Working with Short Vowels

Well HELLO there!!!

Onesie from Hello Apparel 

While everyone was off having a blast in Vegas (I was living vicariously through Instagram!!!...) we were working on this fun new short vowel literacy center! (When I say 'we' I mean I worked and little man kept me company ;-)

I am so excited to share this idea with you!

In second grade, we work a lot on distinguishing vowel sounds within words. On the state tests, there ALWAYS used to be questions like "In which word do you hear the short 'a' sound".....

My students had a tendency to always just LOOK at the words, and pick the one that had an 'a' in it. Which doesn't always work out. 

I really wanted my students to LISTEN to the words, rather than look at them. So I created this!

It's a literacy center activity where students scan the QR codes, LISTEN to a word being read, and determine if there's a short 'a' or a short 'i' sound within the word!

Students directions for both Scoot and Center activities! 

(Students can scan that QR code and HEAR the directions being read to them! No more "I don't know what to do..." !!!) 

Recording sheets for Scoot and Independent Center activities!

30 total cards with QR codes to scan and listen to! 15 short 'a' words and 15 short 'i' words! 

There's also an answer key included so students can check their work!!!

This activity aligns with the 2nd grade Wonders curriculum, Unit 1, Week 1 spelling skill; Short A and I! Although you DON'T need to be using Wonders to enjoy this center! 

If you'd like more info on how to create a QR code linked to an audio file, you can find it HERE!

Need more info on QR codes in general....HERE you go! 

And feel free to download the preview of this file by clicking the picture below! Let me know what you think!!!

You can find the whole center on TPT HERE! Enjoy!

I'll send this to the first five people to comment and tell me what they're doing on this beautiful summer day! (Don't forget to leave you email address!)

Happy summer!!!! 

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Creating Audio QR Codes for Your Classroom!

Here's a step-by-step on how to create an audio QR code! I've decided to create these as often as I can and attach them to directions (mostly for independent centers and stations)- that way, if students are having trouble or aren't sure what to do, they can scan the QR code and listen to the directions! 

This is the easiest way I've found to create these audio QR codes (since I'm recording directly to the computer, rather than on an iPad or iPhone. This eliminates having to sync or email the recording and house it somewhere online- like DropBox)! 

Here are a few other ideas for audio QR codes in the classroom:

- Create a recording of a book and glue the QR code to the inside of the book- instant listening center! And you can do this with ANY book you want! 

- Have students create a review of a book from your classroom library. Glue the QR code to the inside of the book- then students can scan to hear a peer review of the book! 

- Have students record themselves reading their writing. Post the QR next to the student's writing so when visitors come in, they can scan and hear the student reading their writing! 

- Like I said before, attach a QR code of you reading the directions or instructions to a center or station. This eliminates the "What am I supposed to do here....?" question!  

- Give spelling tests this way! Record yourself reading the list of words. Students can scan the QR code and listen to each word and write the words down at their own pace! Students can even pause and go back as they need! 

Now I'm off to have a lazy Sunday!!!...

How do you use audio QR codes in your classroom!!???

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