Monday, March 31, 2014

Special Days - April


Click on the picture to get a bigger version you can save and print.

Friday, March 28, 2014

My Math Stations for the Weeks of 3/24 and 3/31

 Station #1 - Spring Friends Roll and Cover
We're playing this like a bump. You can get this freebie here.


Station #2 - Yahtzee
We first used the version with numbers. Now we're using the version with number words.


Station #3 - Giant Floor Puzzle
This one is called Traffic Jam.


Station #4 - Copying the calendar for March


Station #5 - Match and Learn Count It!
This was the math game I bought with my allowance.



Wednesday, March 26, 2014

My Language Arts Stations for the Weeks of 3/24 and 3/31

Station #1 - Guided Reading with Me
I've also added sets of sight word cards on a ring, so the children can flash them at each other.

Station #2 - Match and Learn Spell It!
The school district gave me a small allowance to spend on classroom supplies, and I bought a few items. Like this Match and Learn Spell It! puzzles.



Station #3 - Number Words Dominoes
Using numbers zero through six. I'm thinking about making another set using seven through thirteen.


Station #4 - Highlight-a-Letter
These two weeks we'll be highlighting the letters Q and R.


Station #5 - Computers and Listening Centers
Our book and CD this time around is Never, EVER Shout in a Zoo. 


Monday, March 24, 2014

J is for Jellyfish

Just for something different, I came up with this easy, quick, and cute rendition on a jellyfish.

First, start off with cupcake paper baking cups. I chose pastels for spring.
Next, cut a length of yarn into 4 somewhat equal lengths.
Fold the cupcake paper in half and glue one end of each yarn piece inside.
Glue the back of the cupcake paper onto your presentation paper/construction paper.
Allow the cupcake paper to stay "out" (don't glue it down on top of the yarn. It gives the jellyfish a 3D effect.


And, voila! You have a neat little jellyfish!
Try the blue cups with blue yarn, green cups with green yarn, and so forth, for a multi-colored ocean full of jellyfish!




Friday, March 21, 2014

Writing Our Own Math Word Problems

We've been studying word problems, where I read aloud the problem and the students have to write the numerical equivalent. But this time, I decided to challenge my class.

First, they had to write their own word problem.
Yes, they had to think up their own problem and write it down.


Next, they got to stand up before the class and read what they wrote aloud. The students then had to write the numerical equivalent and solve it.


I didn't know how well they would do, but I was delighted by the results! The problems were fun, and the kids still want to write their own problems and get their table mates to solve, just for fun!


Translated: I had 5 cars. My brother took 1 car. How many cars do I have?


Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Using Pinterest Pictures in the Classroom - Snails


1. Can you tell what is in this picture?
2. What does it look like the snails are doing?
3. Why do you think one snail is larger than the other?
4. What time of the year is it? Why do you think that?
5. Why do you think the photographer took this picture?

Monday, March 10, 2014

Book Buddies

 
A local rescue has a program called Book Buddies where kids read to sheltered cats to keep them from being lonely.

That’s beautiful.

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Our Math Stations for the Weeks of 3/3 and 3/17

Station #1 - Egyptian Bump


Station #2 - "1 Master, 2 Subjects, 4 Game Boards, Same Rules"
We're using the math version for the next two weeks.


Station #3 - Gridlock Jr.
You can get your freebie here.


Station #4 - Count and Match Memory
I made this simple game using the ton of stickers I had on hand. 
Basically, I put a specific number of stickers on two separate cards (I used 0 through 10). I used as many different stickers as I could find to increase the difficulty. To play, the kids have to find the two cards with the same number on them. Once all the cards are paired up, the person with the most cards wins!


Station #5 - TEN!
A retired teacher game me this deck of cards with large numbers. I removed the royalty, but kept the Jokers.
To play, each child draws a card from the stack. Each time they draw a card, they try to see if their cards add up to 10. When they reach 10 or over, they put the cards aside in a pile and draw a fresh card the next time it's their turn. The ace counts as 1. Whoever draws a Joker has to put all their won cards back into the bottom of the pile. Once all the cards are drawn, the person who has the most wins!




Monday, March 3, 2014

Our Language Arts Stations for the Weeks of 3/3 and 3/17

Station #1 - Computers and Listening Center
Here's what we're listening to these next two weeks.


Station #2 - Highlight a Letter
These two weeks we're doing O and P.


Station #3 - "1 Master, 2 Subjects, 4 Game Boards, Same Rules"
This is the Language Arts edition.  You can find more information here.


Station #4 - Sight Word Bottle (with rice and green words)
Find the 10 sight words and write them down.


Station #5 - Guided Reading with me