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Showing posts with label critical thinking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label critical thinking. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 22, 2025

IT'S ABOUT TIME, TEACHERS, for HINK PINKS, et al.

 


If you are not familiar with Hink Pinks, et al., you are in for a treat. Hink Pinks are brain teasing, critical thinking, word riddles that help students learn to interpret data, make inferences, draw conclusions, and analyze new information. All the while, they are working with vocabulary, synonyms, definitions, parts of speech, syllables, and honing rhymes. What could be better than a fun way to work with Bloom's Taxonomy?

Hinky Pinkies are different from Hink Pinks in one way: the rhyming answer words must be 2 syllables each. Hinkity Pinkities require answers with 3 syllables.

There are lots of ways to use Hink Pinks, et al.


The best thing about Hink Pinks, et al., is that students love them! Mine literally beg to do them.

My love of Hink Pinks, et al., is so great that I have made dozens of units. When you buy by the bundle, you save 30%. Naturally, you can purchase the individual products.






Check out 
these thematic units:






I even created Hink Pinks and Hinky Pinkies for non-readers:




Try them. You'll love them!


Tuesday, April 8, 2025

IT'S ABOUT TIME, TEACHERS, for SIGHT WORDS!


Early readers are encouraged to memorize, or recognize on sight, common words. These SIGHT WORDS allow them to improve reading speed and fluency, and thus, enhance comprehension. For many non-educators, the first thing they think of when they hear SIGHT WORDS is flashcards. Let's break free of that association by making SIGHT WORD  practice more enjoyable. One way to do that is with coloring activities. Check these out:






Similar products with holiday or seasonal themes are also available here. The bundle of these resources will save you 30%. 

SIGHT WORD SQUARE PUZZLERS are another means for practicing these commonly encountered words. These puzzles require students to focus on the words while also exercising critical thinking skills. The goal is to make the words match on every interior side of the square.

A real bonus with these files is that they can be printed in black and white. I recommend printing them on colored cardstock.







As a primary teacher and reading specialist, I am a proponent of word walls. To help you out, I have created several products that will make creating your word wall quick and easy. These resources are provided in a variety of decor themes.  You can peruse them here.







Monday, March 10, 2025

IT'S ABOUT TIME, TEACHERS, for PUZZLES!


The wonderful thing about puzzles, is puzzles are wonderful things! They build:

    • critical thinking skills
    • challenge gifted learners
    • provide enrichment
    • are fun for fast finishers

Puzzles are perfect for:


    • thinking centers
    • bell ringers
    • anchor activities
    • differentiation

During testing season, I love providing puzzles for those students who finish before the time limits have lapsed.

Check out these puzzle packs:



The Kangaroo Edition is FREE! The other puzzle packs are $5 each.  You can find all of them here.

Here's a sampling:

Watch for more puzzle packs currently under construction.























Sunday, February 23, 2025

IT'S ABOUT TIME, TEACHERS, for a DIGITAL ST. PATRICK'S DAY!


 As St. Patrick's Day approaches, take the TIME to check out these digital resources, especially for the holiday. Digital learning means that you have little or no prep TIME to make them ready for your students. Who doesn't love saving TIME?