Reading Street Tip

Over the summer, I always get emails asking about how I taught Scott Foresman Reading Street when I taught 1st grade. While I have never taught the 1st grade Common Core version, I know I would still use my word work phonics packs that I made. I thought I'd share with y'all an older post that explains my phonics packs in detail. Be sure and click the "Phonics Fun" link at the top to check out all my phonics packs! Don't see a sound you need? Email me at lifeinfirstgrade@gmail.com :)

I've had several emails asking about my phonics pack, so I thought I'd do a post showing what all is included and the ones that are available. I make these each week and upload them. So far I have all the short vowels and all the long vowels covered. I've also got a pack for /sh/ and /th/ and y as a vowel. I just finished laminating and cutting out the long /e/ ones, so I thought I'd use those as examples so y'all can see the different activities included.

Each pack comes with four word work centers: a word sort, word scramble, fill in the blank, and ABC order. The word scramble and fill in the blank come with a word bank for the kids to use, as you can see below. Each center comes with a recording sheet for the kids to use.If you have any specific phonics skills that you would like to be created into a pack like these, feel free to email! 

 **Sorry for the not so great iphone pics! 

Word Scramble

 Word Sort

 Fill in the blank

 ABC Order

Click on the pics below to check out each unit. 

Updated: Click the "Phonics Fun" link at the top to check out all my phonics packs!

$0 Book Displays

I posted my zero cost book displays on Instagram (msleslieann01) a few weeks ago and promised a blog post with more detail. 

I was at Lowes recently and while I was getting my paint mixed up, I noticed an empty cardboard display for duct tape. I asked the lady at the painter counter what they were going to do with it. When she replied that they just throw them away, I asked if I could have it. After mentioning that I was a teacher and I could use them in my classroom, she disappeared under the counter and produced several more empty boxes! 

With a little paint (the green and blue ones) and some scrapbook paper (the pink one), they were transformed into these cute little book displays. I used my Silhouette Cameo to add some labels. I just love them!

1 summer project down. 99+ more to go! :)

Parts of Speech Posters-Classroom Makeover

I don't know about y'all but my kids (fifth and first!) always have trouble remembering the basic parts of speech. I always see my students searching for a helper chart located somewhere in the room whenever I asked them to identify a noun or adverb. I decided to dedicated an entire board to this in my classroom this year in hopes of providing a visual aid for my kids. Click the pic below to grab a copy! :) 

Classroom Makeover 2014 Continues

Well, friends. I jinxed myself. I spoke too soon when I bragged on how many times I posted last week and then this week totaled to a big fat 0. Oh goodness! 

Here's some updated pics of my classroom makeover. I had planned on leaving up most of the boards, but the more I think about, the more I want to whip up some new ones. The focus board got ripped down today and replaced with some pretty purple paper. I ran out of border so a trip to the school supply store looks to be in my near future :)

Here's how my classroom's looking as of today. 

Aren't these banners adorable? They are actually a KG font and I whipped up the little banner using my fabulous Silhouette Cameo. Love!

Classroom Makeover 2014 Begins & The Bachelorette

I was able to get back in my classroom yesterday and am I just thrilled. I LOVE setting up my classroom each summer. If the job of classroom decorator existed, I would be in heaven. Since we have to move everything out of our classroom at the end of each year, we come back to a big mess! I was able to get all the furniture placed yesterday, but that's as far as I got! Here's what I walked into and here's what I left with. Little steps, people. Little steps :)

I'll be back tomorrow with This Week's Favorite Pins. I was too preoccupied with The Bachelorette last night to post. Anyone else watching it this season? If you are, then you are having the privilege of meeting my future husband-this guy:

Is he not absolutely gorgeous???? I'm smitten. 

Five for Friday: {I Heart Summer}

Isn't summer wonderful? Suddenly there's time to do all the things that get pushed to the side during the school year and in my case, that's blogging. So if you've been paying attention, I have successfully posted EVERYDAY this week!! Not gonna lie...I'm kinda proud of myself! :) Haha...let's see how long this lasts!

Today is Friday and that means I'm linking up with my sweet friend, Kacey over at Doodle Bugs Teaching for Five for Friday. 

Here's some randomness from my life over the past week. All of which can be found documented on my instagram. Follow me! msleslieann01

I've been enjoying the sunshine while working on vocabulary cards for the entire year :)

Who else is obsessed with this show??? The second season came out last Friday on Netflix and I have been binge watching ever since. It's SOOO good!

Since discovering home blogs recently, I'm all into DIY projects and painting! I've been painting several little tables and I'm about to start on a swing that one of my sweet former first grader's dad made for me. 

Reese has been in heaven having me home with her this summer. Isn't she the cutest?! :)

Even though summer is perfect, the weather hasn't been all that great. I've been trying to get in every ounce of available sun to work on my tan, but I haven't had much luck. I did manage to grab a quick tanning session this afternoon though :)

Want to share your 5 randoms? Link up at Doodle Bugs!