Must Read Mentor Text - Willy the Wizard

Linking up (a little late) with Collaboration Cuties' Must Read Mentor Text link up.

Just coming to the end of an English unit based around the story 'Willy the Wizard' by former Children's Laureate, Anthony Browne. The children love this unit every year (possibly because its an incredibly boy friendly book, even with my two-thirds girls class!) so thought I would share some of my favourite activities I do over the unit. 

Synopsis

Willy the Chimp loves football, but doesn't have any boots. One day he meets a mysterious stranger who gives him some 'magic' boots. Willy is fantastic! But on the day of the match, he forgets the boots, will he still be able to play as well?

Lessons

Verbs

Look at all the different words for Willy's football skills. Get out onto the playground with some footballs, show off our mad football skills, then write as many verbs to describe what we have been doing as possible on post-its.

Similes

Using different pictures of the setting (my favourite is the one of the old pie factory) get the children to create simple similes to describe what they can see. Once they get the structure of a simile, they all have really interesting views for comparison.

Story map

Draw a story map of the main events from the book. Orally rehearse this together along with actions to help them learn the structure of the story. Then help them change character/setting/events to map out their own imitated version of the story.

What did you buy?

With the TpT 3 million strong sale over, its time to share those bargains that you bought!

Let's just say I spent a lot more than I earnt, but hey I saved money right?!

My bargains include:

I'm particularly excited about the clipart (I've got several product ideas on my to-do list!) and Listen Up as my class loved the freebie I tried on them, so I'm sure they will love the whole pack. 

Since its the 1st of March today, its also time for another Currently hosted by Oh' Boy Fourth Grade (with a funky new blog design!).

Listening - Just keeping up with another series!

Loving - I bought several new clip art sets which I'm very excited about (see above!)

Thinking - That weekends need to be longer for the amount of stuff I always seem to have planned and need to do!

Wanting - I have to plan a unit of work on Art, but can't decide where to start. Anyone with any ideas?!

Needing - 

?????? - Guess the question in the comments!

Lollypop lollypop oh lolly lolly pop!

I have a new product just in my TpT store today to celebrate the TpT 3 million teachers sale which is on for only 2 days! You can get up to 28% off! Click on the image below to go to my store!

Graphic from Creative Clips

It's a lollypop-themed word sorting game. This is a game aligned to the UK Letters and Sounds in that I've created words for the different Phases, however, it will work for any children who are still needing practice in sounding out and blending words.

I've included a mixture of real and made up words to ensure they are not reading them solely as sight words, but are also using their sounding and blending skills. Much needed practice for the Year 1 Phonics Check!

Phonics is one of my favourite subjects, any ideas what I could create next?

Anyway, I'm off to see what bargains I can grab in the TpT sale... remember it is only on today and tomorrow (USA time). Check out the linky party below to see what everyone else is buying/selling!

Have you ever?

It's only Tuesday, so I consider this fairly successful for a Meet the Teacher Monday from me! Although luckily the rules from The Ordinary to Extraordinary Classroom allow any day of the week posting!

1. Have you ever been on TV? 
I've been an extra in a film (Tomb Raider 2 should you wish to see my moment of fame, blink and you'd miss it!)

2. Have you ever been trapped in an elevator? 
No thank goodness as I'm not great in confined spaces!

3. Have you ever made anyone cry? 
I've made a child cry multiple times by using the words 'we are going to write now'. It got to the stage where I did all my modelling and handed her a pencil without ever using the word (I still don't know what she thought we were going to do with the pencil other than write!)

4.Have you ever walked into a window because it was just that clean? 
Nope, but I've seen it happen!

5. Have you ever fainted in public? 
Again, no, but my doctor is surprised that with my blood pressure I don't faint on a daily basis.

6. Have you ever gone to a restaurant and ate, only to realize you didn't have any money? 
I think I would just about die of embarrassment if that happened!

7. Have you ever gone to greet a family member or friend and then noticed it was someone else?
Yes all the time, from when I was a child. Its how I make new friends half the time.

Thanks for a fun linky party, head over to The Ordinary to Extraordinary Classroom to join in! Talking about joining in, I'm sure you've noticed by now that TpT are gearing up for a special 2 day sale at the end of this week. Don't forget to use the promo code to bag yourself 28% off all my products and many more across the whole site!

Graphic from Creative Clips

I'm grateful... so here's a freebie!

Today I'm linking up with another new linky party, this time with Angela from Southern Fried Teaching for her Grateful party. There is always room for more gratitude in my life, so I thought I would take this opportunity to post about it!

• I am grateful for the supportive comments that I get on my blog.
• I am grateful for the people buying my products on TpT.
• I am grateful that my class are enjoying and learning from my experiences on here. 

To show how grateful I am, I am posting a little St.Patrick's Day freebie in my store for you all. It is some number bonds to 10 loop cards. Click on the image below to grab them!

Be sure to stop by my store on Thursday/Friday as I'm joining in with the TpT 3 million teachers sale! You can buy my products for up to 28% off! I know I'm prep-ing my wish list now!!