This marks my class’ sixth week of word family study, and I absolutely love the routines we have establish for participating in word family activities and the success my kinders are feeling in recognizing and reading these important words that will make reading so much easier in the coming months. They are recognizing chunks and referring to the word family wall regularly, and I can really see how confident they have become. Needless to say, we love word family work.
I’ve had quite a few readers ask me to give them an idea of how I use the activities and how I fit them into my week so I wanted to give you a quick run down of how and what I will be using this week to give you an idea. This is just a snapshot of where and when you would see Word Family Word Work during my week.
My class has covered all of the short ‘a’ word families except for the ~AD family and that’s what we will be focusing on this week. Of course, we are constantly reviewing the other families but ~AD is in the spotlight.
MONDAY
Whole Group Literacy
I start the week by introducing the word family during our morning Whole Group Literacy time through a kinesthetic activity where we use placards to build the words. I love whatever will keep them moving, and this fits the bill.
If by some chance you don’t have these placards yet, click on the picture above to see how to make them and get your copy for free.
Of course some of the activities are used during my word work stations during Daily 5 (My Daily 6). Below you will see my Monday-Tuesday scheduled Daily 5 plans for this week.
If you want to click on this schedule you can get a pdf version. I will be using sorting cards in my sensory table during Word Work #2
My students love working in a sensory table. I scored a TON of acorns for this weeks sensory fun.
Here they will sort ~ad words and words that are not ~ad words. Sometimes I have students sort the words into buckets labeled with the different word families. Sometimes I have them use clothes pins and pin the words onto different strings labeled with different word families,
but this time I will have them sort them from the sensory table into a small pocket chart labeled with a thumbs up and thumbs down. Kind of like the ones below.
Daily 5 for Tuesday is the same as Monday (students only go to three stations each of the two days so that is why it is the same for two days).
WEDNESDAY
Morning Work
When my students come in first thing in the morning, I like to have something fun but engaging for them to do while I complete my attendance and lunch choice. On Wednesday, they will be doing an ~AD Family Color Count and Write. It’s differentiated to keep them challenged if needed, but gives those students who still need a bit of help with writing the opportunity to trace letters. Students count and color the pictures, and then they write the word as many times as they colored it above.
During Word Work 2 students will be writing the room to find ~AD words. By now, the students have become very familiar with the ~AD word pictures. These pictures are posted around the room where they search, clipboard in hand, and record the words they find. (Kind of like the example below.)
It is another differentiated activity. Some of my students are ready to only add the beginning sound and there is a tier for them as well as a tier for students who are ready to write the complete word and another tier for students ready to complete the word and write and read it in a simple sentence.
As part of their Daily 5 Choice Work, students have the option of having some Scentos Bingo Dotter Word Family Fun by dotting all the ~AD words from one picture to the other. (I LOVE these dotters!)
As part of my Guided Reading rotation for Wednesday and Thursday, we will be making and writing ~AD family words on paint samples like the one below. My students like choosing their favorite color and, if you really want to engage them, hand them a Scentos Dry Erase Marker to use when they write their ~AD words. (Yes, I’m addicted to those lovely things).
THURSDAY
Morning Work
On Thursday morning, students will be completing the ~AD word family slide. There are two versions of this slide too. One includes the pictures to help those students that still need that added prompt, and the other version includes only the letters on the slide. I like this activity because my students need as much cutting practice as they can get, and they all LOVE the opportunity to just color!!!
Whole Group Literacy
On Thursday during whole group, I have the students taking turns reading word family words as they search for the hidden ‘family member.’ I place different word family words in a pocket chart (I use a hanging one when I use this activity for whole group, but this is the table top one I use when I play this game during guided reading) and everyone gets a chance to guess where the ‘family member’ is hiding.
The person who finds it gets to hide it the next time we play.
Unknown says
Wow, I am so envious of your planning skills. I am still struggling to fit Daily 5 into my 3 1/2 hour school day. After our daily Arabic class, snack, recess, etc. I’m lucky to fit anything in. So here’s hoping your boys pick me for your word family unit — I could really use it!!
oops…my name is Erin, in Calgary, AB — LOVE your blog!
It is so inspiring and encouraging to see how much you put into these units. You truly differentiate for all learners in your classroom! 🙂
Breanne
breannesimons@gmail.com
These look fantastic! I just downloaded your letter placards and I can’t wait to use them. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and skills.
This would be a great addition to my series. Some of my struggling students could use your ideas add extra support. I love all your pictures and the many different ideas you have to support the teaching of word families. Thanks for this opportunity. sgeller@smsbspa.org
My favorite part is the morning work, but the variety is what the kids will jump up and down for. I can see them having a blast with Mr. Munchie Mouth. vhair61215@gmail.com
Thanks for sharing!!! I’m excited to start my kids on these activities this week!!!! It has taken a long time this year for my kiddos to learn letters and sounds. I’m wondering if you will keep these up all year or will the “a” families come down and the next group will go up???
I keep them up all year so that students can reference them. I admit though, when my year starts, my walls are blank…nothing on them. When the year ends, there isn’t an inch of space left. My students use those posters and cards every day.
Love these word family packs! I have had them on my wish list for a while. I would love to get my hands on this pack 🙂
I love the peeks into your classroom. You are a wonderful teacher! Would love to win these for my classroom! carinmcwhorter@gmail.com
I love how organized this is. I can see how the routine would support all of the kids. I love how you always have the best sensory bins!
Jennifer
loularkin@comcast.net
I love your ideas and activities. You are a great inspiration to other teachers.
I love your ideas and activities. You are a great inspiration to other teachers.
Wow! I love that wall! I seriously want to re-do my sad word wall after seeing this. So useful for the kids.
lisa_sardinha@hotmail.com
LOVE LOVE LOVE your word family teaching. I have never been happy with the way that I teach them, but this could be the perfect solution! mlgoulet@gmail.com
I am always impressed with how thoughtful and thorough you are with all of your units. This bundle is amazing. Going on the wishlist!
-Andrea
alwayskindergarten@gmail.com
You have such a great systematic organized way to teach word families. My students would benefit GREATLY from this. Thank you for sharing! pks0221@suddenlink.net
Hi Boys!! Please pick me. I wish I could be in your mom’s class. She does so many fun things. I hope one day my class can be as fun as hers!
I am in awe of your classroom ideas and would love to spend a week in your classroom! My word wall just came down because we got a new white board and I would LOVE to use these in my new space! 🙂
Ashley. angers@seeschool.com
No…not angers@seeschool.com! Darn autocorrect. It’s amyers@seeschool.com.
My word wall is the only thing lacking in my class. Thanks for the detailed information on your centers. Kfoley@eburg.wednet.edu
I love all your great activities for word families. My kids are in need of word family work. They are sounding out everything including word family words! They would have a lot of fun working with these activities!
Thanks for sharing your schedule in using the word family packs. They are great! Would love to have a set! abby1378@yahoo.com
Love your work. Use many of your centers already, but would love to try the word families this way. Your post explains it so well. Thanks. gmartindale@ejesd.net
You are fantastic! Love your word family packs! cheriemae@gmail.com
Wow! This post was SO full of great ideas and helpful information! A Differentiated Kindergarten is my go-to blog for engaging, meaningful activities for my students. Can’t wait to add these units to our routine. Thanks for all the incredible things you create! kweeks@bpsnebr.org
Wow! This post was SO full of great ideas and helpful information! A Differentiated Kindergarten is my go-to blog for engaging, meaningful activities for my students. Can’t wait to add these units to our routine. Thanks for all the incredible things you create! kweeks@bpsnebr.org
this is amazing!!!
Awesome post! I love how it all flows!
Deldreqka Scott
deldreqka.scott@gmail.com
Wow!!! You are amazing. How long does it take you to plan and pull all your materials each week? Thanks for all of your hard work. I own almost all of your ISpy units and would love to start getting your word family units. patty.ward0@gmail.com
I have your -at family packet and love it. Your entire pack is in my wish list. Waiting to make the big purchase! Your stuff is all great! kdiaz@bryanschools.net thanks Kristin!
This looks so amazing! I want to be in your class. My Daily 5 has become so boring and this would really be so much fun for the kids. Thanks for going into so much detail. shaunarae2@yahoo.com
These are great!
Abbey
abbey hutch @ bex . net
Thanks for the indepth look! I would love to know how you store all of your word family work when it isn;t being used-all the laminated resources and cards. I really struggle with keeping everything in an organised and accessible way. I’ve bought your word family kits for my junior special ed class, and they love them-so engaging and motivating! x
Vanessa
Great question. I’ll try and post a picture this week to show you.
Marsha
You always amaze me. You always inspire me to do more! Thank you for breaking it down for us. I love your ideas. And as for the give away, pick me boys!!!:)
Thank you for sharing your AWESOME ideas!!! I LOVE the word family packs.
Very informative post!!! I bet get ‘cracking’ on some Word Family packs. Oh, I would love to have a copy of your Word Family packs, they are awesome!!!
Thanks and take care
foxysexyroxy10@gmail.com
I would love to use this to use with my class!! Great ideas!! Boys…..pick me!!! I’m fun!! I want to win!!! Thanks, guys!! cbeier@pleasantville.k12.ia.us
Love your units and so do my students!!! Hope I get lucky and your boys pick my number!!! 🙂 We begin our weekly study of word families with word family houses…but your packet offers so many more activities! Keeping my fingers crossed!!!
Thank you for sharing!
Jennifer
lofgrenj@vail.k12.az.us
These are such great ideas! Thanks for sharing!!
Fantastic post! It is so detailed and full of great tips!! Thank you so much for the chance to win. I love all of the products I have gotten from your store.
Pam
pspetralia@verizon.net
I purchased one of your word family packets several weeks ago. I love this post explaining how you implement each piece in your classroom!:)
So interesting to see how your class works! Thank you for sharing!
These are amazing! Thanks for sharing!
Love seeing other people’s classrooms. You always have good ideas to share! I agree with the post from above, I want to be in your room too! 🙂
Love all of your ideas! Thank you! melissareed725@gmail.com
I Love this family pack! Would LOVE Love Love to be able to add it to my classroom! robandroxcleveland@yahoo.com
I have these in my wish list. My students love all your products. I would be so excited if I won these!
Thank you for detailing everything that you do for your kiddos! I’ll definitely be trying some of your ideas 🙂
Liz
teachinginthevalley@gmail.com
These look amazing! It is so organized! I love it. katienussbaum87@gmail.com
This is fantastic!! I would be beyond thrilled to win this!! 😉 Thanks for the opportunity. lmccarter@mrpk.org
Oops I commented on your facebook status! These are on the top of my wish list…I just need to save my money! I sure hope I win!
abuxton@sps186.org
I am so impressed with how much you pack in to a week! Your kiddos work hard!
aconnolly1216 at gmail dot com
Love, love, love your products! Thanks for sharing your wonderful ideas!
Please, please pick my children! They love all the things from you that I already have, and I know they would love the word families, too! Thanks so much!
sallyteachk@yahoo.com
OMS!! I was on the site yesterday, but I got so engrossed in your activities I forgot to comment! Ding Dong to me!
711craftygirl@gmail.com
Love , Love, Love these! I am doing the at word family this week and would love to have the entire set. Even if I don’t win I will probably buy it someday.
Didn’t put my email!! It’s a Monday! stlcrdsfan@att.net
This is so amazing! I hope someday to be as organized and routined!
LOVE this! Your pack is on my wishlist. I want every resource in your classroom. I love your organization, structure, and predictable activities that foster independence. I typically don’t focus on word families until later in the year, but you’ve just given me an AHA! moment. Fingers crossed!
Rebecca Stone (rebecca.stone627@gmail.com)
Love your word galore! So creative and visually exciting for kids!
What great ideas….these are so awesome as is your website…thanks!
I have always loved reading about how you work with your students to master the common core standards! Do all of your students know their letters and sounds at this point? Mine are still working on them.
April C.
leia4themonth@yahoo.com
All but one of my students are ‘top bananas’ but tomorrow I get a new peanut so I have a feeling it will be two. We’ll get them there though. Slowly but surely it will happen.
Love your work! Hope I win! donna.hutson@yahoo.com
I love all the activities you have your students complete. Thank you for sharing your awesome ideas! Looks like I will be spending next weekend revamping my Daily 5 activities! 🙂
I love your products. They are always a hit with my students! I would LOVE to have this word family unit for my kiddos. Thank you for the opportunity and for sharing your creativity with all of us. Margo Adams mrs. adams’ kinders
This looks amazing! It’s obvious how much time you put into this.
Becky
Lessonplansandlattes.blogspot.com
This would be so great for my kinders! Love it. Would love to win it. Ellieb@okstate.edu
Oops…forgot to add my email! spoiledbrattinadavis@gmail.com
What a great post! Thanks for the detailed explanation. Mgnreynolds@ yahoo.com
I love all of your work! I own many of your things! I was observed today and used some of the things that I own and it went very well! This would be a great addition to everything else! Thanks for the chance to win them! cynthiaferretti@verizon.net
This looks like a wonderfully fun pack my class would love.
Kathy
Kathy_hauch@yahoo.com
We are talking about the possibility of using the Daily 5. Would love to know how people feel about it. We are currently using HMH and I am following a themeatic plan that another group of K5 teachers have created. We haven’t covered a lot of sounds yet. I’m anxiously waiting the addition of consonants, so that I can start teaching word families.
dboelkow1@hotmail.com
Love your blog! I was looking at your combined pack today on TPT and placed it on my wish list. capleysclass@gmail.com
My students need this pack desperately!!! This would be fantastic! Eolson@madison.k12.al.us
Love all your ideas! currend@bibbed.org
Love! Love! Everything about the way your run your Daily 6. I wish I could come visit your classroom for a day and just absorb all of your knowledge:) nicoledein@aol.com
This looks like an awesome way to do the word families. Thank you so much for sharing!
I love this. And I am deeply envious of your organizational set up. Those plans were beautiful. I love working on word families and hope I win your work.
As an Elementary Reading Specialist I have to tell you how wonderful I think all of your Word family work is!!! I love all of the things you do and would love to have these materials to use in my classroom!! And by the way my name is Marsha too :o)
That means a lot to me coming from a Reading Specialist, Marsha!
Thanks for your comment.
Very detailed and thorough. Thank you for taking the time to break it all down.
Traceycameron@rogers.com
WOW! Love this post. I am going to be trying some of these strategies in my classroom.
Love this!
Oh my goodness! This is an amazing packet! I want/need this very badly!
cockerill7@gmail.com
I’m drooling over this one! So many cute ideas 🙂
Love your packs! My classes always love your Ispy activities! ajkmom@verizon.net
WHERE and HOW did you score so many acorns? I’ve been looking all over for them. Very awesome word work ideas! I’m loving Daily 5!!
I was wondering the same thing!!!!!
This pack looks amazing and I’m sure my class would love all the fun ideas. Also, I’m feeling lucky…today is my birthday and this would be a great celebration!
piper249456@yahoo.com
Am determined to make word family work a more integral part of our routine. I own the -at word family pack and would really love to be able to own the entire set to get me off and running. I love your breakdown today of how it looks on a daily basis. Thanks so much for your insight.
adam_pam@yahoo.com
Your short A pack looks amazing. Perfect timing because I am just beginning to introduce short A words to my class. Fingers crossed that I win!
Kelly
kellyfindsen@gmail.com
This is the first year our team has made a good plan for teaching the word families in kindergarten and your detailed weekly plans really help me to see a good flow. I will keep reading and see if there is a way I can fit it in…we use Daily 5 too so I would love to have some very focused word work activities. I really appreciate you sharing!
hudgins.kindergarten@gmail.com
Debbie
I’d love to win! Looks like a great addition to my classroom :]
Julie
julie@feldman2.com
I love ALL your ideas. The way you teach sight words is amazing as ever. I love how simple and yet very focused everything is.
higgystyx@yahoo.com
Thanks for all of the super ideas!! I would love to win this for my students!!
Renee
beckrd@juno.com
Love how you do word families! I would love to break away from our curriculum to do more of this! I would love to win and try some of these in our room! lnabors@kingwoodchristianschool.com
Thanks for another great idea! My class is LOVING your ball words this year! Only 1 away from our baseball party! I know they would love your word family packs,too! 🙂
caitlinmboyce@gmail.com
OMG that’s fabulous. I’m one away from a Top Banana Party….I’m dying for it. I’m about 5 away from baseball.
Marsha
I love all of your great ideas! What a fun way to learn word families!!
jbehr1710@gmail.com
Your pack looks amazing and the post was so detailed. I love it! My Kindergarteners would love this pack too!
Julie
DDgirl4ever@yahoo.com
I NEED this! I love all of your ideas. I hope your boys pick me! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
kyleeloves31@gmail.com
This would be an incredible resource to use when I teach my kinders word families! Thank you for all of your hard work and for your willingness to share it!
Terra Misener – misenert@jcschools.org
I LOVE every glimpse I get into your AMAZING classroom. Thank you for always inspiring me to be a better teacher. Your creativity and sharing are a blessing to me and my kiddos. We would love to add this word family pack into our classroom.
tadkins@valleyfellowship.com
Awww that’s so nice Tracey. Thanks.
Marsha
This would be awesome! We are string word families this week in our reading series. These would be great for our word work station, small and whole group instruction.
This would be great. Thanks for all of your hard work! msgreen@lancaster.k12.pa.us
I LOVED your -at packet that was included in the Educents bundle. Lots of fun, hands on activities.
athomas@ccps.org
Your differentiated activities have been a hit in the classroom! Thank you for sharing how to break instruction/tasks down, and with such detail. I would love to add this to my collection 🙂 Melissa
monaer0820@yahoo.com
I love seeing how you teach word families in your classroom. I am using many of your items during guided reading and would love to be able to use these activities during my whole group lessons. During a recent staff development I listed your blog as a resource and it winded up being shared with the whole school so now you are more than a blogger you are a “teacher resource.” dwbryant68@gmail.com
Dee, that is about the best thing I’ve heard in a long time. Thanks so much for sharing my blog with other teachers. It’s a labor of love.
Marsha
I absolutely love all of your stuff. I use so much of it in my kindergarten classroom. I have never tried word families this earlier in the year, but my kids are loving it!! Thank you for all of your hard work and inspiration!!
Awesome to hear. Make a munchie mouth man and your kinder friends will love you. I promise! Thanks for sharing.
Marsha
You and your products amaze me. Your word families are on my wishlist. Thank you for being such an inspiration.
~Tonya
tonyasalpine@msn.com
I love how you mix fun with learning, the way we did back in the day before all the testing frenzy began. I looked at this packet yesterday when you posted the giveaway and I LOVED it. I figured hundreds of people would be trying to get it so I didn’t submit my name, Then I read your blog post tonight and thought I would give it a shot. lynnesp@aol.com
Can’t hurt to give it a try. I’m glad you decided to enter.
Marsha
I would LOVE to win this. We are currently working on the -at word family and have just introduced the -an family as well. It isn’t going as well as I had hoped. This would be such a help. I love all of the products of yours that I have purchased and this is currently on my wish list.
jennlnel@yadtel.net
I am amazed at what you do! I would love to win this! Sthuet@sanjuan.edu
This looks amazing! We just started word families last week and these would be perfect to accompany my plans! 🙂 Kelli obxsteeler@yahoo.com
You are wicked talented! You know I love your stuff! You are so creative! Slowly but surely I will download all of it from TPT. Winning it wouldn’t be so bad either. 😉 Thanks for all of your tips. They are always a big hit!
Thanks for your constant support. Love to hear it.
Marsha
Thank you so much for sharing routines for introducing word families. I will be introducing word families next week. I would love to win your packet:) Thanks for the opportunity!!!
sillyteacher@sbcglobal.net
Awesome!! I would love to have this collection! I am a first yr teacher. I love your blog!!
sierraphillips724@gmail.com
We’ve just begun word families, so these would be so terrific to have to dig deep 🙂 I LOVE the word family wall you created–I’d have to squeeze in some wall space, but it would be well worth it! Thanks for the fantastic blog post.
WOW! This looks awesome and I wonder how you get everything done in a day???
We started word families last week and it didn’t go so well- I have a LOW class this year, but there’s no where to go but up!
This is awesome for my kinders!!
kajmitchell@gmail.com
I absolutely love your word families. I have your -at family pack and my kindergartners love the sensory tub, the write the room, and I even made the thumbs up/down sticks. I would love to have the rest of short A. I do wish I was as organized as you though. I only have been teaching for two years but haven’t mastered organization with centers yet. I buy packs but a lot of them are too hard to get together. Your Word family pack was the easiest so far. I love your blog and can’t wait to read more. tgcrzy4u32@gmail.com
How did I miss this? I would love this resource!!
I love looking into your virtual classroom. It would be awesome to see it in person. Thanks for this opportunity! tynetots2000@gmail.com. Your kids are lucky to have you as a teacher. You make learning fun!
I just love your word family activities and the fact that they are kid-tested! Thanks for all your hard work!
Your word family unit looks awesome! I have never introduced word families this early in the year. Do your students come to you knowing most of their letters and sounds?
Denise
Dthomas@limacityschools.org
WOW! I appreciate all the time spent in developing and creating this differentiated unit. I am so thankful that I “discovered” you and started following you on Facebook. Your planning is detailed and you are teaching many teachers that it is possible to differentiate in meaningful ways. Thank you 🙂
Stacy
samstutz1124@gmail.com
I read this post and didn’t realize there was a giveaway until I saw it this morning on Facebook. I LOVE these packs. I just put them in my tpt wishlist last night. We don’t do word families, per se. We do short vowels and I work them in that way. All but 1 or 2 top bananas?! I’m so jealous! I have two at this point.
Wow! Youa re so inspiring and have such stinkin’ cute stuff!!! You make the impossible possible. Inspirational!
oops! clairtmuller@gmail.com
Wow, can I borrow you for a few days to help me and my kids get on track. Your work is wonderful! My kids are stugling with word families and I think that your ideas are just what they need. Thank you for sharing!
Do you teach full day or half kindergarten? I am curious to see your daily lesson plans. How do you fit in mini lessons and have them practice that during reading time or do they practice during “Read to Self”….I love love your ideas. I have purchased many of your units I am just trying to fit it all in. Oh and pick my boys!!! mdavis@soudertonsd.org
I love this set, this would be a great resource for my class!
Dee:)
overthemoonbow.owner@gmail.com
visit from indonesian.
by
AHMAD KURNIAWAN SIDDIK
I absolutely love these differentiated word family sets! I am sad that I am just now seeing that you had a free give away a year ago. I am beginning to teach special education students this year and was worried about coming up with these differentiated lessons. If you ever consider giving away another free set please consider me! Thank you for your hard work on these. I will be saving up my money to try and purchase them a little at a time! raef19@hotmail.com
Question about how you move from center to center during your “Daily 5” centers: How do your groups actually change centers – do they spend an allotted time (if so, how much) in each center and move with a signal? do they then move to the “next center” Is your “time with teacher” an allotted center and then they move into the next rotation? I am having trouble using time with teacher as one of the Daily 5 centers because if it is scheduled, I have so many EC and speech kids pulled out and they end up missing their guided reading group. So I just pull them if I see most of them are in the room, but then when they move back into the rotation they have missed and/or didn’t complete that rotation. It gets complicated!