You might see my chest puff up just a little in this post. I’m gonna apologize right now. I have to admit, I’m more than a little proud of my kinder class (and my own homegrown kinder too).
If you know about my sight word system you know that I introduce sight words as sports levels. So, Dolch list 1 words are called Baseball words, list 2 is Soccer, then Basketball and so on all the way until they get to list 11 which is Beach Balls.
So that means today we PARTIED. Yep. Parties are lots of work and they cost money, but these kiddos worked their little behinds off learning those baseball words. And when the last three passed on Friday (all in one day) the first thing out of their mouths was . . . ‘can I please have the next soccer ball list?’ I was like ‘seriously? You want to keep working on these?’
We played a little sightword baseball. It was the Eagles vs. the Tigers. They had a little pre-game huddle…
and then a quick cheer and BREAK (I think they might watch a little too much ESPN-I’m not sure!)
And you can’t have a baseball party without HOTDOGS and . . . CRACKER JACKS.
Do you know how many kids have NEVER had Cracker Jacks? I was amazed. Who doesn’t like the a surpise in every box for goodness sakes.
And then we finished off with a little Baseball pinata.
It was a blast, well deserved and just so so so much fun to watch some of my little ones who have never been celebrated for how wonderful they are get recognized for their hard work.
I’d like to think it was because of me, but that is just so not the case. I love how these little ones work together to help eachother meet their goals. I melt when I hear one of my high fliers say ‘come on, I’ll help you with your ball words. I just know you’re gonna pass today.’ or when they pass and I hear them yell ‘WoooHOOO I’m a golf ball champ!’ Who doesn’t want to be a champ? And I really think that’s the reason they work so hard, not for the treasure box trinket, the certificate or even for the party . . . they just all want to be ‘champs.’
And I couldn’t not tell you about my own little champ. No he’s not in my classroom, but I have the pleasure of seeing him next door everyday in my teacher friend, Kerri’s room. This is the picture/award wall at my house (don’t judge me by my dirty kitchen please). I with I could say he learned all those words for his momma. WRONG!!! He has a great teacher, who he LOVES, who motivates him, who cheers him on and gets him excited about his sight words and reading.
This is so awesome; makes me very excited about baseball season quickly approaching! I just started blogging and am OBSESSED with your blog and your products that I have purchased. I just added my first freebie on my blog, actually involving sight words. I would love for you to download it and check it out and let me know what you think!
Keep up your ah-mazing work!
Kathleen 🙂
k-3kathleen@blogspot.com
Thanks Kathleen. I’ll have to stop over and check it out.
Marsha
So exciting and what an awesome teacher to make them a fan-tastic party like that 🙂 I wish I was in your class! Lol. I am PRAYING I get to teach kinder next year so I can use your system.. I bought it this summer and then I was bumped back up to third. Congratulations on inspiring children!!
Heather
Kickin’ It With Class
Heather that’s so funny. My oldest son is in third grade and I put his multiplication on balls for him. He loved it. Here’s hoping you kindergarten next year.
Marsha
I am soooo very excited for you! I want you to know I was in tears (happy tears, of course) by the time I reached the end of this post. I know how proud you are of your students. It almost makes your cheeks hurt to look at them because you can’t stop smiling!! Congratulations to you and your kiddos!!
You are sooooo right. It’s hard not to love them to pieces. I’m not ashamed to say I danced around the room with those last three I was so happy. Amazingly they were the heros for the day. Isn’t that awesome?
Marsha
Cutest thing EVER! I’m heading over to check out your sight word sets right now. The baseball coach’s wife in me is excited to bring this to my class. I’ve purchased several of your products lately and they are really helping me differentiate better!
Pencils, and Crayons, and Books! Oh, My!
Oh I love hearing that I’ve made differentiating easier. THAT makes my day.
Marsha
What an awesome idea! I can’t wait to do this for my kiddos when they all pass the baseball words! My kids LOVE reading the ball words…You have made my class better readers! Thank you!
Make sure you send me pictures. I’d love to see what you end up doing.
Marsha
Wow!! What fun!!!! I bet you guys had a blast!! This is the kind of day that every teacher needs and loves!! It is so exciting to see our kiddos make so much growth!!! I plan to do your ball words next year!! You are an inspiration to me!!! I love how you teach!!!!!
Awww, thanks Beth. It WAS a fun day. I think we need to take every opportunity we can to celebrate with our kiddos.
Marsha
The party is a great idea and I hope to inspire my kids even further with the promise of a real baseball party if the whole class can get there! They are always so excited to take the next test and I don’t have to bug them anymore about studying their words. Thank you for making learning words even more fun!
I’m so glad it’s fun for them. Isn’t that what learning is all about. In a perfect world (and not in Northern Michigan in March)we would have a ball game outside, but we have way to much snow. I’m hoping for some future parties to involve an actual game or two outside. I’m only 4 kiddos away from soccer ball word champs so I have a feeling it will be sight word soccer inside this year but perhaps I’ll get basketball or football outside.
Marsha
Yeah for your little people! That is super exciting! And, you puff up your chest anytime. By the way, my little people are still enjoying your “love” centers for literacy and math!
Love this post!!!! How awesome! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this system! I have been thoroughly amazed at the motivation it has been for my kiddos to want to learn their ball words! Not to mention the difference it has made with their reading! THANK YOU does not say enough for sharing this wonderful system (and other ideas you share)!
You’re a great cheerleader Sherry. I can’t wait to hear what kind of great fun you have with your own classroom when they pass.
Marsha
How EXCITING for you, your classroom, and your son!!! I have to say that I LOVE your sight word system and so do my kinders! We had a big milestone last Friday when all of my kids became Top Bananas!! (a very big accomplishment when you start kindergarten not speaking any english!) So THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for this amazing sight word program and all your other wonderful products!!
Yippee!!! I love it. Exactly. You have to make the criteria for passing and who passes your own. This year I thought every single one of kinders could make it and they have. Who knows what next year’s crop of kinders will bring. Congrats to you and your kinders Heather.
Marsha
Marsha~
My kids are loving your Ball Words and for some reason they are really taking off lately! My only mistake was not pre-making all of them at the beginning of the year. I made the baseball and soccer ball ones and thought that when I had a spare moment (Ha!) I’d do the others. Boy was I wrong! I just love when the kids who are ahead on their words are so excited to help the ones who are still working on their baseball words, it builds teamwork in the best way. I wish we didn’t have such a strict policy on food and treats at my school….but maybe a baseball cookie wouldn’t hurt??
Thanks so much!
~Kathy
I can see that they all having great fun learning. I admit I like your Ball Words and I would try to make just like that this weekend. Definitely Kids are having fun and that’s the whole idea. Thank you so much..
Bing
Andkon
Marsha, I am loving using Ball Words in my classroom this year. I recently did a blog post about my posters. I am still waiting for my baseball party! I have two little ones, who are getting them just extremely slow. We will be there soon. I now have three who have passed beach ball and one on the verge. Everyone else is everywhere in the middle. Here is a link to my post about the posters. Thank you for the awesome activities!
http://mrssheltonskinders.blogspot.com/2013/02/ball-posters.html
Heather Shelton
Mrs. Shelton’s Kindergarten
Do you have any suggestions for differentiating for those one or two RtI students that even with extra help may not make it on the baseball list? I love this system but have two that are still struggling with letter ID… and worry about being able to/not able to celebrate if the whole class doesn’t make it on the list. i am a first year teacher so any help is appreciated!
Thanks! Liz
Do you have any suggestions for differentiating for those one or two RtI students that even with extra help may not make it on the baseball list? I love this system but have two that are still struggling with letter ID… and worry about being able to/not able to celebrate if the whole class doesn’t make it on the list. i am a first year teacher so any help is appreciated!
Thanks! Liz
Love this! I don’t know if I can pull off getting this ready before school is out – maybe a few sets? But it’s definitely on my to-do wish list for this summer! Awesome!!!
Mona