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Am I the only teacher who has file folders stuffed with worksheets from previous math texts, Mailbox printables, and assorted worksheets?
Well, in preparing for my unit where we cover place value, comparing numbers, inequalities, money, and rounding (say all that in one breath!) in, oh, 21 days or less (thanks snow!), I pulled out my stuffed file and stared at the massive collection that's piled up after 5 years of teaching second grade.
I personally don't want to be the death of an entire forest when I want a little from this worksheet, and a little from that one. A light came on, and I realized - why not make my own? I mean, I'd rather NOT copy about 12 sheets about comparing numbers (because honestly, how many times do we pull out the whiteboards and markers and practice?). So, tah dah! I put them together in a cute little polar bear (because I love cutesy clip art pages!) themed sheet that covered each of the concepts I wanted off those 12 sheets! I did separate 2-digit and 3-digit pages because some of my kiddos need to move a little slower than others.
Check it out! If you'd like a copy, just click on it to take you to Google Drive.
I also came across a goodie I created last year (sad you don't think about them till you open the folder!). I am always so boy heavy that I remember looking for anything "boyish" for clip art to motivate some of my, er, less than motivated boys!
I also created this "Battle for the Empire" for Place Value that my group this year (even the girls) went nuts over! We played this on Friday and it's already in their "B" center for next week by popular demand! (Good thing my Olympic-themed centers I have are good for a couple weeks!).
For inequality, I went cheap but practical with an idea I found and tweaked on Pinterest last year. My husband said they're going to lock up these cards one of these days when they see a teacher coming! I also created a "bird brain" center - aren't they cute?
As for Rounding, I found this great support last year that soooo helped my struggling learners. We also had a suggestion by our math specialist to bump ahead and teach temperature (our standards say the students need to read the thermometer to the nearest 10). Makes sense, right?
I also pulled out some rounding games I'm sure my kiddos will really like I've made over the years!
I keep telling myself that one of these days, I'll be happy with the units I've created and not "tweak" (or redo) them each year! Somehow, I just don't think that will happen! :)
I have posted some different activities/games on Teachers Pay Teachers....I'm pretty proud of them! My class is sooo into Scoot, I find myself going and making new Scoot games for review in math, as well as branching out into our current Science unit! I try to make them versatile for every teacher, including cards up to 30 for those larger classes. My students are too cute...they are even requesting "Scoot" for reading! (One of my students even demonstrated during reading groups how we could do it!) I think my "to do" list for Spring Break is growing! :)
So, let me show off what I've done so far....click on any of the pictures to see more details.
Fraction Action includes suggestions for games to use the cards with, including recognition of fractions and equivalent fractions! I am so excited to have a set of cards to be able to use for different games in my classroom, as well as being an extra set of flash cards!
You don't have to have the book to use this activity (but I find it's usually available in any school library or in a buddy's classroom...Pat Hutchins is VERY popular!).
Be sure to check them out on my TpT store! Right now, I have them priced CHEAP! Next up will be a Fact/Opinion Scoot and a Telling Time to the Nearest Five Minutes Scoot (as soon as I can get them done!).
Oh, quick question....I'm thinking of expanding into a"Teacher's Notebook" store. For a one-time fee of $19.95, you get 100% of your profits (minus any Paypal fees). Do any of you have a Teacher's Notebook store? How well does it do? I think TpT is more popular, but it sounds like Teacher's Notebook is friendlier. Just curious if anyone knows a difference or has a preference? Thanks so much for the input!!!!
Ugh, so I am home with a case of pneumonia. I usually plunge on when I'm sick, like most teachers and moms, but this has really run me over! :(
So, after a morning of realizing that I am not missing anything on TV while I'm at school, I resorted to blog world and showing off some things I created this weekend in between bouts of coughing, sleeping, and body aches.
One is for rounding, while the other is part of a new series I'm creating called "Grammar Adventures," where you get a mini book to read to your class, then they have to do a hunt for clues to solve the "mystery." (They even get a badge at the end! I plan on using it this week with my class, if I can ever get there!). You can find them at my TpT store, but for the first 3 comments below, I will send one or both to you for FREE! :) My only request is to comment on them on my TpT store after you've had a chance to use them!
The day is young, though. I'll be at school at 3 to pick up my personal kiddos, but maybe I'll create some things in the meantime. Still need a few more homophone, abbreviation, and fraction activities, not to mention life cycles and maps! Why is it our mind always goes so much faster than reality???
I've been meaning to post my "rounding hill" I created for my kids this year. Having the collaborative class, I try to make as many concepts "visual" for my students as possible! I am a big fan of the "rounding hill" and decided I'd take it one step further this year. Now, my students know I'm not an artist, but I was pleased with how my little car turned out! Well, at least they recognized it was a car, and maybe that's what I was proud of! :)
I LOVE having my kids use dry erase markers....I feel like it saves so much on paper, so yes, this is in a page protector so my kids can write on it then erase. That way, instead of making 20 copies of a worksheet, I can make 7. (We also have a copy limit, so it helps that as well!). Granted, I do buy several boxes of page protectors (after awhile, they get smudgy, and I need to replace them, or I decide to keep the pages in the protector for the following year). My hundreds charts, for example, stay in a page protector all year long so my kids can mark them up as needed!
Anyway, here it is in action:
Sorry for the reflection....but you get the idea. The hardest thing for my kiddos, of course, is to determine what tens to put in each box, but most have really caught on to the concept this year quickly (I only have 4 that are really struggling still!), and I'd LOVE to say it's due to my mats. :)
Okay...and as one reader pointed out, yes I know that 63 rounds to 60....not sure why I put the arrow to the other side other than doing it too quick :) My brain's not always so "fresh" after school when I usually do these posts!
I hand-drew them, but it didn't take that long to whip out 7 of them, and they now join the ranks of my "math helpers" with the hundreds charts, number lines, counting manipulatives, and base 10 blocks! I know it's an old idea that's been out there for awhile, but my kids (especially my boys) caught on more to the car concept than a ball rolling down the hill that I've used in the past. Isn't it funny how we seem to change our approach each year to concepts?
I also have two rounding games available on my TpT store as well....one with a cute fish/octopus theme, the other with a basketball theme....be sure to check them out! :)
