Writing Folder - A helpful tool for building independence

Hi All!

I have been working on this one for soooo long. It's one of those ones that has sat and marinated, if you get my meaning. When I look up the details of the file, it tells me it was created in September 2014. Hmmmmm....

Introducing Writers Folder - A Student Writing Companion

I'll give you a peek at one I put together!

Print out all the pieces. To make it fit in one manila folder, I printed the inside pages 2 to a page.

Choose the cover you would like to use! I have included vertical and horizontal, color and B&W and girl and boy options which should cover you completely!!

Glue the chosen cover onto the front of your manila folder.

Glue the pages you would like inside. I have chosen to go in order that they are in the pack

Done! A easy-to-use student tool to help during writing time. You could make one for each student to store in their desk or tray, or make a few to place on tables or around the room.

Click any picture to find it on TPT.

Some updates

The nicest thing about reflection is that it allows us to look back and question. I have been working on TPT for a few years now and have been reflecting on some earlier creations of mine - and decided they needed to be freshened up!

Here is a look at a few of my recent updates

Ninja Verbs

From this

To this!!

 Place Value Pack

From this

To this - and over 20 pages added

 Ordinal Numbers

From this...

To this!!!

 and Independent Reading Contracts - 

with another new contract added to the pack

I'm happy with the updates and I hope you enjoy them too. If you own any of the packs, you can grab all the updates for free in My Purchases.

Big News!! I'm on the move.....

Thats right! Lots of moving for me in the new year! We will be knocking our house down and moving to my inlaws temporarily while we build our dream home.

And also in 2015.......

I'm moving from Kindergarten.............to Grades 5/6!!!!

Its a great leap....with great opportunities waiting for me :) I taught many of these students in Year 2 and never thought I would get the chance again. So I am feeling extremely lucky.

But the whole MOVING part......not so much. I spent the whole day at school yesterday cleaning out my storeroom so I am ready to move on Monday. I shared this pic on my Facebook page

Yeah I know! Huge mess right? Ill take another pic tomorrow of the mess in my new room :)

I will still be making K-2 resources (as I have loved doing these!) but will now expand my store to include resources for 3-6! My first one was Unlocking Word Puzzles 1 and Unlocking Word Puzzles 2 (or just grab the BUNDLE)

To celebrate the move, I will give one BUNDLE away! Leave a comment telling me which grade you will be on next year. I will select one random comment in around 30 hours.

Using Phonemic Awareness to Construct New Words

Something that can be quite tricky to introduce to students (especially in Kindergarten) is switching phonemes within words. It is often something they need a bit of practice and support with. I thought this new pack would help fit the bill.

I have made this pack with 2 activity cards to a page but if you are printing (and laminating) conscious, they are still a pretty good size when you choose to print multiple pages on one page. I have also included both colour and black and white so you can pick which one you would like to print!!

Let's look at the activity :)

The card tells you to start with a given word. The students are given a picture clue to get them started as well as Elkonian boxes to write in (and these will also give them support with which 'size' letter should go in each box - tall, short or long)

Move to the second picture. It tell me to change a sound in the word - this time the beginning sound. I have done it with red here to illustrate what has changed. You might want your students to do this too or just do it all in one colour. Again, students are supported with pictures and Elkonian boxes. 

Now onto the third picture. This time it is telling me to change the ending sound. Throughout the activity cards, there is a mixture of changes to beginning, middle and ending sounds to keep it challenging and interesting.

Click any picture to go and grab it in my TPT store.

Comprehension Sticks for Little Learners

Hi All
I have been a little quiet of late. If you follow me on Instagram (brookeb80) you would know I havent been in the classroom!






I have been on holidays with my family....the highlight of which was a family dolphin adventure!!! More about that another time :)

I just wanted to share with you something that I cannot wait to use next term

This pack includes 28 different comprehension questions that you can ask students during guided reading time. I have them available for you in colour and black and white, so you can pick which one you would prefer to print.

You could use them during a whole group reading of a text or during a guided reading group.

Here is some of them printed out for you to have a look at. You could pre-select the questions you want students to answer or just take a lucky dip!

I recommend you laminate them, and then stick them to a paddle pop stick to make them more sturdy (and less chance of little fingers bending them).

Go and find them in my TPT store by clicking HERE or any of the images above :)

Be a Word Building Wizard!

Sight words! We need them to help kids with all aspects of literacy. But learning them can be quite a chore for some. So why not give it an extra dimension?

You can use it with any set of sight words! Or use the ones I have included as they are a good size to put on the mat. I made multiple copies onto different colours of paper so that each student has their own set to work with AND there wouldnt be a set of words which at the end has 3 'the' words.....you know what I am talking about! You also need some magnetic letters/letter tiles and a whiteboard marker.

So let's make some words! Choose and word and put in the box. Read it!

Now let's build it! Find the magnetic letters to make the word. Encourage more repetition of the word.

Now it's time to write. Making connections to words is so important so the 3 types of practice will (hopefully) help kids understand the words better and have better recall of them next time. Plus it is a fun way to practice!

Click any of the pictures to go and grab them in my TPT store.

Secret Sight Words

Over the weekend I added a new sight word activity to my store. Let me give you a quick peek at

You will need the cards, magnetic letters and a white board (although if you laminated the cards, you could use a whiteboard texta!)

Choose a card. Each letter in the secret word is represented with a picture. Work out the initial letter for each word and find the right letter to place underneath.
 Build It!!! The secret word is be!

There is also a recording sheet for students to write their secret sight words on.

Keep making words. The cards are grouped into 12 words per coloured card, so you could just choose one colour per group or give each student a colour of their own.

It is a lot of fun and puts a new spin on sight word reading, while combining other literacy skills such as identifying initial letters/sounds, recognise and identify letters and reading sight words. Lots of fun and practice all in one activity :)

Click any picture to find it in my store. 

Bundles of Fun!!! and a TPT sale :)

Have you heard about the TpT sale coming up! One of my fave things to do in the sale, is stock up on  fabulous teaching resources by buying bundles!

What is a bundle? A bundle is a collection of teaching resources that a teacher-author has grouped together in a zip file, so you can purchase it in one time-saving, value-packed swoop!

Not only are they time saving, but they are $ saving! Teacher authors will often give you a significant saving when they price their bundle. 

So you get time and dollar savings!!

Here are some of the bundles available in my TPT store for at least a 30% saving!

So, the lesson to be learned here - is 'Buy it Bundled"!!

I have put all my bundles in my store, in one time-saving store category for you, click below to find it! 

Head over now, and add the ones you like to your wish list! That way, you will be all set for sale day! 

Remember to use the code BTS14 on August 4-5 to get your 28% off!

I have been chatting to some of my friends about the sale, and discovered that they too, have some awesome bundles in their TpT stores! Head over to their blogs to find out more about their resources and special offers! Click on the links below to find them:

I would also like to give you an opportunity to win a TpT gift voucher to spend during the sale. I am giving away a $10 TpT gift voucher - just enter your details in the rafflecopter below! Have a great day and go get your bundle on!  a Rafflecopter giveaway