Word Work Ideas {with a freebie!}

Someday soon I'll write about my Daily Five journey. It's been a bit of a rocky road for me. I let some of my rebellious personality get the better of me and I spent a good part of the year doing it MY way instead of the RIGHT way. It wasn't a total disaster and my kids certainly didn't suffer because if it, but ever since I let go of some of my fears and just took the last step, I've been kicking myself that I didn't do it sooner. But that's a post for another day. 

So now that I've been actually doing it, I've been looking for word work activities that fit the bill instead of the center activities I've been trying to incorporate into the rotations. Change is hard, dangit! I've figured out other ways to use my existing center activities (because I have a bajillion of them) but for now, for word work, I've been really focusing on real word work, spelling,  and phonics activities. 

So along with Boggle, I tried this "write it, write it, write it" activity this week. I really thought my kids would blow through this, but I was shocked that it took them just about the entire 20 minutes! Shocked, I tell ya!

Anytime they get to use a highlighter, they get excited. And this was the very first time EVER that I let them use a *gasp* PEN! They were in heaven! Once I saw how excited they were about using a pen, I gathered up all the fun, colorful pens I had and put them in the center for next time. It's amazing what a motivator pens and highlighters are to second graders. #whateverworks

Now the words that you see them writing are NOT their spelling words. I gave them the choice of using their spelling words or the challenge words we have on the iphones. Those challenge words are practice for the big spelling bee they can take part in next year. My kids are a little obsessed with learning the "hard" words, so who am I to stop them? The iphone template is a freebie from Traci at Dragonflies in First and you can grab them here.

 

This is a simple little page, but it really was a big hit with my kids. 

If you'd like a copy, just click HERE.

So on my quest to stock my word work center I came across some great task cards. And they were mine! ha! I made these two summers ago and they got some use last year, but for some reason they never made it out of the archives this year. I plan on putting the cards and the supplies out for just 2 or 3 at a time. My kids are still getting used to working individually within a group, so having plenty of options is crucial. Click HERE to check them out on tpt.  The entire set of 52 task cards is just $3.75 and each card has detailed kid-friendly directions and an example of exactly what it should look like.

Have a great weekend, my friends and Happy Easter to all those celebrating!