Last week we chatted all about BAT WEEK, so I figured it was only fitting to follow-up with some ideas for Spider Week! As I've said before, teaching foundational concepts and skills using these two creatures as the thematic vehicle for instruction is so very fitting for this time of the year. Especially on campuses where any talk of Halloween is forbidden. Bats and spiders are a little "spooky"...which fits right in with Halloween...but not scary (depending on your phobias ;) I'm always asked about how I'm able to incorporate thematic teaching this time of the year while being sensitive to the understanding that Halloween just isn't … [Read more...] about Spider Week
math games
Math Fun For Our Little Ones
There are so many things to anticipate with the start of a new school year. Organization...classroom management...centers....small group...and everything in between! I love trying new things and making learning hands-on and engaging for my kids. I think that's the key to creating lasting connections that kids can refer back to when trying to recall and apply new information. When our kids can get their hands "dirty" so to speak, they're more engaged in what they're learning. I think that's pretty much common sense, but so often we get bogged down with SO many other responsibilities and obligations that the path of least resistance seems … [Read more...] about Math Fun For Our Little Ones
2D & 3D Shapes
It's about that time of the year....for us anyway...to introduce & reinforce 2D & 3D shapes (concepts and ideas). Does that hold true for you, too? Shape identification and geometrical language are always among my favorite concepts/skills to teach. Hands-on and engaging and so many connections to the real world! And for our kids, shapes are tangible. They can feel real world shapes. They can play with them. They can even identify shapes in the environment around them. Shapes are EVERYWHERE! And shapes are among the earliest objects they learn, recognize, and identify (thank you, Mickey … [Read more...] about 2D & 3D Shapes
Making Math Fun!
Happy Saturday! I know this is going to sound cliche and all, but seriously....where did the summer go?! August is only a couple of days away and most of my teacher friends are starting school either this coming week or the next. Oh summer...we loved you so!!!! Now it's upward and onward and we're getting ready to embark on a new journey with a whole new crop of babies. Exciting and bittersweet all in the same breath!!! There are so many things to anticipate with the start of a new school year. Organization...classroom management...centers....small group...and everything in between! I love … [Read more...] about Making Math Fun!
Last Minute Easter Ideas & FREEBIES!
Believe it or not, Easter is right around the corner! I'm not sure why I thought we had more time, but just in case you missed the memo too, we don't. We don't have much time at all. This SUnday to be exact! I'm in the process of helping the Easter Bunny gather lots of fun treats for the boys. I'm glad I didn't wait to remember that until the night before. Not that I know anything about that ;) I was at Michael's the other day and found these... Of course, I had to have them. Loved that they came 3 to a set. I'm sure they have something similar to this at the Dollar Tree?? … [Read more...] about Last Minute Easter Ideas & FREEBIES!
120 Chart – Moving Beyond the Number Line
If you're reading that title and thinking I'm crazy, let me explain. Both the number line and the 120 chart are important tools for our kids to use. They are equally important and make wonderful resources for our kids to use when problem solving, counting, etc. I think it's extremely important to equip our kids with the tools necessary to be successful. I display the number line (0-120) in my classroom and all of my kids have a personal number line they keep in their desks. Their personal number line contains the numerals 0-20. The reason for this is so that we can practice with the numbers we will more … [Read more...] about 120 Chart – Moving Beyond the Number Line
Math Monday (& a Birthday SALE-A-BRATION)
Happy Monday! God willing I will be celebrating another year of life on Saturday so this is technically my birthday week. Does anybody else draw out their birthdays and celebrate for a week?!?! If I'm being honest, I don't do that anymore, but when I was younger I sure milked my yearly milestone as long as I could :) This year I thought it would be fun to bring back that weeklong tradition I used to covet, only now I want to celebrate with YOU! So each day this week I'll be having a little birthday SALE-a-bration and posting all about the topics you see posted below :) Now let's get on with … [Read more...] about Math Monday (& a Birthday SALE-A-BRATION)
All About the Weather! (Activities, Ideas, & Freebies!)
Happy weekend to you!!!! My weekend started off not-so-happy. My littlest bit was sent home Thursday afternoon with a fever. After a round of Motrin and lots of TLC, he was seemingly back to normal. Never ran a fever again. So weird! But his school day fever meant he had to stay home yesterday. I won't lie to you. I cherish days like that. Not the circumstances, but the moments when I can just soak him in just the way he is without any other distractions. I'm feeling a little sentimental...can you tell?! Now that the littlest member of my family is going on a full 48 hours of … [Read more...] about All About the Weather! (Activities, Ideas, & Freebies!)
Snowman Fun, Freebies, and a Place Value Sneak Peek!
Happy New Year, friends! 2015....really?!?! Have you made any resolutions? Me...notsomuch. Of course, I always want to be a better version of who I was the year before, but resolutions never quite "stick" if you know what I mean. Sure...I want to eat healthier. Work out more. Get more organized. Keep the house clean. Do the laundry...regularly ;) Yes...I want all those things. And to eat all the things and still be able to fit into my jeans. But really...I just want to have a great year filled with lots of laughter and more memories than I can count. Instead of a … [Read more...] about Snowman Fun, Freebies, and a Place Value Sneak Peek!
Problem Solving in the Primary Grades
Are you sitting down?! Good. Because this may or may not be a lengthy post. On the off chance that it is {& by off chance, I mean it is}, go ahead and grab yourself a little something to sip on...and don't forget your snacks, too! Let's go ahead and talk a little bit about.... I don't know what it is, but I love teaching math concepts and skills. This always makes my mom laugh something fierce because I STILL...at 30 something...have to CALL HER when there's a sale so that she can tell me how much I'll be saving. If it's 10%, I got it. 50% off is even better. I mean, I can … [Read more...] about Problem Solving in the Primary Grades
Odd & Even Anchor Activity
Do y'all use anchor activities in your room? I do! I refer to them as anchor activities & desserts...a little something for the kids to do {independently} when they're stuck or when they're finished with their work. I love anchor activities because they lend themselves to easy differentiation. They give kids a sense of independence and autonomy, too. The activities I include in mine are concept/skill specific and thematic. I keep them out for a few weeks, until I feel the novelty is wearing off, or until the themtic unit of study comes to an end. The activities included are always independent … [Read more...] about Odd & Even Anchor Activity
Number Sense & a Freebie!
One of the best things we can do for our little friends at the beginning of the year is set a strong foundation in numeracy & number sense. If y'all have been reading this blog for 5 minutes, you might already know that I absolutely LOVE teaching math. BIG love it. Which is funny considering I still call my mom when I'm trying to figure out how much money I'm going to save when there's a sale. I can figure out 50% off like a champ....and if there's anything more than that I know I'm winning...but start throwing in 15%, 20%, 30%, etc. and well...let's just say there's a reason the primary grades are my wheelhouse :) … [Read more...] about Number Sense & a Freebie!
Summer Fun…Math Style!
I have to say that I've been blessed with two kids who LOVE to learn. Trust me when I say that I know this isn't always the case so I am very grateful that {at this moment in time} they love it. My wish is NOT for them to be at the top of their class{es}, read the best, or anything like that, rather I want them to LOVE school and LOVE to learn. And so far, thankyouJesus, they do. As you can imagine with two little boys who love to learn, we haven't been sitting idly at home doing a whole lotta nothing. Yes...there are MORE video game moments than I can count....the pool has been their second home....and our … [Read more...] about Summer Fun…Math Style!
Anytime Math
Do you ever have those weeks where you feel like you’re just behind?! I had to jet outta school early on Friday because BOTH my sweet boys were sick with a 24 hour tummy bug…my oldest one {3 years old}, threw up for the first time. Poor baby!! ANYWAY…Mommy had to leave early and come to the rescue :) Then my sweet family came in town to celebrate Halloween with our little family of 4, so needless to say…I’m BEHIND this week!!! I knew this was the perfect week to pull out my “anytime math” stations!! I love the kind of activities you can just pull out when you’re in a bind! And thankfully, the kids … [Read more...] about Anytime Math
Math “Board” Games
When I taught Kindergarten, one of the girls on my team made these one-to-one correspondence math games for the kids. We kept them in our math tubs pretty much all year long because they were great for the kids to play when they were finished with their work, plus they were great for reinforcing rote counting and one-to-one correspondence. To kick it up a notch and make it “First Grade friendly”, I made a little addition/subtraction game out of similar game “boards”. The kids LOVE these games!! I have the kids play with a partner and both players get a matching game board, a set of {seasonal} counters, a stack of … [Read more...] about Math “Board” Games
