Day Three of Summer Bloggin' Linky---Worksheet Wednesday!

Well, it is day three of the Summer Bloggin' Linky with The Teacher Tribune, and today is Worksheet Wednesday.

Since there is a summer theme to worksheets this week, I decided to share Chicks on the Beach.  It is actually a one-page math game that is easy to print, slip in a page protector, and have ready to go.  Sending it home with the kids for home practice is easy, too.  This is a game I created and have adapted for many seasons/holidays.  The kids love it because it is a game of skill and strategy!  Download by clicking the pic below. Enjoy!

Fly on over to check out oodles of more fabulous freebies at The Teacher Tribune!

AND, if you don't already know, we have a brand-new blog---Adventures in Guided Math!  We hope you will take the time to check it out, become an adventurer (follower), and enter to win one of our fabulous prize packages! You may enter to win through Friday, July 4th!

See you back tomorrow for Tried & True Thursday!  Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Math Centers Linky Party & Student Motivation Saturday

Linking up with Easy Teaching Tools for a three-part Math Centers Linky Party.  Although, I am getting in on this one a bit late...

Math Centers Linky Party

Part 1 -- Topic: Setting Up Math Centers

My kids love math workstations/centers! I have used the same organizational system the last two years, and it works fabulously!

Iris' six-drawer storage systems from Office Max are perfect for math workstations, among other things.  I simply used a utility knife to cut off the little nubs on the sides of the drawers that prevent the drawers from sliding out, as I wanted the drawers to be removable.  Then, I numbered them from 1-12. 

Each of the twelve drawers houses a workstation.  I change workstations out depending on target skills, concepts for review, and/or season/holidays.  

Directing students to particular workstations is a snap with this equally as simple name and number system located on our magnetic white board.  When it's time for workstations, students get the correct drawer, gather any needed materials (stored in tubs above the drawers for easy access), and get to work in a location of choice. Students may also be directed to me for small group work.

At times, I cycle students through the stations, so the next time we meet they move on to the next station.  This system also provides for differentiation, as I switch out centers in drawers and assign stations based on individual students' needs at times.

Why not stop over to Easy Teaching Tools to learn about more ideas for setting up math workstations? :0)

Student Motivation Courtesy of Smile Makers

I know I used to get excited about stickers when I was a kid, but my kids have topped my excitement 10 fold.  I know stickers are a simple and obvious means of student motivation, but whatever works!!  

Recently I was at the dentist's office for my six month cleaning when I noticed his rolls of 2 inch square stickers for little patients.  After gazing upon them when I entered and as I was leaving, I kindly asked if I could snag one from my grandson--the pterodactyl. Yes!  In light of my students' excitement over stickers, I looked on the back to see if there was any order information. I thought they would get a charge out of these jumbo delights. :0)  They were made by Smile Makers, so I hopped online, went a bit crazy, and purchase just a few--HA!  

These goodies hang on dowel rods from command hooks for all the kids to see.  At the end of each week, if students maintain excellent conduct and effort as outlined on our responsibility sheet, they get to choose two stickers.  Needless to say, they look forward to the end of the day on Friday. The Fruit Ninja scratch and sniff, Muppet, and rainbow dolphin/unicorn stickers are favorites.

If you have never checked out Smile Makers online, it's a must!

Fly on over to Head Over Heels for Teaching for Student Motivation Saturday!

Have a happy weekend!

Convention Focus Sticks & Day Three of A Week of Chillin' Giveaways!

Thinking back to a post some time ago that I never followed up on--Traits Tuesday: Anything Goes! I shared an idea I found on Make, Take, Teach--focus sticks for writing. I decided to make focus sticks for editing conventions.  Each example/icon on the stick represents something students are responsible for editing in their writing. 

The first is spelling--represented on the stick by a sentence with a misspelled word circled. My students circle words at any time during the writing process that they know, or are not sure, are spelled correctly.  These words are then revisited when editing their writing.

The second is punctuation--represented on the stick by a yellow box with . ? ! , ' .  This is a reminder for students to check end punctuation, the use of commas in lists, and the correct use of an apostrophe in contractions and possessives. 

The third is capitalization--represented on the stick by a sentence with letters crossed out and capitalized. This reminds students to check their writing for capitalization at the beginning of sentences and proper nouns.

The fourth is grammar/readability--represented by an ear icon. I always remind students to reread their writing and listen to how it sounds and ask themselves if their writing make good sense. 

The above areas of conventions are those students are used to editing in their writing.  The focus sticks will be a great visual to guide students as they edit/assess their writing in the area of conventions. 

Please feel free to download the strip and label I designed.  I simply glued a large googley eye at the end of colored craft sticks (fat ones). I printed, laminated, and glued the strips on sticks with a hot glue gun for extended use. I hope you find these useful or are inspired to create focus sticks tailored to your students' needs.  

Thanks for stopping back for Day Three of A Week of Chillin' Giveaways!

Today's Giveaway:

Winter Fest Place Value Game

 To learn more, visit my Teachers Pay Teachers store.

Enter to win one of two copies of Winter Fest Place Value Game.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Odd and Even Math Center FREEBIE & New Graphics!

Just a quick post tonight to share a free math center and some new graphics...

Head on over to my TpT store to download Candy Corn Odds & Evens!

Courtney was in need of some simple Halloween graphics, so I whipped some up for her.  You can check them out in my Graphics by Sarah Beth TpT store...

 

Here are some other goodies I created...

Friday is just around the corner! Enjoy the rest of your week...

Monday Made Its--Math!

It's Monday Made It with 4th Grade Frolics...

Money Bags!

A couple of weeks ago I had an idea for an independent, differentiated money activity.  My idea was to put a bunch of coins in a money bag (selecting coins according to students' needs) and create a group of tasks that could be completed with any bag of money.  I decide to make cloth money bags and began to search for some fabric with dollar signs... While looking online, I stumbled across a Bank Robber Money Bag tutorial.  Well, it was a little more than I had planned on doing, but they were so darn cute that I had to make some (with black and bright colors, of course). I also adapted the size of the bag for my needs.  Here is how they turned out!

I had the tasks floating around in my head and finally got them put together. You can get these task sheets in my TpT store by clicking the cover below!

Be as creative or as simple as you want with your money bags...

Problem Solving Discussion Fans

I created some problem solving discussion fans to help guide my students' discussions with one another during independent work time.  Rich math discussions are an important way students learn, and these discussion do not always need to take place in a whole/small group, teacher directed setting.  Students can pair up and use discussion fans during guided math rotations, center/workstation time, at the end of a day's lesson, etc.  I am always amazed by my students' thoughtful discussion!  Teachers can also keep a fan handy during whole or small group time.

Get ahold of a copy of my Problem Solving Discussion Fan in my TpT store--includes suggestions for use and directions for assembly.

"READ" Back to School Bunting

I created a "READ" bunting with my new chalkboard bunting backgrounds...

Font by KG Fonts

Check out more Monday Made Its at 4th Grade Frolics!

Monday Made It, a Freebie, & a GIVEAWAY!!

It's Monday Made It with 4th Grade Frolics! Sharing a couple Made Its from this past week...

 

Made Its: Place Value Cubes & Activities

Why use place value cubes? 

Unlike regular dice or playing cards, place value cubes repeatedly show values vs. a single digit.  In this way, students are continuously reminded that each digit that makes up a number, such as 4, has a specific value (4, 40, 400, etc.).  You may have seen these dice sold on the market... I purchased a set online many moons ago when I taught fifth grade.  They were wonderful because the dice represented place values from ones to millions. BUT I only bought two sets because they were quite pricey.  When I decided to teach second grade, I found myself using 1/3 of the die—still loving them—but wanting more.  That's when I went online to see about purchasing foam blocks to make sets myself.  I found some great ones and was off and running! I could now customize the cubes for my students' needs and make as many as I needed for MUCH LESS than buying them pre-made.

Here are some place value cubes I made to add to our collection next year...

Want to make your own place value cubes?  Download the FREE directions here!

You can also purchase my brand-new Place Value Cube Activities for Grades 2-3 in my TpT store for just $2.50--until the end of the day Friday!

An Awesome GIVEAWAY!

Enter the giveaway below to win 50 foam place value cubes (for you to customize) AND my Place Value Cube Activities Grades 2-3!  TWO lucky winners will be drawn!! Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 Smiles! :0)