How Do You Differentiate Instruction in Your Classroom???

Well, I have survived the first two days of school. Cute little kiddos have been welcomed into their new home away from home. I was worried about getting everything ready by Open House but as always it came together.

Now for the true reason for this post. I am currently working towards my master's degree and have an action research project.  The topic is Differentiating Literacy Instruction in Kindergarten. I know that all you wonderful teachers out there have ideas and strategies that 'wow'. Could you please share with me what works in your classroom? I will be forever grateful!!!!

Have a great school year and thanks for making a difference in the lives of children!!!

Favorite Children's Books

I thought I would share a few of my favorite books to read to my class.  I love books that get the kids involved or that I can use different silly voices.  In a age full of technology, it is so nice to have the kids asked me to read an extra story on the carpet for them.  :)

Here are just a few of my favorites:



*Any of the Junie B. Jones books (Barbara Park has the voice of a kindergartner down to a science), I always use Junie B.'s behavior as a way NOT to behave.  :)

                                                                

 *This a recent find.  It has a great beat and great for introducing your kids to adjectives in their writing.

*This is a great book to teach kids about point of view.  Older students can even hold a mock trial of the Big Bad Wolf to plead his case.  The kids love this one!

*Sweet story about accepting all kinds of people no matter what they look like.  It is also great to teach the stages of the butterfly.

***What are some of the books you enjoy using in your classroom?  Let me know, I would love to hear about them!

Cheap Pointers for Reading

Some of my students still have a hard time pointing at words in books as they're reading.  They are constantly losing their spot.  So I tried to think of a fun, yet inexpensive way to have the kids point to each word.  So I went to Michael's, bought foam stickers and put them on the end of a popcicle stick.  These pointers stay with their 'Baggy Book'.  Baggy books are leveled take home readers.  I change the pointers about every month.  So far my kinders have received ghosts, bats, pumpkins, leaves, candy canes, stockings, and for January snowflakes.  You wouldn't believe how excited these pointers get the kids.  They anticipate each month and guess what will be on their pointers.  :)

                                      Some of the pointers the kids have received.