i Write Words App ($, Free)

     This app I think is only available on Apple devices.  The lite version is free and is what I use in the classroom sometimes for Centers or giving certain students extra practice.  The paid version is $2.99.  Students help Mr Crab collect numbers to write letters, write numbers, or spell words.  The app comes from www.gigglelab.com.  Click here for its' iTunes description.

Here's a screen shot of what the app looks like:

Letter School App ($)

      This app costs $4.99.  The app helps students learn letter ID and sounds by showing students where to start each letter, how to make it, allow the students to practice making it, and including some type of brief song connecting the letter to its sound or pictures that begin with that letter.  This app covers lower case, upper case, and numbers to 10.  Click here to visit Letter School Apps' website.

Here's a screen shot of what the app can look like...

Letter / Sound Hunt

Here's an easy activity you can do anywhere anytime. We often do this at Snack Time after learning a new letter, during guided reading groups, during Morning Meeting, when lining up to go somewhere, a quick time filler, or on the bus for field trips. It's easy! Ask your kiddo if they can find the letter ___ or 'I spy the letter ___ .' Then, see if they can find it. You can change this activity in many ways...

• Have them find letters based on a description - round, straight, 1 bump, curvy, etc. Then ask them to name that letter.
• Say a sound instead of a letter name.
• Have your kiddo find a word that starts, includes, or ends with that letter.
• Play this game after reading a story - have them find as many of the letters as they can in the book you or they just read.
• Cut out or highlight the letters in newspapers or fliers.
• This activity can be modified for Math by saying...
• I spy something that shows this many (show with fingers or make sounds)

Comment below if you have your own twist on this activity or if you find it very helpful!

b d Confusion

        I couldn't find the original site that I got this way for helping students remember b's and d's, but this blog post has something similar to the original poster.  Last week, while introducing 'd,' I had a brainstorm.  We were talking about how door starts with the /d/ sound.  Afterwards, I said "Boys and girls, we know that we always 'walk' across the pages this way ---> correct?"  (Students of course said yes!)  So then I explained "when you come to a letter that looks like a b or d, just see if you can grab the door knob!  If you can grab the doorknob, then you got a d!"  So now when students confuse b with d or ask me if it is a b or d, I ask - 'can you grab the door knob?'

Welcome!

   
     Welcome to our Home-School Connection page!  Here I will post ideas for ways to help your child practice skills they are learning at school at home.  This may include games, activities, websites, apps, etc that you can use at home!  Please feel free to comment on posts if you find something really useful or if you have your own suggestions!  On the right side, there's a Labels section that will list all labels used in this blog.  This way I can post ideas as I come up with them or find them, but you can find anything related to a specific skill you want to focus on.  You may also follow this blog so that you would get an email when I post something new to this blog.

Image from: http://www.mycutegraphics.com/graphics/school/school-kids/kids-holding-welcome-sign.html