Play Dough Alphabet Letter

It has been several years since I taught kindergarten, but I was reminded the other day of how much my students enjoyed using play dough to practice their letters. Using play dough with letter mats always made for a good independent center activity in which all students could be engaged without needing much support or redirecting. As I was thinking about this I decided to post this product on my blog to share with you.

You could use construction paper and a marker to make your own letters. This is something I'm not very good at, so I found it easier to do on the computer. I have made this file available through my teachers stores if you are interested in checking it out. The file includes both capital and lowercase letters, along with a recipe for play dough.

 

My TPT Store

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Play-Dough-Alphabet-Letters-1066702

or

My Teacher's Notebook Shop 

http://www.teachersnotebook.com/product/anavarre/play-dough-alphabet-letters

 

Wordle Website

 If you haven't ever used the Wordle website I highly recommend it. It is a fun website that lets you create a collage of words. You enter the words that you want to use and then hit "go" and you instantly have a ready to use poster (Java script is required). You can use Wordle in the classroom to create phonics lists, adjectives, nouns, subject facts, express opinions, and just about anything else you can think of. I've been to trainings where we have used Wordle to collect data and I also like using them for spiritual thoughts. The way that you can use this program is endless.

                                                     http://www.wordle.net/create

Here is a sample that I made using CVC words. The Collage that you create can be edited. You can change the font style and the coloring. You can also print these creations or save them to the website gallery.

When you get a chance be sure to read the FAQ page. It provides some interesting tidbits and helpful hints. This is a completely FREE website. Jonathan Feinberg is the creator and I really take my hat off to him. He credits the many who have helped him and I take my hat off to them as well. I love to see the gifts that people are blessed with put to such great use, so I really love when they are shared in such a way as with this Wordle website.


                               I hope that you will also feel free to visit my TPT Store
                              http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Anna-Navarre
                                                                        or
                                                my Teacher's Notebook Shop
                                    http://www.teachersnotebook.com/shop/anavarre

Wonderopolis

I'm always looking for good educational/informational websites for my classrooms, so I was very excited when I learned about Wonderopolis. I really like it. I especially love that it provides video and reading support. Students can click on the "listen" icon and be read the article information. I'm still learning to navigate through this site and I'm sure I will like it even more once I become more familiar with it. It doesn't seem to have a lot of videos on one specific topic, for example: insects, but it does have a lot of interesting facts. While I was hoping for it to be a resource for our classroom research, I think it will serve my classroom better if I use the articles as writing prompts. It definitely provides interesting informational text and that alone gives this site a huge plus.

                                Here is the link if you are interested in checking it out:

     Wonderopolis Link

    http://wonderopolis.org

 

My TPT Store

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Anna-Navarre

 

My Teacher's Notebook Shop

http://www.teachersnotebook.com/shop/anavarre