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8 Benefits of Alphabet Books for Kindergarten Students

June 3, 2020 by Teaching Elementary and Beyond Leave a Comment

When teaching children Concepts of Print I often am looking for different ways to support students learning. One of the easiest ways for pre-readers is to use simple alphabet books.

There are three different ways we use them in our classroom.

Small Group Lessons

Small group lessons help us teach children learn about a specific topic to prevent them from being overwhelmed or bored. We focus on one letter a day in small groups. Usually there are 3-8 kids at a time in this group depending upon the time of the school year. At the end of whatever activity we have taught, we read the alphabet book together to ensure the students know each of the words in the book and so that they can become independent readers with this book in our classroom library.

Classroom Library

As students trickle into the classroom we often put books out that children can read quietly. This allows them to read to each other and it gives us time to be able to check in with students who need our support in the morning.

Our classroom library includes these books and we often see children go and read them throughout the day as they know they can successfully read these books and are proud to show off that they can read!

Home Reading

We also use them as a part of our home reading program at our school for pre-readers. I have printed them on card stock for this program in two different colors. One color of paper is printed in black and white ink and the other is printed with colored ink. I find some kids prefer colored pictures and others don’t. By printing the books this way, they know what type of book they want to pick immediately.

Children need continual modelling from parents at this stage, but developing some skills to be able to read is possible at this stage too!

8 benefits of using alphabet books:

1. Affordability. These books are cheap compared to big publishing company books. I cannot afford to replace books from publishers on a regular basis.

These books are well loved every year in my class. I honestly appreciate that I can simply print another book or set, whenever it is needed, and I don’t have to buy a whole set just to replace one broken or damaged book.

2. They help children focus on one letter at a time.

3. Children learn that many words start with each sound.

4. Students can easily learn that pictures match the words.

5. They are great for ELL students who are learning the language to read repetitive books to help
solidify their knowledge of simple objects.

6. Many beginner reading strategies can be taught using alphabet books. Almost all of the following reading strategies can be taught simply using an alphabet book. Click here to read a bit more about these strategies or click on the image below to check them out in my TpT store!

7. Children learn that reading is a social activity as they read with their peers, see others read and read to their family

8. Children develop confidence as they become successful at reading these books. Simply put, this is one of my biggest joys from being a kindergarten teacher!

I now have a digital version of the paperback copy of these books. Click on the images to check them out!

Filed Under: Alphabet, Distance Learning, Featured, Reading

Digital Graphing in Google Slides

May 29, 2020 by Teaching Elementary and Beyond Leave a Comment

In our classroom students often authentically come up with authentic questions to ask their friends in order to make surveys.
Being able to transfer that to a digital environment was an unknown for us at first. 
We ended up deciding to use this Google Slides activity so that students can ask friends and family members the questions we want to offer them. I am happy I’ll still be able to use these when we return to our classroom!

These survey graphs are super easy for kids to use.
Non-readers can look at the pictures easily know what the question is to ask. They then simply click on the moveable pieces and slide it onto the graph to show their answer!

Then, when they are done filling in the graph, they can move the rectangle to the side to show they know which one was the most popular!
Easy peasy!
I have been finding that every other week I have been able to assign students two survey questions.  This has been manageable for the kids and they are enjoying the variety of questions being offered.
Would you be find digital survey’s to be helpful in your classroom? Click on the image below to check them out! There are options to use throughout the full year!

Filed Under: Distance Learning, Featured, Math

Patterning Activities in Google Slides

May 22, 2020 by Teaching Elementary and Beyond Leave a Comment

My students have always love engaging patterning activities using a wide variety of manipulatives. 
As we moved into digital learning, I needed a way of being able to help students access activities through an online activity.
It was Google Slides to the rescue!
These patterning activities have become my students favourite activities through this distance learning process. Our students find the movable pieces to be very engaging as I am able to cater activities to our classes interests!
They simply click and drag the images in the bottom right corner to make the patterns!
I have been assigning two slides, every other week for my students to participate in a digital patterning activity. This allows for students to not be overwhelmed and I can differentiate slides to different students based on their needs and their interests!
To make this easy for families, I duplicated the file in my drive and then deleted the slides that I am not wanting to assign to my students. Then share this file in Google Classroom as an assignment where each student has their own copy.
There are 30 different slides included in this patterning activity. There are 5 different patterns included in this digital assignment with 6 different slides with unique images for each one. Included are AB, AAB, ABB, ABA and ABC patterns.
We have had fantastic reviews from our parents. It has been a fun interactive game for their children and they have loved it!

Click on the image below to see the activities we have used so far.

Filed Under: Distance Learning, Featured, Math

Recycling Bin Labels for the Classroom

May 22, 2020 by Teaching Elementary and Beyond Leave a Comment

Do your children know where recycling items are supposed to go?
Many days I have had to sort the recycling myself prior to emptying it in the large school bins that go out to the road. Despite many hands on lessons to teach my students about proper recycling habits.
Many children do not understand the concepts of different types of materials, or simply don’t care about it. This causes frustrations for our custodians and even our eco-team.
As a result, I created these visual recycling labels. I needed something that kids, or visiting adults to my classroom, could easily reference to know how to sort each item.

I simply printed them, laminated them and have posted them for kids to reference as an anchor chart. 

Having these clear labels has helped stop this confusion in my class. I no longer have to sort my recycling bins before it gets dumped into the big school bins anymore. This is a huge time saver for me at school!

As many different areas have different rules, I have created multiple printing options. Check them out by clicking on the images in this blog post if you’re interested an anchor chart to help your kids learn to sort your classroom or schools recycling!

Filed Under: Primary Ideas, Teacher Tips

Printer Friendly End of the Year Awards

May 16, 2020 by Teaching Elementary and Beyond Leave a Comment


You are never too old to get an award and enjoy being appreciated.

This is exactly why I created these awards designed for students in junior, intermediate or senior grades. They have a simple, clean-cut design and cursive font that older students can relate to.

Printer friendly end of the year awards are perfect for teachers looking for a simplistic design on a budget!

Awards make kids feel special and ensures students know that we “get them” when we acknowledge their unique, amazing qualities that make each one of them special.

Click on the image below to check them out!

Filed Under: End of the Year, Teacher Tips

Character Trait End of the Year Awards

May 15, 2020 by Teaching Elementary and Beyond Leave a Comment

I love focusing on character traits throughout the school year. 

I firmly believe we need to build up children’s character and help them understand that this is what makes them into human beings that bring out the best in others and in themselves.

Some years, I like to give out simple, generic awards that all kids can relate too. I particularly like this set for primary grades as the graphics are kid friendly and they can easily relate to the alphabet being relevant to their day to day lives!

This set offers 111 black and white character trait awards. My students enjoy coloring them and making each one uniquely theirs and I like it as it is printer friendly and cost effective when I have to print at home.

Awards make kids feel special and ensures students know that I “get them” when I acknowledge their unique, amazing traits.

Click on the image below to check them out if you’re interested!

Filed Under: End of the Year, Featured, Teacher Tips

Editable End of the Year Awards

May 13, 2020 by Teaching Elementary and Beyond Leave a Comment


I love to let my students know that I recognize them for being a unique person. One of my favorite ways is by giving them awards.

Awards make kids feel special and ensures students know that I “get them” when I acknowledge their unique, amazing traits.

I’m in love with the kid theme version of these editable awards as there are 241 printable options! I promise, it is easy. All you need is PowerPoint or Google Slides. Everything is set up for you already. Simply fill in your names, the date and then press print!

You can even highlight the text to change the font if you want a fancier font to give to students!

Over the years I have had a lot of fun coming up with a variety of ways to acknowledge students. Many of the awards I have made were for specific students I have taught. I’ve even had many people email me to request additions to this file!

I love that I can add our names, choose the font and font size as well as add the date to each one. This means I can reuse it yearly!

Are you looking for different awards that are not included in this file? Don’t worry! There are 15 slides that allow you to create your own!

If you would like to give these awards a try, check them out at my TpT store!

Filed Under: End of the Year, Featured, Teacher Tips

Remembrance Day Books

October 1, 2018 by Teaching Elementary and Beyond Leave a Comment

I have written about my favourite books that I have used over the years that I have found to be helpful when teaching children about Remembrance Day.

It is not an easy topic to teach, but it is very important to learn our history and how others have sacrificed for us and our country.

Please note there are affiliate links in this post. No pressure for sales, this is only included for your convenience. If you click on the image it will take you to Amazon and any purchases help me maintain my blog.

A Poppy is to Remember

By: Heather Patterson & Ron Lightburn
This book explains the history behind the poppy. It uses simple wording and talks about past and present wars as well as peacekeeping missions that Canada has been and currently are involved in.

A Bear in War

By: Stephanie Innes & Harry Endrulat
Based upon true events, this book will soon be a Canadian classic. Told from the perspective of Teddy. Teddy is sent overseas by a daughter to her dad. who is a medic during World War I. The story is about the bears’ journey through war and how it comes back alone to Canada. It is a great story to teach students about why we honour veterans for their service.

The Land of Many Colors

By: the Klonoth County YMCA Family Preschool
This book teaches children about conflict through people who are portrayed by different colors of the rainbow. Each color thinks their color is the best and there is a theme of teasing due to these differences. A war breaks out and one small voice makes big difference. Children learn that what they do matters and that they can make a difference.

What Does Peace Feel Like?

By: Vladimir Radunsky
This book was created as a compilation of many different children’s idea of what peace means to them in relation to their five senses. Young children and older children will easily understand how everyone thinks differently and yet can relate to the same feeling.
This is a great writing prompt for any age.

Proud as a Peacock, Brave as a Lion

By: Jane Barclay
Learning about war can be difficult for young children. This book uses animals and child friendly language which children can relate to in order to explain the different aspects of war. Topics do not go in depth but allow conversations to be started and directed by the adults reading the story.

Peas on Earth

By: Todd H. Doodler
This book uses play on words that will entertain children and adults alike. Not only does it go into topics of peace, relationships, and friendship but it also discusses how we need to take care of the environment.

The Peace Book

By: Todd Parr
This is a basic introduction to peace and what it means to get along with others from all around the world.

Hero Mom

By: Melinda Hardin
This is a patriotic story about how a little American girl shares how her mom is a hero. She isn’t a superhero, but she is amazing!

Hero Dad

By: Melinda Hardin
This is another patriotic story about how a little American boy shares how his dad is a hero! In kid-friendly language, it explains life in the military from a child’s perspective.

I hope you find a helpful book looking at this collection of stories.

Check this out!

Want some free learning materials for your class? If you order before Halloween, Canadian Veteran Affairs will send you resources for Kindergarten to Grade 8 students. They are guaranteed to arrive before November 11th if ordered on time. Click here to go straight to their website!

Filed Under: Book Recommendations, Holidays & Special Events, Remembrance Day

Halloween Spider Art

September 26, 2018 by Teaching Elementary and Beyond Leave a Comment

I love when children can express themselves using the creative arts.
My colleague in the classroom next to mine shared their preparation for Halloween and were more than happy to let me take photos of their amazing creations and share them with you!
These spiders are super easy to make and are a great fine motor activity!

 First, grab a black pom pom and twist half of a pipe cleaner around it.

Then, twist a second half pipe cleaner around it so it looks like the photo below.
Finally, twist two more around the pom pom. Twist and bend them to look like creepy legs!

The students had a lot of fun creating a wide variety of different looking spiders!

They really enjoyed hiding them all around the room – especially in and around their jack o’lanterns!

Filed Under: Art, Fine Motor, Halloween

Individual Word Walls for Primary Students

August 29, 2018 by Teaching Elementary and Beyond Leave a Comment

When I started teaching, word walls were the “go to” standard of a primary and junior classroom.

More recently, I have noticed that they are becoming a thing of the past.

More and more teachers are realizing that students need individualized content and what one child needs, others do not. As a result, I have seen personal dictionaries become the standard in primary and junior grades, especially in discussion groups with teachers in large Facebook groups..

In kindergarten, my colleagues have very different views about this.

That is okay.

Classes should not all be the same. Nor should they ever be.

How we meet our students’ needs will vary based on their individual needs!

Some teachers love co-creating word walls with their students and their students become very adept at using them.

I’ve had word walls that mainly the older students will reference but have come to realize, for me, that it is a big piece of real estate in my classroom that not all students can reference. As a result, this past year I started to use personal word walls. We would use it during guided reading and during our small group writing activities.

The images above give examples of beginning words that I would automatically include for new readers or beginning readers. I purposefully include the alphabet with lower case letters because that is what we write with most of the time and many children often have a hard time transitioning from upper to lower case letters.

How do I use them?

Prep:
Each word wall is glued onto card stock for durability for two years. On the back, I include personalized words for each child like family members or pet names.

New Words:
I start with around 10 basic words all students should be able to read at first. Then, I write all new words on each students word walls as they are introduced during guided reading. Also, if I notice that they can read or write a word that is not included on the chart I will add it.

Guided Reading:
At the beginning of guided reading, students read all the words on their word wall as a refresher. This helps them become very acquainted with where words are and helps to boost their instant recall.

Small Group Writing:
When students are writing they are encouraged to get their word wall. I always teach writing in small focused groups so that I can focus on each students learning as we are learning.

I often will prompt students with a question and prompts similar to the following:

“What do you want to write about today using the words you know on your word wall?
You can write about anything you want!
You could write, ‘I see mom.’ or ‘I like the beach.’ or ‘I like to play soccer.’ or ‘I love my dad.’
What do you want to write about today?”

FYI: I point to the words on their word wall as I give suggestions to model using the word wall.

I may give a variety of suggestions like the ones listed above and children do find this helpful as a first prompt but ultimately I find that children always have their own ideas. It is very rare that I find they copy an example that I have prompted them with.

Check this out:
If you’re interested in implementing something similar you can click the image below to check out the templates that I use. There are more options included in this than I describe in this blog post.

Filed Under: Alphabet, ELA, Reading, Sight Words, Writing

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