Mooseltoe

It is that time of year when the students (and teachers) are getting restless and ready for break!  I wanted to do some fun activities with children's books to keep the kids interested.  I wanted to start with Mooseltoe, but I couldn't find anything age appropriate and that was free. So, I decided to create one and share with everyone.  It has a sequencing activity, writing pages, and a graphic organizer to review character, setting, problem, and solution.  If you want a copy for FREE, click HERE.

Name the Fish FREEBIE

We got a class pet this week!  I decided to get the kids a fish because they don't carry diseases, there are no allergies, and they are easy to take care of.  I think it is important for kids to have a classroom pet.  It is also very educational.  For example, we got the fish today and already did 2 math lessons with him! We did a tally chart and a bar graph to pick out his name!  You can download the freebie HERE at my TPT store.


Meet Skittles!

 Tally Chart

 Bar Graph

Addition Facts Packet

It is very important for students to learn their math facts.  I want my students to have their math facts memorized by 3rd grade so that they are not counting each addition problem on their fingers.  So, I made an Addition Fact Packet to help with this.  It includes and introductory page for each math fact, 5 (front and back) practice pages, fact assessments after each fact, review assessments starting with 40 problems and increasing to 100 problems, and flash cards.  The repetition really does help the kids learn their facts.  I also like to play Beat the Teacher with my kids when they are doing the practice pages.  I will give them between 1 1/2 minutes - 2 minutes depending on how long we have been practicing the fact.  They try and beat me on my time.  Sometimes I will even give them a head start.  They LOVE doing this.  I always do side A in class and send side B home for homework.  Below are some pictures of the practice pages.  If you are interested in having a copy you can get it HERE at my TPT store.  I also have a Subtraction Fact Packet you can get HERE.

Introductory Practice page

 Practice Pages

 Review Assessments

 Fact Cards.  I like to color code mine by facts.

"I Can" Statements

Over the summer, I decided to retype all of the I Can statements and turn them in to cute monkey graphics.  I have a bulletin board that I change out daily.  I also have the I Can statements on poster that are kept up year round (Just in case I forget to change them and someone pops in ;) ), and I have the numbers only printed out and posted by each subject.  You could do this beside your daily agenda if you have one.  I also made one with cute kid graphics.  If you want to check them out you can get the monkey statements HERE and the kid statements HERE.

Daily I Can statement board.

Core Standard Numbers placed by each subject for the day.

 I Can posters displayed all year.

Example of one of the kid graphic posters. Sorry the picture isn't the best.  I took a pic of it off my computer.  I don't have the hard copy with me.

Classroom Pics

BAt the beginning of the last school year, I wrote a blog post about my classroom.  I have added a few new things this year and wanted to share them with you.

 My new Boggle Board for Word Work.  I am very excited about this one!  I created it myself to match my monkey theme in my classroom.  If you like it and want one, you can get it HERE. I also have a really cute Owl Boggle HERE.

 I moved my reading center this year so that it is under my cubbies.  I also added some new disc chairs.   Someone also commented on a previous post and asked how I did my library.  I actually have 2 main bookshelves.  The black bookshelf has all my AR books.  They are also leveled for the students.  The tall brown bookshelf holds all my classroom library books that are not AR.  I do have them leveled though for the students.

 I saw a desk painted on pinterest this summer and decided to give it a shot.  I love the way it turned out!

 This is another pinterest inspired project.  It is my ziplock quilt.  I display student work in the quilt. 

 This is my I Can board.  It holds all my I Can statements that we are working on for the day/week.

I had to change my Tattling Toby sign this year since my name changed.  I had it on a poster board last year.  I decided to type it out this time so that it could fit on my desk since I am limited in space this year.  The kids love Tattling Toby.

Birthday Bunch.  This is where I display my students' birthdays.

I'm Back!!

I know it has been a LONG time since my last post.  I actually got married in May, and I stayed VERY busy with planning the wedding and putting the whole thing together.  It was a DIY wedding.  So, it took all of my extra time. Sorry for going MIA. Here are a few pictures from my big day!!

Teacher Appreciation Sale

Teachers Pay Teachers is having a 3 day sale May 6-8!!  You can get up to 28% off!!  Be sure to stop by and get some great products at great prices!!!

Leap Year Sale

Hey guys! There is a BIG Leap Year Sale at TeachersPayTeachers today!!  I am offering 20% off on all of my products today.  On top of that 20%, TPT is offering another 10% off items.  You can check out my store HERE.  There are also many other sellers throwing a sale today!  Be sure to check it out and use the code L2P9Y to get your extra 10% off!!

Groundhog Day Writing

Groundhog day is always a fun holiday to talk about in your classroom.  The kids always enjoy learning new facts about groundhogs, and they always get excited about watching Phil come out of his hole and giving us a weather report.  Yesterday we did a writing activity to go with Groundhog Day. First, I read the students Wake Up, Groundhog! Then, we talked about what it means if he sees his shadow and if he doesn't see his shadow.  After our discussion, I had them decide whether or not they wanted Phil to see his shadow and why.  They filled out a graphic organizer listing 5 reasons why they did or did not want Phil to see his shadow.  After they filled out the graphic organizer, they wrote their reasons in story form.  We also made groundhogs out of our fingerprints.

This activity will be included in my February Writing Packet.

Valetine's Day Coupons

Every year, for every holiday, I struggle with what to get my students. I hate to get them something that will be thrown away as soon as they get home or that other students bring in for the gift bags.  So, this year I decided to make my students Valentine's Day coupon books.  In their coupon books, I will put a homework pass (every kid loves those), bean bag during reading time, and other fun FREE things that my kids love.  I love this idea because the kids will enjoy it, it is different from their other gifts, and most importantly it is a free gift!!  You can get a FREE copy HERE at my tpt store.  Happy Valentine's Day!

Compare and Contrast

This is a really cute activity that I found in Mailbox magazine.  Students are able to compare and contrast themselves with other students in the class.  My kids had a blast with this activity.  They actually asked me if they could do it again.  That was music to my ears.  They had fun while comprehending a skill!! This is also a really great "getting to know each other" activity for the beginning of the year.

All you do is make a Venn diagram on a white piece of paper.  Then you pair your students up.  I let my students pick their partners, but you could assign partners.  Then they compare and contrast their looks and interests.  After they are done, they make their circle look like them by adding eyes, a nose, ears, and hair. A few of my girls even got creative and added earrings.