Picture and Words 
This activity comes from a conference I attended called “Success In Reading and
Writing”. You staple/tape a picture on a piece of chart paper. I usually choose a picture
based on my theme. Have the children look at the picture and tell you what they see.
You label what they see while echo spelling the words. This is great for vocabulary,
letter recognition, and sounds. Later in the year, I give the sounds and they have to tell
me the letters to make the word. Sometimes, I even have them practice printing the
letters on paper or chalkboards with me.
I put all the charts on a ring chart stand for the students to refer back to.
Centers/Stations 
I have stations set up in the morning for the students to work at after they have done the
morning activity. The stations rotate from table to table where the students sit. Each
child visits one station a day. Stations vary depending on what theme we are working
on.
Some include the housekeeping station, listening station, and blocks. I also have various
art activities and stations based on the theme. I try to base my stations on the MIT. Here's a link for more information on the MIT. Jill's Early Childhood Page
Book Groups
I usually begin book groups near the end of October. I have multiple copies of trade
books on their level. On Mondays, each child has a choice of which book he/she wants.
So the groups are not by ability but interest. Depending on the class size I might have 4-5
different books offered. I try to have books to go with our theme. When everyone has
picked a book, they get in the book groups and practice reading the books. I walk around
the room listening to the groups read. On Fridays, each group reads to the class. The students take the books home each day in special cloth bookbags to practice with their parents.
Letter Charts 
This is an activity that comes from “Success in Reading and Writing”. I have a piece of
chart paper with a picture of something that begins with the letter I am teaching. I pick a
letter that has something to do with the theme we are working on. I ask what letter the
picture begins with and then show the children how to print the capital and lower case
letter on the chart paper. Then the students think of other things that begin with the letter
and I try to draw the pictures and label the picture(we also echo spell as I label). I
usually spend two days on each letter and do many other activities with the letter.
Journal 
I always have the children journal in the conclusion of the lesson so they can use
everything they have learned throughout the day in their writings. I usually have them
write about the theme we are working on. After a child has journaled they come to me
individually and read me what they have written. Some write independently, some need
help sounding out words, and some just write random letters all depending on what stage
they are at. Journaling shows just how much a student knows about letters, sounds,
words, and sentences.
Alphabet Discovery Bottles
I use the 1 liter water bottles for each letter of the alphabet. Everytime I introduce a new letter, I have the students bring in things from home that start with that letter and fit into the bottle. I do not add liquid in the bottles, so we can use the items in the bottles for sorting. This project helps get the parents involved at home. The children loved this!
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