Digging for CVC words

Earlier this year, I introduced the sand table to my kids with "Digging for Letters". They loved it. It was a fun, novel way for them to practice letter identification. I loved how much fun they were having, the great fine motor experience it provided, and the responsibility it instilled in my kinders. 

Well, the sand table is back! This time, my kinders are "digging for" CVC words to decode.

  

I wrote a variety of CVC and CVCC words (using all 5 short vowel sounds) on small, plastic tiles (from our math kits). 

The kinders have been digging for the tiles, sounding out the word, and drawing/labeling the word on the recording sheet.

FUN, FUN, FUN practice with CVC words -- I love keep those little hands busy during literacy workstations. :)

Click HERE or on the picture above to download the recording sheet.

Digging for letters

My kids LOVE. THIS. STATION. And I love the letter practice and fine motor practice they are getting! Plus, it's super fun. And super quiet. Everything you want in a workstation. :)

We have a "magic table" in our room. This table has been our "morning check-in" table all year. The kids literally use it everyday.

Well... last week... they discovered what is underneath:

A SAND TABLE!!!

This is the first time I have used the sand table in my classroom. I have had it for four year! But, I'm a total neat freak in my classroom, and I've never *trusted* my class like I do this year. My class is absolutely wonderful -- so mature and so responsible. I knew they would do wonderful. In 2 weeks, there has been no sand on the floor! Hooray!

But... it's not just a sand table. It's our current ABC Station. It's called "Digging for Letters."

Using a Sharpie marker, I wrote letters on glass gems (from the dollar store), and "hid" them in the sand. The kids then dig for the letters -- and record it on this sheet:

It's a hit! My kids just love it - and they are so cute when they find a letter. "LOOK! I found H!"

Click on the picture above or HERE for the printable.

Alphabet Geoboards

A recent classroom favorite... Alphabet Geoboards!

I love having a fine motor station during Literacy Workstations. It provides great strengthening practice for writing, drawing, and cutting. This fine motor activity has an extra incentive... letter formation!


Click HERE to download your own cards. (I saved ink by printing b&w copies and tracing the lines with markers. Then, I laminated the cards for durability.)

Initial sound punch

Same idea as the previous post (see Syllable Punch post). Copy, cut in half, and place at a workstation with hold punches.

Click the picture above or HERE to download the PDF. Enjoy!

Syllable punch

I saw this an idea for a "Syllable Punch" activity on Pinterest... and I lost the pin! Ugh! Don't you hate that? So, I was forced to make it myself. I apologize that I am not able to give credit for the idea!

This will be a great beginning of the year workstation addition. Simply copy and cut the pages in half. 

Students then say the word, clap out the syllables if needed, and punch the correct number with a hole puncher. 

Phonemic awareness + fine motor = success! :)

Click the picture above or HERE to download the PDF. There are two pages - a total of 4 punch activity sheets. Enjoy!