Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Art Pals

Art has taken a back seat in our county now for several years.  
Yes, we still have art teachers for 1st through 5th grade, but art stays in the art room pretty much!  It has been frowned upon for classroom teachers to have artwork up in their classrooms or do "artsy" projects.  This is why you don't see many holiday or themed crafts on my blog.  
I disagree with the whole idea.  

On a personal level, 
both of my boys LOVE drawing and I love being crafty! 

On a professional level, 
  • Art gives students a way to express themselves
  • Art can be a form of relaxation (I love to color when I am stressed) or therapy.
  • Art increases morale!
  • Art plays an important role in cognitive, motor, and language development
  • Art provides a sense of self
  • Art strengthens problem solving skills
  • Art stimulates the imagination
  • AND MORE!
Recently, the local High School art teacher invited my classroom to partner with her Art Students and become ART PALS.  I knew my kiddos would love it and they could practice their writing skills while squeezing in a little art.   I mean, aren't postcards a form of writing?   And you can't have a postcard without a beautiful picture on the front.

For a week or so we have been anxiously awaiting the arrival of our first "postcards" and they arrived today!
 
The boys loved the dragons and race cars, while the girls 
loved the mermaids and butterflies.
Here are two little ones working on their responses to their
ART PALS.
And here are their finished postcards to mail back.
We decided to go with owls this first go round.
 
I hope you enjoyed these adorable pics.
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Sunday, April 28, 2013

Mountain Math

I finally began using Mountain Math in my classroom.  Right now, we are in the introductory phase and they were actually cheering to continue after a short break.  I think it is the novelty of the Bulletin Board that has them hooked so far.
Below is a photo of the board.
Underneath the #24 in the small box are the pieces for an entire year.  It contains the double sided cards you use to switch out problems.
Click on the picture above to order your own Mountain Math Classroom Bulletin Board Set or the Center Set or Workbook Set.

Let's go through each number and I will list the objectives you could assess with each one.
1.
Identify, read, and write any given numeral.

Identify odd and even numbers.

Determine "one more than" and "one less than"  and 10 more and 10 less than for any given number.

Use groups of ones and tens to demonstrate place value.

Identify the place value of a digit by its position in the ones or tens place.

Demonstrate place value using expanded notation.
2.
Read, and write a given numeral in standard form.


Compare any two numbers using the symbols (>), (<), (=).
4.
Represent whole numbers in groups of tens and ones.
5.
Understand subtraction as an unknown addend problem

Identify a missing addend.

Identify a missing minuend.
6.
Read a ruler to nearest inch.
7.
Read a ruler to nearest centimeter.
8.    Count by 1, 2, 5,  and 10s by recognizing the patterns

9.    Identify missing numbers in a sequence
       Use number lines to model

10.  Tell time to the hour and half hour

11.   Recognize models showing 1/2, 1/3, 1/4 and 1/10

12.   Demonstrate place value to 99 by using standard notation

13.   Use place value understanding and properties of operations to add and subtract
        Add within 100 by adding a two digit number and a multiple of 10
        Add within 100 by adding a one digit number and a two digit number without regrouping
        Add and subtract two digit numbers without regrouping
14.  Represent addition and subtraction vertically
       Add and subtract one digit and two digit numbers without regrouping

15.  Apply the Associative Property of Addition

16.  Recognize and apply the Commutative Property of Addition
       Understand the meaning of the equal sign

17.  Recognize two dimensional and three dimensional objects in the environment (unclear about this 
        example, though)

18.  Recognize and reproduce patterns

19.  Recognize and use place value to add
20.  Fact Families
       Understand and apply the inverse operations of addition and subtraction

21.  Identify Symmetry

22.  Describe and interpret data

23.  Understand probability

24.  Determine the value of combined pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, and half dollars.      

I am going to one more week working through these problems with students and gradually release them so they can complete them independently during a section of math workshop.   I will have 5 sections and students will rotate through them on a daily basis, in order to, allow me time to work with small groups and do end of the year assessments.
  •      Math Mountain
  •      Math Centers
  •      First in math - (computer math program)
  •      Work with Assistant
  •      Work with Me
  •      Partner Games or Reading Math Books Together
If you would like to see how the fabulous Teacher Tipster uses Mountain Math, check out this video.



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Saturday, April 20, 2013

Magical Product Swap #4

It's that time again - the official Magical Product Swap #4!
I was paired with the fabulous Samantha over at Ms. Smarty Pants!
Samantha gave me Working with Words:  eu  ew  ui  oo to review.
 
In this packet was a list of directions for possible activities that could be done with each of the possible spellings for /ew/.

Activities include:
Word Hunt for /ew/ /ui/ /oo/ /ue/
2 Word Hunt recording sheets
Word Building for /ew/ /ui/ /oo/ /ue/
Word Building recording sheet and letters
Word Building Pocket Chart card for teacher
Real Word & Silly Word Sort for /ew/ /ui/ /oo/ and /ue/ cut & paste
Word Reading sentences for /ew/ /ui/ /oo/ /ue/
Open Sort recording sheet for 2 or 3 patterns

Center or Station Activities:
Roll a Word game for /ew/ /ui/ /oo/ /ue/
4 different game boards
Flashcards for /ew/ /ui/ /oo/ /ue/
Open Sort headers
Build a Word in the pocket chart
 
I used this packet for my top spelling group.
On Monday, students sorted a given list of words from each of the 4 spelling patterns as a closed sort.
On each of the remaining 4 days, students worked with partners or groups of 3 to complete activities. 
Roll a word was the favorite!
 
Please go check out Samantha's blog and TPT store.

Samantha is reviewing my Data Collection pack.
 

   


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Thursday, April 18, 2013

Seeing Double

I have 6 kiddos in my RTI math group.  
One of the things we have been working on is fact fluency.  
We began with doubles.
This Doubles Rap was given to me by a teacher at my school and I changed some of the rhymes.
 
After learning the Doubles Rap, students made Doubles Flip Flap books.
On the outside they wrote the double.
On the inside they got to stamp the image to match the double
and write the answer.
After completing this activity, students were able to pick a partner and play Dorothy's Doubles.
Students roll a die, say the double, and cover the sum.
If you like Dorothy's Doubles, you can get it FREE in my TPT store.
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Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Let's Get Aquainted Linky

I am linking up with Latoya @ Flying into First Grade for this week's "Let's Get Acquainted Linky."
Here it goes.

TOPIC - Skittles Game
Here is the code:
Red- Favorite Ice Cream Flavor
Orange- Favorite Memory from College
Yellow- Favorite Sports Team
Green- Favorite Fast Food Place
Purple- Wild Card(Tell anything about yourself)
Red
Birthday Cake Ice Cream 
As I get older, I think I need food that makes me feel like a kid!

Orange
In college, I had a blast!
Once we filled stuffed towels in our doorways and wet the hall.
We made our own slip and slide.
This is not me.  I am behind the camera.  Can you see the water coming off her knees?

Yellow
My favorite sports team since I was 6 years old has been the Dallas Cowboys.  
The first game I remember watching was the 76 Superbowl with the Cowboys losing to the Pittsburg Steelers. 
So, now you know one of my least favorite teams, also!

 
Green
My favorite fast food place if Chick-fil-a.
  I love their waffle fries.

Purple 
I was a total Tom-boy growing up.  I had a pet pig, road motorcycles, shot BB guns, fished, climbed trees, played softball, and would have loved to play football.  When I was 6, I was riding my mini motorcycle to my neighbors and down a dirt road.  I slid in a pile of sand right into a Barbed Wire Fence.  That's all I remember.  I almost cut my jugular vein and have an ugly scar on my neck.
When I was 8, I was playing in the mud barefoot.  I stepped on glass and can remember my pinkie toe just dangling!  TMI - I know! 
There's more, but I won't bore you to bits.  I think you get the idea! 
    


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Wednesday, April 3, 2013

You & Me Fighting EB

I am so excited to share my news today.  
Some of the most talented bloggers have donated products to help me raise money to fight EB in honor of a little boy named Jonah who attends my church. 
 See my original post about Jonah here.
 The flier below explains the event.   

For a small donation of $10, 
you will get over $85 worth of products!

How does this work?  
  • Click on the button at the very end of this post.  It will 
      take you to my donation page.
  • Make a donation of $10 or More.
  • Leave your name & email address.  This is very      
      important or I will not know where to send your
      products.
  • Each week, I will email the entire set of products 
      to those who donated that week.

Please share this on your blog!

Check out these wonderful bloggers & their donations.  
Please visit their blogs and TPT stores.

 Brigid @ Bits of First Grade is donating her Positive Reinforcement Necklaces/Badges.
    
 Brigid's blog
Brigid's TPT Store

Brenda @ Primary Inspired is donating her Calendar Math Pack.
     
Brenda's TPT store
Brenda's Blog 

Carolyn @ Exceptional Kinders is donating her Spring Birds Addition Pack.
 
Carolyn's TPT store
Carolyn's Blog 

Catherine @ Brown Bag Teacher is donating her Painting Prepositions.

   
Catherine's Blog
Catherine's TPT store
 
Jennie J @ JDs Rockin' Readers is donating her Retelling Stories Pack.
Jennie's Blog
Jennie's TPT store

 Jennifer @ First Grade Blue Skies is donating her GeoBoard It Pack.
Jennifer's Blog
Jennifer's TPT store

Jennifer @ Rowdy in First Grade is donating her Roll a Picture Pack.
Jennifer's Blog
Jennifer's TPT store

Jenny @ Suntans and Lesson Plans is donating her Possessive Pets Pack.

Jenny's blog

Jenny's TPT store 



Kathy @ First Grade a la Carte is donating her April Math & Literacy Color by Codes.

 

Kathy's blog

Kathy's TPT store

 Lori @ Teaching with Love & Laughter is donating her CVC Memory Pack.
 Lori's blog
Lori's TPT store

Marlana @ Lil Country Kindergarten is donating her There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Shell mini Math & Literacy Pack.
 
 Marlana's blog
Marlana's TPT store 

Michelle @ No Monkey Business is donating her Accelerating into Analogies pack.
   
Michelle's blog
Michelle's TPT store

 Rachel @ the Tattooed teacher is donating her Sweet Summarizing pack.
  
Rachel's blog
Rachel's TPT store

Richard @ Room to Read is donating his Speed It Up fluency pack.
 
Richard's blog
Richard's TPT store

Sarah @ I Dream of First Grade is donating her Barnyard Buddies Math Centers.
      
Sarah's blog
Sarah's TPT Store  

Sherre @ Peterson's Pad is donating her Word Family Charts and Word Wall pack.
 
Sherre's blog
Sherre's TPT store 

Stephanie @ Primary Possibilities is donating her Alphabet Pack.

 

Stephanie's blog

Stephanie's TPT store  


Stephany @ Primary Possibilities is donating her Sweet Sentences Pack.  

 

 Stephany's blog 
Stephany's TPT store

Teri @ A Cupcake for the Teacher is donating her Happy Birthday Craftivity and Printables.
 
Teri's blog
Teri's TPT Store

Teacher at Heart is donating her Geometry: 2D & 3D Shapes pack.
    
Teacher at Heart blog
Teacher at Heart TPT Store

 And I am donating one of my favorite vocabulary packs for the book, Chrysanthemum.
    
My TPT Store.
You can get all of these fabulous products for a donation of just $10.  Just click on the button below to get started.
**
As of May 1, 2013, Donations Opportunities are Closed.
Thank you to EVERYONE who donated!
 

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