Easy Teaching Tools: Open Court: K and 1st

My school district uses Open Court as our core reading program. Open Court Reading 2002 ensures that every child receives the best reading instruction available. This structured program teaches children through a systematic and explicit scaffolding of skills that build upon each other. By taking into account the individual needs of students and providing them with practice and engaging reading materials.

You've heard it before, "there isn't enough time to fit it all in!!!" I have found a way to integrate each lesson's phonics and Shared Reading material into my daily routine.This tool is great for all learners in your classroom, but especially effective for English Language Learners. Each unit comes complete with workshop activities (Linguistic pattern, making words with shared reading vocabulary, word searches, etc.) incentives, observation charts, pictorals, a process grid, poetry packet,writing rubric customized for each unit . These activites reinforce the phonics and comprehension skills being studies. They are useful and engaging tools that can be done independently.

Open Court and the Red Section

Teacher Testimonials

"Kristen has developed a variety of resources for both Open Court and Word Study. She has shared these materials district-wide and I have used them in my first grade classroom. For her master’s program, Kristen developed a Family Literacy Handbook, which is exemplary.All of my colleagues were impressed with her capabilities and thankful to receive such fantastic resources from her."

E. Slee
1st grade teacher
San Juan Capistrano, CA

"My kindergarteners are engaged with the Word Study Power Point. It has saved me time since I don't have to recreate each sort. Thank you!"

B. Bismack
K teacher
Laguna Beach, CA

"Kristen is an exceptional staff developer. Her Word Study in-service was both engaging and professional. I was able to immediately implement her research-based instruction into my first grade spelling curriculum."

T. Gesireiech
1st grade teacher
San Clemente, CA

"Ms. Walker is always looking for unique and creative ways to better educate her students by keeping them engaged. She took the Word Study program given to us by the Capistrano Unified School District and enhanced it by using Power Point to make her own interactive Word Study that the students loved."

K. Hollis
K teacher
Dana Point, CA

"I love your literacy handbook! My daughter turned 5 in September and is in kindergarten (she's on the very young side). Her biggest struggle is reading. The hands on section of your handbook will help her, I'm sure! As I was going through it, I kept thinking that it would be a great tool for teachers. Then it hit me (probably because you say it multiple times!), this handbook needs to be in homes as well! I think it's wonderful."

A. Taylor
Parent

"The Word Study from Easy Teaching Tools is wonderful! Not only do my students love the animations for the words, but they also are so engaged because each Word Study powerpoint is different. Having these already made makes my life so much easier! It is one less thing I have to create each week and the students really look forward to a new "sort" each week! Thank you Easy Teaching Tools!

M. Montgomery
4th grade teacher
Honolulu, HI

"Thank you so much for coming in today. I was very impressed with your help. You gave me cute strategies. I loved the color change and the drawing while you read. I love that it helps the kids use another sense besides just listening. I loved learning from you. I can't thank you enough. I know it was a bit rushed, but thank you for being so flexible. I'm so trying some of your tips for tomorrow's reading. You are so incredibly helpful to have. Thank you for all you do for me. I'm very appreciative. You make my theory classes come alive."

R.Haynes
2nd grade teacher
Laguna Beach

"Thank you so much for the literacy center ideas. As a first year teacher, your Power Point was vey helpful in organizing and managing the different literacy centers."

R.Hogrebe
2nd grade teacher
Laguna Beach

Easy Teaching Tools Resources and Products

Open Court: K and 1st