Birds Nests for the ER sound.

Birds Nests

1. Melt:        1/4 cup chunky peanut butter

(If using natural peanut butter add 1 Tbsp. Butter)

3/4 cup chocolate chips

2. Stir in:      2 cups chow mein noodles

3. Drop big spoonfuls onto wax paper.

4. Make a hole in the middle with a spoon.

5. Put 2 or 3 jelly beans in each nest.

6. Cool and enjoy!

Fun for Easter and for learning the ER sound. (Easter, bird, butter, stir)

NO Bake — Awesome Bars

      Awesome Bars

1. Mash: 16 graham crackers (in plastic bag)

2. Mix:

• graham cracker crumbs
• 1 can sweetened canned milk
• 1 cup chocolate chips
• 2 cups crispy rice

3. Butter paper plates or a 9×13 pan.

4. Pat mixture into pan or individual plates.

5. Sit 10 or more minutes.

6. Enjoy!

This is easy and fun to make with children because there is no baking or cooking.   Fun to do when teaching the AW as in SAW sound.

Discipline Tip-I am Good and I Can

I am Good and I Can.

If children can internalize a positive self-image, they are more successful.  This is best done by them voicing the words.

I had an elementary math class where most of the children had a life of trouble with math.  “I can’t!” was what they believe about themselves.  We started everyday with everyone closing their eyes and saying in unison:  “I am good, I am smart, and I can do math.” Then we started your day.  We were rewriting what they believed about themselves.   We would work until they learned each concept.  They were not allowed to fail.  It was amazing how well those children did for the first time in their life.   There also was never any discipline problems in the class.

When I tutor children, I include this same method.  It makes the learning more successful.

Telling children doesn’t change their self-image as much as when they tell themselves.  It is good to compliment, but follow-up by asking how they feel about their work.

If you are a parent of a child with low self-esteem, say with them a statement of a new positive self-image.  Help them say the same statement each morning in a private place. This will help them have a permanent change of self-esteem.  I know it seems strange, but it really makes a difference.  Enjoy the children in your life.

There is another discipline tip in this blog called “I Like Myself”.  It has more ideas.

http://www.phonicsbyspelling.com/

High Frequency Words

List of High Frequency Words Listed by vowel sound.

These are lists of words to help teach children to read:  

Words for Reading Instruction   

High Frequency Words List

Ideas for teaching these words:

• I like to teach these words as a group by each vowel sound.
• I also will put some of them on my wall cards with half a sticky note.  
• It is good to have the words written in groups some where visible such as a word wall.
• Every time I teach a sound I include a few words to the wall cards for that sound.
• This is fun to play a game with words and sounds.  http://www.phonicsbyspelling.com/Cinco-Learning-Game-10.htm 

This is a list of some of the first words I teach:

• I
• a
• at
• cat
• she
• he
• see
• me
• my
• why
• red
• the
• yes
• no
• and
• an
• you
• it
• is
• am
• look
• love
• like
• to

We have a fun bingo type games with letter sounds on one side and sight words on the other.  Check out our website.  http://www.phonicsbyspelling.com/Cinco-Learning-Game-10.htm

Recipe for Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate Chip Cookies

1.  Beat 2 eggs.

2.  Add and Mix:

• 1 cup butter
• 1 and  ½ cups brown sugar
• 1 t. vanilla

3.  Add and Mix:

• 2  and 1/4 cups flour
• 1 t. soda
• 1 t. salt.

4.  Add and Mix:

• 100 or more chocolate chips
• 100 or more M & M’s

5.  Drop by spoonfuls on a cookie sheet.

6. Bake at 375 for 8-10 minutes.

7. Eat and enjoy.

Enjoy making with children when you teach the CH or a review of digraph sounds.

Have the children help count, crack eggs, and measure.

How to Use Music to Teach Anything!

How to Use Music to Teach Anything!

 Music is the best memory aid.  When we look back at the things we remember from our childhood, much of it is associated with music.  It is easy to add music to any subject.  Here are some suggestions:

•  Take a simple tune, beat or rap and add any items to be learned.  The simpler the better.  Keep the songs short and fun.  Funny and silly are especially successful. Children of any age will enjoy making up silly learning songs.
• Be brave.  You don’t need great music talent to use music.
• Find ready-made music.  Make sure the music is simple. It is good to hear the music before you buy it if possible.  Our phonics is taught with simple, short songs.  Contact us for Free music and books for teaching the phonetic sounds.     http://www.phonicsbyspelling.com/

Please share your success with using music to teach with us.  

Microwave Caramel Popcorn

This is a fun easy recipe to do with children.  This can be used when teaching:

• the sounds — OR, AR, Short O, or P.
• the word family -op.
• farms, seeds, plants, or heat.  

Caramel Popcorn

1.  Melt in the microwave in a large glass bowl on high for 2 minutes:

• 1 cube butter
• 1 cup brown sugar
• ¼ cup corn syrup
• ½ tsp. salt

2.  Stir then microwave for 2 or 3 more minutes.

3.  Stir in ½ tsp. baking soda.

4.  Pour over 4-5 quarts of popped popcorn.

5.  Stir to mix then pour in a large brown paper grocery bag.

6.  Fold down the top then cook in the microwave for 2 minutes.

7.  Take out the bag then shake it and cook again for 1 ½ minutes.

8.   Pour out on a cookie sheet to cool.

9.  When cool break apart.

ENJOY!

Strawberry Tart (Fun to make with the AR sound.)

       Strawberry Tart

Crust: (no shortening)  (can us gluten-free flour)

• 1/3 c. whole wheat flour or unbleached flour
• pinch of salt
• 1 c. unbleached flour
• 1/3 c. oil
• 3 tbsp. milk or water

Mix flours and salt together. Mix milk and oil in a separate bowl. Add oil mixture to flour mixture and mix with a fork until mixed.  Mix as little as possible.  Roll out between wax paper. Take off wax paper on one side.  Line muffin cups, tart pans. custard cups or a pie pan with crust, then take off the wax paper.  Poke crust with a fork, then bake at 475 for 10-15 minutes.

Filling:

Wash and cut strawberries and fill pastry crust.

Cook:     

• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1  1/4 cups raspberry juice
•  4 t. cornstarch

Mix cornstarch with 1/4 c. cold juice. Bring the rest of the juice and sugar to a boil. Stir in cornstarch mixture. Cook on low for about 2 minutes or until clear and starts to thicken.  Spoon over fruit making sure to cover all the fruit.

Optional Topping:

• 1 c. whipping cream
• 1 T. vanilla instant pudding
• 2-4 T. powdered sugar
• 1/4 t. vanilla

Whip cream in a glass or metal bowl.  When the whip cream forms soft peaks, add pudding, sugar and vanilla.  Whip just until mixed.  Serve on cooled tarts.

Discipline Tip- What about Bored?

Bored       

Children use the word, “BORED” to manipulate and get attention from the adults around them.  Teachers, parents, and other caregivers are easily pulled into trying to entertain them when this term is used.  Here are a few tips to help reduce the use of “BORED”.

1. Don’t allow the word to be used.  It goes right along with potty words.  Warn them matter-of-fact that the word is no longer allowed.  Maybe have extra jobs associated with its use.
2. Make sure you are not rewarding the use of the word “BORED” with attention.
3. Eliminate it from your own vocabulary.
4. Be proactive to create some positive, quality time with children.   Never have positive time be a reaction to negative actions or the word, “BORED”.

Enjoy those children in your care!   Love them!  Good luck on your journey to eliminate the use of the word, “BORED”.

 

Oodles of Noodles

Oodles of Noodles  (2 kinds)        

Fast Noodles  (Can be made with gluten-free noodles.)  Children love this.

1. Cook 1/2 lb. curly or other noodles for half of the time on the package.
2. Save 1/2 cup of the water and drain off the rest. Put the noodles and 1/2 c. water back in the pan.
3. Add 1 cup of frozen petite peas, a little salt, and 1 Tablespoon chicken bouillon paste or granules.  (Better than Bouillon  is a great bouillon.)
4. Cook on low with a lid for about 5-6 minutes, then take it off the burner and leave it for 10 or more minutes.
5. Eat and enjoy!
6. Fun to do when learning the OO sound like in MOON.

Homemade Noodles

• Beat 1 egg.
• Add: 1/2 t. salt
• 2 T. milk.
• Stir in 1 cup of flour.      (dough will be stiff)
• Roll dough thin on a floured board.
• Let rest for 30 minutes.
• Heat to boiling:  4 cups water
• Then add: 4 t. bouillon paste or granules, 2 t. minced onions, and 2/3 cups peas and carrots.
• Add noodles to broth.
• Cook on low boil for 15 minutes.  Enjoy!
• Fun to cook when learning the Long OO sound.