute cupcake printables & pirate bunting from Cottage Industrials were found: here

She also includes printable eye patches, pirate hats, and mustaches...so you could save money there.

And there are thank you card printables, which my boys used...so look around it is a great site!

Tattered & Inked: also had great printables.  I used some for decorations and I also used them to write the clues for our treasure hunt. 

And I loved Paging Super Mom's Spy Glass Printable project and Flags.  I used them for cupcake toppers.

Here are the Free Pirate Printables I made for the party.

Click on the image to enlarge then save to your computer

Printable Treasure Map 

2 options (then draw in your course to the treasure)

Printable Pirate Gold Coins

(I didn't make these, I found them at Reading with Kids, but I just put them 12 to a sheet instead of one.)

 Printable Treasure Chest

(This also was from Reading with Kids, and I didn't use it...just too complex for the little kids at our party, but I loved it!)

Printable Pirate Hats

(I made them for Pin the Hat on the Skeleton)

Printable Pirate Party Food Labels & Printable Pirate Party Signs and Labels.

(including a blank set to customize) 

(I used the free fonts: Ringbearer & Party Business)

Pirate Party Invitations found: here

 More Pirate Party Ideas, Recipes, & Fun found: here

 Enjoy!

Summer Fun

Well its summer and school is out, the weather is nice...or hot...

but either way we have been out finding all kinds of new ways to play.

Because so many of the ideas I have seen around were such a hit with my boys and the neighbor kids, I figured I'd compile our favorites and share!  Any other ideas you might have, be sure to comment...I'm always looking for more activities to keep the boys busy!

Here are a bunch of Fun Summer Activities for kids. Lots of easy and inexpensive ideas to keep any kid busy for hours.  Great ways to cool off, entertain, or just try something new!

Since we live on a bit of a hill, this was a big hit for the kids.

I found it at Camo and Bows.

15 backyard games from IMOM.COM

Here are some fun printable Scavengar Hunts found at Smashed Peas & Carrots

More Scavengar Hunts (indoor, outdoor, walks, colors, etc) I previously posted Here.

This was a great idea for all ages. Found over at Parents.com.

A fun twist on the idea, add some glow sticks in the bottles and make it night bowling.

Simple fun from Counting Coconuts...

we dumped ours upside down out of the container and them then hit away.

Hit the balloons into the baskets.

Parents.com had this fun idea...and 19 other fun activities.

Come Together Kids had this simple but ingenious idea.

You can buy the container at Walmart for 5 dollars.  

This can be purchased over at Chasing Fireflies...

or we just used Hula Hoops and Dollar Store Balls and it was a big hit.

My boys loved this!  Just be sure not to inhale...

super easy directions found at Betz White

50 things to do with your trampoline!!!

From really simple, to fun entertaining and night ideas.

Check them out at Rave & Review

One Charming Party had some great ideas for the outdoors and entertaining.

With tutorials and cute decoration ideas.

Fun Water Games from Create My Event

And if you have little ones, this is a collection of fun, easy things to do with toddlers.

All of which are a big hit with my little guys.

Found at Mixie Studio

And for when its just too hot outside here are a few indoor activities to keep the kids entertained...

What kid doesn't like playing with Homemade Gak.

Lil Luna shares the recipe to make it yourself.

Homemade Silly Putty from Making Memories with Your Kids

Mommy Savers had this fun idea.  Freeze colored water in Ice Cube Trays.

Then drop them in the tub and let the kids chase them around the water.  They slip out of their hands making a fun game and slowly add color to the bath water.

Bath time paints are also fun, Team Dischinger has an easy recipe to follow

or use food coloring and shaving cream for a fluffy paint... I will post about it soon.

This cute little idea came from Pigtails & Tutus.

And be sure to look through her blog it is full of tons of fun ideas for kids year round!