5.NF.3 Task Cards Freebie

Happy Saturday!  I hope everyone is enjoying the weekend.  Last night I created these task cards to use in the classroom on Monday.  I tried to use the borders, but nothing seemed to cooperate with me late last night.  That being said, they are simple task cards I plan to dress up with colored card stock and of course a laminator!  You can grab your copy here.  I really like the calculator task card recording sheet inspired by Traci Bender over at the benderbunch.  You can grab my version here.  They're labeled calculator task cards; however you could use them without a calculator.  They have QR codes on them, but leave a comment with contact information if you need task cards without QR codes.  After our practice EOG last week I've reflected on things and decided we need lots of practice with calculators!  Our state test is divided into calculator inactive (paper/pencil only) and calculator active (students have the option to use a calculator).  I realized there's no point in having the calculator as a resource unless the children know how to use them.  This week we are going to be calculator maniacs to make sure they are comfortable and ready to use them on the state tests.  I hope you enjoy the task cards and can use them in your classroom.  Have a great weekend! :))

~Amanda

Mother's Day Idea

Happy Friday Night!  
I know it's a late post, but maybe you could use it for Father's Day or next year?  This year in 5th grade I struggled to come up with cute holiday "stuff" for my kids to do until yesterday.  Yes, I said yesterday which is why this post is late. :)  My students posed with letters spelling mom for me.  We then created picture cards using the PicCollage app on the iPad.  I went to RiteAid and picked up the pictures for my students.  My total cost in the craft:  $3.42!!  That's what I'm talking about!!  The kids then created frames, art, or cards with the pictures for their moms.  I've blurred out the face on one of the cards so you could get the visual.  Some of the faces were so stinking cute I wish I could post them all for you to see...but I cant. :)  It was super cheap and with the letter cutting and picture taking process, I have a total of 1.5 hours in the entire project.  I hope you can use it some time.  I would love any upper grade suggestions for holiday "stuff".  Have a great weekend!

~Amanda :)))))

Metric Review Picture Freebie! CCSS MD.1

Hi All,

I'm back...had a sick baby with the stomach bug from Thursday-Sunday last week.  Now, I think the hubby has what our baby had.  All I can say is, it better stay clear of me!  I've thrown up more this school year than I have my entire life!!  No exaggeration!!  I'm definitely good on anything related to throw up for the next few school years.  

This is a picture of the completed product if students answer all questions accurately and follow the directions.  

Anyway...back on the topic of the freebie.  I had an idea the other night while getting ready for bed.  How about having a fun quick way to assess student knowledge and application of measurement conversions through art?  I was so excited about this idea that I quickly went downstairs to draft this idea.  On Thursday last week my children tested it out for me.  To my delight they had a BLAST!  Basically, I adapted math problems from mathdrills.com for measurement conversion.  Students had to solve the problem and follow the directions for each problem to create a picture.  It was a fun way to practice measurement problems while adding some crayons to the mix.  You can grab your freebie here.  It was super simple, no prep work, and very engaging for the children.  I actually had the children use the iPads to scan the QR code to get to the questions.  They solved the problems on one side of the paper and created the illustrations on the other side of the paper.  The QR codes were fun too, but not required for the task.  Let me know if you want the QR code/directions for the activity.  I have it saved on my school computer and can send it to you if interested.  Please let me know what you think!  Have a great rest of your week!

Cheers!  ~Amanda

"Dotty" Font Freebie

Happy Monday Eve!  I've created a dotty type of font for MS Word.  I love fonts and want to share my first creation.  You can download it here.  Also, if you need help/directions with how to download please let me know and I will be happy to help.  If you download, please let me know what you think.  Have a great week!

~Amanda

Another Fabulous Math Freebie...OA.3 QR Code Task Cards

Happy Friday Eve!

This is a picture of the file before you cut them out and glue them as task cards.

Completed Product
I've created another small set of task cards to enrich students when practicing the OA.3 objective in math.  The actual objective is to create expressions; however, why not teach them how to solve for the variable?  I think it will help them be better prepared for the math in middle school.  If you're interested in this freebie, you can download your copy here.  I cut them up, glued them on card stock, laminated the cards, and put them on a ring for students.  The students folded a piece of copy paper into 6 equal boxes.  They numbered each box, solved the expression, and then checked their answers by scanning the QR code.  If you don't have an iPad or way to scan the QR codes, but are interested in the task cards please leave a comment with a way to send the non QR code task cards. I will be happy to send them your way.  I would love any suggestions you guys have for teaching or practicing the OA.3 objective.  Have a great weekend!  :-)

~Amanda :)))

Vocabulary Idea for 5th Grade Common Core RL5.4 Objective

Okay, so I just recently realized I haven't posted many ideas about literacy lately.  Honestly, I've been so wrapped up with making sure I cover everything in math before our state testing next month; my creative juices haven't been focused on literacy. Something that I've been doing the past few months that has helped tremendously with student achievement is with the use of QR codes, thinking maps, and padlet.com.  Obviously, every teacher and school uses a different basal series, news magazine, or novel study to teach Literacy with.  I choose to use StoryWorks Magazine by Scholastic.  You can check it out here.  I enjoy this publication because it's aligned with the common core and has a variety of genres with each magazine.  The children really seem to enjoy it as well.  I don't use the worksheets very much, but turn what the worksheets are asking into different thinking maps.  My reading scores have jumped significantly after transitioning to this as my primary resource for whole group mini lessons.  I do still keep a variety of novel studies going on within my different reading groups each week.  

Vocabulary QR Code Examples

Now, back to the QR codes.  I randomly group students each week to look at the vocabulary before reading the article, play, poem, or story for the week.  Each group is given a sheet of quotes with the bolded vocabulary words.  The students look at how the word is used in the quote and discuss what it could possibly mean using context clues.  After an agreed upon word meaning has been established with the group they scan the QR code to check and see if they were correct with the word meaning.  After checking the word they add the word to a tree map of vocabulary words and list the definition below the word.  After all vocabulary words have been discussed, checked, and written on the tree map; students make a prediction with the information they have on the tree map as their frame of reference.  Next, the group members share their predictions and decide upon the strongest prediction.  Students then go on www.padlet.com to post their groups prediction for the story.  After all groups have posted we meet together to review predictions.  Finally, students read the story within their groups and discuss what they've read.  Groups are given specific questions to discuss and post their answers on padlet.com.  It's fun, engaging, and an interactive way to kick off a new story for the week.    Below are screen shots of a set of QR codes and www.padlet.com.  

Example of Groups Posting Predictions After Vocabulary QR Codes

Examples of Groups Posting Answers to Discussion Questions

Monday Math Linky :)

Happy Monday Night!

I've linked up with Cindy for another Monday Math Hop.  Check out the resources linked up this week as fabulous bloggers post great math resources!  :)  I will check back in later in the week.
Cheers!

~Amanda