FREE Bookmarks!!!

Look what I found!!!  My second grade team and I do a lesson on using a bookmark in the first week of school.  it involves rereading when coming back to a section of your books.  The main thing I needed was a sweet bookmark that could be laminated and used throughout the year. I stumbled upon this great resource from Homeschool on a Budget.  It was exactly what I was looking for!  Check out the great Dr. Seuss quotes on each one.  LOOVE THEM!

True or False? You can't wait to go back to school?

As for me? It is bitter sweet.  While I miss make up and actually wearing something other than yoga pants, I will miss my children too.  I know the students will not exactly be, "In it to win it" when they get back to the classroom either.  I created a true or false activity that simply includes them solving (mental math) and coloring.  I feel that having a bell ringer all set up for the beginning days is key for success and my sanity for the beginning days.  Check these out.  The BUNDLE is only $3.00 for addition and subtraction.  Let me know if you would like to see multiplication and division in the future.




School is Out....Multiplication Searches are in!

I have a looooooooooooong list of "to makes" list going for the summer vaca.  I love trying new stuff and spending some coin during the school year on TpT.  BUT, like many teachers, I am a control freak and love to make it the way that I want.  When doing math I always have a "Most Do..." and a "Can do..." when kids are done with their regular work.  I am in the process of creating several "Can do..." centers for my 2nd graders for when they are finished with their work.  This particular creation can be done with partners or on their own.  It was used a few times in the classroom this past school year and I loved it.  They could keep it in their Work in Progress folder if they don't finish on time.  Many of them were competing against each other to see who could find all of the multiplication facts first.  I modeled for them how to draw in their X and = symbols and how to use the back for problem solving space.  I hope this is something you can use in your classroom!

Hands on is the Way to Go!

  When I was little I was in special ed.  Yup, and I remember being SO confused with anything involving math.  I just didn't use that side of the brain.  My teacher (Mrs. Beiger) was amazing!  She would have me paint my facts, use gum drops, play dough....AND I'M 37 YEARS OLD! She was ahead of her time when dittos were the most popular form of learning.
   My second graders started a new math unit this year.  You may have heard of it, Math in Focus.  It is pushing my little mathematicians to the max.  Knowing that it was more difficult curriculum I wondered what was going to happen to my number sense kids.  You know, the kids that struggle to subtract 5 from 8.  I mean, I am asking them in chapter 10 to do mental math with 3 digit numbers.  This small group of kids are so lost and just feel unsuccessful.  I wanted them to have a group where they can practice their level skills in a fun way.  
   Play Dough is such a fun kinesthetic tool that teachers can use on a day to day basis.  This download that I made has three fun game mats and fact cards to go with each activity.  The first one (and my fav) is called Subtraction Smash.  The students create a bunch of small balls with the play dough and then pull subtraction facts from the deck that comes with it.  If they pull 8 - 5 = they would place 8 balls on their ten frames and use their thumb to smash 5.  The second is a number bond mat.  Last is an array dash.  They race their partner to create arrays with their balls.  For this game I pre-make the small balls of play dough and put them back into the containers.  That way they are ready to go when that group is called up.  
   Hope you enjoy this crazy fun number sense pack!  Please contact me if you have any questions. crazy4second@gmail.com