I found out about these finger beams from my sweet friends Michelle {here} and Deedee {here}. After learning about them, I had to get my hands on some RIGHT AWAY. I am so glad I did, because they have been so fun for my little firsties, and now my students are begging to read with me {they only get to use them during group reading time}.
These finger beams have benefited all of my students, but they have especially helped my struggling students! They look forward to reading time now, and they try really hard to follow along with the correct words. I knew these little flashlights would be fun, but I had no idea how much they would motivate my students!
I got these finger beams {pictured above} at Restoration Hardware in December, but I found them cheaper from Oriental Trading {here}. Oriental Trading also had the best reviews {better than Amazon}! I just recently ordered enough for each of my students to have their own. They have already arrived at my house, and they all work perfectly! My students will earn them by doing the 100 Book Challenge {I will be blogging about this challenge sometime this week}.
What interesting things do you do to make reading groups fun?? Please share!
I also bought a bunch of these when DeeDee posted about them. My little ones love them. We have woren out the batteries in a few already. :) I think my boys are benefiting from them the most right now. My girls enjoy them, but my boys are begging for them when it is time for guided reading groups. Thanks for sharing that they are now at Oriental Trading. I also saw them at Michaels last night when I was restocking on Scentos products.
ReplyDeleteAside from the lights, my kiddos really love pushing the flat decrotative stones into boxes for sounding out words and letter beads. We use the beads to string/spell sight words.
Erin
www.missandersonkinder.blogspot.com
It's "OWL" Good in Kindergarten
I forgot about the stones! Another great idea!
DeleteTerri Izatt
KinderKapers
Oh.my.gosh. I have to get these! :) Thanks so much!!! Looking forward to hearing about your 100 Book Challenge. I'm always looking for ways to motivate my students to read! :) My students lot roll a dice i made or throw around a beach ball to do some responding to reading! :)
ReplyDeleteKatie
Smiles from 2nd Grade
We use reading glasses!! I posted about them here. http://mrsrichardsonfirstgrade.blogspot.com/2012/10/patterns-and-little-reading.html
ReplyDeleteThe kids LOVE them!! My little foam glasses are on year 2 already! Hobby Lobby summer purchase!
Thanks for sharing this!!
Amanda
Mrs. Richardson's Class
I {heart} these! Love the idea of 100 book challenge too:)
ReplyDeleteTammy
The Resourceful Apple
This is so fantastic!! Thank you for directing me to these little finger beams! :)
ReplyDeleteMy kiddos are in LOVE with their "magic reading glasses." I found fashion glasses in the Target Dollar Spot at the beginning of the year and snagged a whole bunch of those, but I also use Dollar Store reading glasses with the lenses popped out. They work wonders!
You can read about those and eyelighters on my blog.
:)
Kelly
Beg, Borrow, Steal
What a great idea! Thanks for sharing! Can't wait to hear about the 100 Book Challenge!
ReplyDeleteHalle
Across the Hall in 2nd Grade
THose look awesome! Buying them now :) Thanks for the great tip!!!
ReplyDeleteNatalie
Teachery Tidbits
Hi Lindsay. I also use the finger lights but I bought mine at the Dollar Store. My kids LOVE them. In addition I use "witches fingers," small plastic "wands," small star shaped stones etc. I often use the wands and stones to "highlight" certain words. My kids LOVE them! I keep all of these goodies in individual reading kits for each student. :o)
ReplyDeleteœKaryn
A is for Apple B is for Blog
Kideducator@comcast.net
I love the wand idea!! My girls will, too! What a good idea to have a reading kit!!
DeleteI just found them on Amazon too!
ReplyDeleteLove them too! I use popsicle sticks with eyes glued on them. I also use the highlighted reading guides.
ReplyDeleteI love using these. We have ones that are race cars and call them reading racers. I am going to start using them with a push card to help some of my kiddos with fluency. Another favorite of mine to use are bubble wands. They are great for highlighting/focusing on punctuation, blends, digraphs, and vowel teams. I am going to do a post about them soon. =)
ReplyDeleteHeather
Heather's Heart
Let me know when you blog about it! I would love to see how you use them! Great idea! :)
DeleteHi Lindsey, I have been looking for these for a LONG time. I saw them at Walmart one time and they had so few of them I didn't buy them at the time. I have looked for them again and never found them until now. Thank you so much for sharing these and I can't wait until my order comes in. YEAH!
ReplyDeleteDeb at Fabulously First
Wow! I have never seen these before. my crew this year seems to be a little more immature than in past years. My 3rd graders would love these, and I'm thinking maybe my 4th graders too. I teach special ed, and my kiddos have a hard enough time reading- think I will look into these. Thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteSo much fun!! Mine just came from Amazon (didn't see them in Oriental Trading, but I will check them out the other Kinder teachers want them too). My kiddos LOVE them. Really interested in your 100 book challenge.
ReplyDeleteTerri Izatt
KinderKapers
Fantastic! My son has these at home and he is what you call "a reluctant reader". We go back to school in just over a week (in Australia) and I have been trying to get him back into the habit of reading every day....this may be just the trick! Thank you,
ReplyDeleteTania
Mrs Poultney's Ponderings
My kinders also LOVE the laser lights. I gave them one each for a Christmas present this year along with a book and they were PUMPED! We ordered ours from Amazon for super cheap. I also like using sound boxes that match our theme (ex. presents for Christmas, Snowmen parts for winter, etc.).
ReplyDeleteSara
Polka Dot Kinders
Oh my goodness! My own kids have gone through a few of these, but I never thought to use them in my classroom. Thanks for the idea!
ReplyDeleteTeachin' First
That is SUCH a great idea!!! I have never heard of using these before....I am definitely going to be hitting up Oriental Trading very soon!!!!!
ReplyDeleteDebbie
K is for Kinderrific
So fun!!! I can't wait for mine to come in!! I use reading fingers (scary witch fingers) but these looked so much cuter!!! thanks for the post!!
ReplyDeleteNancy
firstgradewow.blogspot.com
Aw... Thanks...You know THE DEANNA JUMP told me about them! She's pretty smart ya know!
ReplyDeleteShe sure is!! You is smart, too! :)
DeleteHow have I missed these/ Can't wait to order some. My class will love them!
ReplyDeleteNever heard of such a thing in my life. Thanks for sharing this.
ReplyDeleteBest,
Ramon
Fonts 4 Teachers
Fonts 4 Teachers in TPT
Great idea! Also, 100 Book Challenge is a great reading program that we have used schoolwide for several years.
ReplyDeleteYou just blew my mind with these . . . thanks for sharin' your awesome find!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm with Kelly... you just BLEW my mind!!!!! This is AWESOME.
DeleteI truly don't pull out any 'special' stops in my guiding reading group. We just use TONS of markers and mechanical pencils (also known as pencil pens in Louisiana, YEP). I act like these things are God's gift to the green earth and they go bonkers. SO I'm pretty sure my kiddos heads would ROLL if I brought these out... in other words I'M SO DOING. Super cute, thanks for sharing!!!
Brittany
Closing the Gap... in a Cute Outfit
Wow! Great idea! I actually have some of these - well they are my own kids but since they are all grown up I think I can snag them and use them in guided reading! What a great idea! Oh and I just saw them at Giant,my local grocery store the other day!
ReplyDeleteLaura ~ First Grade Spies
These are awesome. Just ordered some on eBay for my class :-)
ReplyDeleteMagali
www.theeternalteacher.blogspot.co.uk
Fun!! I bought these little monster-like fingers for my guided reading groups, but then they mysteriously disappeared from my classroom. :( They were fun while they lasted! I think my kids would love these even more though -- thanks for sharing! :)
ReplyDeleteOMG! Love these! I've never seen them before! I'll definitely need to grab some! :) thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThese are SO fun! You ladies are so darn creative! Following your blogs is such fun "professional development!!" :)
ReplyDeleteGrowing Firsties is getting close to an amazing 400 follower GIVEAWAY, including Erin Condren!
So straight after reading this post I then (of course) had to track them down on ebay and some will be arriving soon! Hoping my K/1s will love them as much as your class :)
ReplyDeleteMine arrived yesterday at the end of the school day. Had chance to quickly show my class and they are so excited to get to use them next week.
ReplyDeleteThanks for showing them.
Those are SO cool! I am going right to Oriental Trading when I get off here! Thanks for sharing the info! My first graders will LOVE them! I think I will put them in my class store, depending on price! Otherwise, earning them for a reading challenge is great idea too! I look forward to reading more of your posts!
ReplyDeleteKim
TheVeryBusyFirstGraders
We have had these lil gadgets tucked away and have forgotten all about them! That's what's so great about blogs! All these reminders about all these fabulous tricks that people use. It reignites our teaching and gives us that little spark that we often forget about.
ReplyDeleteThank you! Will bust these puppies out tomorrow (probably need to check if they still work first!).
~Christy & Tammy
Fluttering Through First Grade
You can purchase a 48 box for under $6.00 (currently free shipping) at Amazon!
ReplyDeleteI love these lights! I am ordering some right now. Your blog is amazing; I will be back to check it out. Thanks for sharing.
DeleteJanna
Fabulous Finch Facts
These are so cool, they are a really good idea to foster children's enthusiasm to read. They will also help support children particularly in lower years to follow the text, which can be challenging. I will definitely use this idea when I graduate and finally get my first class.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing,
I hope you can hop along to my blogtoo, any feedback would be fantastic!
All the best,
Ben
beingbenm.blogspot.co.uk