Mr. Mott's App Reviews / Recommendations

     
      I often get requests from parents asked what apps are good for their child and on what device.  Click here for an ongoing list of apps I find useful for students in Kindergarten.  I list what devices they can be used on and how much they may cost.  Please feel free to share with me other apps you already use that you think is great!

Reading Strategies for Students

      There are many strategies we use as fluent readers, but students learning to read need help learning these strategies.  Students sometimes use one, two, or more of these strategies to help them decode an unknown word.  Keep in mind that each student develops at their own rate.  For example, a student who may not have all of their letter sounds down may have trouble tapping out a word, while a student who knows all their sounds might be able to 'look for chunks' in words or 'flip the vowel'.  It all depends on the student and the word they are trying to decode.  Here's a list of strategies we focus on to help us decode new words in Kindergarten...

Fundations Help for Parents

Here are some resources to help you with your child's Fundations homework...

• Letter-Keyword-Sound Review (YouTube Movie) (Good for students and parents)
• Letter-Keyword-Sound flashcards - 
• Got for free from Reading on the Run. 
• Letter - Keyword - Sound AND Lower Case Letter Formation (YouTube Movie)
• It's important that letters are made starting at the top (at the correct line) and going down.
• Directions on how to write Lower Case Letters
• Directions on how to write Upper Case Letters
• How to tap and What to tap (YouTube Movie)
• We start learning to tap in January.
• In K, we focus on CVC words for tapping.
• CVCe words are introduced in Reading, but not something we focus on when tapping - e does not get a tap because it is silent.
• This movie covers all syllable types, so its helpful for parents with students in all grades (Groton uses Fundations Grades K-2, there is Words Their Way for Grades 3-5 but it is not currently used in our district).
• (Thank you Mr. Philips for finding this YouTube post.)
• Clear here for the Tapping Information sent home in your child's folder.
• Click here for the Fundations HW recording paper
• Click here for the letters used for Tapping homework / word building.
• **Ignore the letters on page 3, we only use consonants, vowels, and diagraphs in K.**
• Click here for the letters used for the ABC homework.

For more resources, visit our Resources page or Parent's Corner page!

For more information on Fundations, visit their website: http://www.wilsonlanguage.com/programs/fundations/

Using Raz-Kids

       Before the break, the students were introduced to Raz-Kids.  I sent home information on how to log in before the Holiday Break.  We will be using this tool as a way for students to access more books at their reading level in school and at home.  Raz-Kids can be accessed through a computer, phone, or tablet (Click here to download the app).  Here's directions on how to use Raz-Kids...

1. Go to www.raz-kids.com.  (There is a link from our Student Links page.)
2. Put in our class name (see log-in information).  You will only need to put in our login information the first time you access the site through a new device.
3. Have your child find their name and put in their password.
4. They are set to go!

Here's some helpful information about what you'll see...

When you click on Reading Assignments or Book Room, your child will see a list of books with these options.  (Quizzes are not available on AA Books)...

• Listening - the story will play for students with text being highlighted as it is read.  Students earn stars for each story they listen to.  The points can be redeemed to personalize their avatar or build a rocket ship.
  

• Reading - students may read the text at their own pace.  Students earn stars for each story they read.  

• Recording - When in the Reading window, click on the down arrow.

1. Click the microphone. 
1. It will ask your permission to access the microphone.
2. Then, it will ask you to say your name to test the microphone.
3. Then, it will begin recording.  Use the buttons to stop recording, play, new (redo), or send (to me).

Click on the microphone to record.

Choose record, stop, play, new (redo), or send.

• Students earn stars for each story they record.  I can also reward extra stars after I listen to the recording.

• Quizzes - After listening or reading a story, students may take a comprehension quiz.  They click on letters to answer the question and on the words to have the choices read to them.  Students can earn stars for each quiz they complete.

Click here if you would like to learn more about Raz-Kids.

Crayola Washable Bathtub Markers

       A family recently shared with me that you can purchase Crayola Washable Bathtub markers.  (Please note you may want to read the reviews - looks like it needs to be cleaned off immediately an only used on smooth bath tubs.  I posted a link to Amazon because there's reviews and its faster for me then looking through different websites, but I'm sure you can find them in other places!)  It makes it possible for your child to write on the bathtub wall, then splash the wall to clean it off.  You could use this tool in many different ways...

• Reading and Writing Skills
• Reinforcing proper pencil grip when drawing pictures or writing
• Practice letter formation
• Say a letter name or sound, have them write it
• Write a letter, have them write it
• Writing their name
• Sight Words
• you write, they read
• you say, they write
• they write a sentence using the word
• Spelling Words (starting in January and if your child is ready for it)
• Say a CVC word like cat, dog, fun - have them tap it and spell it
• Write CVC words - have them tap it and read it
• Math
• Writing numerals
• Writing a Math sentence to go with a picture (starting around December and if your child is ready for it)
• Drawing pictures to show a given number

Email me or comment below if you have your own suggestions!

b d Confusion - b

      Today in Fundations, some friends were trying to figure out which letter was b on their magnetic board (now that we have b, d, p on our magnetic boards).  We reviewed our d method - if you can grab the door knob, it's d!  Today I added - if the bump is on the back, it's b (since we always go left to right AND back starts with the /b/ sound)!

Shaving Cream Activities

      Shaving cream is a fun way to reinforce writing letters, numbers, and spelling words.  Put some shaving cream on a cookie sheet (or table, counter, etc).  Dictate what you would like your child to write.  Encourage them to make letters following the Fundations directions (Lower Case Directions, Upper Case Directions)!

 Some possible prompts...

• Let's make the letter...
• What letter starts the word?
• What letter makes this sound ____?
• Show me how to make the number ____.
• (Clap a certain number of times) - can you write the number?

Flashcard Activities

These activities can be done with any type of flash cards...

One set:

• Show cards to your kiddo and have them say it's name (or sound).
• Sort cards by words they know and don't know.
• Tape cards around the house.  Have them read the card as they pass by.
• Hang from door frames or ceiling - have them jump up and touch words as they read them.
• Modify this activity to have them jump up and grab the card
• Spread out in a line or curve - have your kiddo read them, then jump or step over them
• Hide the cards around the house for them to find, then read
• Sort cards by beginning letters / sounds, number of letters, number of syllables.
• Attach to a game board, using a dice and game pieces, have your kiddo role the dice and move that many spaces.  The space they land on they must read.  If they can't, have them go back to where they started.
• Have your kiddo make sentences using the flashcards to make sentences
• Have your kiddo use the flashcards to build the letter or word using legos, beads, playdough, glue and scrap paper, etc.

Multiple sets (if you make more flashcards)

• With 2 sets
• Play Concentration - have your kiddo flip over and read cards.  If they match, they keep them! 
• Play 'Go Fish!'

Click here for more ideas from our Reading Specialists!
Have other ideas!  Share below!

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?'