Time Out Words
Make a chart with “Time Out Words.” Those are words that don’t obey rules like “are, the, one, etc.”
*I've also heard these referred to as "Outlaw Words" because they don't obey the laws.
Sound Match
Write every letter on two index cards. You will need to use as many cards as there are children in your class. For example, if you have 24 students use 24 of the cards or the letters A – L. Pass a letter to each child, but tell them not to let anyone see their letter. Children walk around the room making their sound until they find someone making the same sound. They stoop down and think of a word that starts with that sound. When all students are stopping the teacher yells, “Pop Up ABCs” and the children stand up. Continue playing the game with different letters.
*Make a similar game for younger children with pictures of farm animals. They walk around making their animal’s sound until they find their partner.
The Feeling Poem
What a great way to nurture vocabulary!
Line one: Name an emotion
Line two: “Smells like. . .”
Line three: “Tastes like. . .”
Line four: “Sounds like. . .”
Line five: “Feels like. . . .”
Line six: “Feels like. . .”
Line seven: “Feels like. . .”
Skip or Duet Reading
Take turns reading every other word.
*You can do this as a large group activity or children can do this with a partner.
No Nuts for Me!
(Cadence - Children repeat each line.)
No, no, no, no nuts for me
Because I have allergies.
Peanuts, pecans, walnuts, too.
No almonds, pistachios, or cashews.
No sharing snacks or lunch with me.
I’m what you call peanut-free.
Labels, labels, always read.
No, no, no, no nuts I need.
Drawing a Person
Many children have difficulty drawing a person, so this is a technique that might help. It's also an interesting way to focus on positional words. First, fold a piece of paper into thirds as shown. Open. Prompt children with these directions:
1. What's at the top of you? Your head! Make the head in this top section.
2. What's in the middle of you? Your body! Make a body in the middle section.
3. What comes off your body? Your legs! Make your legs in the bottom section.
4. What's at the end of your legs...
5. What comes off the sides of your body...
6. What's at the end of your arms...
7. What helps you see...(Some children may need to look in the mirror to see what color their eyes are.)
Talk...hear...smell...continue calling out details for the children to add.
Note! One time I had a little girl who liked to draw naked people. I didn't make a big deal, but I said, "You know, everyone has to wear clothes to school." That's all it took!