Going to Letterland

Well,I just returned from a two day workshop on implementing Letterland in my second grade classroom. It's always good to have the "bonding" time with colleagues that I work so closely with but this was a great workshop too. We had such an enthusiastic presenter--which is a definite plus if you don't sleep well in a different place like me and you tend to get super tired after lunch at workshops and such.
I taught using Letterland at the previous school system I worked in but the system I work for now is going to be implementing it in second grade starting this year. It's exciting because I know that it is a good program and it works.
In case you don't know, Letterland is a systematic, research-based phonics approach. Each letter has characters who represent the letter and its sounds--since we all know that the letters make different sounds in different words! :) There is a story for each different spelling pattern and it's easy for the kids to remember. They really enjoy "going to Letterland".
The program begins in pre-school and continues through second grade. Our emphasis is going to be on spelling in word study units with more complex spelling patterns. We'll sing songs, act the stories out, work on the computer program, and learn--all at the same time.
If you are interested, they have a website-- www.letterland.com
I don't how it would be to use if you are homeschooling or if it is at all designed for it; I've just never taught it to a few kids. I will say that I have a storybook about all the characters a-z and my kids have been know to sneak it off the bookshelf in my bedroom a time or two lol!

Homemade White Boards

So...a while ago I received a comment on a post asking me to sometimes post about teacher-y stuff. Well, here is one of my favorite tips--actually two tips...
White boards are terribly expensive and I sure don't have the money to go out and buy a set for my class, but I love the versitility that they can bring to daily activities...so, enter the homemade whiteboard.
All it takes is a sheet protector (the kind that you slide a sheet of paper into from the top, not the side) and a piece of paper--it does not have to be white unless you want it to be :) You can write on the sheet protector with a dry erase marker and wipe it off just like any ordinary white board.
These are awesome! If you have a graphic organizer or a worksheet that you want students to do but you want to be able to re-use it, just slide it into the protector and voila---no laminate needed!
What exactly do you use to wipe these off with you ask...a used dryer sheet or shout color catcher (I cut them into smaller pieces so my stockpile last a little longer). These are also much cheaper than a class set of erasers---and you are recycling!!

A couple of tips if you are going to use this idea:

• regular paper towels like the kinds in schools or fast food restaurants (the brown ones) do not make good erasers for these white boards...but tissues do
• if ink builds up on the white board, just wipe it with a rubbing alcohol dampened paper towel or spray a little white board cleaner on it and wipe it dry

This post is also linked up to Life As Mom.