So how does a pizza and attacking multi-syllabic words go together you are wondering? You don’t eat a whole pizza at once, in one bite and if you don’t know a long word (multi-syllabic word) you don’t try to read the whole thing at once. You break it down (slice it up like a pizza) and read it (eat it) bite by bite! It’s gotta be in kid language so they get it! 🙂
My groups in grades 1-3 need a lot of practice with breaking words into syllables to try to read them. First response for most of them is to just guess and keep reading. But they need to be taught strategies and they need to apply those strategies. And guessing isn’t one of them! We have been using this app, Popplet, to help us break our words (slice them up like a pizza). It is great!
The kids are interested in anything done on the iPads, of course. So they really liked doing these activities. They did need a little time to explore and play with the app. But then they had it and were doing really well breaking their words and reading them.
With this app, you can create as many Popplets, or boxes, as you need. And you can resize them to what you want.
My first grade groups needed to go back and do some more work on story events. So we used the Popplet app to do that. We used 3 boxes after reading the story, The Snowstorm. The first box was for the beginning, then second was middle of the story, and the last one was for the end.
Students did a quick sketch in each box to represent what they would write about on their B-M-E page. It helps them to organize their thoughts before writing and to remind them what it was they wanted to put on paper. This worked really well for that.
I can see we will be using Popplet a lot! There are many other ways to use it. What are some that you are using it for or could see using it if you were to download it- it’s free? Let’s share some ideas!
Everyone deServes to Learn says
Going to see if they have it for Windows!! That would be great for my students! I love that it has multiple uses.
-Maria
lorivines4 says
I am sorry, Maria, that you found out that Windows doesn't have it! Maybe they will get it soon or have something similar to it.
Mrs. Anderson says
I love the analogy of attacking words like you eat a pizza!! I am definitely going to check out Popplet. Thanks for sharing these great ideas!!
Connie Anderson
http://www.welcometofirstgraderoom5.blogspot.com
lorivines4 says
Thank you, Connie! Everyone identifies with pizza! 🙂 Glad you stopped by!
Aylin Claahsen says
LOVE this post! I use Popplet mainly as a brainstorming tool before our writing, but I haven't done much else with it. However, I will definitely be doing more now- that syllable idea is so visual and perfect for my little friends. Thanks as always for the great ideas (and a great analogy!)
Aylin 🙂
Learning to the Core
lorivines4 says
Thank you so much, Aylin! Popplet does help with the syllables. So glad you stopped by!
Barbara says
This looks great Lori! I'm off to check it out. Thanks for sharing.
Barbara @
Grade ONEderful
Ruby Slippers Blog Designs
lorivines4 says
Thanks Barbara! I hope you like Popplet!
Tammy says
We've been talking about compound words. I'm definitely going to starting using your pizza analogy. Popplet looks very interesting.
❀ Tammy
Forever in First
lorivines4 says
Compound words would work great with Popplet, Tammy!
Miss Trayers says
I love the analogy as well! Will definitely try that program to help them visualize what we're asking them to do!
NotJustChild'sPlay
lorivines4 says
Miss Trayers, I think the boxes in Popplet do help them to divide the words. Thinking of it like eating pizza seemed to help them too! Thank you for stopping by!