Are your mornings hectic, frazzled, or full of frustration? Try making a visual schedule to break down all of the steps. Use photos or clip art as a visual cue. Kids can refer to the chart to see what they need to do. No more nagging needed! Our mornings are so much smoother using this [...]
Here is a multi-sensory syllable division bulletin board I made in my classroom. Chunking Chipmunk from our Hazel Learns to Read unit helps students follow the syllabication rules to chunk words into smaller parts for decoding. I used pipe cleaners to show how to “scoop” the words. Students can walk up to the bulletin board [...]
Do you have preschoolers getting reading for kindergarten? Did you know that children not only need to know how to name their letters, but also name the sounds, blend sounds together to form words, segment the individual sounds in words, and rhyme words together in kindergarten? Our “Hoo is Ready for School?’ flashcards will prepare [...]
Are your mornings hectic, frazzled, or full of frustration? Try making a visual schedule to break down all of the steps. Use photos or clip art as a visual cue. Kids can refer to the chart to see what they need to do. No more nagging needed! 
Our mornings are so much smoother using this simple tool. I also made a “Bedtime Routine” visual schedule.
Here is a multi-sensory syllable division bulletin board I made in my classroom. Chunking Chipmunk from our Hazel Learns to Read unit helps students follow the syllabication rules to chunk words into smaller parts for decoding. I used pipe cleaners to show how to “scoop” the words. Students can walk up to the bulletin board and trace the scoops with their fingers while reading the words. Using visual, auditory, and tactile senses really helps the students internalize this important reading strategy.
Do you have preschoolers getting reading for kindergarten? Did you know that children not only need to know how to name their letters, but also name the sounds, blend sounds together to form words, segment the individual sounds in words, and rhyme words together in kindergarten? Our “Hoo is Ready for School?’ flashcards will prepare your child for school and reading success! Our research-based, teacher created, flashcards are currently on sale for $5.99 on our website.
Join us at Primrose School of South Gilbert for their Spring Fling on Saturday, April 21 at 10-12. Hazel the Owl will be there with lots of fun games for the kiddos!
http://www.primroseschools.com/Schools/?schoolid=307
Looking for a fun art project to motivate and encourage students for standardized testing? Make khamsas, or good luck hands. Khamsas have been used in northern Africa for centuries–most are made out of silver or gold and embellished with gemstones or elaborate scroll work.
Students can make this colorful art project with aluminum foil, glitter, sequins and Sharpies. Students simply trace their hands on aluminum foil, then cut out and decorate with given supplies. Foil khamsas can be glued on brightly colored cardstock for extra durability. Hang together for a beautiful, easy bulletin board.
Check out other motivating test prep activities and lessons created by Astute Hoot: Games That Teach at
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Standardized-Test-Prep-Unit
Standardized testing is now a major component of education. Yet, just the mention of a standardized test causes major anxiety for students, teachers and parents. Astute Hoot has the answer for this anxiety! Unlike other test prep units that focus on laborious drill and kill, our comprehensive test prep unit was specifically designed to alleviate angst, strengthen skills, promote self-awareness and build confidence.
In this unit, students meet Tina Turtle, Troubled Test Taker and Frankie, Fumbling Fox, both of whom struggle with major test taking anxiety. Each week, the students teach Tina and Frankie an important test taking skill or strategy; students help Tina and Frankie practice the strategy at a test prep center. Students can easily relate to the animals’ struggles and they feel empowered as they help these two troubled test takers.
This unit includes:
•Tina, Test Taking Turtle and accompanying poem
•Frankie, Fumbling Fox and accompanying poem
•Detailed instructions on creating Test Prep centers and folders
•10 test taking tips (on both individual pages and on one whole page)
•10 lesson plans to teach test taking tips
•5 test prep activities (with literature connections) to boost self-esteem and motivation
•Customizable parent letters
•Test prep award
•Several color pictures show test prep in action!
Check it out at http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Standardized-Test-Prep-Unit
Super fun way to practice basic skills; fill plastic eggs with letters, sight words, math facts, etc. and have your kiddos choose eggs from a bucket or find them around the house. When they open them up, they can practice the skill inside. You can even have them turn in the eggs for candy or pennies or other rewards.
Spring has sprung and Easter is right around the corner. This is a great opportunity to spend time with family and friends. It seems as part of the celebration we always look for ways to keep the children actively engaged and entertained. You can follow this link to a site that offers many creative ways to accomplish this using things that are on hand and readily available. Have fun! http://familyfun.go.com/easter/easter-games-egg-hunts/
Check out our store for digital downloads at http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Astute-Hoot for new products including customizable behavior charts, animal reserach report, and cooking in the classroom.
Use dice, playing cards and poker chips to practice number recognition, counting, and basic facts in a game-like format. This is great way to make math time fun, especially for kiddos (and maybe parents) with math anxiety.
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Hoo is Ready for School? flashcards are different from other flashcards because they not only teach the letters and sounds, but also teach key phonemic awareness skills such as rhyming and segmenting words. These are key skills for beginning readers. In addition, the cards teach positional words which are important vocabulary words and concepts for children to understand for reading and math (e.g., behind, next to, over, under, etc.). There are many ways to play the game. My students and children love when I take a few cards and fan them out. Then I say “Pick a card, any card.” Kids can also pick from the top of the deck or the cards can be dealt out. Hoo is Ready for School? flashcards are great for toddlers, preschoolers and students in the grades K-1.
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Students are loving our decoding and comprehension strategy animals. It is amazing to see how engaged they are and great reading progress they are making. 
They especially love the accompanying story Hazel Learns to Read and the adorable animal puppets. Students immediately connect to unique animals! Check out our store on teacherspayteachers.com for digital downloads.
Winter classes were a huge success! We are having so much fun in our Glitzy Girls class and Down on the Farm toddler class. Check out our “Classes” page for upcoming spring and summer classes. LIKE Astute Hoot on Facebook for discounts on classes and products.
We are pleased to announce that Astute Hoot digital downloads and products are now available at:
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Astute-Hoot/%22%3e%3cimg
This colorful and engaging bulletin board introduces 10 research-based comprehension and decoding strategies to children. Each animal character represents a strategy such as Chunking Chipmunk, Visualizing Vulture, and Predicting Possum. Detailed explanations and directions are provided. Students LOVE to meet each new animal as they introduce their strategy.
Parents, does this sound familiar: ”I’m too tired to read,” “You read it to me mommy,” ”I already read at school today.” Sometimes having kids practice their reading at home can turn into a chore or a fight, even when children are capable readers. I was experiencing this at home with my own son, and my students at school. This inspired me to collaborate with my partners and develop the “Hoo Can Read?” flashcards. This learning game makes reading time fun and eliminates all the anxieties and frustrations children have with reading. By providing choices, support, and taking turns reading, children begin to experience success, increase their confidence, and become motivated to read. It is truly amazing to me that now my son and my students who used to avoid reading, now BEG me to get the “owl” cards and read with them!
Astute Hoot is excited to offer a variety of early childhood recreational classes at 3 different locations this fall: Chandler Community Center, Primrose School and Club Dance!
Sign up today for Astute Hoot’s recreational classes for infants, toddlers, children, and parents! Classes are full of fun learning games, music, art, movement and more. Fall sessions start soon.
Help us to get the word out about Astute Hoot by clicking on the like button for the Astute Hoot Facebook page.
Hoot! Hoot! We are so excited to present our Hoo Can Read? cards, the first deck of our entire Hoo Can Learn series.
