"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

2ndEdition Math CCSS Review Morning Work Freebie

Happy Friday!

I hope you all have had a great week.  It's been an exhausting one on my end, but am thankful for the weekend.  Great News!!!  I've created the second addition of 5th Common Core Math Review Practice Sheets.  Like I've mentioned in a previous post, I suggest printing two sheets to a page to save paper/copies.  We're using them in my classroom to build a review book for each student before the state testing (EOG's) at the end of May.  I give these for morning work a few days a week to keep skills fresh on the minds of my students.  I hope you can use them and will continue to build packs of these review sheets for us.  Download your freebie here .  Have a great weekend!

~Amanda :))))

I'm Back with a QR code Fraction Review Freebie-Common Core NF.6 and NF.7!

Hello Everyone!

I'm back with another freebie.  I took the past week off to enjoy our spring break with friends and family.  We didn't do much...just shop, play, and run a 10K!  The 10K was my first ever 10K race and we had so much fun in Charleston, SC.  I'm now continuing my training to run a half marathon at the beginning of summer.  Running has been a much needed way to take a break from the classroom and mommy/wife duties.  If you don't run, I highly recommend you trying it out...you may surprise yourself!

This is after the race while we enjoyed some Starbucks.  I'm the one on the far left. :)

Anyway, on with the freebie-After our last benchmark testing I was a little frustrated with the areas my children weren't as successful as I thought they could be.  My frustration was the inspiration for these short review practice problems using QR codes.  Like I've mentioned in previous posts, my kids LOVE the QR codes!  It's like they crave them!  You can get the QR code slips here for your children to practice.  The directions are on the slips and it's a super quick way to assess who is understanding what.  If you don't have an "i device" but would still like the practice problems you can grab the actual sheets here:  NF6 Sheet, NF7 Sheet, Combination Sheet  The QR slips will take you to the same document, but it's more interactive for the children if they can write on the picture to solve math problems. 

Screen shot of the QR code slips-Three different versions for differentiation or multiple center use.

Screen shot of the recording practice sheet the QR code will take students to.

I would love any suggestions on other ways you have students review math concepts.  I'm new to the testing grades and appreciate any and all suggestions.  Have a fantastic week! 


~Amanda :)))