Interactive Bulletin Board

Well it has been a while since I posted. Last week I got sick. I knew it was too good to last! I completely lost my voice. When I went to the doctor he told me I had a cold. What kind of cold makes you lose your voice completely? I asked. Well apparently there is some weird strain going around. I took Friday off and didn't speak for three days. I told my friends that this was my version of hell ~ losing my voice cause I love to talk! They completely agreed with me. I'm not sure if that is a compliment or if I should take offense=)

I'm finally getting my voice back {though I still can't sing at the top of my lungs with the radio, which I am fond of doing} so I could catch up on some work that we missed from my sick day. I am sure every teacher out there knows what I am talking about when I say taking a sick day is more of a pain than going in. And I even have a sub tub prepared!

We have been working on graphing for the last couple of weeks in math. The kids really seem to like graphing. Now when it comes to using that information they still have to be guided by me but at least they are enthusiastic about it!

We did a monster graph craftivity which they loved! Here is an example...

Does anyone else feel like their word walls, anchor charts, vocabulary, etc. is just wallpaper? The students just don't seem to be utilizing the information that I have posted around the room. I don't know how many kids ask me how to help them spell words that are right on the word wall! They also have a laminated word wall I let them keep in their desks. Kind of driving me crazy.

Anyhoo- I decided to try to make my boards my interactive. I decided to start with my math wall. To start off I'll just have a basic addition number sentence with pictures.

It's just a small section on my math board but I am hoping that it will get the kids to notice the information up there. I used poster putty for the fruit and number. That way it is easily removed. I also think I will change it up with different holiday's, seasons and such.

I'll let y'all know how it goes and post about it next week!

Doozy of a week and a FREEBIE!

Wow! Am I glad this week is over! Let me just say it has been a doozy of a week. Was it something in the air? Were the stars aligned just so? I have no idea. I had kids biting, licking {yes, licking}, and peeing in the pants {3 times}, and an angry parent. To top it off - I had staff development today. Yep on a Saturday. True story. I am utterly exhausted. Yep- I'll say it again, glad it's over!

I had planned on working on my numerical fluency packet but just couldn't seem to muster the energy. However- I did get enough energy to create a math game. You might have noticed that I am a bit obsessed with math games. I just love them cause my kiddos get such a kick out of playing them! This weeks game is a Star Wars themed ODD and EVEN math game. The kids loved it...especially the boys! Here are some pics of the kiddos playing the ODD and EVEN game and last week's Halloween Count and Cover.

I re-discovered the amazing Mathwire website. I found the wonderful idea of laminating 100 charts and cutting them up. Whenever the kiddos are finished early they just grab a puzzle. This has quickly become one of their favorite past times!

If you want a copy of the Star Wars ODD and EVEN game click HERE.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that next week will be better. Much better! Have a great weekend y'all!

If You Can't Be Deep, Be Funny Linky Party

I truly believe that laughter is the best medicine! So when I saw this linky party over at Learning 4 Keeps ~I had to join!



Here are some of my favorite pins...





Ironing is bad for the soul - I am convinced!

NUMBER SENSE - FREEIBE FRIDAY!

Whew! It has been a week! Thank goodness conferences are over! On a bright note - I had 100% attendance at my conferences! First time ever!


So I thought that I had solved my dry-erase marker problem by buying dry-erase crayons and found myself with a new problem - they are the devil to erase! Ugh! If anyone has any solutions - I am wide open to suggestions!


So for FREEBIE Friday I thought I would post some number sense pages I had my kids work on this week. You can download them here.

I've really been working hard at number sense with my kiddos. Here is a little Bridging to Ten Activity we did in class this week. It was so simple and easy and the kids loved figuring out the number sentence to write down!

I FINALLY put up my conflict/resolution board. Our counselor introduced the "Kelso" the frog. I remembered seeing Kelso the frog years ago - and loving it! Kelso helps the kids work out small problems by giving a bunch of tips on how to solve small problems. I have been amazed at the number of kids I see go up to the board to look at the choices for their problems!

 

Have a great weekend!

Twas the Night Before Parent - Teacher Conferences

And all through the house...not a teacher was snoring, only her spouse.

Well, I always have a hard time falling asleep the night before Monday. Now especially the night before conferences! I'm a little nervous but for the most part anxious to talk to the parents about the kiddos. Especially my little ones who are so behind! I have quite a few and they really worry me! Hopefully the parents show up for conferences tomorrow!

Well, I decided to create another FREEBIE! I thought the kids would get a kick out of some Halloween themed stationery. So if you would like a copy click HERE.

Parent Conferences and a HALLOWEEN MATH FREEBIE!

Whew it has been a week! Parent conferences are on Monday and I still have so much to do to get ready! I really don't want to have to go to work on Saturday but I just might do it! Ahh...but the sales at the outlet mall are calling me! What is a girl to do?

Some people have hot dates on Friday night, but not this girl...my hubs was picking up his cases downtown so I got to stay home and watch Monk reruns while I put together a fun math game freebie, with a Halloween twist of course! If you would like one click here.




Have a great weekend!

Gearing Up for Halloween!

For the last week in September my kiddos have been talking nonstop about their Halloween costumes. And now that October is upon us they are even more excited! I have a precious little girl who is going to be Red Riding Hood and her little two year old brother is going to be the wolf. How adorable is that?

I was so ready for September to be over! From here on out there is a holiday every month! Woohoo! So I decided to actually do something I saw on Pinterest and decorate a door! Here it is!

Basically I have this door in my classroom that links to another room. I usually put anchor charts on it but I decided to designate this door to whatever holiday is coming up. When my kiddos rolled in this morning they oohhed and ahhhed. They love it! Hmmm...what to do for November? A pilgrim? We'll see what I can come up with!

I also thought I'd post a quick activity we did in reading for elements of fiction - beginning, middle, and end. It is such a quick and easy lesson to do. You can pretty much read any fiction book and then have the students respond with a sticky note. I pause after reading the first two pages and have them respond, pause for the middle- response, and so on.

This is a lesson from the Comprehension Toolkit by Stephanie Harvey and Anne Goudvis. I love their books! They are so teacher friendly! It is easy to prep the lesson and the students are always into it.

I read "Where the Wild Things Are" - always a favorite with the kiddos. We had some great discussion about imagination and what is happening in the story. Such a great book!