🆕 Hot Off the Press! UFLI-Aligned Decodable Book for Lesson 44: -ck

 

Get ready to boost your phonics instruction with this brand new decodable mini-book aligned with UFLI Lesson 44—featuring the -ck spelling pattern!

This engaging resource is designed to give students focused practice decoding and reading words that follow the short vowel + -ck rule. With a simple storyline, controlled text, and targeted vocabulary, it's perfect for reinforcing the concept in small groups, whole class instruction, or independent reading.

📚 What’s Inside:

• Decodable sentences using high-frequency and -ck words

• UFLI-aligned vocabulary

• Clear, student-friendly illustrations to support comprehension

• Great for fluency practice and phonics reinforcement

Ideal for classroom use, take-home reading, or intervention settings—your students will love reading this “just right” text that matches their current phonics instruction.

Grab it now and keep your UFLI instruction strong and seamless!

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/-ck-Mini-Book-UFLI-L44-14028978

Read the full text here.

  New UFLI-Aligned Resources to Support Your Structured Literacy Lessons

I’m so excited to share some brand-new resources I’ve added to my Teachers Pay Teachers store — all thoughtfully created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence! If you're using UFLI in your classroom, these tools will give your students meaningful, consistent practice with key concepts like sentence dictation, heart words, decodable texts, and more.

Here’s a quick look at what’s new:

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✏️ UFLI Sentence Dictation -- CLICK HERE

This no-prep printable resource is perfect for helping students apply phonics concepts in context. Each sentence matches a UFLI lesson and targets current patterns, heart words, and proper conventions. Students hear it, say it, write it, and check it — making it a great daily or weekly routine.

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📘 UFLI Workbook -- CLICK HERE

This all-in-one workbook includes:

• Sentence Dictation

• Auditory Drill - Sound Spelling Patterns

• New Concept Spelling Practice  - Word Dictation

• Irregular Words Spelling Practice - Heart Words

It’s organized by lesson and gives your students repeated exposure and opportunities to apply what they’re learning — ideal for independent work, small group, or intervention.

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🔤 UFLI Sentence Scrambles -- CLICK HERE

These sentence scramble pages help students practice decoding and sentence structure while reinforcing current UFLI skills. Students cut, arrange, write, and illustrate the sentence, giving them a hands-on and visual way to engage with the language.

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❤️ UFLI Heart Words Spelling Practice -- CLICK HERE

This heart words resource takes orthographic mapping to the next level. Students:

• Write the irregular words in shape (sound) boxes

• Practice on handwriting lines

• Spell the word without support

Each word has hearts placed over the “tricky” parts that break phonics rules, and there’s a start dot to guide correct letter formation. It’s perfect for reinforcing those high-frequency words that just won’t stick!

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📚 UFLI Decodable Mini-Books -- CLICK HERE

These printable mini-books align with specific UFLI lessons and are perfect for fluency practice, small group reading, or take-home books. They feature decodable text with simple illustrations to keep students focused on decoding skills and building confidence.

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Whether you're a classroom teacher, interventionist, or homeschool educator, these UFLI-aligned tools will save you time and support your students in building strong reading foundations.

👉 Visit my TpT store here to check them out!

Let me know if you’d like me to bundle any of these for you or create a custom resource — I love helping fellow educators!

New Fave Pencil Sharpener!

I had been looking for something different than the typical old fashioned X-acto pencil sharpener for a LONG time.  Most of the students coming in to first grade do not have the fine motor skills to run a regular classroom pencil sharpener..  This summer I found a post about a specific pencil sharpener that kids with fine motor concerns can use without difficulty.

We didn't get to try it out the first week, as I had a ton of pencils sharpened for the first week of school.  This week I wanted students to start taking care of those things themselves.  This pencil sharpener is AMAZING!  I was able to clamp it onto my back table, and it works great!

It is so easy to use.  Students pinch the tabs to pull out what I call the "claws" that hold the pencil in place.  They insert the pencil in the hold and let go of the tabs.  Then all they have to do is hold their entire hand on top of the pencil sharpener to hold it in place and crank the handle.  No holding the pencil and having it spin out of control.  This is where I've noticed in the years past that kids have a hard time with:  holding onto the pencil while they are cranking the handing to sharpen.  Both their hands just don't work together

When the first few students tried it out, they exclaimed, "Wow!  That's awesome!"  No stress holding onto the pencil whatsoever!  I would definitely recommend this sharpener to all first grade teachers.  I'm hoping that it will last and hold up throughout the school year.  Our janitor and elementary principal and anxious to hear how its working out.

Check out this link to learn more about how to get this pencil sharpener:  www.classroomfriendlysupplies.com.

There is a mount that you can purchase to mount this sharpener to the countertop as well.  For now I'm going to keep testing out just clamping it onto the back table.  This way I have the old fashioned X-acto one and this new one to use.  No more waiting in line for the pencil sharpener!

Start Dot Shape Box Font

Woke on a Saturday morning a few weeks ago dreaming about a font I needed to make to use with some of my kiddos in my class, so that's what my Saturday morning consisted of. I've had so many first graders this year still drawing the letters and not using the correct path of motion when writing letters. So many of them start at the bottom and go up! Biggest handwriting rule ever: "You NEVER start at the bottom and go up when starting your letters!"

So here's what I came up with.
You can find it HERE at my TPT store.

Life of a Plant Mini Book

Doing a little updating to our science curriculum and plan on going into the life of a plant a little deeper.  We decided to update things a bit and instead of doing a unit on farming, we are going to focus on plants and what they need to survive, grow, and meet their needs.  This will be a great lead-in to our Pumpkin Life Cycle unit, where our first graders will get to apply that to a fun fall plant they are familiar with. Here is a mini book I created on plant life:

You can find it HERE at my TPT store.

Daily Schedule Cards

I've been working on these since last summer and finally finished them!  Yay! Now just to take the time to print and laminate and get ready for the fall.  I have been using the same ones in my room for the last 10 year and thought it was time to update and make things a little cleaner and easier for my first graders to read.  I used to use DJ Inkers "DJ Spiffy" for a lot of things in my classroom and realized that the font is too "jumpy" and first graders have a hard time reading it.  

I created these classroom schedule cards with picture clues that little ones can read on their own. I formatted them to fit into my blue Carson Dellosa scheduling pocket chart. The last page includes a blank page that can be screen-clipped into your own editing software to create your own.

***Schedule Cards included in this set:
math, reading, writing, bathroom break, morning work, word work, centers, sharing, guided reading lunch, recess, assessment, social studies, science, computer, music, art, snack, gym, library, field trip, guidance, silent reading, movie, quiet time, dismiss, brain break, social studies or science, clean up, math calendar, DOL sentences, catch-up time, friday folders, early dismiss, must-do work time, guest speaker, wash hands, stuffed toy day, sunglasses day, mustasche day, hot cocoa, popcorn, ice cream, soda pop, popsicle, valentine party, pajama day, holiday party, birthday, pumpkin seed counting, pumpkin sorting, pumpkin carving, BLANK PAGE TO CREATE YOUR OWN

You can find this HERE at my TPT store.  
**Make sure to download the preview to get a good look at several that are included in the set.

Clip art sources:
Clip Art by Carrie
Edu-Clips
Melonheads
My Cute Graphics

Manners on the School Bus Mini Book

Last and final book in the Manners mini-books I plan to use this fall:  Manners on the School Bus.  This book teaches appropriate behavior children are expected to show on the school bus.  These skills will be taught during our PBIS lessons this fall during back to school week.

Text in this book:
Manners are important. Here are some good manners on the school bus.
To be safe I will stay seated and face the front.
I will keep myself and my stuff out of the aisle. It keeps everyone safe.
My head, hands, feet and all objects stay inside the bus to keep me safe.
When I wait for the bus I will be peaceful. That keeps everyone safe.
When I’m on the bus, I will use a quiet voice and talk about nice things. That is being respectful to others.
I will follow directions and listen to the bus driver the first time. That shows respect to the bus driver.
I can be responsible by being on time. I don’t want to miss the bus!
I will be responsible and clean up after myself.
I can tell the bus driver if something is broken or if there is a problem on the bus. That is being responsible.
Doing your best and following the rules on the bus keeps everyone happy!

You can find this book HERE at my TPT store.

Manners in the Hallway Mini Book

Just finished a little book called "Manners in the Hallway".  It is another book in the series of books I plan to use this fall when we teach the PBIS expectations for all the different areas at school.

Text in this book:
Manners are important. Here are some good manners in the hallway.
I walk in a single file line and think of line basics. That is being safe.
To be respectful, I will keep my hands to myself and think of personal space.
That is using body basics.
I will keep to the right. That is being safe.
I will go right to where I need to go.  That is being responsible.
To be respectful I will keep my voice off. That is also using body basics.
I will remember to use walking feet. That is being safe and using body basics.
I will greet others with a friendly wave.  That is being respectful.
If I drop something on the floor I will pick it up. That is being responsible
and keeping the hallway clean.
Doing your best and making good choices in the hallway keeps
everyone happy!

You can find this book HERE at my TPT store.

Manners in the Restroom Mini-Book

Here's a new mini-book about manners called "Manners in the Restroom".  Use at back to school time to teach bathroom expectations for behavior.  I plan to use this at the beginning of the year when we do our lessons for PBIS.

Text in this book:

Manners are important. Here are some good manners in the restroom.

I will wait my turn to respect others’ privacy.

I show respect by using a quiet voice.

I show respect by respecting school property and leaving the lights on.

To be responsible I can flush the toilet when I’m done.

I will think 2 for pumps of soap, towels, and minutes. That is being responsible.

I wash my hands with soap and water to stay safe.

I can do my best by keeping the bathroom clean.

To be responsible I can report problems to the teacher.

Good manners and making good choices in the restroom keeps everyone happy!

You can find this HERE at my TPT store.

Manners in the Lunchroom Mini Book

Here's a mini book called Manners in the Lunchroom that can be used when you teach PBIS expectations about the lunchroom. A good read aloud book to use with this book is called "Manners in the Lunchroom" written by Amanda Doering Tourville and illustrated by Chris Lensch. 

Made for easy printing on the copy machine. Simply select double sided, sort, and staple. Cut in half and add additional staples if need.

Manners in the Lunchroom text:
Manners are important. Here are some good manners in the lunchroom.
I will wait quietly in a straight line to be responsible.
I say please and thank you to show good manners.
I use walking feet coming in and out to stay safe. I think of line basics.
I keep hands and feet to myself to stay safe. I think of body basics.
I eat my own food to stay safe.
I show respect by using a quiet voice and talk about nice things.
I show respect by listening to the teachers.
I can be responsible by cleaning up after myself when I am done eating.
I will raise my hand when I need something. That is being responsible.
To do my best I can try everything on my tray.
Good manners and making good choices in the lunchroom
keeps everyone happy!

You can find this book HERE at my TPT store.

Written by Carrie Hanson (Clip Art by Carrie Teaching First)
Illustrated by: Clip Art by Carrie, Edu-Clips, Creative Clips

B D P 9 Reversal Posters FREEBIE

Here's a freebie of a new poster set I made for my classroom.  Act these out by drawing the letters in the air, on the tables with their finger, in sand, dry erase markers, using Visual Phonics hand shapes, etc.

b:  First the bat.  Then the ball.
d:  First the doorknow.  The the door.
p:  First the pin. And then the pop!
9:  Make a hoop.  Then a line.  (That's the way to make a 9)

You can download the PDF of these poster set HERE at my TPT store.

Manners on the Playground Mini Book

I woke up with the world's WORST back to school dream this morning!  A long story short:  It was the first day of school, I'd had my classroom ready for weeks, I walked in the door and the kindergarten teachers had taken over our first grade classrooms!  We'd been transferred to kindergarten without being told.  I was left with an empty classroom with all my first grade stuff being kept hostage by the now new first grade teachers.  All the tables were removed from the kindergarten rooms and I was left with two tables, bare walls, and 17 desks.  Given no time to establish classroom rules, we were expected to go to a PBIS assembly.  My class had pockets full of toys and crayons and it was complete chaos! Talk about a major anxiety attack!

So I guess that led me to work on some back to school stuff I've had my mind on for a while. Here's my Manners on the Playground mini-book I'm going to use this fall when we teach about our PBIS expectations on the playground.  A good read aloud book to use with this book is called "Manners on the Playground" by Carrie Finn and Chris Lensch.

Text in this book:
Manners are important. Here are some good manners on the playground.
I can stay safe and play in the right place. Once I’m out, I stay out.
I will use things the right way to stay safe.
I use walking feet coming in and out to stay safe.
I can take turns, share, and be kind to show respect.
I wait my turn on the swings.  I take turns.
I share with others.  That shows respect to my friends.
I can be kind to others.  That means be NICE to show respect.
I will let others play with me. That is respect.
I show respect by listening to the teacher the first time.
I will be responsible and line up when the bells rings or the teacher blows the whistle.
I can be responsible and put things away when I am done with them.
Good manners and making good choices on the playground keeps everyone happy!

You can find this HERE at my TPT store.

Manners at School Mini Book

This last school year our school started using PBIS.  It's been a great way to teach consistent behaviors in our school.  We have always started first grade with a theme called "First Grade Work", which basically teaches our little people what its like in first grade.  Such a big change from kindergarten!

I wrote this book to go along with a book I use as a read aloud called "Manners at School" by Carrie Finn. "Manners at School" is read in my classroom at the beginning of the year (and even as a refresher when needed).

Text in this book:
Manners are important.  Here are some good manners at school.
I can be kind to others. That means be NICE.
I can look with my eyes and listen with my ears.
My lips are zipped when I listen. That shows respect.
I keep my hands to myself. That is my personal space.
I raise my hand before I talk. That shows respect to the teacher.
I share with others. That shows respect to my friends.
I wait my turn on the swings. I take turns.
I say, “Please.” I say, “Thank you.”
I cover my mouth when I cough.  No one wants my germs!
I clean up when the teacher says.
Good manners at school keeps everyone happy!

*****Printable Mini-Book:  You can find this printable mini book HERE at my TPT store.

*****1 page digital file now available.*****
I have also formatted this book in 1 page layout view so that you can view this book in any PDF viewing app on your tablet, iPad, PC or Mac.  You can find this file HERE at my TPT store.

Whole Body Listening Mini Book

So this school year I have REALLY used the term "whole body listening" a LOT!  I have some very wiggly and off task kids that have needed constant redirection just to focus and pay attention in class.  I wrote this book to use in the fall with all that in mind.

You can find this book HERE at my TPT store.

Here are the words to the book:
When I am at school I use my whole body to listen.
My eyes are looking at the teacher.
My lips are zipped.
Sometimes my teacher says, "Shhh!"
I sit cross-cross applesauce on the rug with my hands in my lap.
At my table or desk my hands are quiet.
I keep my hands empty, so I can pay attention.
Sometimes my teacher says, "Criss-cross arms."
I have quiet feet and quiet hands so kids can listen to the teacher.
My brain is thinking about what the teacher says.
I ask a question when I don’t understand.
If I'm looking and my lips are zipped, I'm listening.
And if I'm listening, I'm learning!

What is Matter? Mini Book

This year we added a new theme to our curriculum:  States of Matter.  Scrambling for resources on Pinterest and Teachers Pay Teacher will get you by...but after you do the unit the first time through, you realize creating your own materials to meet your teaching style and what you want for your classroom is the route you need to follow. It just takes time. We've been done with the States of Matter unit for a month or more and I finally ended up creating this.  I used my States of Matter Doodles clip art set as well as Educlips Matter clip art set to create this mini book.

You can find this HERE at my TPT store.

Here is the text:

Matter is all around us.

Everything on Earth is made of matter.

Matter can be a solid, liquid, or a gas.

A solid has its very own shape.

The particles are close together.

A liquid takes the shape of what it is in.

The tiny particles are spread out.

A gas takes the shape of what it is in and moves freely.

The tiny particles are spread out.

Water is a solid when it is frozen.

Water is a liquid when it is at the right temperature.

When water is heated, it turns into water vapor (gas). This is evaporation.

When water vapor gets cold it turns back to water. This is condensation.

The water we have on Earth keeps going around and around.

This is called the Water Cycle.

The water we have on Earth keeps going around and around.

This is called the Water Cycle.

Habitats Interactive Notebook

My first graders are loving the interactive notebooks I've put together for Space/Planets and our Continents/Oceans theme.  The facts/sentences included are the same as my Cut-Apart Sentences, but its been nice to have them paste the sentences into the notebook for a keepsake to take home at the end of the unit. After reading your favorite read aloud book about each of the habitats, watching videos, singing songs about the habitats, or brainstorming facts they remember, have your students piece together the fact for each habitat. Then have them color the black line illustrations.  This is what I've been doing:

• Gather students on carpet for read-aloud
• Students read individual Habitats Mini Books (you can find them in my TPT store)
• Habitats song 
• Brainstorm facts about each of the continents using the mimio for recall of details
• Build the cut-apart sentence in interactive notebook

You can find this HERE at my TPT store.

Facts/Sentences included:

• The animals in the grassland run very fast.
• The water in the ocean is very salty.
• The rain forest gets a lot of rain all year.
• The mountains can be rocky and covered in trees.
• The wetlands are made of fresh water.
• There are many kinds of trees in the forest.
• The arctic is very cold and covered in ice and snow.
• Scientists go to the Antarctic to study the weather.
• The desert is very hot and dry.

Continents and Oceans Interactive Notebook

We have accumulated and created so many things for our Continents and Oceans theme, it was time to condense some things and make it a bit more "kid-friendly".  Instead of making our Continents and Oceans lessons a "writing/paper/pencil" activity, we thought it would be good to just have the kids focus on one key fact about each of the continents and oceans.  Using this format, student would just be building the one key fact we would like them to remember about each of the continents or oceans.

The lesson sequence I plan to use for each continent and ocean lesson:

• Gather students on carpet for read-aloud
• Continent Mini-Books or Ocean Mini-Books (you can find them in my TPT store)
• Continent or Oceans song (you can find them in my TPT store HERE)
• View PPT slides on each to learn facts
• Brainstorm facts about each of the continents using the mimio for recall of details
• Build the cut-apart sentence in interactive notebook

How to Use this Interactive Notebook:  You can purchase it HERE.

• After reading your favorite read aloud book about each of the continents/oceans, watching videos, and brainstorming facts they remember, have your students piece together the fact for each continent or ocean. Then have them color the black line illustrations.

How to Assemble:

• Copy single sided or double sided and staple on the left hand size. 
• Copy the words that will be glued in the book separately. There are three on each page. Only hand out the sentence your students need.

Cut-Apart Sentences Included for Interactive Notebook:

• Australia: Australia is called the Land Down Under.
• Antarctica: People cannot live in Antarctica because it is too cold.
• Asia: Asia is the biggest continent in the whole world.
• North America: North America is made up of mostly three countries.
• South America: There are rain forests in South America.
• Africa: The Sahara Desert is in Africa.
• Europe: Europe is the smallest continent, and it is made up of many small countries.
• Southern Ocean: The Southern Ocean is around Antarctica.
• Arctic Ocean: The Arctic Ocean is by the North Pole.
• Indian Ocean: The Indian Ocean is the warmest ocean.
• Pacific Ocean: The Pacific Ocean is the biggest ocean.
• Atlantic Ocean: The Atlantic Ocean was the first ocean to be crossed by ship.

Space and Planets Interactive Notebook

Going on a few years of doing our Space and Planets theme and it seems like we revamp it every year to make things go a bit smoother.  This year we are going to try doing an interactive notebook where students have to assemble one fact for each of the planets after we learn about it and brainstorm facts they remember.  We are hoping this will help learning one main fact about each planet a little easier for first graders to remember as they do the final project at the end of the unit (where they match the fact to the planet as they put together a Solar System display).

If you are interested in this interactive notebook, you can find it HERE at my TPT store.

How to Use this Book:After reading your favorite read aloud book about space, stars, the sun, each planet, watching videos about space concepts, and brainstorming facts they remember, have your students piece together the fact for each space word. Then have them color the black line illustrations to match the colors of each of the planets and other pictures. The sentences included in this interactive notebook are the exact sentences that are used with my Space and Planets Cut Apart Sentences.  So if you liked those sentences, but you wanted it put together as a book, here is your thing!  I have also included optional pages on how many planets there are.  Some people like to still teach that Pluto is a "planet", but a dwarf planet.  And other people like to just say there are only 8 planets.

How to Assemble:Copy single sided or double sided and staple on the left hand size. Copy the words that will be glued in the book separately. There are three on each page. Only hand out the sentence your students need.

Answer Key:Solar System: There are nine planets in the solar system.
Solar System: There are eight planets in the solar system.
Sun: The nine planets orbit around the sun.
Sun: The eightplanets orbit around the sun.
Star: A constellation is a group of stars that make a shape.
Mercury: Mercury is the closest planet to the sun.
Venus: Venus is the hottest planet in the solar system.
Earth: Earth is the only planet that animals can live.
Mars: Mars is called the red planet.
Jupiter: Jupiter has a giant red spot that is a storm.
Saturn: Saturn’s rings are made of rock and ice.
Uranus: Uranus spins around on its side.
Neptune: Neptune is the eighth planet from the sun.
Pluto: Pluto is called a dwarf planet.
Earth’s Moon: An astronaut has been to the moon.
Comet: A comet is made of ice, dust, and rock.
Astronaut: An astronaut wears a special suit to travel in space.
Asteroid: Asteroids are rocks that orbit the sun.

Las Posadas and Diwali Vocabulary Books

Just finished putting together two vocabulary books to use with our Holidays Around the World unit in December.  Last year I created Hanukkah and Kwanzaa and this year we added Diwali and Las Posadas to the unit.

All About Diwali words:
India, Diwali, pray, lamps, bonfires, fireworks, luck

All About Las Posadas words:
Las Posadas, Mexico, poinsettia, Mary, Joseph, piñata, hot chocolate, midnight

You can find this HERE at my TPT store.

They books go right along with these other Las Posadas and Diwali items I have put together:

• Las Posadas and Diwali Word Wall Cards
• Las Posadas and Diwali Mini Books
• Las Posadas and Diwali Riddles

Turkey Disguises Doodles

Last year just before doing our annual Turkey Disguises activity I whipped up some clip art for turkey clothing stencils to use with my first graders.  I printed, cut out and laminated the clothing pieces for them to use for stencils as they "disguise" their turkeys.  It helped them add their turkey costumes with construction paper.  I used them again this year. (Wasn't exactly what I wanted, but it was something better than what we've done in the past.)

But then one day this week, I was without my mimio (AHHHH!) and couldn't do what I had planned (we were playing a Roll-A-Dice Draw a Turkey game), so I had the kids do a step by step on how to draw a turkey on the white board with them doing the same on their white boards.  Well, that was SOOOOO much fun for my class.  They loved it.  They learned about adding details and how to fit the parts together.  Great!

Here's a picture of the turkey I drew with my first graders on the white board:

Well....That led to me drawing it on my iPad that night, which also led me to revamping my turkey clothing clip art.  So I guess I will have a bit more pieces for next years Turkey Disguises activity.

You can find this Turkey Disguises Doodles HERE at my TPT store.  Or HERE at my Teacher's Notebook shop.

Turkey Disguises Doodles clip art set includes Line Art, BW, and Color PNG images.

Turkey with Tail Feathers
Turkey with no Tail Feathers
FB TShirt
FB Pants
FB Helmet
BB Cap
Cheer TShirt
Cheer Skirt
Tennis Shoes
Pom Poms
Pink Flower Dress
Pink Tennies Shoes
Brown Wig
Blong Wig
Black and Gray Top Hat

These outline images to use as stencils for dressing up your turkey:
Wig Stencil
Shoes Stencil
Top Hat Stencil
BB Cap Stencil
Shirt Stencil
Pants Stencil
Dress Stencil
Helmet Stencil

There is also an additional outline turkey not included in the preview, as well as pants, shirt, and shoes that match and fit with that turkey.

Additional Turkey Images included in this file:  

All images may be used for person, classroom, or commercial use, but need to be flattened in your product (PDF or JPG).  A simple credit back to me is all that's needed:  

Clip Art by Carrie

www.ccteachfirst.blogspot.com

or a link to my TPT or TN store