An invaluable resource - and a little giveaway

I visited my classroom last week, and it is a Disaster... with an extra capital D.  Our school got new carpet this summer, and everything had to come out of the rooms, and off the walls.  Now I have practically a blank slate to start over again!

I have been thinking about my phonogram wall for a long time.  I don't know if any of you display the phonograms (word chunks) in your room, but I find it way helpful for my students!  However, I haven't been happy with the way I was doing it.  I just had them up in any old order, and students had to search hard to find what they needed.  I felt like there was a better way to organize the materials on the wall, so that they could also be organized in the child's brain (visual learners know what I am talking about!).

So, I have spent hours and HOURS this weekend creating my new phonogram wall.  And, if I do say so myself, it is a.dor.a.ble!  Because of the time I spent creating it, I have decided to list it on Teacher's Notebook.  Here is a preview pic:  (okay, 2 -  I decided to create one copy in polka dots and one without)

I have never seen anything like this for purchase anywhere before, even at the teacher store!  I would easily pay $20 for it at the teachers' store, so I think I have it listed for a bargain.

If you have never used a phonogram wall before, you will LOVE this!  Mine starts out blank at the beginning of the year - just the header will be up.  (I made a couple of cute hollywood-themed ones for me, but I have plain ones, too).   As you teach each phonogram sound, you add the sound headers, and the circles with the actual letters beneath.  Students learn to organize phonograms by sound, and can find them quickly and easily.

I am not a "fluff" teacher.  There is nothing on my wall that is not created with (or part of a lesson with) the students,  and is not interactive and usable for them on a daily basis.  If something is on my wall, I want it to have purpose.  My phonogram wall is used continuously by my students - during both reading and writing.  The first 6-8 weeks of my phonics instruction are completely based around its use.   I have also included a minilesson in my teachers' notebook resource to help you teach your students how to use the resource for writing.  I find it to be an excellent "bridge" for students as they transition from invented spelling to traditional.  I finally found out how to more effectively make that happen with the use of this resource, and I am so excited to share it with others!

I plan on making a book of activities to go along with this wall throughout the year.  We practice handwriting right along with the phonogram wall, and we also use it to help prepare us for standardized testing.  It will take me weeks to get all of that done, so bear with me, but the ideas are already rolling, and I can't wait to share!!!

SO, I did mention a giveaway.  I do feel bad that I can't just give this away for free, because I feel like what is best for students should always be shared among teachers.  I hope that you understand, and I am offering it at what I believe to be a bargain price for what you get:

• How to use document with instructions for displaying/assembling the materials
• your choice of 12 different title headers, including 2 Hollywood/Rockstar/Star themed headers and a variety of colors and sizes.  I am willing to customize header colors for those who have purchased the set if you send me an Email. 
• 24 smaller "sound" headers for organizing phonograms.
• 52 phonogram circles for display and flash cards
• student personal phonogram chart
• student fillable personal phonogram chart
• writing miniless for teaching students to use the phonogram wall as a writing tool.

BUT, since I still like to give stuff away free,  4 people will receive the phonogram kit FREE.
To enter:
1)  Follow my blog and comment on this post.
2)  Post about my giveaway/blog on your website or blog with a LINK to my site and comment about it on this post.  (If you don't have a blog, you can post about it on Facebook or Twitter.)
I will select the winners on Sunday, 8/7!


For those who want to buy, click here  



Happy sounding out words!!!