Common Core Checklists

Well, hello!  It's been quite some time since I've had a second to post.  Life is quite different with 3 boys!

This is the earliest summer break I've had in quite a few years.  I just finished my first week off.  Summer vacation hasn't really hit me yet.

This post is going to be about a few products that I've redone.  If you are like me, I need to have things printed out for me to make sure I'm doing what I'm supposed to do.  Sure, we have curriculum that we follow but we don't have programs.  I LOVE that.  I love that I can be more creative and selective in my teaching, but it's also quite draining. (reason 1056 of why I haven't had enough time to blog)  Even we did have a program to follow, there were still times that we needed to differentiate. I needed those standards printed out to make sure that I was covering them, and I didn't need them all jumbled up from the state (or country).  I've joined up with many fabulous new and old bloggers/TPTers for the #tptsellerchallenge.  This week was #makeovermadness and we were challenged to revise an old pack.  I decided to tackle these first.  Keep reading..

So, a few years ago when we jumped ship to the Common Core standards (well, not completely--cause my state had to rename and renumber them.... however they are essentially the same.  They eliminated a few standards but for the most part-the CCSS are the same as my state... it might be the same for others).  At the time we grouped kids homogeneously---even in first grade!  I had the high kids, so I knew I couldn't just follow our regular curriculum.  That's when I decided to make the checklists that I have out now.  Only.... they looked like this:

Click {HERE} to read all about it when I first uploaded them and to see what they looked like.

That was back when I first started making and creating on Teachers Pay Teachers.  I bought the clip art, but used freebies for everything else.  And, well... let's face it.  When you see my revisions with items that I've paid for (fonts, borders...) you notice quite the difference!  I am in LOVE with the new revisions, to the point where I may come back to using these next year.  (I've been using my owl ones instead...   but, these are more colorful)  Click on the pictures to see them in my TPT store.

  

           

Now, for GRADES 1-2, not only do they include the printable, but if you have PowerPoint, you can document electronically.  (other grades will be coming soon, I just need to find more time!) Unfortunately, at this time, I do not have a way for you to edit and add your own.... but, I may soon!  Make sure you are following me to find out if that happens! :)


****I'm still working on getting the K-6 bundle updated.  It will be done by the end of the weekend {fingers crossed}

Thank YOU sale!

It's all about Teacher Appreciation this week!  And Tuesday and Wednesday are no different!  I'll be participating in the Teachers Pay Teachers 2 day sale and will also be participating in the Teachers Notebook sale on those days as well!  All of my things will be 20% off and you can get an additional 10% off by entering in this code at Teachers Pay Teachers:  TPT: TAD13

Here are some of my newest items if you haven't had a chance to check them out!  (Click on any of the pictures to see it in my store!)

 {JUST uploaded tonight!  This will be great for the end of the year, or even at the beginning of next school year, depending on your kiddos!  To see how I use them in my room, click {HERE}}

And some old favorites!

 {I will not have this discounted-as I'm donating the proceeds to the Fox Family---however, you can still get 10% off of it!}

Thanks again for your continued support!  XOXO

Get your fingers ready! TPT Sale!

Well, I'm sure you have ALL heard about the BIG cyber Monday PLUS TUESDAY TPT sale!  I will have everything in my lil store 20% off.  It's a great time to stock up on things---get everything you need to get you through the next few weeks, and then some!

I am now officially AHEAD of the game!  WOOHOO!  (well, just need to make copies)

Next week I'll be doing this unit--we just had career day before turkey day---and I REALLY didn't want to start Christmas things y.e.t.    We'll be reading a few books that have a "community helper" as a character-then spend a day researching different careers!  I didn't quite realize how many books our school library had on jobs!  (even if they are o.l.d.)

 {When I Grow Up Research Project}

Then I'll be spending a week researching and reading about Hibernation!  I JUST uploaded this fun unit!

{Bear Snores On Hibernation Research Project}

I have activities in it to go along with the book Bear Snores On and included some Verb tense activities for past and present verbs:

And I also have a bunch of research pages too, for students to research different animals that hibernate!  (who knew there were so many different ones!  lol  I didn't even realize that some hibernated till I started gathering books to work on my plans!)

I'll be having my kiddos work through these centers/stations/whatever we're allowed to call them now...

{12 Days of Common Core Literacy Games}

{12 Days of Common Core Math Games} 

OR---Get them both here:  {Bundled Version}

Here's a recent big seller, that's one of my oldies for Place Value:

{Place Value Perfection to the Core}

And, just to let you know.  I bundled ALL of my monthly story problems in ONE packet!  You can find it here (click on the picture):

I'm working on bundling the "extras" and will have them available shortly.  I need to work on a few extra special days first.  ;)

Last, this one is one of my coworkers favorite packets-and it can be quite useful as those kiddies start to travel this time of year!

{Jet Setting-a Travel Journal for kids who travel}

As always, thanks so much for your feedback and comments!  Hope you have a great week and I'll have a F.U.N. new math game to post soon!  (just need to find some models to use to show it in pictures!  Maybe my 6 and 2 year old??)

Here's an oldie but goodie FREEBIE for you to use in the coming weeks:

Click on the pic to download; Read more about it HERE

I JUST ADDED A NEW PACKET TO TPT TONIGHT!  If you enjoyed the Tic-Tac-Toe choice board above, I created a Christmas themed one---that includes all the materials you would need to use it for the next few weeks of school before Christmas!  Click on the picture to read more.  {Hopefully TPT is working properly for you to see it---it's running slower tonight-probably people filling up their carts and wishlists like me!}

LEAP Day!

I BIG puffy heart love Dr. Seuss.  It grew even more when I was in high school.  I was a baton twirler.  My high school band didn't really have majorettes, nor did they really want us when they did... but I did twirl for a studio for over 20 years!  I taught little 3 year-olds.   Can you imagine how cute (and how difficult?!?) that might have been?!  Well, in high school I got to twirl during the then Citrus Bowl.  Not once but TWICE!  My second and final time---the theme was Dr. Seuss!  I got to be the Cat in the Hat twirling a baton!  O.M.G it was SO much fun!  (though, looking back at the awful costume....  ugh.  A black, long sleeved unitard!  With a big over-sized bow tie and a tall red and white striped hat.  I still remember the song that we twirled to and it sings in my head often this time of year.... "Cat.  Hat... it really is magnificiant... hum hum hum huuuummmmm...."  Enough with that sidebar...  it's not really a song that had been out anywhere.. possibly made for the 1996 Citrus Bowl halftime show...

So, I've been so consumed with getting things ready for next week with Dr. Seuss that I just kinda realized that we will actually be IN school for a Leap Day!  The last one we had, well.... I don't remember it.  I sat down the past few days and created some fun LEAPing activities that could fill up your day!  It's packed full of Reading, Writing and Math.  You can find the mini-unit here (click on the picture)  ***If you've already purchased it, please go back and download again.  I spotted a few formatting errors and also fixed a few sentences with the Venn Diagram cut and paste activity when I went to copy today!!  Sorry!***

I thought that I would create a freebie for you to enjoy in your room too!  I mean, it's not like an extra day out of the year comes often! ;)  I took this FABULOUS kinesthetic class last year where we learned how to incorporate movement into learning.  The benefits are just amazing, and it gave me new ideas on how to get them moving.  Let's be honest.  I'm not sure that there is a first grade classroom out there that DOESN'T have kids moving, but I was in a rut.  I thought by having them move from their seats to the carpet or from station to station, that it was doing enough!  Well, now that I've added "movement with purpose" into my lessons, I have seen such HUGE gains!

Here's a moving LEAP day freebie!   You'll need to click on the link to my TpT store because of licensing issues (I can't give away freebies here unless I pay MORE money--so I'm directing you to my TpT store to download it for free).  It is a "making words" activity.  You will print out (and laminate) the frogs.  The frogs have the letters for LEAP DAY FEBRUARY TWENTY NINE.  I have 3 recording sheets to match whichever phrase you'd use.  (I just wasn't too sure of how many words and how long kids would last with just LEAP DAY.)  You will spread the letters throughout the room.  Kids will "leap" to letters to spell words and "hop" back to their seats to record what they spelled!  A few tips---you may want to either have additional copies of the letters, especially if you are using just LEAP DAY or you may want to section off the room and have groups stay in specific areas with all the letters there for them.  (And most certainly, they do NOT have to leap and hop if the environment doesn't permit it!) ;)

Click on any of the pictures to grab your copy!

Let me know how it goes with your little leapers!

Dental Health Break

Again, I had planned on having more posts on Dr. Seuss activities, but there has been a little snag in my plans on that.  We have gotten word that we are not allowed to be using Dr. Seuss or Cat in the Hat on things that we are selling, but things are a little confusing so I'm waiting to see and hear more information.  I was working on rewording things, etc, but because this just came out, I didn't want to "waste" my time fixing something that I may not have to, once things get cleared a little more.  You may see some of my products on Teachers Pay Teachers change names (maybe even a few times till things get ironed out;  we aren't supposed to have titles that are the same as someone else's too---so it gets a bit tricky)  If you have purchased anything Dr. Seuss related from me--first, THANK YOU!!  and second, I haven't created anything new-so don't buy another!!!!!  ;)

Tomorrow, our grade is going to have a "Brush, Brush, Smile" presentation where they will have some hands on learning with teeth and dental heath.  We've decided to take next week and focus on dental health, even though it really isn't in our curriculum (to at least teach it to the fullest, like in the past).  I created a quick little mini unit that I posted on TpT last week that includes at LEAST 4 days of activities that you can fit in through all subjects, but it is heavily Reading/Writing related.  I included a survey for Math and there's a page for making a collage of good and bad foods for teeth.  I am planning on blowing that page up to the large copy paper size (the size is slipping my mind right now...) and will pick up a bunch of grocery store ads for them to cut things from.    I think my favorite activity will be having the kids write their own Tooth Fairy Application.  :)  They loved writing the Elf Application at Christmastime.  Click on the picture to see it on TpT.

We did find a cute little site that we are going to use in our computer lab time.  If you have to teach your own lab like we do, check out this site:  http://www.learninggamesforkids.com/health_games/dental/dental-jigsaw.html  It isn't THAT exciting, but it's a way to incorporate Dental Health into that time too!  I was thinking of having them draw a picture in KidPix and write a message related to teeth, but I need to get them "navigating" the Internet a little bit more. 

Hope you had a nice weekend-and that you were lucky enough to have some extra time to spend with family.  If not, just remember me in June, when you are out earlier and I'm still in school! :)

Thanks for all the comments and emails!  I never thought that I would have so many people enjoying things that I have either made or done in my room.  :)  I also love hearing things that you do and checking out the awesomeness that goes on!  I'd love to hear if you have any "tooth" technology things! 

I promise-there WILL be more activities related to that author who loves to rhyme and has helped SO many of our little kiddos read, once I figure out more things involved!!!!!!!  Have a great week! :)

100th Day--Teaching on the fly!

So, I had all of these plans for our 100th day Friday, but with all the different things going on at school this year (having 3 different classes for one!) I ended up doing things on the fly!  Lucky for me the printer was next to my room-where I could print some stuff out to use!

First thing that the kids noticed was the streamers that they had to walk through on the way into the class.  They had a blast with that, and well, did have to have a few reminders about treating things properly...   After we switched for our Reading Block, we did was our usual Friday tests---spelling, vocab, etc...  Then we read a few 100 Day poems and songs.  Then-----I had each of my tables work together to complete a 100 piece puzzle!  For a week where the full moon had really influenced our days...... they worked SO incredibly well with this!  After that, I had them draw a picture of it and write a story about their pictures.  They turned out so cute!

Then I had them search for 100 words to write.  I had them broken up into groups of 10.  They found 10 short a, 10 long a, 10 short e, 10 long e, etc, etc...  And by then, it was time to switch for Math.  In Math, we started with our usual routine things, and then had some hundred day math worksheets to complete while the other half were surveying the class and then graphing what they'd like to have 100 of!  Students came up with their own choices.  They were super excited for this.  Not only do they like talking..... but using the clipboards was a special treat for this too!  I think we could just give up our desks and use clipboards every day.....  that would be a way to save some money!  ;)

Of course, that was the end of our morning and it was time for our recess, lunch and special.  In the afternoon we shared special 100th Day water bottles that they filled at home and had written clues about.  I already redid the paper home for next year to include that students should be doing the writing and to not have peanuts come in the bottle...  but they were cute.  (I also think that I will be saving my own water bottles to send with them next year too... I like having things looking similar)  We got this idea from Read, Write, Think.org.

After that, they had time to write about what they would be like 100 years later.  I've always done the what they would look like at 100, but I thought I would make it 100 year LATER.  They wrote what they wanted to accomplish before that time and also things that they'd like and not like to have 100 of.  The last thing that many took home to do was a 100 search that I had created that day.  It was just 100 many different times in a word search format.  They had to find and circle all of the 100s.  So.Much.Fun! 

I actually did not leave the day with a headache as I had many times before.  Teaching on the fly sometimes gets the best out of me.  I guess I wouldn't say that it was completely on the fly.  I DID have plans.  I just strayed.  ;) 

I uploaded my file that I created to TpT.  You can see it here.  It's not that fancy, being that I didn't want to have graphics making it seem like a certain time of year.  Usually our 100th day is around Valentine's Day, but sometimes with snow--it's much later!   And of course, it's probably a little late for most people since our school starts later than everyone else. 

Hope you all had a great 100th day!  If you celebrated, what did you do to make it special?

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Story Problems

I had previously posted about how I made story problem books for my students to use each month.  We have just finished my penguin ones last week and have since started the February ones.  I am pleasantly surprised at how well my kids are doing with them!  I actually just praised them the other day for this.  When they first started with me (remember, we group for math...) they thought they could just answer anything they wanted-but had NO idea about HOW they knew the answers.  They would look at me like a deer in headlights.  To them, I was just plain crazy because they just KNEW the answer---my brain told me! 

So....  I thought I would have a few word problems a day for the students to solve.  They would work independently, with partners, in groups, etc.... BUT... only a few were benefiting.  I still had some that would not take the risk to tell me HOW and WHY they were doing things!  Along came Grinch Day, and I found some great Grinch word problems.  I decided that I would turn them into a booklet where they would have to explain reasons, and after trying to figure out the easiest way to do that, I thought about our "First, Next, Then, Last" worksheets we would use all the time in Language Arts-and my light bulb went off!  I had them complete this with partners, since the day was more "fun" than actual instruction.  (However---little did they know-they WERE learning!)  Afterwards, the kids were smiling and I asked them if they liked that booklet-to which they actually replied that they WANTED more!

Here we are-1 full month into it, and they are actually doing well.  At first, it was a little difficult for them to actually think about 4 steps they took to solve things.  (And actually, I have had a few teachers have a difficult time breaking some down into 4 steps.)  What I tell them is that sometimes we may not have 4 steps, but our first step could always be what our brain is telling us to do (add, subtract, etc...) and WHY...  it may sound like this:  First, I knew I needed to add because it had the words "how many in all."  Of course, sometimes there may be 5 steps, so I tell them to combine on one or 2.  It isn't a perfect solution, but it has gotten them to break down their thinking and to REALLY understand why we do things in math!

I have created March story problems already, but have started to think ahead to April where I may rearrange the page a little---giving them less space to show work and more to write and possibly taking away the scaffold a little bit and NOT having the First, Next, Then and Last...  BUT, I may just wait till May for that (or I'll just make it both ways).  

I thought I would give you a small sample of the booklets I've made.  I included 2 from February and 2 from March.  You can access them here

Let me know how they have worked for you!  If you liked them you can find the full sets here for February and for March.

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Contractions-and a give-a-way!!!

So, I had read at some point about having contraction "surgery" with the kids, but I've never really had the time or the "right group" to get me started.  This year I knew I had some parents and relatives that worked in the "surgery" field so I thought I would give it a shot this year.  And I am SO glad that I jumped in!  The kids had a blast and were just incredibly adorable!

First, we reviewed what we had known about contractions.  It had come up in our series a few months ago, but I knew that they did not "master" that skill.  They did know that it was two words that were broken apart to make a new one.  The students were paired up-and there was 2 rounds.  The first round one student was the doctor and the other was the assistant.  The assistant needed to assist the doctor as well as record information about the patient on a worksheet that I created for the event.  Students were give a patient (the word pair) and had to use it in a sentence.  Then the doctor performed the surgery and bandaged the word together with a bandaid.  The the assistant had to record more information about the patient--on how it looked now and had to rewrite the original sentence using the new contraction.

After round one, the kids switched roles so that the other person had a chance to perform the surgery or write.

Here are some pics! 

Of course, this whole lesson inspired me to go back and create some hands-on games for the kids to do.  Ideally it would be done before the surgery, but I will now have my kids to it after the fact, to follow up and make sure they truly understand contractions.  I have 4 games/activities that would be good for 4 days, or for stations or daily 5 work that could span a longer time than that.  One game is a matching game--I am going to use it in my word game basket and have the kids play that when they finish work early.  Another game/activity that I had created was sorting correctly spelled contractions and incorrectly spelled ones.  The recording sheet for this only has kids writing the correct way.  I don't want them practicing writing them the wrong way!  Another activity I have is just putting contractions in ABC order.  We've been practicing ABC order each week with different things.  This will have them work with the words, write the words which will help them remember them more.  The last activity/game I have is a word search.  I have 2 versions-one pre-filled and the other blank for kids to choose words.  They will search books and tally the number of times they find a certain contraction.  After tallying, they will write a sentence with the word they found the most.  A second worksheet can be used where the students create a graph to match their tallies and they will write a sentence using the contraction they found the least!  And of course, I included the template for my contraction surgery where I have the word pairs typed up as well as the worksheet I created to go along with it!

Click here to see the contraction unit

This is my third week of being out there in the world with my classroom and on Teachers Pay Teachers!  In honor of it, be my first followers to the blog, follow me on Teachers Pay Teachers and leave me a note to this post, I will give one lucky person my contraction unit!  Because I am new, I am going to end the contest next Sunday---Superbowl Sunday!

Math Story Problems

Having been on the Math Curriculum team, rewriting the math curriculum 2 times in the past 5 years and, well, generally loving math, I'm always trying to find new exciting things to do in math and just teach better!

One thing kids struggle with over the years is solving word problems.  Well, let me rephrase that.  They are not so good at explaining why they do things when they solve problems.  It's quite difficult to tell whether they took a guess, copied their neighbor, or did it on their own.  We've done everything from exemplars to group work to the kids being teachers.  This year I came up with a new idea.  I would have a story problem packet for them to work on for the months.  This would help me achieve that goal because I would only be remembering making copies once a month, instead of daily.  The kids would get into a routine of pulling out these books at the beginning of class.  It would be done DAILY!

So, I thought about how to go about this.  The most important things with first graders (primary kiddos really) is that there needs to be space for pictures/work and a place for an answer.  Those were obvious.  That didn't get me to know what was going on in their head.  Then, one day I had one of those "aha" moments-but it was during reading.  We've been using the terms:  "First, Next, Then, Last" to retell stories and to write stories and the kids have been doing fabulous with it.  What if I add it to the page for them to solve it.  Then there is a template that they are used to, that they just need to fill in a few details that tell me whether or not they KNOW what they are doing!

I tested this during December with a Grinch Day word problem book that I created.  We did a few together and then I had them working with a partner to finish.  It worked!  AND the best part is that my students were asking for MORE! :)  I have now created a booklet for January with a Penguin theme and have already finished February with a "love" or Valentine's Day theme.

Now our routine is that when my kids come in for math (remember, we group our kids...) they pull out their booklet and start.  I should also add that I have them fairly trained on how to "attack" a word problem as well.  They first read it.  Then they search for those Key Words that tell them that they will be adding or subtracting and circle it.  Then they will underline any numbers or important information that they need to know (we're still working on that.....  it's just not as easy as looking at our chart we made to tell us whether we need to add or subtract.)

New Year, New Blog

Call me crazy, but this is my THIRD blog to write and keep up with!  I have a personal blog, which I have not kept up with very well this year....  And a blog to my parents--which is actually 3 different blogs as this year is much different at my school.  We are grouping our first graders by ability.  So I have a homeroom, a reading group and a math group.  Overall, I see 30 students, which isn't really that bad.  Keeping them up to date is a challenge, but I am finding my way.

I have had some persuasion from my friends and coworkers to join the "Teachers Pay Teachers" to sell and give away my things that I make in my classroom, and I have given in to them :P  Now, I can add that madness to my crazy school life and my crazy home life, complete with a 5 3/4 (as he would tell you) and a 20 month old--both boys.  ALLLLLLL boy.  And both complete Momma's Boys, but I wouldn't have it any other way.  I love the cuddles and love I get from them every day and know that it will all go by too quickly and I will miss those days.

Another thing about me is that I LOVE math.  I create things for math all the time.  I turn everything into games.  My kids just love coming to me, most days, because they think they just play! :)  Along with one other first grade teacher in my district, I rewrote our Math Curriculum this summer to the National Common Core Standards.  I love how there are "less" things to look at---but the skills are DEEPER!  A lot of the things that we are teaching that are "harder" skills, we do not have a lot of resources yet to use, so I am finding myself creating games and worksheets to go along with it.  Here's my very first game that I uploaded, for free ----------> Penguin True/False Equations  I hope that you can use it in your room and that it works well!  :)  I created a giant unit of Penguin Math items that I just put on TPT as well.  If you like the True/False Equations, I am sure that the rest of the games will work well for you as well.  You can find that here--->Common Core Penguin Math Games

Thanks for visiting!  And I hope to have the blog fully up-and-running soon! 

Here is a Word Sort that I'm having my kids do this week during word work time of the daily 5. Click here:  Hot and Cold O Word Sort  There are 2 different versions to use and 1 could be turned into a game if you wish.  Like I said, I turn everything into a game! :)