Our K-1 looping team uses Systematic Sequential Phonics They Use. We originally started the lessons in First Grade but some of our Kindergarten teachers started with their students because they were ready. Each lesson has a 'secret word' and smaller words are made out of the letters from that word. At the end of the lesson, the students try to figure out the 'secret word'. There are lots of different ways to store the letters but I use regular zip-lock baggies. I keep them in a tub and hand them out at the beginning of the day. I put the big letters on the pocket chart in the morning and my students pull out the letters they need. I try to keep the lessons fun and moving quickly. After 'making words' at their seat, the children come to the carpet to organize the words. I pull names from a box to keep from having the same students coming up to the board. If my students are ready for a challenge, I let them find as many words as they can and then compare to the list we were supposed to make.

I have always enjoyed making predictable charts and class books with my Kindergarten students. They always have something to share so it is very natural. I follow the lessons from Phonics They Use and then hang the posters in the classroom. During Reading Workshop, my students make a page for a class book based on the predictable chart. At the beginning of the year, I type out the sentence and then the students illustrate their page. Later, I type the sentence, cut it up, and the students put it back in order on the page then illustrate it. When they are ready, they write the sentence on their own and illustrate the page. We continue to make class books throughout the whole year. I don't always do the whole predictable chart....just the beginning of the sentence.

After we have a collection of books, I draw names and send the books home to share. On the inside cover, I tape a piece of paper for parent comments. They love to see the growth as the books continue to come home. At the end of the year, I raffle off all of our predictable charts, posters, and class books. I lay everything out on the floor and draw names until the children have arms full of classroom memories!!

Class Book Pictures