Win a TPT gift card (just in time for a sale!)

I hope you're all enjoying your weekend!  I know that I sure am!  I am spending a little time prepping lesson plans but mostly just spending time with family.

A few of the learning packs I am getting ready for the next few weeks include:

  

Can you tell that I LOVE Christmas??

Back to business ... TPT is having a Cyber Sale on Monday and Tuesday.  My entire store will be 20% off and with the code CYBER17 you'll get even further savings!

Now, I;m sure your shopping cart looks like mine ... overflowing with goodies!  I'd like to help you with your shopping so enter below for your chance to win a $10 TPT gift card.  No hoops to jump through just enter!  I will choose a winner on Monday evening.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

  

Rudolph Place Value

Hello!!!!!!!!!  I hope the fall is treating all of you well.  I might be on of the few, but I enjoy these dark, cozy evening sitting by the fire and puttering on my computer.

Just posted to my store an new Mystery Picture in time for your holiday planning.

Just like the others students are given the number of tens and ones and need to solve then find and color the number in the hundreds chart.   My students love when I print the 2 pages on one large 11 by 17 paper - they think they're working on a poster! LOL  You can find it HERE at my TPT store.

I have added this to my growing Mystery Picture Bundle.  So, if you won the bundle you already own this new picture and can download the update for free!

The bundle now has 31 pictures! Wowzers!!! You can find the bundle HERE at my TPT store.

I know many of you own the bundle, and you can get your copy for free, but if you don't and would like a copy of the Rudolph Mystery Picture I will send a copy to the first 3 people who comment on this post - don't forget your email!

Magic Seeds!

Christmas is such a magical time for children and adults alike.  This activity will help keep that magic alive and get students doing some writing.

My classroom elf will be stopping by with some Tic-Tacs Magic Christmas Seeds, a bowl and some sugar.

He'll have instructions with him and I'll have a few candy canes tucked aside along with a writing flip book for them to record their observations.  My plan is to have the candy canes 'grow' when they are out for recess. :)

You can find this activity at my TPT store HERE. 

As always, the first 3 people who comment on this post will get a copy. :)

Candy Cane Investigations

Happy December!!!  I absolutely love the holidays and enjoying a few candy canes is no exception!  Using those yummy treats in my lesson planning is a no-brainer!   For that reason, I've put together my Candy Cane Investigations to engage students and get them writing!

This learning pack is editable to suit your students and their needs.  For my class I placed min candy canes in water, 7-Up and vinegar and let the magic happen!

I've provided lots of options and made it easy for you to differentiate.

You can find this learning pack HERE at my TPT store and as always, the first 3 people who comment in this post with their emails will get a copy. :)

Add or Subtract Gingerbread Style!

Hi all!

I am a happy gal tonight ... you know that feeling of finishing report cards?  That's me, now just to finish parent teacher conferences next week and then it's all things Christmas!

With the extra time on my hands I can get some products that I've been using ready to post in my store.  First up ... a new math work station.

My students have gained a solid understanding of addition and subtraction, but are having a bit more trouble deciding which to use when given a choice. I created this math work station to help reinforce this skill.

To play this game students work with a partner or a small group and roll 2 dice, decide if they want to add or subtract the numbers and cover the result on their playing card.
An "I can..." card is included to build student independence.
I have included both color and black and white options.

Although the gingerbread theme is perfect for Christmas this product does not contain any reference to Christmas which may be important in some schools.

It won't take your students long to figure out if adding the dice together or subtracting the smaller number from the larger will benefit them.  Imagine the quick mental math happening!

You can find this resource HERE in my TPT store.

Would you like a copy? The first three people who comment on this post with their email will get a copy.

Build a Santa

I always tell my students that games are played for two reasons

learning and fun !!

For these reasons I incorporate games in my planning.

I've just added a new learning pack to my TPT store HERE.

It includes eight learning games that cover the following:

•Roll and Count

•Add 1

•Add 2

•Add 5

•Add 10

•Doubles

•Doubles +1

•Subtract 1

All pages are included in both color and b&w and each includes an 'I can' student instruction card to build student independence.

As always (although I haven't been posting often lately!) I will send a free copy to the first 3 people who comment on this post.

Enjoy the rest of your day!

December already?

I can't believe that tomorrow we flip our calendars to December.  I have so much to do between now and the 'big day!'.  Like every other year, it'll happen I know!

Are you working on subtraction with your kiddos this month?  If so, I've just posted a new math station game that will help with subtraction fluency.

Students will either spin a spinner or roll two dice (the choice is yours!) and subtract the number from 12.  I have included a an 'I can' student instruction card to help make this a ready to use work station.  If you're rationing your color ink, don't fret each page is also included in black and white.

You can find this HERE at my TPT store.

While your at more store under my Custom Categories click on Christmas to be taken to my other Christmas products.  You can also find them by clicking HERE.

As always, the first 3 people who comment on this post with their email will get a copy of this product :)

Happy December!!!!

I Spy Christmas!

Last evening I uploaded a revised I Spy Christmas pack to my store. The original wasn't as 'printer friendly' as I'd like and didn't include a black and white version so the update was necessary!

I've included 4 I Spy pages in both color and black and white.  A choice of 3 recording pages to help with differentiation and an optional word search for students to find the words once they print them.  Of course, a student 'I can' instruction card is included for each option :)

If you already own the original head on over to TPT to download or simply check it out HERE.

As always, I'll send a copy to the first 3 people who comment on this post :)

Christmas Mirror Words

Happy Sunday!

Since Christmas concert practice has started it's gotten me in the mood for some Christmas shopping and some December planning :)

I've just posted my Christmas Mirror Words HERE in my TPT store.

We've just finished up the Halloween mirror words and my students have been looking for more so they'll be happy!

Students use a mirror to read backward words and record them.  I have included 2 different recording sheets to help with differentiation and an "I can" student instruction card with each.  All pages are also included in black and white.

AND I added it to my Mirror Words Bundle HERE and did not raise the price (yet).  So, if you own it you can download the revised bundle for free!

As always ... a giveway!  The first 3 people who comment will receive a free copy of Christmas Mirror Words.

Print, Roll and Play - Christmas Edition

Hi all!
I hope that this finds you all recovered from Halloween and having a great week!

A couple days ago I posted my newest Print, Roll and Play Dice Activities but haven't had a chance to blog about them.  It just **might** have something to do with it being parent-teacher week :)

So, you all know that I'm a planner and am pleased to say that the CHRISTMAS Edition is ready and in my store.

It's filled with a variety of dice activities including: tallies, ten frames, number words, adding 2, adding 3, even and odd ... the list goes on!  You can read more about it HERE.

These activities are all in black & white and every activity includes an 'I can' student instruction card for you to use if you choose to use them in math work stations.  However, they are great whole class and early finisher activities too.  Many of the pages can be differentiated easily by changing the amount of dice used.

So what are you waiting for ... just print, roll and play!

Question??

Would you like these in a bundle with new ones added as they are created?

As always .. the first 3 friends who comment will receive a free copy!!

Mrs. Wishy-Washy's Christmas

My firsties and I have been spending some time working on story retelling.  I'm trying to get them to remember to include many story elements including - setting, characters, events, problem and solution.

One of my favorite Christmas stories is Mrs. Wishy-Washy's Christmas so I decided to make a Christmas retelling light string.  I'm thrilled with how it turned out.

Doesn't Instacollage make it look festive?

I have placed each of the story elements on a Christmas bulb for a little festive flare.  Since I am in the generous Christmas spirit, I have posted this item for free at my TPT store.  Just click on the picture below to get your copy ;)

If you like story retell ropes, and you like Corduroy Bear you might want to check out this past post.

Have a great week!!!!

Christmas Short Vowel Sorting Station

I am into my Christmas shopping, decorating and of course planning.  With all the excitement I try to keep the routine, yet add in some festive fun.

I plan to use this word work station for a few of my literacy groups to reinforce short vowels.

There are 30 light bulbs and ornaments that need to be sorted onto 5 sorting mats (one each for 'a', 'e', 'i', 'o' and 'u').  I have included an "I can..." student instruction card to keep students on task and a recording sheet for you to monitor their work.  The entire station in included in both color and black and white.

I have just posted this at my TPT store.  You can head over there by clicking HERE.

I'd love to help with your December planning so I'll send a copy to the first 3 people who comment on this post.

Happy Monday!

Our Elf is Arriving Soon!

I am as excited as a kid before Christmas!  Last December my students were the most AMAZING writers and it was all because of our adventures with Jingles the Elf.  Our visit started with a cold delivery (I had put the wrapped box in the freezer) from our school principal.  On the first day we named our Elf and read the story.  Starting the next morning and each morning after he was up to quite a bit of mischief including zip-lining across the classroom, making a glitter angel, having a snowball fight ... the list goes on!

I have started a Pinterest Board where I have been pinning lots of great ideas I find.  If you are a 'pinner' like me click the picture below to follow the board, maybe you'll see something new.

I have my students record the adventures of our elf in a journal. If you'd like a copy click on the picture to download for free.

 

I also have a word search available HERE if you have some early finishers :)

If you have a great idea for my classroom elf I'd love to hear it.  If you have a link or a pin include that too because I would love to pin it to my board for others to see and maybe use in their classroom.

Here are a few of my faves from last year :)

 

There are so many great idea out there! I should have had my elf arrive months ago :)