Word of the Day Journal FREEBIE

In the last post I talked about my word of the day jar, now I have created a journal for your students to track their new words! Vocabulary is so vital for a child's education, and that is why I thought a journal was a great way for students to remember all of their new words!

I created a simple and free word document that you can reproduce and hole punch for your student's binder or folder. In this document the students can write the date, the word, what they think the word means, and what the dictionary definition says. 

I think this activity would be great for transition time, morning meeting, or even if you have extra time at the end of the day! How cool will it be when your students can look back on all the vocabulary they learned throughout the year! 

How are you going to incorporate vocabulary in your classroom? Download your FREE printable here! 

Word of the Day Jar FREEBIE

This weekend I took a trip to Michael's Craft Store, and I hit the jackpot. I purchased two plastic jars for $1 each, 18 chalkboard labels for $1.50, and one chalkboard marker for $1.50.

I knew these materials would be perfect for my next project! I always love introducing new vocabulary to students, so what better way then a word of the day jar!

I started off my making my labels, the chalkboard marker worked great on the black labels! Just make sure you let the labels dry for at least 30 minutes, otherwise it will smudge! 

I put my labels on my jars, I thought the final product looked really cute! 

For this batch of word of the day vocabulary, I decided to use value words (more word of the day lists to come!) I think value words are so important because it teaches students to be aware of their actions and intentions. For example, some of the words include respect, responsibility, and motivation. In a classroom setting you may introduce the word respect. The teacher can ask the class what they think respect means, and the teacher can also provide examples of respectful behavior. This way, students are more likely to remember the vocabulary word and put it into practice. 

TIP: when students are displaying one of these values...positively reinforce them for their efforts. For example, a teacher may say, "Thank you for cleaning up your desk, that is very respectful!" 

Download your FREE word list here! 

Enjoy, let me know how the word of the day jar works in your classroom!

Shoe-box Makeover!

This week I tried out sticker charts with my nanny children, and was a great way to reward good behavior! (Look at previous post for sticker charts!) The kids filled out their sticker charts and impressed me with their awesome behavior, so I decided I needed to make a prize box to keep all of the cool rewards in! I was looking around at different stores, but nothing seemed to grab my attention, so I decided to do my own DIY prize box. I found an old shoe-box, and a few pieces of scrapbook paper and ribbon did the trick! Viola...a great place to store prizes for the kiddos!