Product Swap 'til You Drop!

Okay, so if you're anything like me when you shop you're a waffler.  What's that?  You go to the store, you look around, you find something you *think* you'll like, but you're not exactly sure if you REALLY like it enough to spend the money.  If you are as fashionLESS as I am, you really doubt your sass-sense. I wish I had sass, I really do...but I tend to gravitate toward mom jeans or teachery clothes...you know what I'm talking about.  So, then I find myself taking sneak glances at people around me.  I take a look and if they look "cool" {in my book} I figure what they have in their cart must be "in fashion"...

Phew...

So, with that, today is the day that you get to look around at all the products that we teacher bloggers think are pretty darn cool!  You get to take a look at what's inside OUR carts! 

Is this button as cute AS a button?!?! {3AM Teacher!!!!} 

Thanks to Jessica over at Mrs. Standford's Class for hosting this lovely event!!!! 

My swap partner is Kerri from Ms. Kerri and Her Krazy Klass!

{Who has a snazzy new look on her blog! Be sure to visit and follow!}

 

I couldn't wait to download, print, laminate and play around with her Be a Letter Detective product. 

Click the picture to head over to her TpT store where you can buy one for your classroom!
{Don't forget to follow so you keep up to date on her newest products}

Here's Kerri's description:

This packet includes a sheet for every letter. The students can practice identifying the target letter by highlighting or circling the letters. There is a variety of fonts used on each page. All the clipart is from Scrappin Doodles. This is great for introducing letters or reviewing them. I use these with my reading group that still needs help recognizing letters.

Common Core standards met in this pack:

* RF.K.1. Demonstrate understanding of the organization and basic features of print.

* Recognize and name all upper- and lowercase letters of the alphabet

What I love about Be a Letter Detective is that it can be used with kiddos as young as preschool who are just beginning to identify some letters, with kindergarteners who are firming up this skill and even with first graders who need a little extra oomph.

More of what I love...{ready?}

*It can be done individually, in a small reading group, or as a whole class

*It's easy on my printer! {But, oh so cute!}

*It meets CCSS {Common Core Standards}

*The letters are in different fonts - I like this because so often when my students see a "funny g" {we call it a "book g"} they have trouble distinguishing what letter it really is.  Same can be said for an "i" that has a little hook, or any other letter that isn't made with the traditional "ball and stick".  With this activity students have to look very closely when finding individual letters, causing them to notice each feature of a particular letter.

*It's cute {Did I already say that?}

*If you use the Treasures series - the letters follow the order they are introduced

*You can really play up the detective theme!

Need proof?

I laminated this one.  Here's what I plan on doing with it...

In a small group or in a word work center:

Use highlight tape to highlight the letters! {Kids love this!}

Or

Circle letters with vis-a-vis markers or dry erase {Another kid favorite!}

I printed this one off in B&W - I can print it off for the whole class or place in a center.  Highlighters...another, you guessed it, kid favorite!

OR

Print it off in color and put a colorful or SMELLY marker in their hands!!! ADORABLE!!!!

Before you introduce the activity you can really play up the fact that they will need to do some detective work. They'll eat that all up!!!!  If you put it in a center or do it small group and you give them a magnifying glass....they'll do anything you say! {After looking up their friend's nose, investigating a freckle, you know the drill - gotta let them get that out of their system first!} I have some like this:

Wouldn't they just LOVE being super sleuths and find those letters?

If you are a teacher who really loves to play things up...

Imagine what you could do if you owned this garb?  You'd have your kiddos in the palm of your hand!

Head on over to Kerri's blog, follow. Then go to her store, shop. Then go find yourself some super sleuthing stuff to wear and have some fun with your students this school year!