In my first grade classroom we do "word work" each day to help the students practice their spelling and high frequency words. These worksheets vary each day and incorporate their artistic skills into it as well. Some worksheets have them practice writing the words, other you draw a picture of what the word means, or there are cut and sort worksheets. We have utilized this time as a way to work one on one with students to help them review their words to ensure that they are getting practiced. It is a quick way to assess where your students are and who needs more work.
One thing that I am not as fond of is that our teacher enforces that they color each worksheet. As a student, I was never very creative, and also did not understand why I would have to spend time coloring a word if I could write it. It is a good opportunity for the students who enjoy art, though I do not think that the coloring aspect of the worksheet should be assigned as homework if they do not get it finished.
After talking with my teacher I found that she gets these worksheets from Teachers pay Teachers. She pulled out some of the worksheets that come with the book series that they use in class and they looked very boring compared to the ones that she uses. I didn't realize the variety of things that were available on Teachers Pay Teachers.
Amanda, you know how I feel about worksheets. There are so many other ways to be creative and engage students than with boring worksheets. And to me the enforced coloring adds insult to injury!
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