The Grumpy Dump Truck

In Class:
This week in class we read The Grumpy Dump Truck! (My APPLE class read My Truck is Stuck, we will be reading the Grumpy Dump Truck in a few weeks)


This book can be kind of hard to find, but some libraries have it. Walmart also has it. We read it to find out why the dump truck was so grumpy. We talked about things that make us grumpy, and what we do to feel better.

At Home:
Print off a copy of the dump truck. Color it in and make it your own! Is it grumpy or happy?? Print and cut out the target word pictures. Glue the pictures inside (or around) the dump truck. Say each word 5 times, and then say a sentence about each word, before gluing it on. Once they are all in the dump truck, make up a story about all the items in your dump truck!

Fish Out of Water

In Class:
This week in class we read Fish Out of Water!


This is an OOOOLD book that came out in the 60's. It is so cute, and the kids absolutely loved it! We talked about why the fish kept growing and predicted what the boy could do as Otto got bigger and bigger. We practiced the /sh/ sound while reading the story.

At Home:
Print off two copies of this large fish, preferably on cardstock. Glue, staple or tape along the edges but leave an opening at the top, big enough to fit the target word cards in. Print off the target words and cut them out. As you practice the target words (at the word, sentence, or story level), put them inside the fish when you're done. Have fun!!

Dog Breath

In Class:
This week in class we read the book Dog Breath!


Just like Hally Tosis has stinky breath, we talked about other animals that have specific features that are unique to them!

• Kangaroos have pouches for their babies
• Skunks can spray when scared
• Pufferfish puff up and when feel threatened
• Porcupines have quills to protect them
• Octopus can squirt ink to help them escape danger without being seen
• Anglerfish live in the dark and have their own "flashlight"

Home Activity:

Find ten items in your house that have a scent. Decide if they are STINKY or NOT STINKY. Make sure that your child says their good /s/ blend word when saying "Stinky"! How many stinky items did you find? How many not stinky items?

My Daddy Snores!

In Class:
This week in class we read My Daddy Snores! We were practicing our /s/ blend words.


We mostly worked on our speech sounds in class this week. We played a version of the activity that you can make to play at home!

At Home:

Albert's Impossible Toothache

In Class:
This week in class we are reading Albert's Impossible Toothache!

We talked about the initial /t/ sound and practiced lots of words with this sound.

We talked about toothaches and other aches- tummy aches, head aches, toe aches, etc. If your child says someone bit their toe, its because of this silly book :)

Home Activity:
Print off the following pages. Cut out the words and help your child decide the things that are "good" for our teeth (edible) or "bad" for our teeth (not edible). Place them accordingly on the paper under the good or bad section. As you place each word, practice it 5 times for lots of good initial /t/ word practice!

Big Dog, Little Dog

In Class:
This week in class we are discussing the /f/ sound, as well as opposites!!! We read Fred and Ted: Big Dog, Little Dog:


This book is so cute, and kids love the characters. It is a simple plot and a great way to learn opposites! Fred is BIG, Ted is small. Fred always has money, Ted never has money. Fred drives slow, Ted drives fast! The end has a fun solution to a problem, and the kids enjoyed that part the most, they said.

Home Activity:
Make up silly stories about Fred using these initial f words. For example, "Fred ate four fish" or "Fred sat on a fan"! The sillier the better. Help your child say their /f/ sound by cueing them to make the "fan sound" or to "bite your lip". Sometimes a mirror can help with placement if they are not getting it. If sentences are too hard, just practice each word individually. Write down a few of your stories and send them in to me (or comment below!) so I can see what you thought of! Have fun!

That's Good, That's Bad!

In Class:
This week in class we read That's Good, That's Bad!


We practiced the initial z sound and talked about what has happened when we have gone to the zoo!

In Apple class, Miss Marcia brought the cutest snacks. We made lions to eat!

Home Activity:

Find which words have the "good" or "bad" /s/ sound. In each box, one word is an s blend word, and the other is not. You can have your child circle the "good" s sound word, and then practice saying each word 10 times. Also, do this multiple times throughout the next week to get maximum practice! Use the words to make stories as well and make sure your kiddos use all their good snake sounds.

Animal Strike at the Zoo!

In Class:
This week in class we read Animal Strike at the Zoo! We focused on the /z/ sound.

We sang Old MacDonald Had A Zoo and talked about what we have seen at the zoo. Some children claimed to have seen some interesting things at the zoo.. but it kept class fun and exciting!

In the APPLE class, Miss Marcia helped us make a zoo snack! We got to pick what animal to put into our "cages" and then eat it all up :)

Home Activity:
Print off your keys. Color and cut them out. You can print them on cardstock to make them sturdy, and then put a hole in the top of each one and put it on a key ring or tie with string. As your child uses their keys like the zookeepers do, they can practice each initial /z/ word!

White Color Bags!

You will be receiving this month's color bags in your child's backpack shortly. Please help your child find one or two things around your home that are WHITE that they can put in their bag and bring to school by January 13. 

 Here is the song we are learning in class and practicing each week for the month of January:

Winter & Christmas Books!

December is such a busy month at work and at home. Here is a list of the books we read during December! We focused on /s/ and /s/ blends the entire month.

Merry Christmas, Splat!


The Snowy Day


Where oh Where is Santa Claus?

Red Color Bags!

You will be receiving this month's color bags in your child's backpack shortly. Please help your child find one or two things around your home that are RED that they can put in their bag and bring to school by Dec. 9. 

 Here is the song we are learning in class and practicing each week for the month of December:

Saturday Night at the Dinosaur Stomp

In Class:
This week in class we read Saturday Night at the Dinosaur Stomp and practiced our /s/ blend words (s + another consonant like STomp SPoon SWing, etc)!

We sang Here Come the Dinosaurs by Laurie Berkner (this is a huge hit!). During centers, we did a small group language/artic activity with dinosaurs. We took turns building the 3 magnetic dinosaurs and finding which one it matched with on the board. Then we learned some fun facts about each dinosaur. We described what they looked like, what they eat, and what they did in the book. We also practiced saying their names!

Home Activity:

Make your own dinosaur book! There are two book pages on each printed page so print and cut them all in half. Assemble them and staple together with My Dinosaur Book as the cover. Go through the book with your child and have them find all the items on each page. Have your child color the items hiding in each picture after they say each /s/ blend word 3 times. Help them remember to get their snake sound! You can cue by making a snake go up your arm with your index finger while you make the ssssss sound. Practice this book every day- it is great practice!!!

Skeleton Hiccups

In Class
In class this week we read Skeleton Hiccups and focused on the /h/ sound!

The kids thought this book was hilarious and we talked about how the hiccups can make so many things hard for us to do. Some kids said they LOVE having hiccups, while others (like myself) find it quite bothersome :)

In the APPLE class, Miss Marcia provided us with materials to make these delicious skeletons!

Home Activity:

Print off the following skull page (if its not here yet, come back later today and I'll have it loaded!) and target word page. Cut out the skull and tape/glue/staple it to a piece of construction paper or cardstock. Try to make the top of the head "bubble up" a little, and leave it unglued at the very top (see example below). You can have your child practice target words and once they have said them, store them inside the skull! Make sure they get their good /h/ sound!

Example:






Here is a cute reading of the book for your enjoyment!

Sixteen Runaway Pumpkins

In Class:
This week in class we read Sixteen Runaway Pumpkins! We were practicing the initial /p/ sound.

This is a cute book with lots of rhyming and problem solving. At the end, they eat pumpkin pie. Our question of the day was "Do you like to eat pumpkin pie?" Many of the kids said yes, but there were a few avid nay sayers :)

During centers, children got to take turns bowling. After practicing target words correctly, they got a turn to knock down the /p/ins with the /p/umpkin! (In the book, the pumpkins become the "hill rolling bowling ball kind). This activity was a huge hit and our pumpkin ended up losing his nose... but it was found and reattached!

We also did a Purple Pumpkin Pail sound bucket full of items starting with /p/ which each child got a turn with.

Home Activity:

Print off these initial /p/ words and cut them apart. Place them on the floor in random arrangements, facing up or down (you can choose!). Use a beanbag or small stuffed animal and toss it, trying to land on a card. When you land on a card, say that word 10 times! Make sure your child uses their good /p/ sound!

Here is a cute reading of the story on YouTube!

Go Away Big Green Monster

In Class:
This week in class we read the book Go Away Big Green Monster!!

After reading the book, we also did a fingerplay/puppet where we did the whole story by putting all the pieces on and taking them off. The kids were good at remembering what came next and great at using the /g/ sound on all the "go away" parts!

Everyone got a chance to put up there name on the Question of the Day board. Each class was about half and half- some were scared of the Big Green Monster and others knew he was just some "Spooky Fun" :)

In APPLE class, we also made our own Green Monsters to eat. As we ate the parts, we said for example, "Go Away, (ears)" and ate the ears. We enjoyed our yummy treats! Thank you Miss Marcia!

Home Activity:

Make a puppet with this template and a paper lunch bag. Have your child color the monster however they like. You can have your monster eat the target word cards. Or you can hide your monster and then when someone finds it you can tell him to GO AWAY, and have someone else hide and find him. 

There is a cute animation/song of the book here:

Orange color bags!

You will be receiving this month's color bags in your child's backpack shortly. Please help your child find one or two things around your home that are orange that they can put in their bag and bring to school by Oct. 16. It is ok if they come in late, we will still give your child a chance to share!

 Here is the song we are learning in class and practicing each week for the month of October: