What is your ONE WORD for 2022?

 Have you picked a word of the year before?

2021 was the first year I selected a single word to guide my goals for the year.  Last year's word was open.  I wanted to be open to taking professional risks.  I wanted my heart to be open to forgiveness.  AND, I wanted to be open and present in every moment.

As I reflect back on my 2021 one word goals; I can say with confidence that I selected the right word.  I jumped into new professional opportunities (hello being an adjunct instructor and dipping into instructional coaching).  I have begun to heal personal wounds by reuniting with family members, and I created many amazing memories with my loved ones.

I love the simplicity of choosing one word to direct your focus for the year.  Instead of selecting multiple specific goals to try and achieve, choose one word to be at the forefront of your mind.  

This one word will be overarching, allowing smaller goals and accomplishments to fit within it.

So what is my one word for 2022?  

I am selecting the word flourish. 

The definition of flourish means to grow or develop in a healthy way, especially as a result of a particularly healthy environment. 

You see.......I am ready to F L O U R I S H! I have strong roots planted professionally and personally, and I am ready to grow. :) 

I want the personal relationships with my family and friends to thrive as we connect on deeper levels and make the most of our time with one another.  I want to create experiences for my loved ones and be truly present during those moments.  

I want my professional life to thrive as I continue to soak up every morsel of knowledge that I am able.  I want to be proud with the knowledge and strengths I have gained along the way, and share that knowledge with others. 

AND, I must not forget to count my blessings. Flourishing requires a healthy environment, and a healthy environment can only exist if we are able to take the time to be grateful for what we have and where we started.  I have so much to be thankful for in this season of life, and I can't lose sight of that. 

Need help selecting a word of the year? Check out this post from blogger Elizabeth McKnight.  She gives some great inspirational word examples and a more in-depth explanation on the benefits of choosing one word to guide your focus.   

What will be your word?  I would love if you would share!

Have a happy new year!  Stay safe and healthy!

Winter Break Bucket List

How ready are you for winter break?  Teaching is such a taxing and exhausting (yet rewarding) occupation.  When teachers FINALLY arrive at a long break....They. Are. Ready! 

All too often winter break seems to quickly slip through our fingers, and we arrive at the beginning of January and wonder how the new year arrived so quickly.  Breaks are elusive little things, aren't they? 

In order to take full advantage of your time off, I urge you to make a Winter Break Bucket list for yourself!  Bucket lists are a great ways to ensure that relaxation, fun and meaningful moments happen. By the end of break I want to look back on the the two weeks and have something to show for it---and I want that for you too!  

Click the image below to download this free resource!  Included in the download are multiple bucket list bingo boards.  There are two pre-filled bucket boards with lots of fun options!  You don't even have to think of your own fun--just print and start enjoying life.  Ha!  

There are also two boards that are mostly filled, but with a few blank spaces.  The mostly filled option is great if you have a few of your own ideas you want to insert! Last, there is  a completely blank board for those of you who have a brain swimming with fun ideas!

Do you want to take full advantage of your winter break?

Bucket lists are a GREAT way to ensure relaxation, fun and meaningful moments happen during your break from school!

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I truly hope you find this Winter Bucket List for teachers helpful and that you have an opportunity in these next few weeks to take time for yourself.  Winter break is the perfect time to slow down, take a deep breath and breathe fresh perspective into your life.  It is SO IMPORTANT that you fill your cup, so that you are ready to tackle the rest of the school year.  Remember that self care doesn't mean me first, it just means me too! 

Holiday gifts for students (that won't break the bank!)

Almost every teacher wants to buy a holiday gift for each of their students--but with classes of 30+ kids......it just gets too darn expensive!

​As a reading interventionist I service around 60 students, so I am always on the hunt for something festive and inexpensive. Thus....I use treat tags! Treat tags are a wonderful option--simple, relatively low cost and fun! Click the image below if you would like download the Elf Kisses treat tags FOR FREE! I simply staple the treat tag to a ziplock back with a few Hershey kisses inside! You don't have to use Hershey kisses....you could really do any treat!

Need a holiday treat tag for your students?

Using treat tags are a perfect way to put a smile on the faces of your students without breaking the bank!

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In the past, I have also gifted my students with "rudolphs."  To make these adorable reindeers, you use tootsie pops and a printable pattern.  Click  here or the image below to take you to the blog post--it will give you directions and the free printable pattern to use!

If you just want to celebrate with your class, but not purchase gifts there are lots of festive party ideas to do!

• Hot Chocolate Bar-- Set up a hot cocoa drink station with fun mix-ins (candy canes, chocolate chips, whip cream, marshmallows, etc.)  Let the students sip the hot cocoa as the color, watch a movie or play games.
• Build Gingerbread Houses-- Have students build their own gingerbread houses using graham crackers, icing and various candy materials.  Students could also work in teams to complete the structures.
• Cookie Decorating--bring cookies and decorating supplies and let the student's creativity fly!  Students could enjoy their baked creations as the watch a movie or play games.  For an extra layer of fun--make it a cookie decorating competition! 
• Holiday Sing-A-Long--create a playlist of your favorite carols and have a class sing-a-long party.  

Looking for even more ideas? Check out this list from Teacher Lists or Coffee and Carpool!

Want more holiday treat tag options? Check out these treat tags on TPT . For under three dollars, you get nine options for festive fun!

Happy Holidays!

Orthographic Mapping--Resources to Help Students Map Words (Post 4)

We have made it to the end of the All About Orthographic Mapping blog series.  My goal was for readers to know the definition of orthographic mapping, understand its importance and have strategies to promote mapping in your classroom. 

I am hopeful that has been accomplished! :)  

In pervious posts, I gave TWELVE...YES 12...strategies teachers should start using in their classrooms to help students map words, so today... lets talk resources.  

But, wait a minute...what is the difference between strategies and resources? 

Strategies are quick, engaging and easy to implement.  A strategy requires little to no materials and preparation.  Resources, on the other hand, have a bit more meat to them.  Resources are teaching materials that are more comprehensive in nature and might require more time to implement and prepare.  Below are FIVE resources that will help students map words!   

1. Word Sorts

• Word sorting is focused on orthography, specifically identifying the patterns within words.  When students categorize words based on their spelling, sounds or even their meaning they are mapping words.  Using word sorts has NOTHING to do with memorization, but everything to do with orthographic development! 

2. Heart Word Flashcards

• Students need explicit and systematic phonics instruction in order to crack the code of our written language.  With that being said, we NEED to explicitly teach students high frequency words as many of them are used in decodable readers and help make meaningful sentences.  The majority of high frequency words are decodable, and students are able to read them using their decoding strategies.  However, some high frequency words are heart words (irregularly spelled).  These heart words need special attention.  Research has shown that attending to the letter sound correspondences in irregular words (heart words) promotes memory in a similar manner to how we store regular words. (Kilpatrick, 2016, p. 58)   This means we point out the predictable AND irregular part of a heart word.  The flashcards below include all of Fry's high frequency words with heart words identified. 

3. Words Their Way

• This research based spelling/phonics program teaches the developmental stages of spelling.  The curriculum ranges from Pre-K all the way to high school and is a wonderful resource for orthographic development. 

4. Rime Magic

• Teaching students rime units will increase their skills in sounding out words and spelling.  Words are stored in our brains by onsets and rimes and if students are directly taught common rime units--they will be able to quickly and efficiently decode unfamiliar words.  Rime Magic, by Sharon Zinke, teaches students to see the rime in each word.  This program can be used as a prevention or intervention. 

5. Equipped for Reading Success 

• I cannot say enough positive things about this book!  Equipped for Reading Success provides teachers with foundational knowledge about what needs to be done to solve word level reading problems AND how to solve them.   

Savings are coming......It is TPT's Cyber Sale!!!

Mark your calendars for November 29th and 30th!  It is officially TPT's Cyber Sale!  Whoop Whoop!

My ENTIRE store is set to 20% off, but you can receive an additional 5% off when you enter code: CYBER21 at checkout.  

This is a great time to purchase all of those items you have been eyeing for a fraction of the original price.  I know I have my cart loaded and ready to go!

Happy Shopping!

Orthographic Mapping--MORE Strategies to Help Students Map Words (post 3)

In my previous post I shared SIX ways to help students map words.  

BUT.....as teachers we aren't just limited to six ways.  In fact, there are many other techniques you can implement in your instructional routine.  So...I am devoting this post to SIX MORE strategies you can use to promote orthographic mapping with your students.   

1. Phoneme Grapheme Mapping

• When we teach phonics we teach the letter and then the sound, but in order to be skilled in orthographic mapping we need to go from sound to grapheme (letter or letter combination). Mapping 3-5 words per phonics lesson is a great strategy to build up a student's orthographic lexicon.  
• Check out the phoneme to grapheme maps in the resource below--which also includes a word list and instructional routine. 

2. Spell Nonsense Words

• Having students spell nonsense words forces them to be aware of the phonemes she or he is hearing.  When teachers use real words all of the time, we run the risk of a student having prior experience or knowledge of that word.  With nonsense word spelling students must listen for the sound, and then write the correct sound.  This reinforces phoneme awareness and letter to sound skills.  Aiming for 3-5 nonsense words per phonics lesson is a great practice!  

3. Mixed Case

• Used mixed cases for word level reading.  Using this technique disrupts any strategy a student may have for remembering the "look" of the word and keeps students focused on the string of letters. 

4. Space Between Letters

• Much like using mixed case for word level reading, putting space between the letters in a word disrupts a students ability to memorize the "look" of a word. In addition a larger space between a word, makes it easier for students to focus on each letter in the letter sequence.  Viewing words with extra space between the letters is best done at a distance.

5. Reverse Sentence Reading

• The real point of reverse sentence reading is to prevent guessing of the text by using context clues.  Before having students read a sentence the normal way (left to right), have the student read the sentence from the last word to the first word. When a student has correctly read the words in the sentence, he or she may read it the proper way. 

6. Teach Rime Units 

• Teaching students rime units will increase their skills in sounding out words, and spelling.  Words are stored in our brain by onsets and rimes, and if students are directly taught common rime units--they are able to quickly an efficiently decode an unfamiliar word.  Rime units not only show up in single syllable words, but also in multi-syllabic words. 
• Check out the rime unit pack below--which includes flashcards, games and strategies to directly teach students rime units. 

If you are looking for the first six ways I shared to promote orthographic mapping, check out the previous post by clicking here.