Synthesis Superhero & A Linky!

Can I just give a quick “Thank you!!!!” to my Houston friends who have emailed me and offered their help?!?!  THANK YOU!!!!  Quick update {if you’re interested}…put our house on the market around noon{ish} last Thursday and got a FULL.PRICE offer 6 hours later!  Say what?!?!?!  True!  I mean, I knew God was going to take care of us, but I never could’ve guessed it would’ve been like that!  Since then, it’s been a whirlwind.  We headed down to our new town this past weekend and found ourselves a house.  We’re in the process of putting an offer on it, so we’ll see how it goes!  I’m faithful that God will put us exactly where we need to be!  SO…with that said…let’s talk business :)

Last week we learned about synthesizing in reading.  This has always given me a little anxiety to teach {if I’m being totally honest}.  I racked my brain for ways to make this easier for my kids to understand and I came up with a few fun little ideas. The kids LOVED it and y’all…I swear they were knee deep in “synthesizing” and recognizing what they were doing as they read last week.  Love.

First up, I introduced myself as a “Synthesis Superhero” and displayed this little anchor chart as we learned all about synthesizing {click on the pic to download}/

Then I threw on my mask and cape :)  And the kids got their own, too!  Once we were in our superhero garb, we knew we could synthesize with ANY story.  So I pulled out “A Color of His Own” by Leo Lionni and you should have heard them synthesize as we read!  Y’all…it was AWESOME!!!!  They were totally in character!  HA!  After we read the story…and synthesized aloud…I had the kids complete a couple of recording sheets using the story as their guide {click on the pics to download}.

I don’t have a template of the mask or cape for you, but they were SUPER easy.  I just cut a cape template from butcher paper and glued on the “Superhero Synthesis” emblem.  I hole punched a couple of holes on either side of the cape and tied a piece of yarn from hole to hole.  I found a mask template online and used it as a tracer.

The next day, we talked about making Synthesis Sundaes.  I mean, seriously…who doesn’t love ice cream?!?!  I introduced this anchor chart and then we read “The Giving Tree” by Shel Silverstein.  I think this is a GREAT story to teach synthesizing!!  And the kids LOVED it!

After we finished reading, the kids filled out their own synthesis sundae.  I wanted the kids to make cute little sundaes with construction paper as a follow up, but it never happened.  I’m planning on using that format this week!

{click on the pic to download}

I gotta say, I *might* be a fan of teaching synthesis now! 

 

In other news, sweet Erica is having a linky party and I’m playing along!  Did y’all get a chance to take advantage of the TpT Teacher Appreciation Sale this week?!?!?  I did and ohmiword…LOVING what I got!!! 

LOVE this Thematic Folder Word Wall from Miss Erica herself!  I’ve had my eye on this for a L-O-N-G time and now it’s mine!

 

I’m a HUGE Sarah Cooley fan {who isn’t!??!} and I pretty much am obsessed with everything she does.  I LOVE her Sticky Notes Research Packet!!!! 

Y’all know I love me some Kelly & Diane from Made for 1st Grade.  Well…I HAD to have this Animal Antics Unit!!!  SO stinkin’ cute!

And just incase I teach Kindergarten next year, I wanted to add Kathleen’s Zero the Hero packet to my files.  You can never be too prepared!  Thanks, Kathleen!

Don’t know if y’all saw this yet, but Abby has the cutest little companion packet for the book, Charlotte’s Web.  We haven’t read it yet, but now that I have this I swear I’m starting tomorrow!!!  I think this might even fit in with our synthesis study!

I know it’s pretty much the end of the year, but my sweeties STILL need reminders about punctuation.  When I taught 2nd grade, I remember my kids needing the same kind of reinforcement!  I HAD to have {Michelle Oakes’} Punctuation People and ohmiword…IN.LOVE.

And since it’s the end of the year, I couldn’t resist these Candy Bar Awards from Regan Tunstall.  SO stinkin’ cute!  And I know my kids will LOVE!!!

Now I’m off to get a few last minute things before the sale ends tonight!!!! 

Hope y’all are having a WONDERFUL week being appreciated & loved for the fabulous teachers you are!!!  Blessings!!