• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Ericas Ed-Ventures

Primary Education Ideas

  • Home
  • Blog
  • Classroom Decor Inspiration
  • Teacher Style
  • Shop
  • Contact

Phonics Themed Centers & Thanksgiving Updates

Twelve years in first grade and I am still busy cutting and laminating every Sunday night!   I like to change things up and keep up with the new standards.  Hence, all my new phonics based literacy center packets.   Our district is shying away from a basal series and I wanted to make centers that could function independent of any reading series.  All of my phonic based literacy center packets are priced at four dollars.   Just click on the pictures to check out the files on TpT.

This week we are learning about words with Blends with R.

The above packet is for words with Blends with R (words beginning in cr, br, tr, fr, gr, dr, & pr) themed literacy centers.

Included:


Blends with R File Folder Word Wall With Pictures


Initial R or Blends with R Sort – Students will sort word-picture cards by blends with r and initial r. They will then record their work. 


Search/Read/Write the Room – Students will search the room for picture-word cards. They will record their findings in the appropriate blend column. 


Roll and write a Word – Students will roll a word and then record it on a recording sheet. They will continue to roll until one word has “won.” They will then analyze their data.


Magnify Tiny Words With Blends with R – Students will use a magnifying glass to find tiny words with blends with r. They will record their work sorting by the beginning blend.


Writing Center – Students will create their own “My Little Book of Words with R-Blends.”


Blends with R Rhymes – Students will match word/picture cards with their rhyming words. They will record and illustrate their rhymes. 


Blends with R Words Themed Build a Sentence – Students will arrange picture cards in the right order to tell a complete sentence. They will record their sentences.


Build a Word – Students will build words using picture cards containing the blend and then ending chunk. They will record their work. 


The above packet focuses on words with Bonus Letters (words ending in double consonants.)

Included:

Bonus Letter Sign

Bonus Letter File Folder Word Wall With Pictures

Bonus Letter or No Bonus Letter Sort – Students will sort word-picture cards by whether or not it ends in a bonus letter. They will then record their work. 

Search/Read/Write the Room – Students will search the room for picture-word cards. They will record their findings next to the picture of the word. 

Bonus Letter Rhymes – Students will match word/picture cards with their rhyming words. They will record and illustrate their rhymes. 

Roll and write a Word – Students will roll a word and then record it on a recording sheet. They will continue to roll until one word has “won.” They will then analyze their data. Pictured with a Kiddocube. 

Magnify Tiny Words With Bonus Letters Search – Students will use a magnifying glass to find tiny words with bonus letters. They will record their work sorting by the ending bonus letter. 

Writing Center – Students will create their own “My Little Book of Words with Bonus Letters.”

Bonus Letter Words Themed Build a Sentence – Students will arrange picture cards in the right order to tell a complete sentence. They will record their sentences.

Spin a Word – Students will spin to build words ending in -oss and -ess. They will record and illustrate their work. 
This TpT packet is for th digraph themed literacy centers.

Included:
th digraph sort – Students will sort word-picture cards by where the th digraph is (beginning, middle, end). They will then record their work.

Search/Read/Write the Room – Students will search the room for picture-word cards. They will record their findings in appropriate columns on a recording sheet. The picture cards in this center double as a file folder word wall.

Roll and write a th Word – Students will roll a word and then record it on a recording sheet. They will continue to roll until one word has “won.” They will then analyze their data.

Magnify th Words Search – Students will use a magnifying glass to find tiny th digraph words. They will record their work sorting into th at the beginning and th at the end of the word. When finished, they will illustrate some words.

Writing Center – Students will create their own “th Digraph Books.”

th Rhymes – Students will match th digraph word/picture cards with their rhyming words. They will record and illustrate their rhymes. 

th Themed Build a Sentence – Students will arrange picture cards in the right order to tell a complete sentence. They will record their sentences.

Spin a Word – Students will spin to build words ending in -op and -ath. They will record and illustrate their work. 
I hope you check out my literacy center packets.  I will be making more as the year progresses. 
Thanksgiving 

I created the above Engaging Thanksgiving Literacy and Math Center packet because we are now following Engage NY Math Modules and I wanted something with number bonds for math centers this week.

I am still doing many of the activities from my Thanksgiving Art, Literacy, and Math Activities! Packet.  I added a Schema chart and build Thanksgiving themed word pages to the packet.  Please, redownload if you have already purchased.

We just made fact family turkeys on Friday.  I forgot to take a picture!  Even though we are doing number bonds with Engage NY, I still feel it is important to teach them Part-Part-Whole.

They never can have too much practice finding all the ways to make ten!

I have parent teacher conferences coming up and my birthday.  The big 35…freaking out over this…halfway through my thirties!  UGHH

Filed Under: Phonics, Teachers Pay Teachers, Thanksgiving, Uncategorized

Previous Post: « Time Savers, Helpful Hints (a little freebie, too), Activities Like, and New Ideas
Next Post: Take Me Back Tuesday: Gingerbread Post »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jessica

    November 18, 2013 at 3:32 am

    Whew! You've been busy! I wish I could whip up stations that quick! Must be something that acquired with time! Love it all!

    Jessica

    The Teacher Talk

  2. Marcy G

    November 18, 2013 at 3:33 am

    Your phonics based centers are amazing! I have purchased and used every one and am pumped to purchase your r blends pack. Thank you for all of your hard work!

    Marcy
    Searching for Teacher Balance

  3. MrsS

    November 18, 2013 at 5:04 am

    I did the same thing when I hit 35! Then I hit 36 last month and thought "Eek, closer to 40 than 30!" Ha! Your packs look great. 🙂
    -Andrea
    alwayskindergarten@gmail.com

  4. Positively Learning

    November 18, 2013 at 10:34 am

    I'm so happy to see your phonics centers, especially the Bonus Letters!
    We also use Engage NY (for now) at my school. I also switch up "whole" and "total" – can't help it!

  5. Alisha Colon

    November 18, 2013 at 11:01 am

    Hey Erica!

    You've been working really hard! I'm continuously impressed with your creativity & quality products! I'm excited to check out your Engaging Thanksgiving packet. I've been stocking up on lots of phonics materials this year, too. It's my 4th year of teaching first grade & I'm starting to feel like I'm getting the hang of it!

    Although our district does not require it, many teachers from my building are using the Engage NY Modules & really like them. I'm interested in seeing how different they are than what we're doing now (Common Core). Do you like them?

    I just turned 35 a couple of weeks ago & PROMISE, it didn't hurt as much as I thought it would! Ha! I keep telling myself, like a fine wine, I'm getting better with age. Rock on, Sister! The best is yet to come!

    Happy Monday!

    Alisha
    First Grade Follies

  6. easylearnread

    December 7, 2013 at 4:41 am

    Hi Erika! Glad to read your insights into phonics centers and the impact they have on the learning of kids. I love to discover new ways of using phonics for maximum results with my class. This sure is a great way you have put it here. info@easylearnreading.com

    Regards

    Daniel Warren

Primary Sidebar

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Search

Categories

Subscribe via Email

Featured Products

Disclosure: This website/blog contains affiliate links.  What that means is that when you click on a link to a merchant and purchase something, I get a small percentage of the sale at no additional cost to you.

Footer

Latest on Instagram

Raise your hand if you can relate 🙋🏻‍♀️. Beginning Raise your hand if you can relate 🙋🏻‍♀️. Beginning of the year routines are being practiced and practiced. 

I tell them to walk on the third tile so that they are not touching the wall and have something to focus their mind on.

#teacherhumor
I asked for classroom donations at my Meet the Tea I asked for classroom donations at my Meet the Teacher Night with these editable Google Slides templates. 

Want the link? đź”—Comment BTS below and I will DM you!

#meettheteacher #openschoolnight #backtoschoolnight
First 6 days of school, first 6 teacher outfits ✨ First 6 days of school, first 6 teacher outfits ✨

I try to keep it professional, cool (I have no AC 🥵), and classroom-ready all week long.
Which day is your favorite? Drop a 1–6 in the comments 👇
Comment SHOP and I’ll send you the links!
#TeacherOutfits #TeacherStyle #TeacherOOTD #TeacherFashion #TeacherWardrobe
Honor 9/11 in a kid friendly way with this picture Honor 9/11 in a kid friendly way with this picture book about a fireboat that helps put out the fires at the towers. 
As a NYer, I remember that day well.  I knew people who passed away in the towers.  I knew people who have passed away since then through 9/11 related illness.  Sadly, my sister-in-laws father was one of them. 

If you want the link to this book and other Patriot Day resources, comment LINK below and I will dm you.

#patriotday #september11th
Do you get nervous for Meet the Teacher Nights? I Do you get nervous for Meet the Teacher Nights? 
I still do even though I feel a ton more confident doing them.  It helps having been in the same grade for 24 years. 

#meettheteacher #openschoolnight
Snack time in K and 1 should give us teachers a se Snack time in K and 1 should give us teachers a second to catch up on the pile on our desk or check email, but it always seems to be that 25 kids need help or a spoon, all at the same time!  Can you relate? 

#teacherhumor #snacktime
Apple themed ideas for first grade! The taste tes Apple themed ideas for first grade!  The taste test activity is a favorite of my students.  At the end of last year, they were still talking about it. 

Want the links to all these activities?  Comment APPLES below and I will dm you the links :)

#apples #firstgradeteacher
Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2026 · Website Design By Jumping Jax Designs