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ISSUE 22 | SEPT. 2021
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Discussions about creating independent work time stations around the Superkids characters generated quite a buzz during our Superkids Schools Conference in June―so we wanted to talk about it! Finding meaningful activities while students are working independently can be a challenge. This issue of The Superkids Bulletin includes many ideas for independent tasks that we have spotted in Superkids classrooms, tips for easily transitioning activities from unit to unit, and a freebie we think you will love!
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As we know, one feature that makes Superkids so special is the connections students make with the characters in the program. Many creative teachers have shared how they craft independent work time stations that are tied to their students’ favorite Superkids characters. We recommend selecting the 4–6 stations that would work best for your class from this list of 12 suggestions. There’s one named after each main character!
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Alphabet with Alf
To provide additional practice with letter recognition, include activities like letter matching, letter sorting, crayon rubbing with tactile cards, alphabet memory games, play clay letters, letter stamping, or allow pairs to hunt for specific letters around the classroom.
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Games with Golly
Include games that provide practice with decoding and memory word recognition. “Kaboom,” word bingo, word concentration, and “go fish” using a deck of index cards with printed decodable words are just a few of the possibilities! We have even seen teachers repurpose old board games for some super fun blending and decoding practice.
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Building with Doc
Supply students with alphabet manipulatives, onset and rime cards, or syllable puzzles to build and then read words. Provide older students with materials to build sentences or stories.
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Comprehension with Cass
After students read in their small group, they can visit this station to complete the Practice Page that accompanies the text or complete a reader’s response activity that includes discussion, drawing, or writing.
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Superkids Online Fun with Oswald
Students can visit the computer or device station to read text or play games in Superkids Online Fun.
Tip: Be sure to change your global settings in the My Class tab each time you finish a unit. This will ensure your students are practicing with the current phonemes and reading text that is up to date!
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Spelling with Sal
To provide additional practice with spelling words or memory words, include activities like rainbow spelling, spelling stairs, or magic spelling (write words in white crayon and color over words with water-based marker).
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Fishing with Frits
Print memory words or decodable words on fish cutouts. Secure a paper clip to each fish. Create a fishing pole using a wooden rod and yarn. Secure a magnet to the end of the yarn. Students “fish” for words and then read the words on the fish they catch.
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Letters and Sounds with Lily
Activities in this station can include matching letter cards to pictures that begin with the sound, sorting pictures by initial letter sound, segmenting words by sounds, Practice Pages that focus on phonics, or Ten-Minute Tuck-Ins that can be adjusted for independent practice.
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Independent Writing with Icky
Students can complete writing activities suggested in the Independent Activities portion of the lessons, a teacher-created writing prompt, or a writing project task that was started during the writing portion of the lesson.
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Read Together with Tic, Tac, and Toc
Students can reread previously introduced Superkids text with a partner or small group. Partner reading, combined with multiple readings of the same text, can support fluency development, decoding skills, comprehension, and overall increased reading engagement.
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Handwriting with Hot Rod
Students can complete the handwriting Daily Routine for the lesson. You can include additional tasks like read the sentences to a friend, illustrate the sentences, or extend the text by writing sentences of your own.
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Ettabetta and the Big Book
Place the Big Book of Blending or Big Book of Decoding in the station. Supply fun pointers for tracking print and task cards with directions, such as read to a friend, write four words, and illustrate two words. Alternatively, use the printable Big Book pages from the Teacher Portal to make a smaller flip book in a binder. Or slip pages inside of a page protector for students to highlight the sounds as they blend.
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It is a good idea to keep the station activities similar as you move from unit to unit. This way students will know the instructions and procedures without having to learn new directions each week.
To ensure the children are practicing the skills that are introduced each unit, you will only need to make small adjustments. For example, if it is a word building activity, you will need to add manipulatives that include the new letter, digraph, trigraph, etc. If it is an activity that includes word cards, you will only need to add word cards with the new phoneme or memory words. Voila! Now your activity matches your instruction.
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Here are a few tips to encourage students to do their best work when completing tasks independently:
- Clearly state the expectations for completed work before children visit a station.
- Place a file folder near the station with the correct answers or an example of a correctly completed task inside. Students can open the folder and self-check their work when they are ready.
- Designate a classroom device with a camera for taking pictures of work completed on a wipe-off board. This will allow you to check the work later.
- Provide activities for students to work together. Working with a partner or group creates accountability between peers.
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We couldn’t give you all these super ideas without providing you with the Superkids signs! Download all 12, select the signs you would like to use, print them, and start planning your stations. Enjoy!
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