Fall Math Mega Pack with freebie!

I just finished a pack I am so excited to use! I tend to like math centers that aren't extremely thematic so I can use them when I want. I needed some math centers for the fall that would build number sense as well as addition and subtraction concepts. I also wanted a few centers that would spiral the measurement and data domain. I set out to create a few and wound up with ten!!!! Whew! Took forever!

Here's my Fall Math Centers Mega Pack!

Included in this Pack:
Falling Leaves (5 and some more) 1.OA.6
Scarecrow Make Ten (Combinations of 10) 1.OA.6
Apple Picking (Subtract from 10) 1.OA.5,6
Harvest Time! (Time to the Hour) 1. MD.3
Odd/ Even Harvest Sort (Numbers to 20 in ten frames) 2.OA.3
Raking Leaves Place Value Compare (Numbers to 50) 1. NBT.2c
Race to 30 (Addition and Subtraction within 10--2 sets for differentiation) 1.OA.6
How Many Were Picked? Data Analysis 1.MD.4
Fall Measurement 1. MD.2
Collectin’ Acorns (Comparing numbers- 3 variations) 1.NBT.3

If you want to check out this pack on TPT, click here! If you made it to the bottom of this post, then you get a freebie from the pack. :)

Download my odd and even sort for free here.  Leave me a comment if you can use it!

 

Have a great weekend!!!

"Beary" Common Core Bear Unit with freebies!

Hi, Friends!
I wanted to share some freebies and ideas with you in case you teach about Bears during the year.

Last year, my teammate and I started the new year off with a bear theme. It was so fun! I posted a lot of freebies (click the pics) I had created and this year I made so much more because I wanted the unit to align more with the Common Core shifts.

Last year, I posted about a 4 corners activity to get the students discussing opinions. Hang the 4 bear signs in different corners of the room ( included in the freebie). The students will have to decide which bear ( Panda, Polar, Brown or Black) they like the best and discuss the reason for their choice with a partner. The student will then write why they like that type of bear. We will use the sentence frame I like ____________ because. ( Also, free!)
We will then graph these results as well during math.

 However, this year, I added a non-fiction text we can read as a class to build the students' background knowledge about each type of bear. Then I can guide them to justify their opinion using a reason from the text.

I created a graphic organizer for each type of bear so students could work on finding the key details in text about each type of bear. I also added more opinion writing papers so you can differentiate and use this pack at any time during the year.

Last year I created these math freebies which are still available just click any pic to take you to the Google Docs file.

1-20 cards to practice one more/one less
(Just copy on  Brown construction to use less ink!)                
Play Bear Hunt with these cards. Hand out these cards to each student. Call out a clue such as, "Who has one more than 5?". The students with 6 would stand up. You can increase difficulty by asking, "What's two more/two less or 10 more/10 less?".


                                          One more/ one less practice/assessment
                                                      

                                  Reviewing combinations to 5 with Teddy Grahams
                              
This year I created so many more math activities! For every activity I created a more advanced game. Instead of just Make 5, I created a Make Ten as well. Rather that just including one more/ one less, I also added 10 more/10 less.  I added gummy bear sorting and graphing recording sheets, a Teddy Bear measuring record sheet and a building teen number equations game.

Hopefully you can use these freebies! If you teach Bears at all during the year, this could be a great addition to your unit. If you want to take a look at the rest of the pack on TPT. Just click the pics or right here!

Classroom Management - Have a 5 Star Day!

Hi, everyone!
I don't know about you, but over the summer I constantly think about improving classroom management. More specifically, my behavior plan. How can I make this year run more smoothly? How can I make sure to balance positive and negative consequences? How can I ensure everyone has a chance to be successful?
Last year, I came up with a behavior plan that I call "5 Star Day".

Here is a freebie of the rules I made. I use Whole Brain Teaching ( search on YouTube). Feel free to edit if you want because I changed the last rule to "Keep everyone happy" because this includes me as well! Click on pic to download!

I used "5 Star Day" last year to keep students motivated to follow the rules and they seemed to really enjoy it. This was developed to also help lessen my load during pack-up time... See I always stamped the calendar of students who had a "good" day and then wrote on the calendars of those who broke rules. It took me forever and then the students just started talking and goofing around rather than stand by their desk as they were supposed to do when they are done packing up. I tried to have a student stamp while I wrote but the wrong day would  get stamped or a student who shouldn't have received a stamp did and I felt like it was making me look unorganized to parents.

This new system held students accountable, helped me with recording problem behavior, saved time at the end of the day and made those wonderful, rule-followers shine!

I added this star behavior calendar to our STAR take home folders.

I love this because students can color in the number of stars they earn at the end of the day to save me time. I just check on the ones " who struggle" with behavior and write the rule(s) they need to work on. This helps students have a goal for each day. It also helps me distinguish those with great behavior from those with good behavior rather than just focusing on those with poor behavior.

Here's how it works:

Students are given a star chart for their desk.I have pink, green and blue. Their goal is 5 stars a day. The students keep track of their own behavior throughout the day with a paperclip on the star chart. At Walmart, I bought their flat plastic paper clips since clothespins are too large to fit under the chart on the desk.





I just added a whole group clothespin chart if you want to do that instead.

If a student needs an individual consequence, I will quietly motion or whisper that they need to move to 4 stars on their chart. I also write the rule number he or she broke on my class clipboard recording sheet  by his or her name. This method also helps me with behavior documentation. Saves so much time!!! I then have students color in the number of stars they earned at the end of the day. This saves me time as I used to stamp everyone’s folder at the end of the day. Now I just check those students who had less than a 5 star day and write which rule they struggled with. I really like this because I can reward those with great behavior at the end of each week or month and keep track of those struggling! I also like that the behavior recording chart is not posted for everyone to see, it is portable and permanent. Parents like that they know exactly how their child is behaving every day.

I made the 5 star behavior calendars for each month with 2 or 3 different options to fit any school calendar as well as included blank templates in case other teachers' rules are different than mine. I tried to think of every possibility! There are 51 pages! If you like this idea and want to try it next year, check it out (here) on TPT for $3.00!!!. I'd love some feedback if anyone downloads. :)





I  also want to announce the winners of my Spelling Tic-Tac-Toe pack. Yay, Rachel and Lori! I will email you girls soon!

Spelling Tic Tac Toe for each month of the Year with a Giveaway!

 Hi friends!

I have been gone for so long! I haven't even been able to read posts lately. I have been in gifted cluster trainings and working at my district office on our 1st grade Common Core ELA curriculum. I came back to the blogging world to find out that Google Friend Connect will be no more. Waaa! So, I have set up an account at Bloglovin'. I would appreciate it if my small number of followers would continue to follow me.  :)
 I have lots of ideas to share for this next year for Common Core and a Differentiated Classroom!

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Now I want to share a new product I just finished. I have had a couple of these spelling tic-tac-toes as freebies for awhile now and they were pretty popular. I decided to spruce them up and make one for each month of the year. They even increase in difficulty as the year progresses. Click the pic or here to view on TPT.

Kids and parents love these because they have choice in activities and I love them because I don't have to think of new activities for spelling each week! :) I also included 3 different non-thematic versions for the beginning, middle and end of year in case there are students who can't celebrate certain holidays.

Here are a few up close so you can see the variety of activities:

Enter this Rafflecopter giveaway to win this pack for free! a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Book Whisperer- Be inspired!

Wow, I haven't blogged in forever! Between a student teacher, Career Ladders ( a hoop-jumping portfolio that is evaluated by other teachers every year) and life, I haven't had the time. I'm sure you've felt that way before, am I right?

 I did want to stop in quickly today to share an amazing, inspiring book I just read about developing life long readers.  The Book Whisperer examines current reading instruction in public schools and challenges teachers to redefine their beliefs about teaching reading. Although the author is a 6th grade teacher, the book will touch a  reading teacher of any grade. I highly recommend buying or borrowing this book. I just completed a book study with some teachers at my school and we all absolutely loved it! It's such an easy read but will offer many thought provoking alternatives to traditional reading instruction that will engage and inspire your own students.

Check it out on Amazon here!  Let me know if you have read it or have been inspired to read it.

Happy reading and teaching!

Another Easter Freebie!

Happy Spring Everyone!
I'm in AZ so it is especially gorgeous outside. I just wanted to pop in and share another Easter freebie with you.

I shared this Long Vowel Easter Egg Hunt a few days ago.

And today... Save the Egg- Mulitiples of 10 adding!

 

 

 

 

If you can use either one, leave me a comment below! Thanks!

 

Top of the Mornin'! Look here for an Easter freebie!

Top of the Mornin to ya'!

 I love St. Patrick's Day! When I was in Kindergarten, I remember my teacher set-up a Leprechaun visit and I've always remembered that. I do that for my students now because I loved it so much when I was young.

I used Reagan's Looking for a Leprechaun pack yesterday. Click the pic to check it out!!!

                                                                


It's so cute! I love that the students have to review skills after each clue on the scavenger hunt. The students loved it!!!! They've never been so excited to do work! ( Insert evil leprechaun laugh here)

My own son is in first grade this year and I set it up for him at home complete with Lucky Charms and green milk!

I'm on Spring Break now and with Easter just around the corner, I wanted to share an Easter Word Work freebie! Just click here to download your copy. Don't you just love dollar store tins!!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!!