Learning Strategies In My Pocket

It has been a very long time since I have been able to blog stalk and even post anything.  Life has made it very difficult to sneak away and get all the wonderful ideas from fellow bloggers.  We have been away from our cozy home for more than a month and hopefully will be returning soon.  My son is doing wonderfully with all his therapy and preschool for a few hours a week.
 
Luckily I did get some wonderful deals on Cyber Monday from so many of you.  I am so very thankful for the number of first grade bloggers because this year more than ever I have needed emergent reader materials.

Anyway I thought I would share with you some things I have been using lately because of the pressures of being new to the Common Core Standards in math.  With only two weeks left before break and assessments when we get back, I have been using some great strategies that you may already know but have forgotten about.

Pocket Words
I have been using pocket words for sight words.  I give the student a word that they practice through out the day.  I decided to use it with the geometric shapes and attributes that they need to know.  On Friday I gave them a picture of a quadrilateral and on the back they wrote their attributes.  Four sides and four angles.  When the students need to use the bathroom or when they are lined up, I'll ask a student to tell me about their "pocket shape."  I had students wanting to amaze me with their geometry brilliance even if they didn't have to use the bathroom.

Mental addition and subtraction
This is another standard I'm getting more comfortable with.  When the students are also lined up I give them an equation:  280+10= .  They need to talk to a shoulder buddy and give them their answer.  I then call on a student to give their answer and explain how they got their answer.  It is short and sweet and we get to practice while we wait in line.

I hope to post more often and add some freebies.  Also finally have a giveaway for the Holidays!

quadrilateral 

Blog withdrawl

I have really missed blogging but like all of you I have been really busy.

I finished my Masters! Yeah ME!

We are now in our third week of school, I have a great class. I have some challenges ahead with differentiation but I'm glad I have this blogging community to help.  I have started the Daily 5, which will probably be the Daily 3 in my class.  I wish I would have done this sooner.  My school is the only one in the district that isn't SFA  (Success For All) and we will probably be one next year.  I'll enjoy it while I can.

My son was just diagnosed with Autism so my husband and I are learning all we can to help our little man. We are continuing early intervention with speech and are on a waiting list of occupational therapy.    We appreciate the little things that others take for granted. Such as a real hair cut without a melt down, it went really well.

Lollipops are great to keep in your purse.

My hope is to share some pictures of my classroom.  My room is a huge reflection on the wonderful ideas from this rocking community.  I am LONG overdue for a giveaway so if you have any suggestions for what kind of prize you would love to win leave me a comment.    

P.S.

This year we are rolling out National Geographic Science, the Common Core Standards for Math.  We are using Expressions for Math.  I'm a visual learner so I was mega happy to find this on You Tube.  Hope it helps someone else with those daily routines.

Fern Smith's Classroom Ideas!: $25 Gift Card Giveaway for 200+ Followers!

Great giveaway!


Fern Smith's Classroom Ideas!: $25 Gift Card Giveaway for 200+ Followers!: "This isn't just a $25 Gift Card to WALGREENS, it can be school supplies for your own children, supplies for school, cases of Diet Coke, cand..."

Advice for New Teachers Linky Party

Join in the advice for new teachers linky party!




My advice would be:


1.  Get to know your office and custodial staff.  Having a great rapport with them has helped when something comes up and is needed at the last minute.

2.  Team up with a grade level buddy.  They will keep you informed on annual happenings and school culture.

3.  Save your weekends for yourself, family and friends!  I got this one from a veteran.  I have tried to follow this and stay late on a designated evening.

4.  If something isn't going like you planned, don't worry, the students don't know that!  You will workout the kinks.

5.  Get enough rest and eat right to keep those little germs at bay!

It also helps to teach the students to wash their hands when needed and to sneeze into their elbow.

Best of luck during this first year!

In your teaching program they might have shared this.  Have plenty of support at home and work and it will be a blast!

Be positive and enjoy your class!

Primary Graffiti: Data Notebook

Primary Graffiti: Data Notebook: "Win it before you can buy it!  I'm prepared to upload my Data Notebook to TpT.  I want to giveaway two copies before the sale on Monday.  I ..."

Create●Teach●Share: It's a Post-It Party {and Giveaway}

Come join the party and enter the giveaway!

Create●Teach●Share: It's a Post-It Party {and Giveaway}: "Giveaway ends Sunday, July 31st. A winner will be announced on the 1st of August!"

Yearn to Learn: Holy Cow It's Giveaway Time

Don't be left out! She is giving away her task card collection.

Yearn to Learn: Holy Cow It's Giveaway Time: "Holy cow, I've been so busy hosting my Blog Mixer Linky with 90 entries so far that my 200 follower mark snuck up on me. So I guess it..."

Team Building Ideas

So many linky parties!  This one is on Classroom Team Building and is hosted by




I love to play MOVE IF so the students get to know a bit about each other while getting active.  Here is a video I found that shows kids playing this fun game.  The person who is it says, "Move if ..."  and all the players move if what was said applies to them.  Have all the kids sit in a circle.  They must move two chairs away from their last spot, so they can't just move one seat over.  You need to have enough chairs for everyone except the person who is the caller (It).

My students start off with these calls:
Move if you have black on.  Move if you are in the second grade.

Then I have them add things like - Move if you have seen the movie Cars 2.  Move if you have a sister.   That way they get to learn a bit about each other.

Mrs. Bainbridge is having a linky party come on and join in.




The only ones that came to mind are the following:

1.  Did you forget to put your batteries in?  I ask them when I'm not getting much participation from students.

2.  Use your coconut!  I'm referring to their brain, but they think it is cute.

3.  When there is a situation with child A saying "so and so (child B) told me to."  I usually ask child B to ask child A to give me $100. I let them know they need to think for themselves and make smart choices. It gets them thinking.

4.  When I taught Kinder there would be accidents and spills.  I noticed that they would all turn their heads to me to see how I would react.  It also showed me that these poor little guys weren't use to my type of reaction and they might have been waiting for some yelling.  I just would tell them- Accidents happen, clean it up and lets get back to learning.




    

Teaching in Flip Flops: My First Giveaway!!

Teaching in Flip Flops: My First Giveaway!!: "I finally made it to 50 followers (and more)! Woo Hoo!! That means I'm doing my first giveaway... I'm giving away one of these Scentsy Teac..."

Vistaprint! Be Creative and Save

Join

She is having a Vistaprint Linky Party.






I have used Vistaprint for a few years now.  It is easy and I wait for their specials. Once I get that email for freebies I take a look to see if I need anything for the classroom that they offer.  Here are a few of my purchases.

 This is a small car magnet.  I have it on the front of my desk.

 I have a few other t-shirts but this one is my favorite.

I use this one during one on one assessments.

I've placed these on my class library books.

 I used these two years ago since we did have a paraprofessional who made our copies at that school.

 This is a bumper sticker to add to my class decor.

These two I used when I went back to work after my maternity leave.

My next shipment should be arriving next week.

I want to purchase the following in the near future.

Doodle Bugs Teaching: Giveaway: Personalized Portfolio

Doodle Bugs Teaching: Giveaway: Personalized Portfolio: "I own a little business called Doodle Bugs Paper . You can read more about it here . One of the most popular things I sell are Personaliz..."

Little Literacy Learners: GIVEAWAY you won't want to miss!!

Little Literacy Learners: GIVEAWAY you won't want to miss!!: "Are you ready for a fantastic giveaway to help me celebrate having over 500 wonderful followers? I am going to be giving away two things..."

Go Fourth! With Mrs. Owens: As Promised-100 Follower Giveaway!

Go Fourth! With Mrs. Owens: As Promised-100 Follower Giveaway!: "When I started my linky party yesterday, I said I was looking for 100 followers by the end of the month! I never imagined I would have t..."

educationjourney: 3 Winner Giveaway

educationjourney: 3 Winner Giveaway: "When I first started my little blog, I really didn't expect to have that many people read, much less follow, my random ramblings, so it was ..."

Peace, Love and Learning: Bonus Birthday Freebie

Peace, Love and Learning: Bonus Birthday Freebie: " I have a bonus freebie today, but you'll have to do a little work for this one. It's a Birthday Packet that includes all kinds of goodi..."

Near and Dear to My Heart, Donorschoose.org

I have blogged about the wonderful classroom and student supplies I have received with donorschoose.org. I also know that a lot of my blogging buddies have projects up as we speak (I mean as we blog). I just wanted to send some resources your way.

There was recently a webinar given by Francie Kugelman on Laura Chandler's website. You can find a link here.

Also if you have not already liked DonorsChoose.org|We Teach on Facebook. I highly recommend it. Click here to join.

Here is a website where all you need to do is put in the URL from your latest project to create a flyer. Click here to make your own.

I'm having trouble with google docs, so sorry it is so small.

The following items I don't take credit for being the primary creator, they were shared on the Facebook page and I added what worked for me.





This fall Limeades for Learning will be in full swing. Please click here for more information.

I also have one way to keep track of thank you letters and pictures that the donors receive after you project is fully funded. I needed to make the chart to keep track this year since we were blessed with a surge of kind donors. That will be up soon.

Have a Happy 4th!

A Giveaway at Adventures In Teaching!

Help Mrs. Thompson celebrate her 100 followers with entering for a chance to win this wonderful scentsy warmer!

4th Grade Frolics: My Very First Giveaway:)

4th Grade Frolics: My Very First Giveaway:): "Ok, I am oh so close to 60 so I'm going to have my very first giveaway!!  I'm too excited!  I just love blogging and sharing and getting ide..."

Everyone Loves a Deal

I was lucky enough to have a few minutes to spend in the dollar area of Target. My lovely husband disappeared after I said I needed to look a bit more closely at what the teacher items were.

Here you can see that I'm not the only fan of the dollar section.

Joshua loves a deal too. He could not pass up a deal and wanted to take all three dump trucks.

I haven't blogged in a while but I have found some time to link up with Kristen from Lady Bug's Teacher Files. Check out all the great items others have found.



Here are my other finds.

Some of the items are for my student store and a few are for our new decor. I'm still trying to figure out if I want white bulletin boards with these colorful boarder strips.

I was able to find most of the items in my local Target but I was lucky to find the pointers while visiting family in California. That shopping trip was what I call an "in and out mission" so I didn't get to see all the products. I still plan on making some pointers before school starts.

The mitts are from the Dollar Tree. I plan to use those for dusting in my classroom. I saw some cute ones on a site but they were a bit expensive. I think I'll just add a little foam animal with a glue gun to make them cute.

I'm sure this will not be my only trip to Target or the Dollar Tree this summer.

Grade 2.0 with Mrs. Adcock: Grade 2.0's First GIVE AWAY!!!!!

Grade 2.0 with Mrs. Adcock: Grade 2.0's First GIVE AWAY!!!!!: "I finally reached 100 followers!!! WOO HOO!! I am so thrilled to have this many followers and hope to see the number grow.  I promise to k..."

My Second Grade Journal!: My first Giveaway!!!!!!

My Second Grade Journal!: My first Giveaway!!!!!!: "A lucky winner will be receiving my 10 weeks of Making Words Unit! My school is really big on Making Words and since I'm going to 2nd grade..."

Erica's Elementary Excitement!!: Beginning Blog Giveaway!!

Erica's Elementary Excitement!!: Beginning Blog Giveaway!!: "OK, here it is..my first GIVEAWAY!! I am in love with blogging and I think I'm a Blog Addict now! I have decided to  do a Lakeshore Learning..."

Favorite Math Lesson - Smart by Shel Silverstein - Money

I love this lesson on the concept of the value of money.

I first found it on Busy Teachers Cafe.

The poem is there and a great worksheet that breaks down the poem. I found this wonderful class made video with Shel Silverstein's own narration of the poem.



My students loved discussing the poem and they got a chance to review the value of money as well.

Job Wheel! Inspired by a new blogger!

Check out a new and awesome blog!

http://teach-a-roo.blogspot.com/2011/06/behold-job-wheel.html

I need to go back to blogging 101. Can't seem to work the links.

I'm doing a lot of planning and reading but I decided to see if I could play around with Callie's idea. Thanks for inspiring me! I hope to make it bigger and on colored paper. I still have to work on the number wheel. I disliked my job cards and this seemed like an answer to my organization prayers.



Here is my little man who just got half of a haircut. He is sporting a mullet. He couldn't sit still long enough but soon his curls will be snipped off too. I'm just glad I can see his little face again.

Mental Math Help Needed!

Has anyone out there used Number Talks: Helping Children Build Mental Math and Computation Strategies by Sherry Parrish or Learning to Think Mathematically with the Rekenrek?

Here is a Rekenrek. Looks like an abacus.

I am trying to figure out how to approach math "fluency" and these have been suggested, but the price is NOT right for me.

I haven't had much success with Otter Creek Math. Any ideas would be appreciated.

Summer!

We are finally out for the summer. I have a to do list a mile long and we are dealing with rainy weather but I'm so excited to start my summer.

I brought my rolling cart home with many things I need to work on.

1. New science materials, National Geographic. Is anyone else using these materials?


2. Common Core Math Standards. Something new and so I have to dive into our Expressions math materials and see where I need to fill in the gaps.

3. Common Core Standards in Language Arts and in Writing. I need to see what I already have, need to create or purchase.

4. The wonderful Daily 5. I want to use it along with our reading program. I have been putting it off for a couple years since I did SFA last year and they were going to go to SFA at this school. But with no money we will keep what we have and I can try the Daily 5.

5. Whole Brain Teaching- I tried a few of the components this year and I would like to start it from the very beginning.


6. Rearrange my classroom. I have a huge class but I'm not happy with the arrangement.

Besides doing all this great planning I need to finish my masters. I'm also glad I have some time to blog.