Color Code
π΄ Only you β cannot be skippedπ’ Can happen simultaneouslyπ‘ Get ahead β do on prep
Day at a Glance
π
Morning Work
Math practice page at seats
π΄
Phonics
M1 L8
π΅
Math
U1 L8
π£
Writing
Unit 1
π’
Read Aloud
After lunch Β· Every day
β‘
Snap Word
the
π Prep Box
π΄ Before Students Arrive
- Math practice page at seats ready at every seat before first student walks in
- Sheep timer set and counting down
- Phonics M1 L8 slides open on smartboard
- Letterboards and tile bags at every rug spot
π’ Another Adult Handles
- Circulate during morning work β quiet redirects only
- Confirm all letter tiles are in bags
- Restock supplies
π‘ On Prep Today
- Log reading observations β who needs a pull Monday?
- Check any unanswered parent messages
- Preview next week's Monday lesson before you leave
π
Arrival Β· Thursday Β· Math practice page at seats
9:20 Β· Work already at seats Β· Sheep timer counting down
9:20β9:40
Stand at the door. Greet every student by name. Eye contact. Their name. Every student. Every day.
SAY to each student: "Good morning [name]! Math practice page at seats is at your seat β go ahead and get started."
β SHEEP TIMER: Already counting down when students arrive. When it goes off β students should be at bumblebee spots already. Not walking there. Already there.
π΄
Morning Meeting + Phonics Β· Module 1 Lesson 8
Letters m, t, p review β CVC blending Β· slides + magnetic letterboards
~50 min
RF.K.2aRF.K.2bRF.K.3SL.K.1
Phonics Focus
Letters m, t, p review β CVC blending Β· slides + magnetic letterboardsSheep timer β bumblebee spots β Thursday greeting β PA Activity 1 β PA Activity 2 β sing to smartboard spots β morning message β letter sound cards β phonics β brain break β math.
β THURSDAY β LETTERBOARDS: Letterboards and letter tile bags already at every rug spot before students arrive. 'Eyes on me β when I say go, you may open your tray. Not yet. Eyes on me first.'
β ORDER β ALWAYS: Sheep timer β bumblebee spots β greeting β PA 1 β PA 2 β sing to smartboard β morning message β letter sound cards β phonics β brain break β math. Same every single day. Predictability is the behavior plan.
PA Activity 1 β bumblebee spots β 2 minutes.
SAY: "Blend these sounds into words β students call out the whole word: /m/ /Δ/ /p/ = MAP. /t/ /Ε/ /p/ = TOP. /p/ /Δ/ /g/ = PIG. /m/ /Ε/ /p/ = MOP. /t/ /Δ/ /p/ = TAP."
PA Activity 2 β bumblebee spots β 2 minutes.
SAY: "Now reverse β teacher says the word, students tap out each sound on fingers: TAP β /t/ /Δ/ /p/. MOP β /m/ /Ε/ /p/. PIT β /p/ /Δ/ /t/. MAT β /m/ /Δ/ /t/. TIP β /t/ /Δ/ /p/."
Sing to smartboard spots β morning message β letter sound cards.
π΅ SING: "Smartboard spots, smartboard spots, find your smartboard spot!"
MORNING MESSAGE: "Today is Thursday. We will use our letterboards today. Our snap word is [the]. Let's look at our schedule." [Point to each block on the posted schedule and name it.]
Letter sound cards β every card β every day β 3 minutes β non-negotiable. Hold up each card. Students call the sound. No exceptions.
Phonics Lesson β Letters m, t, p review β CVC blending Β· slides + magnetic letterboards
Alphablocks β
SAY: "Quick review β hold up letter cards one at a time: M, T, P. Students call out the sound for each. No talking about the letter β just the sound. Flash them fast. Repeat 3 times."
Today's words β say each one, tap the sounds, read together:
MAPTOPPITMATTIPPOTTAPMOP
MAPTOPPITMATTIPPOTTAPMOP
SAY: "'Today is letterboard day. Your trays are already at your spots. Do NOT touch them yet. Eyes on me.' Wait. 'Find your lowercase m. Hold it up. [scan] Find your lowercase t. Hold it up. [scan] Find your lowercase p. Hold it up. [scan] Put all three at the top of your board β they are our star letters today.' Now build words together: 'We are building the word MAP. What is the first sound in MAP? /m/. Find your m β put it on your board. What is the middle sound? /Δ/. Find your a. What is the last sound? /p/. Find your p. You have M-A-P. Read it with me β MAP.' Repeat for TOP, PIT, TIP. Students build independently for last 2 words."
π§° WAIT TIME: After you ask a question β count silently to 10 before calling on anyone. 10 seconds feels long. It is the difference between 3 kids answering and 22 kids thinking.
Snap Word β "the" β introduce and add to the snap word wall.
SAY: "Snap fingers. 'Snap word! The word is THE. T-H-E. Three letters. Find your t, your h, your e in your letter tray. Build the word THE on your board. Show me. [scan] Good. THE β we use this word more than almost any other word. THE dog. THE school. THE book. You will see THE everywhere you look.' Add to wall. 'Four snap words now β I, SEE, A, THE.'"
Snap words so far: I, see, a, the β count the words on the wall together.
Brain break β 2 minutes β before math.
SAY: "Mirror your partner but today one person leads with ONLY their face β no body. Surprised face. Thinking face. Happy face. Sad face. Your partner mirrors every expression."
GoNoodle β
π§° WHY THIS MATTERS: Students are not acting β they are practicing being in their bodies, reading faces, and responding in the moment. These are early performance skills. They think it is a game. Let them.
π΅
Math Β· Unit 1 Lesson 8 Β· Count to 5 β count and write Β· match numerals to groups of objects
Hook β mini lesson β seat work β 2 rotations
~75 min
K.CC.A.3 K.CC.B.4
Objective
Count to 5 β count and write Β· match numerals to groups of objectsHook on bumblebee spots β 3 minutes β spark curiosity β do NOT teach yet.
SAY: "Hold up a card with 3 stars. 'How many stars? Write the number in the air β not yet on paper. Just in the air.' Students air-write 3. 'How did you know it was 3? You had to count AND then remember how to write 3. That is what we are practicing today.'"
π΅ SING: "Smartboard spots, smartboard spots, find your smartboard spot!"
Mini lesson β smartboard spots β 8 minutes MAX β manipulatives β word for word script.
SAY: "'I show you a card with objects. You count the objects. You write the numeral on your paper. That is it. Let's practice: [hold up 2 dots] How many? 2. Write 2. [hold up 5 dots] How many? 5. Write 5. [hold up 1 dot] How many? 1. Write 1.' Students get their own worksheet β pictures of groups on the left, blank boxes on the right. Count the group, write the numeral. Circulate. 'Say the number out loud before you write it.' Check numeral formation β backwards numbers get a quiet redirect."
π§° 8 MINUTE RULE: Hard cap on whole group instruction. Everything else happens at the small group table. Extending whole group = more off-task behavior, not more learning.
Numberblocks β
Brain break β seat work with visible timer (8 min) β 2 rotations Γ 20 min.
SAY: "Timer starts now β 8 minutes. Finish your page. When you are done β flip it face down, both hands flat on the table. That tells me you are finished without saying a word."
Teacher table: Work with manipulatives β linking cubes, counters. "Show me with the cubes first β then write the number."Adult 2 table: Same page, same manipulatives, same quality.
Math shelf: Independent game β students know the routine.
SuccessMaker: Headphones on, log in, independent.
π£
Writing Β· Unit 1 Β· Drawing to tell a story β put yourself in the story Β· draw yourself doing something
Mini lesson 5 min β independent practice 15 min β share
~20 min
W.K.3SL.K.4SL.K.5
Objective
Drawing to tell a story β put yourself in the story Β· draw yourself doing somethingModel on chart paper first β then students write independently.
SAY: "'Today you are the main character. The story is about YOU. Think of something you do β something real, something that happened. Maybe you kicked a ball, or ate breakfast, or played with your dog. Draw yourself doing that thing. Draw yourself big enough that I can tell it is a person. Add details around you β where are you? What else is there?' Model drawing yourself in a scene. 'After you draw yourself β add what you are saying in a speech bubble. What were you thinking or saying in that moment?'"
Conference with 3 students minimum. One question only: "Tell me about your drawing." One suggestion. Move on.
π½οΈ
Lunch
12:33 Β· Dismiss by ticket color Β· Hot lava line
12:33β1:30
SAY: "Red tickets β stand up, push in your chair, line up. Blue tickets β up, push in, line up. White tickets β up, push in, line up. Lunchboxes β up, push in, line up."
Hot lava line to cafeteria. Walk alongside β not in front.
π’
Teacher's Read Aloud Β· After Lunch Β· Every Day Β· Non-Negotiable
1:30 Β· Bathroom train first β bumblebee spots β read Β· Joy only Β· No questions
~10 min
Bathroom train immediately when students return. Every student goes before the book.
β BATHROOM TRAIN: Line up. First person in, comes out, taps next person. No talking. No saving spots. Everyone goes. No interruptions during read aloud.
Bumblebee spots. Read the whole book. No questions. No discussion. Just read.
SAY: "Sit on your spots. Get comfortable. I am going to read to you. All you have to do is listen."
September read aloud suggestions:Enemy Pie β Each Kindness β
π
Guided Reading / Centers / Flex Block
1:40β2:05 Β· Pull whoever needs it most Β· Centers run simultaneously
~25 min
Pull the students who need the most support today.
AT THE TABLE: "When you get to a word you don't know β stop. Look at the first letter. What sound does it make? Now look at the picture. Try the word. Don't skip it β try it."
π§°: In September pull groups are for letter-sound practice and picture walks β actual reading levels will vary widely. Meet students where they are. Do not rush to levels.
Centers run simultaneously β another adult supervises.
Library corner Β· Drawing center Β· Puzzles Β· When I'm Done chart for early finishers.
Library corner Β· Drawing center Β· Puzzles Β· When I'm Done chart for early finishers.
π©·
SEL Β· Responsible Citizens L4
3:20β3:30 Β· 10 minutes maximum Β· Back from specials
~10 min
Responsible Citizens L4 β taking care of each other
Quick and engaging. 10 minutes. GROW lesson on Fridays only β other days are CONNECT activities.
π§°: This 10-minute block builds vocabulary and emotional intelligence across the year. Protect it every day β even when the day runs long.
π
Shutdown β Specials β Dismissal
2:05 snack + pack up Β· 2:25 specials Β· 3:30 dismiss by ticket Β· Never guess
3:30
SAY for pack up: "Pack up time. Open your zipper. Folder in. Close your zipper. Backpack on. Push your chair in. Line up at the door β hot lava line."
β DISMISSAL IS NON-NEGOTIABLE: If any student's dismissal is unclear β flag it before 3:25. Call the office. Hold the student. Never guess. Never send a student out the wrong door.
π±
Class Dojo β Send Tonight
π± Copy + Paste Tonight
"Hello families! Letterboard Thursday β today we built words using magnetic letter tiles: MAP, TOP, PIT, TIP. Ask your child to build TAP using fridge magnets or to write it on paper by tapping out each sound: /t/ /Δ/ /p/. Our new snap word is THE β T-H-E β now they know: I, SEE, A, THE. In math we matched groups of objects to the number that tells how many. π‘"