This week's challenge came just as I was finishing up my latest product...perfect timing! Like most things I create, I don't usually have them planned ahead, and make my products as I need them for my classroom. When I began my Journeys Challenge Word products (from the Houghton Mifflin Harcourt reading series), I began them last fall, and started with Unit 2. Their creation began because I had some students who were amazing spellers and had already grasped the phonics pattern we were working on for that week. I needed a way to differentiate the lists for my students, challenging those that need it, while still practicing and pushing the phonics pattern at a different level. For example, while they may breeze through CVC words, they needed practice with blends in short vowel words. Once I started the challenge words, my kiddos immediately pushed themselves harder. Every pre-test we took, they strived to earn the challenge words. Seeing that Unit 2 had been such a success, I continued making them for units 3-6 as the rest of the school year progressed. Since I had not started with Unit 1, I went back and created it a few weeks ago, and realized that I needed to bundle all of my units together! (Who doesn't love when all pages are in one spot?!) So I am not happy to say that all 6 Journeys Challenge Spelling Word units are now bundled! Woohoo!!

The bundle has challenge words and practice pages for all Journeys lessons (1-30). Below is an example of what you will find in this product. These are all of the pages for Lesson 5, which focuses on short U words. Every lesson has the same type of pages, with different words to fit the lesson focus. I found that the similar structure worked out well when students practiced spelling words during center time, because after learning it once, they knew what they were expected to do. 

My favorite part about giving my kiddos challenge words is that the students vary from week to week. I do not designate students to get challenge words all year long, instead it is based off of the pre-test. Students have to get all of the words correct on the pre-test to earn challenge words. Once the lists become longer, I do give the students challenge words if they only missed one word on the pre-test. I love when one of my students who may struggle more with learning really understands a phonics pattern, rocks the pretest, and is so proud of them-self when they earn their challenge words!

Do you use the Journeys series? These lists would also work well for teachers who don't have the reading series, but do spelling lists based off of phonics patterns. Be sure to check out this product here in our TPT store! It is on sale through Sunday!

Hi everyone, it's Becky! I just wanted to write a quick post about my latest product! After finding a lot of parking lots solely focusing on each Houghton Mifflin Journeys lesson, I came to the conclusion that I needed something different! I wanted something that allowed my students to review words learned from the entire unit (30 school days). So I decided to make a High Frequency Word Parking Lot that focused on all five lessons in each unit.  It acts as an end of the unit review.  (I will be creating more for Units 2-6!) You can find it in my Wim's Winners TPT store. (Clicking on the picture will take you right to the product!) 

I also included directions for how to play the game, as well as directions for assembling the parking lot board!

I even had Greg try to assemble one just to make sure it was easy enough for any teacher to put together in just a few minutes. It took him 3 minutes! Not too bad! 

Be on the lookout for more parking lots in the future! Have a great week!
~Becky