Refine – How will I use the information in my classroom?

**Disclaimer: For some reason, the pictures are not displaying like they do in my word document.  I don't know how to make them appear here.  :)

            As a first grade teacher, I spend a lot of time teaching my students about the various word families (ex:  -at, -am, -ab, etc.).  Whatever word family we’re working on, I always try to include drawings/illustrations with each word; but, whenever possible, I prefer for the students to use their own drawings (especially with words I feel they’re more familiar with, such as “cat” and “hat”), so they are constructing meaning for themselves.  However, I always provide options for students who struggle.  Here’s an example of some word cards I might use during a lesson on the –at family:

bat	The bat was scary. I use a bat to play baseball.	cat		fat	She is too fat.
hat		pat	Dad will pat the baby on the back.	rat	The rat was white.

My students love using poems and songs to help them learn.  Here is an example of a poem I used when we were working on the –ug family:

Snug Bug

(Tune:  Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star)

Lollie’s a likeable ladybug.

She plays all day with bugs and slugs.

She gives her friends a great big hug,

Then pulls her wings with a little tug.

She takes a nap, that sleepy bug.

She’s as snug as a bug on a rug!

Prior to introducing the song I would go over the general vocabulary necessary for understanding poem (examples:  likeable, sleepy).  Then I would make sure students understood the meaning of the –ug words included in the poem, providing visuals where appropriate (especially with words like “snug” and “tug”).  Introducing the vocabulary ahead of time helps them better understand both the poem and the words from the word family.

ladybug		bugs		slugs
hug		tug		bug
snug	The baby was wrapped snug in his blanket.	rug		He swept under the rug.