Things To Do When You're Stuck in a Professional Development Workshop - letter strips

I originally found this on Pinterest, but it got me to thinking. How many times have you walked into the teacher's workroom and found strips of paper left over by the cutting board? Why not take those strips and write an alphabetical letter at the top, so the children can practice writing the letter down the strip? Rather than cut and glue letters at the top, a Sharpie can do the job just as good. And it makes a super workshop activity to keep your hands busy.

Things to Do When You're Stuck in a Professional Development Workshop - Word Lists

You always need word lists to make reading cards, games, or whatever. But sometimes you may not have the time or the energy to sit and think during your conference period or after school. Especially if you're trying to come up with words other than the _AN and _AT combinations.

Things to Do When You're Stuck in a Professional Development Workshop - Word Cards

I used pictures cut out from workbooks I found at the dollar store. These can be use in many ways: as flash cards, letter matching with magnetic letters, or you can make a game out of it. 

Lots of possibilities!

Things to Do When You're Stuck in a Professional Development Workshop - Patterning

A few years ago, I started taking some materials with me whenever I had to attend a professional development workshop. I simply cannot sit there and listen. Of course, I take notes, but I also want to come away from the meeting with something more substantial. Especially if the workshop is not one of those Make-It-And-Take-It kinds.

Using pre-cut sentence strips and a box of markers, I've made these neat little pattern guides. I can use them to teach patterns with colored bears, pom-poms, or whatever. Or I can make a quick game with them using a die. The possibilities are endless!