Saturday, October 6, 2012

Magical Product Swap

 
I had the pleasure of teaming up with another teacher to swap products we have featured in our stores.  Kelly Malloy is a third grade from Nevada, a teacher-seller on TpT, and a blogger at http://applefortheteach.blogspot.com/
She shared her capitalization packet with my class.  Capitalization is such an important skill for my third graders in the beginning of the school year.  It is essential for them to know and recognize the proper use of capital letters.  Her very detailed packet walked the students step-by-step through the variety of ways capital letters are used.  There plenty of opportunities for student practice.  We used the ELMO document camera to display student work, and review the answers in our packets.  Thanks!
This capitalization packet is available in Kelly's store for a bargain price of $3!
 
 
 
 
I have created a free powerpoint that links directly to the skills in Kelly's the capitalization packet.  There are slides that direct the students to practice in their capitalization packet.  You can download the free capitalization powerpoint in my store, and then head over to Kelly's store and pick up the capitalization packet from her there!  It is a great way to practice teach capitalization skills to your students!
 
 
 

Monday, October 1, 2012

Classroom Accommodations and Modifications

A team of teachers and I are leading a workshop on classroom accommodations and modifications in a few weeks.  I would love to know from all of the teachers out there what websites, blogs, books, or other resources you have found that are truly beneficial for working with children with special needs.  I have some of my favorites, and I'll be sure to post in a few weeks when we compile our bag of tricks.  I would LOVE to hear what teachers across the country use as fabulous references.
 

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Another Giveaway!

I believe in collaboration, and helping fellow teachers out!  Talking A Walking on the Teaching  Side is sponsoring at 100 followers blog giveaway!  Go and check her blog out, and check out the 12  free products you could win by entering her raffle. 
 
I am offering the winner of her giveaway a free set of my Newspaper Task Cards.
      


     


These 40 task cards will be a perfect learning center to work with newspapers. You can also display the task cards on a trifold science fair board, and create a portable station for fast finishers.  The cost is $4.00
 
 

42 Products Give Away!

Everyone loves to get something for free!  Liv to Teach is sponsoring a 42 product giveaway.  I am offering my Types of Sentences Center to the winner of this giveaway.  Go check it out!

 
This is the product I am offering to the winner of this giveaway.
 
    
 

This Movie Theater popcorn themed center will be a perfect way for your students to reinforce the different types of sentences (declarative, interrogative, imperative, and exclamatory).  Students sort different sentences written on popcorn pieces into the correct types of sentence popcorn bowl.
Included in this download: Cover page, student direction sheet, 4 types of sentences popcorn bowls, 32 popcorn pieces with different sentences written on them, and an answer sheet. 
It costs $3.00.

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Un-BEE-lievable Statistical Landmarks

My classroom has been working on statistical landmarks.  We sing silly sayings to help us remember the different statistical landmarks.

Maximum is the biggest!
(said in in a deep voice making muscles)

Minimum is the smallest!
(said in a squeaky high pitched voice showing a small amount with your fingers)

Range is the maximum minus the minimum!
(with motions that lean to the left with your hand extended for maximum, and with motions that lean to the right with your hand extended for the minimum)

Mode is mode, mode, most often!
(said in a cheerleading voice like hip, hip hooray- also put your arm / hand in the air for each mode, mode, most often cheer)

Median is the middle!
(clap your hands together in front of you to represent the middle)
 
I created an Un-BEE-lievable Statistical Landmark Center.  Here are a few previews of the product, and my kids working hard during this center.  There are 12 task cards and student recording sheets.  $3.50
 







Sunday, September 16, 2012

Man, I Wish I Thought of That!

I was buzzing around pinterest, websites, and the internet and saw some simply clever teaching ideas.  I thought you would love them too!

Dice Game Containers

 
It drives me crazy when students dice are rolling on the floor, and making a ton of noise during dice games in math.  These little plastic containers are the perfect solution!  You can purchase a set of 4 of them at the Dollar Store. 

Milk Crate Chairs

I am always looking for creative storage solutions, and these milk crates are the next best thing for my classroom needs.  I can't wait to purchase some milk crates, fun material, boards and cushion and create these milk crate chairs.  These crates will be perfect for my center material storage, and will not take up space in the classroom because they will double as seats for my small group table. 

Brain Sprinkles

This idea just cracks me up, and I know it will make the students smile!  Every once and awhile the kids are stumped on coming up with an answer, and brain sprinkles will help them loosen up and hopefully help their brain waves retrieve the answer.  Brain sprinkles are a great way if you want them to be motivated right before a test. 

Tattle Monsters

 
 This is how you turn simple tissue boxes into something super eye catching.  This is a great way for students to write down what may be on their mind, and put it into the monster's mouth.  Hopefully, this will allow the students to voice their concern and get their tattle out of the way, allow you to focus on teaching, and check in with the tattle monsters as it fits into your daily schedule.  Here's to a year of productivity, and not a lot of tattling :)
 

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Sock it to 'em!

Here's a small teaching tidbit of the day!  If you have your students use dry erase board throughout the day, here is a simple solution passing out tissues to erase the boards.  Purchase an inexpensive packet of socks at a store.  These socks make perfect dry erase board erasers.  They are cheap, easy, and can very easily be washed!


 

You can also create your own dry erase boards.  Go to your local home improvement store (Home Depot, Lowe's, etc.).  Ask them for a piece of melamine.  This piece typically comes in a 4 ft. x 8 ft. rectangle.  Double check the surface of the melamine.  You want a surface that is smooth, like plexi-glass.  It could also be a material called lexan.  The home improvement store will cut the board for you into smaller pieces (I would recommend 1 ft. by 1 ft. squares, which will give you 32 dry erase boards.)  It is definitely cheaper than purchasing a set of dry erase boards.  They work perfectly as dry erase boards.  Go for it today!