New #1 Product - Prefix & Suffix Word Sort

For the longest, my top selling item in my TeachersPayTeachers store was Who Owns This Bag? Inference Activity, a great activity for teaching your students to make inferences.

Now, after many (woohoo!) recent sales, my Prefix & Suffix Word Sort Activity is MY TOP SELLING PRODUCT!!!

If you haven't checked it out yet, please do!

Prefix & Suffix Word Sort Activities

It's really quite the steal. It's only $2 and it includes FIVE different activity pages!!!

I also have TWO Prefix & Suffix freebies in my store:
Prefix & Suffix Checkers Template
Prefix & Suffix Multiple Choice Worksheet

Prefix and Suffix Word Sort Activity - Digital Download

Sorting activities are some of my favorites to prepare for Literacy Stations. I feel like they keep my students busy, but in an effective way. Plus, I think my students really enjoy sorting activities because it's such a basic concept to them!

This word sort activity was actually originally designed as independent work for my students, but because I made 5 versions (!!!) of the Prefix and Suffix Word Sort, I'm going to have my students use this at a Literacy Station in the coming weeks.

Woohoo! There's one activity I actually won't have to make in the coming weeks. :)

{Click here to download Prefix and Suffix Word Sort Activities.}

This digital download can be found in my TeachersPayTeachers shop (click above) and it includes 5 different version of cut & paste word sorts...meaning, there are 100 words for your students to work through and sort!

Enjoy! And...HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Dictionary Guide Words Cut & Paste Activity - Digital Download

Recently we've been working on building dictionary skills in our classroom. Can you say tough?

I never remember thinking that it was difficult to use a dictionary when I was younger. Then again, I don't actually remember being taught how to use one. It's likely that I was, but it's also likely I just learned it because I was curious. (I'm definitely a hands-on, kinesthetic self-learner in many ways. Not in a snobbish way; I'm just naturally curious slash nosey.)

I also wasn't totally and completely surrounded my technology as a child, like the generation that I'm teaching.

Guide words seem to be what my kids are most hung up on & what they need the most exposure to. Because of that, I decided to make up an activity that forced them to really think about guide words...not just flip through a dictionary until they found a word.

{Click here to download Dictionary Guide Words Cut & Paste Sort Activity.}

This activity is PER-FECT.

This entire download includes letters A-Z and each page has overlapping of letters so that students have to determine which 'A page' a word goes on (etc.).

My kids worked on this at a literacy station last week and they loved it. I was also being observed that day and this activity was brought up later as a 'great idea!' Whoooooooop!!!

So, what do you think? Usable in your classroom? Have any suggestions -- I'm all ears!

P.S. Happy ItsAlmostChristmasBreakWeeeeeeek!!!

Homographs Matching Activity & Anchor Chart - Digital Download

This year I've really enjoyed making anchor charts to hang on the walls in my classroom!

It's taken a lot of time to make each one, but it's completely worth it. Each time I create a new anchor chart, the kids thoroughly enjoy them! Therefore, so do I.

And guys?

My kids regularly reference them.

It's such a good thing to ask my students a question, or have them completing an activity, and see them turn around, look at the chart behind them, and confidently go on about their way. It makes me feel so good; them the same.  Win, win.  :)

Recently, we've heavily discussed homonyms. This can be very confusing for students and generally makes them have to (really!) think before they answer.  I like to create catchy, memorable anchor charts, too, because I want my students to be able to visualize them even when they're not there.

Homographs Anchor Chart

Thought process behind this anchor chart :: I teach my students that homographs, as represented by a graph, are things that you can see the similarities in (spelling), like a graph.

{Click here to see other Anchor Charts I've made for my classroom!}

I have to admit; not only are they a helpful classroom resource, but they also pretty up my "window wall" (wall of windows). That makes me think...I should get a picture of ALL anchor charts together on the window wall. I even recently (you're going to think I'm nuts!) divided up the sections into Word Study anchor charts & Reading/Comprehension Skills anchor charts. Crazy? Maybe. But, it makes it easier for my students to reference. :)

Because of these confusing word relationships, I've created so many matching, sorting, hands-on activities for my students to constantly work with. Here's one:

Homographs & Homophones Word Sorting Activity & Activity Page

{Click here to download the Homonyms Word Sort Activity.}

Tell me: what do you find most challenging for your students to differentiate between?