#teachertricks {QR codes and Write the Room}

Hello There!

I hope you are staying warm…we are expecting snow and ice on Monday night, so I am kinda hoping thinking we may have a snow day! I would just love a day to catch up on things (in my jammies of course!)

I wanted to share a few literacy centers my kids and I are loving right now. First, I have to tell you I whole heartily agree with The Sisters when they say students need time EVERY.SINGLE. DAY to be engaged with purposeful reading and writing tasks.

QR Codes
However, before reading The Daily Five, I didn’t understand the importance of “Listening to Reading”. I knew my students enjoyed putting on headphones and picking a book from the basket every once in a while. After reading their book, I am continually on the lookout for new ways for my students to hear fluent readers model and be exposed to higher level vocabulary. In my classroom, my students “Listen to Reading” at the computer, and the “old school” cassette player with headphones. But their favorite Listen to Reading is with the iPads and QR codes. The technology aspect of the activity is highly engaging to them, plus they get to make choices on what story THEY want to hear…no compromising to what the group wants.

Mrs. Winter’s Bliss

I love the QR codes first, because my first graders are successful at the task (no management issues) and they are excited and engaged… (true story- I heard cheers when I pulled out a basket of new codes last week!) #teachertrick In addition, the codes are super easy to prep and manage. I printed them, mounted and laminated. The bundle I purchased from I Heart EOSL has over 170 stories…. The following packs of stories are included:
Favorite Back to School Stories
Fall Stories
Thanksgiving Listening Center
Christmas Listening Center
Winter Listening Center
Robert Munsch
Dr. Seuss
Eric Carle
Froggy
Fables
Fairy Tales
Kevin Henkes
David Shannon
Valentine’s Day

I think I should be good to go for a long time! 🙂
Click HERE to get more info on how you can get them for your classroom.

Write the Room

My kids love to move around A LOT! Last Fall I thought of a #teachertrick. I made simple sentences that they could “read and write the room.” I gave them a recording sheet and sent them on their way to find the sentences posted around the classroom. They ATE.IT.UP.

When I created the recording sheet I included a checkoff so they would remember to practice reading their sentences themselves and a friend. That means they would read the sentences at least 3 times! #teachertrick

Since my kids were so engaged and successful with this literacy task, I created a Winter and Spring pack. In creating the packs I knew I had to add one more component to make it even better! I wanted to make a way to differentiate the activity to challenge my kids who needed it, but still support my low babies. So I made 2 versions of each sentence. I hang the sentences side by side and have taught my students the sentences are just like “good fit books,” we choose the one that is right for us at this time. #teachertrick

If you are interested in taking a closer look at this reading and writing center for your classroom, click on the pictures below.

Write the Room {Fall}

Write the Room {Winter}

Write the Room {Spring}

Thanks for stopping by and reading. I would love to have you comment below on #teachertricks that are working well in your classroom!

Stay warm!