Sticky Links

Some things in life are just easier to remember when they're linked to something else.  The only reason I know our Vice President's name is because one day my cousin Laurie used charades to teach it to me.  I'm terrible about such things.  I know, I'm a pretty sorry excuse for a US American.  (I couldn't resist.  Have you seen the infamous Miss Teen USA interview?)  I digress.  

Anyway, first graders are certainly no different.  I love these helpers that hang out in my room.  They help create a link for some tricky phonics patterns, and thus learning sticks better.  I have Janice Sullivan, my reading mentor and the one who trained me in Reading Recovery, to thank for many of these ideas.  I just prettied them up.

Here we have the ing brothers.  

(We don't spell it out when we say it.  We pronounce the "ing.")

These would be the er sisters.

(We pronounce the "er.")

We hug ourselves and say, "eeeeeeee" in squeaky voices.  

(The kinesthetic part is a link in and of itself.)

 Meet Cousin Ed and the three sounds he makes.

 Here we have the quiet brothers.

 This is the bandaid chunk.  We pinch ourselves and say, "ow."
  (another kinesthetic move)

Yep, it's the Chocolate Chip Cookie Chunk.

I included this picture for the fun of it.  My kids know it by heart.  Yeah, pretty impressive. :)

Finally, here's one of my favorite sayings from Janice Sullivan. It's not really a link, but in honor of Janice and her great wisdom, I must share. My kids have heard me say it so many times that when l start it, they finish it.  

If you can say it, you can write it.

 If you can write it, you can read it.

 Any other links out there that will increase the stickiness of the learning in my class?  I'd love to know about them!