An Idiom a Day and a Root (or 2) a week!

     One of my goals this year is to streamline some of my grammar lessons, teaching idioms and root words in particularly.  I am doing this by teaching an idiom a day and a root (or two) a week.  This is what I created to so I can stay on the straight and narrow. Hope it helps!

Here is my piece of cake idiom idea:,

   I compiled 144 of the most commonly used idioms and created a bundle of 18 worksheets that have 8 idioms per sheet.  This can be made into a little booklet or handed out individually. I think that the booklet idea is better because it will prevent students from losing them or putting them in random places. 
     I did this activity las year, but I started in the middle of the year, so I taught 3 idioms a day.  After doing a lesson on idioms, I would present an idiom and ask the class if anyone had a prediction of what the idiom meant. If someone got it correct, their team would earn a table point. To help generate more guesses, I used it in a sentence so they could use contact clues to help them make a better guess.
     After that, I told them the definition and had them copy it down in their idiom book.  To finish the activity, they drew a picture to create a visual representation of the idiom. In their free time they could color it.  I would quiz them every so often to see which roots I needed to reteach. 


Here is what it looks like:

     The kids LOVED this daily activity, and once you do it a couple times, it only takes a few minutes our of your day.  This activity would be the bee' s knees during bell work, or while you check homework and attendance.  Not only will this prepare your class for idioms that they might see on a state test, but they will adopt these into their everyday language.  It is a barrel of monkeys to hear them use these idioms on the playground or while working on a group assignment.  It cracks me up!

You can find this activity here.

Now,, onto rooting out roots!

     Teaching roots is a Common Core Standard for EVERY grade level 1st-9th.  I always wanted to teach a root or two a week, but somehow I just never stuck with it.  I would introduce new roots to my class, but there was no rhyme or reason to when I did it.  Teaching in a cohesive way will make learning root words more meaningful. This year, I pledge to stay on track. I can ensure that I will stay on board because I created a weekly Root Word Activity that will help me stay more focused.

  I compiled 60 of the most commonly used roots, suffixes and prefixes and made circle maps with each root. I plan on running this off as a packet and having them make a root word book.

     I have used vocabulary webs for the past 5 years with our regular story vocabulary. I modified these down for this root activity pack.  All you have to do is introduce the root word(s) of the week, I do this whole group. I ask if anyone thinks they know what the root word means. Then I copy the correct definition on my example. I let them work in pairs to come up with some examples of words that contain the root(s).  We then share some of them as a whole group, giving time to let the students copy down examples that they did not have.  Then, we go over what each of the example words mean, and connect it to the root's meaning.   I keep the roots that we go over posted above my white board as a reference for the students to easily access whenever they may need it.  

     For extra practice,  I created a root word version of the famous "I have..., Who has?" game.  This is a great way to review the roots that were covered every few weeks. It is also a fun way that gets the kids out of their seats and using the words.

 This activity pack includes:

What a steal!

You can get this wonderful Root Word pack here at my Teachers Pay Teachers store! 

The first 3 people who can spot 5 or more some common idioms that I used to describe these two products will win a FREE set of either the root word or idiom activity. Let the games begin! (Don't forget to leave your email address!)