Word Family Notebooks!!

Hi Everyone! Kerri here…

Do you teach your little learners about word families?? I sure do!!
I LOVE teaching my kids about word families, or chunks, as we sometimes call them. We learn about a new word family every week, and my kiddos absolute LOVE it! It is sooo good for them. They learn new spelling patterns, they learn about rhyming, they get to practice spelling lots of new words. I could go on and on!

My kiddos can't can't wait to find out what the new chunk of the week will be, and they get so stoked when they find words that have that chunk in their phonics stories, or other books that they read throughout the week. Here are some of the things that I have found useful when teaching the different word families..

This chart is super fun because it has a CD attached and each word family is made into a song from traditional tunes. I think the words repeat 3 times, so the kids can practice singing along. Plus, the chart is write and wipe so I let the kids some up and circle the word family words that are found in each song. They love it! Click on picture for a link to buy it on Amazon!

These Word Family Tales from Scholastic are the BOMB! I got them forever ago through Scholastic, but you can also get them through Amazon!! Each book focuses on one word family and they are super cute and fun! My kids love me to read these to them and this is how I intro our word family each week!! Click on link to see them on Amazon. :)

So, let me introduce my latest creation…the easiest, best way to teach word families!!
This Word Family Notebook Learning Pack includes
everything you need to help your students learn about different word families and practice writing those words! 

Simply choose which word families you want to focus on during the year, copy those pages into a book, add the colored or blackline cover and you are ready to roll! 

I use this notebook every single week with my students, as we learn different spelling patterns. My students get to practice writing the rhyming words, using them in a sentence, and illustrating that sentence with labeling! As the year goes on, I let them complete the notebook independently or with a partner. 

I laminate and display the word family posters on the wall and brainstorm words from the word family with my students each week. You can also laminate these and use them in a center so your students can write their own words on them! 

Finally, I use the Word Family Machine worksheet as a weekly warm-up for independent practice! And, I have included 100 different word families, so there are a plethora of different spelling patterns for you to choose from!!

 I also used this notebook in Kinder and we did it whole group each week from January on, focusing only on the short vowel word families. In First Grade, I love this because you can really focus on the different spelling patterns and give the kids something concrete to help them remember each one! There are 3 sections: a place to brainstorm the chunk words, a place for a "SILLY" rhyming sentence, and a place for an illustration. The hook for the kids is the silly sentence, of course, and I really like this part because each week we can talk about writing a complete sentence, capitals and end marks and all that jazz! Plus, the kids LABEL (who doesn't love labeling??) heir picture with all of the word family words that they drew, so they get even more practice!!

I am super excited about this one and I guarantee that it will help you in your classroom with your kids. I have been using this word family notebook successfully in Kinder and First Grade for the past 10 years, but only now have I gotten around to making it TPT worthy!! You can check it out by clicking on the pictures above.

Thanks friends!!
Kerri B

Stitch Fix Rules!!

Happy Summer, friends!!

I am blogging with you today from sunny Seattle (as in, it is going to be 90 degrees here on Friday! WTH Seattle!! Do you not realize that I melt in the heat??). My mom and I are here for our annual "visit the baby brother" trip and so far, it is AMAZING (and hot)!

I am here to share my latest  Stitch Fix you!! YAY!! I know, I know, I have been quite the slacker with my Stitch Fix posts lately. What with school, teenagers needing rides all over town, and helping out with my daughter's theatre program at school (yes, I AM THAT MOM!! There should be a new show called "Theatre moms" starring yours truly!! Heehee), I have failed miserably to share my Stitch Fix finds with you. Boo on me!!

I promise I will be better…starting with this post right here!! What the heck is Stitch Fix, you ask?? Don't worry, I'll fill you in on all the deets at the end of this post. :) 

You can even sign up to get your own box of Stitch Fix heaven!!

So, here is my latest pile of goodness after I took it out of the box. Isn't it sooooo purty??? The colors are SCREAMING me!! I had asked my stylist Jessica (who is the bomb.com BTW) to send me lots of tanks this time since it summer, and she did not disappoint! Let's delve right in, shall in??

This first little number is the NELDA HALTER BLOUSE by Pixley. I LOVED the colors and print of this tank, but in general, I am not a halter top fan, and this one was WAYYYY too haltery when I tried it on, so NOT A KEEPER. Waaaaa….

 This next piece is the ARVIA EMBROIDERY HALTER TOP by Daniel Rainn. When I first took a look at it, I was like WHAAATT??? The neck was just screaming "Aztec Goddess". I felt like it should have been in the Emperor's New Groove or something. (Anyone seen that Disney gem??? HILARIOUS, I tell you!!!)
However, I tried it on like a good little Stitch Fix girl, and I was pleasantly surprised! It was actually kind of adorable on! 

See what I mean?? The print is super pretty on, and the collar doesn't look aztecy after all!! KEEPING IT!! :)

 This next dress is called the EVY DRESS from Kut from the Kloth. I love me some Kut from the Kloth (their cropped jeans are the BEST!) so I was super stoked about this dress. But, once I took a look at it,  I saw that the green was NEON. Like for real NEON GREEN. Really?? No thanks! Bummer too, cause the dress was super cute!

 Next up is this gorgeous tank from Papermoon called the DESCANSO BEADED NECKLINE BLOUSE. Isn't it TO DIE FOR?? I knew right away that we were destined to be forever friends!!

Yup!!! This top is definitely my new bestie!! I love everything about it. The beading detail around the neck, the pattern, the material. It is simply delicious!!!

Here's a little close-up of the beaded neckline. So fun!!

The last item in my box this month was the 41 HAWTHORN Zappo Mixed Material Sweater. I was SOOOOO excited to see this in my box! I had requested this sweater forever ago when I saw it on another blogger's website, but I never received it. Until today!! It is super thin and comfy and I thought it would be perfect for those cool Seattle evenings so I brought it with me. Yeah, obviously not going to get to wear it on THIS trip. Maybe back in California??

This sweater is simply AMAZING. Soft, cozy, thin and perfect for summer. I am so stoked that Jessica found it for me!!

So pretty, right???

And….here are a couple of winners from my last few fixes that I didn't blog about (I'm a loser, I know!!)
This is the PAPERMOON CORDELIA SCOOP NECK BLOUSE. I love everything about this blouse! It is perfect for summer and it reminds me of rainbow sherbet. All of my favorite colors and chevron rolled into one perfectly perfect tank!! In fact, I am wearing it AS.WE.SPEAK. (True story!!)

It is perfect to wear with a little cardigan also, but currently I am wearing it alone because it is 1000 degrees here is Seattle. (Can you tell I'm a little torked about the weather??)

Another one of favorites that I had pinned and Jessica was able to find for me was this Wakeman Crocheted Open Cardigan from Honey Punch. It is sooooo soft, like BUTTAH soft!! And the perfect taupe that goes with EVERYTHING!!

 

I can wear it with absolutely everything!! Like this black tee and another fabulous stitch fix maxi skirt I got a few fixes ago!

It also looks great with this PIXLEY LIVIE ABSTRACT CHEVRON MAXI DRESS which I got in the fix before my current one. Girls, they had me at chevron and then really had me when I saw these beautiful colors!!! I usually shy away from vertical stripes (Can I get an AMEN??), but this dress is fabulous in every way!

 Last, but not least, I had asked Jessica for a teal green bag. Guess what she found me??? This fantabulous URBAN EXPRESSIONS CROSSBODY BAG in TEAL GREEN!!!! OHEMGEEEE! I have gotten so so so many compliments on this bag! And it looks small, but it can fit a TON of my crap  very important stuff. YAY ME!

So, what exactly is Stitch Fix, you ask?? It is super easy to explain...Basically you get your very own stylist who chooses clothes for you that fit your unique style, without having to leave the comfort of your home. Super fun, right??

Here is how Stitch Fix works:

1. Create a Style profile on the Stitch Fix Website
2. Have 5 handpicked items that fit your style profile delivered to your house.
3. Keep what you like and check out online. Send back the rest in a pre-paid envelope.
4. Look fabulous at work!!

It takes about 10 minutes to fill out your style profile online, and this part is very fun, because you get to choose different outfits that best represent you. I loved this part! 
This really is the easiest service in the world. There is no pressure to keep anything. If you don't like anything, they charge you a $20 styling fee, but if you keep at least one item, the $20 fee goes toward the cost of that item, and shipping is FREE both ways. Easy peasy lemon squeezy!!

Plus, if you keep all 5 items (which I have done, by the way) you get 25% off your entire box, so you get a bigger discount! 
You also can just sign up one time to try it out, which is what I did the first time. After I did it once, I was hooked, so I signed up for monthly, but my mom signs up for a Fix every once in a while. It is so easy and flexible AND FUN!!!

If you want to check it out, would you please use my Stitch Fix referral link? I get a small commission when my readers have their first box shipped and this helps me to keep posting these awkward super special photos for you all to see! :)

Thanks for reading, friends!! I'll be back with my August review in a couple of weeks (I promise!!) I know you're all dying in anticipation!! ;)

XOXO Kerri B