Oh What a Week!

Happy Thursday Ya'll!

Today I'm home resting from my surgery yesterday.  Why is it when you're at the hospital you look terrible?  So crazy, but I try to always keep it real with my blog visitors and followers.  Today is a new day and I'm thankful for the opportunity!  This afternoon has been uncomfortable, but tolerable so I could blog, create, and organize digital items.

That being said, I've created a list of math review Kahoot games I use in my classroom each week to continue to spiral skills previously taught.  The kids are obsessed with the games and are disappointed on days I just couldn't find the time to set up a new review game.  My adminstrators love the level of student engagement my class has each day in math.  In fact, our hallway knows when we are playing Kahoot, because the energy is off the chain!!  If you haven't played Kahoot with your kids you really should!  Click on the Kahoot picture above to take you to the website.  You can even track student understanding with the data reports.  Doesn't everybody like easy data to drive instruction?!  I  honestly think that's the coolest part of Kahoot.  I use the data to have math conferences with my students and/or teach small group remediation lessons if needed.  If you are needing/wanting to use math spiral review in your classroom, but don't have the time to create it for yourself, please help yourself to the list of games I've created for you to use.  Check back weekly, because I will continue to add to the list.  If you use the links, please comment letting me know your thoughts.  Kahoot is free and can be used in teams if you don't have very much technology in your classroom.  You can use iPads, Computers, and smart phones to play the games.  To grab your free copy of the math review links, click the picture above.  Remember, it will be an ongoing list so check back often!  Thanks for stopping by!  Until next time...

August Currently and a Freebie-Morning Work Volume 2

Happy Friday Night!  I'm so happy to link up with Farley over at oh boy 4th grade for a long over due currently!  I can't believe August is here ALREADY!  It doesn't seem possible for summer to be coming to an end so soon. :(

Listening~My husband is obsessed with the Show 'Shameless' and we watch a few episodes at night after the baby goes to sleep.  I can't just watch TV.  I have to be doing something else....maybe ADD?!  I'm not sure, but I just cant sit and watch TV unless it's Grey's Anatomy.

Loving~ Our new back to school purchases!  It's tax free weekend here in NC and what a fantastic excuse to go shopping!  I went to Kohls this afternoon and got 3 new dresses, 2 fall outfits for our baby, 2 new 'right now' baby outfits, and a bridal shower gift for a grand total of $117!!!  I had so many coupons and things were on sale!  I love a great deal!

Thinking~When school is ending it seems like you have all the time in the world during the summer months to conquer the moon!  Clearly, I spent the majority of my time with  our baby, hubby, and friends.   The summer list may just turn into a Fall list.  I've accomplished some of the items on each list, just not as much as I thought!  Oh Well!!

Wanting~More time off of work!  I love the time I get with our little girl in the summers.  We go to the pool, gym, play dates, strolling dates, lunches, and just play!  I just wish we could have this life ALL. THE. TIME.!  She's 19 1/2 months old and so much fun to be with!  

Needing~I need to finish my Social Studies WebQuests BEFORE I go back to work because I will be working on my National Board Certification this school year.  The more leg work I can get done now, the better it will be this school year.  

B2s~  The first must have is new clothes!  ALL of my B2s memories involve new clothes and I couldn't imagine starting the school year any other way!  The second must have are new markers and pens.  I LOVE  Mr. Sketch markers, Sharpies, and ANY fun/colorful pen!  I'm not particular with the pens because I LOVE all pens!  My final B2S item is new Seuss decorations for the classroom.  I can't afford to do everything at once so I add a little to the classroom each year!  This year's additions are the Truffula Trees, painted shelves, calender, and chalk board table.

Thanks for hanging in there with me and now my newest freebie!  It's the second issue of my morning work freebie.  You can grab yours by clicking here.  There will be a total of 40 issues of this (1 for each week of the school year) so come back next week to get the 3rd issue.  Until next time!!

Daily Dozen Week 1 Common Core Freebie

Happy Friday!

I've linked up with TBA and the Friday Freebie Back to School Themes today for my first edition of Daily Dozen Common Core.  Basically, this is morning work that will spiral review concepts throughout the school year.  I didn't fully get my head around 5th grade until after Christmas; therefore, putting me behind in spiral review for my kiddos.  I was able to catch up some, but now that I know what to expect in 5th grade I want to start the school year out with review from Day 1.  

I plan to use these Monday-Thursday as morning work.  On Fridays, my students write a friendly letter home for the week to their parents talking about what they did during the week.  

Click on the picture above to download your free copy of this first edition of Common Core Morning Work.  Please don't forget to rate my product and leave feedback if you download. :)

I'm not going to make copies (unless I have an IEP specification or notice some students needing the scaffold).  The daily dozen will be projected on my SMART board for students to copy in a morning work journal.  The expectation will be that they copy the problem (unless it's a word problem) and then solve showing ALL work in the process.  After our morning meeting each day we will go over the problems and have students self check their answers.  I don't use morning work as a grade, just another opportunity to practice skills.  

I think that's all for now.  I'm super tired from my first ever Stroller Strides class this morning.  Now it's time to work on my project for the Monday Made It linky party.

Have a fantastic weekend!

Back to School Math Freebie

Happy Monday ya'll!  We are back from our much needed family beach vacation in Isle of Palms.  I've finally created a Teachers Pay Teachers Store where I will now host all of my freebies.  I will also go back through my blog and upload any freebies referenced in older posts in the store as well.

My other accomplishment today is another freebie just in case you're thinking about back to school.  Basically it's a daily math routine to get students to practice fractions and decimal equivalents.  We did this last year after one of my team members shared the idea with us.  My contribution to the idea is the recording sheet and sharing it with all of my wonderful followers. :)  Each day to jump start our math lesson we get out our hundreds board and write the number of days we've been at school.  I know you think this is really basic, but just hang in there with me for a few more sentences.

After students write the whole number we talk about what the fraction would be.  Once we've landed on what the fraction would be we write it in the box.  We then talk about what the decimal would be.  After a few days of class discussion after each entry most students get the hang of the number pattern.  On days the fraction can be reduced we talk about how to reduce fractions and how to do it.  A week or so into the routine I turn the discussions over to the children and they share their entries and thinking.

Recording Sheet

Example of a sheet being filled at the beginning of the year so you can better visualize what I 'm talking about

The fruits of my labor became evident when we dove into our fractions and decimals unit.  We do place value at the beginning of the year so this routine was a good jumping off point for decimal place values.  The idea and recording sheet are simple; however, the impact it made on student understanding was total worth the 2-3 minute routine each day.  Last year I just did it until the 100th day, but this year I'm making the copy double sided to use the entire school year.

I hope you enjoy and are able to use it with your kids this year.  What math routines do you use to help students practice more challenging concepts?


~Amanda                                                  

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

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

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

Quadrilateral Song Freebie Common Core 5.G3

If you're tackling the Common Core like we are then you probably feel our pain with teaching all of the math asked of us. I will say that shapes were super tough for a majority of my kids. I was shocked because I know shapes are introduced and discussed yearly beginning in kindergarten. Any who, one of my colleagues and another teacher turned assistant principal created a quadrilateral song to help children understand characteristics. The song is catchy and really helped my kids understand quadrilaterals. You can download the lyrics here for you and anyone else needing additional resources with 5.G3 in the 5th grade Common Core Math. I would love any ideas you have for helping children classify shapes. Have a great weekend! :) ~Amanda