Scooping up some digraphs!

How are your students doing with digraphs?  Many of my students have a really good handle on them - they can read them, sort them and even use them properly in their writing.

Then there are the rest... I'm trying everything I can think of to give them practice.  They have enjoyed both my popcorn sort and my bubblegum sort but I needed something new.  For days I tried to think of a new theme for an activity that I could pull put again and again.  Then it came to me ...ice cream!!!

While making this on the weekend I had to go and buy some ice cream - yummy!

This activity has students sorting picture cards onto 4 different ice cream cones.  The cones are labeled with /ch/, /sh/, /th/ and /wh/.

I have included with a color and black & white copy.  However, when you see these ice cream scoops you're going to want them in color - ADORABLE!

There is an I can... card included and a recording sheet to check for understanding.

You can find this activity HERE at my TPT store.  As always I'd like to give away a few copies to those of you who visit me here.  The first 5 people to leave a comment will get a copy :)

Enjoy the rest of your week :)

I'm in love ... and a new math station

You know that feeling when you open the mail and it isn't a power bill or phone bill?  Well, multiply that by 100 and you'd know how excited I was to open the mail!!!!

Looky, looky...

a new laminator!!!!!

We have a big one at school, and it works well BUT I need to turn my items in for the one person in the building who's allowed to use it AND wait until she has a big pile and some time.  Well, sometimes a girl just wants her laminating a little faster.

This Fellowes Saturn 125 is AWESOME!

 

When I turn it on it took less than 5 minutes to heat up then beeped to get my attention.  I was able to choose between 3 and 5 mil laminate and it heated to just the right temperature.

If you've never laminated before it's easy peasy.  Just slide the page you want to laminate into the pouch and slide it into the laminator.

 

 

It will feed itself and come out the other side.  VOILA!!!

 

It was so easy!  If you would like your own laminator check out mybinding.com. They're easy to work with and your teaching materials that you spend TIME and MONEY on will last a long time.

 

Now, if I just had a binding machine ;)

What was I laminating you ask?

I've been working away at a new unit that focuses on teen numbers and was getting a little bogged down so took a little break to use these cute ice cream graphics by Graphics From the Pond. (Yes, you've seen me use them before!)

It's a math work station perfect for the beginning of the year.  Students will either roll or spin (your choice) tally and graph.  You can find this activity at my TPT store.

I'll send a copy to the first 2 followers who comment on this post.  In your comment, I'd love to know an activity that you might like to see included in my teen numbers math work station unit :)



I'm DONE, a new math station and a freebie

I'm DONE!!!!  My report cards are DONE!!!! Now, just to get through the next 9 days :-)

We've got a little ice cream theme going on because I've sort of promised my students an ice cream party next week.  If you saw my post last week you know that we have been working on choosing between addition and subtraction.  My students are getting better and enjoyed the strawberry math station, but it was time for a new one.  So, here's what I came up with...

Students roll 2 dice then decide if they want to add or subtract the two numbers to get a number.  Then they cover the number on their card and take turns with their partner.  As you can see, I have included 3 "I can..." cards.  One is in color and the other 2 are black and white.  I LOVE using colored pages, but the option to print in black and white is nice too especially on colored paper :).  Why 2 black and white "I can.." cards you ask?  I added one to give the option to color the ice cream scoop rather than cover. 

 

I'm using both this color and black and white this week.  I've got a class set of black and white ones copied to introduce the game and play in small groups as a whole class and a colored version in a math station drawer.

 

Now for a little freebie...

I thought I would use this as a little assessment page.  Who knows maybe I'll need to change a comment or two on those report cards.  Let's hope not!!!!

You can pick up a free copy by clicking on the picture.  Enjoy!

 

If you're like me, you LOVE freebies.  You can find many more by heading over to Manic Monday.

If you are working on this skill and would like a copy it is available in my TPT store.

As usual, I'll send a copy to the first two followers who comment on this post.  Don't forget your email :)

3 Addend Addition

Addition seems to have come easy for my firsties this year.  However, three addend addition seems to be a problem for some, so I created this math station (using these adorable ice cream graphics by Mel at Graphics From the Pond) to help provide a little extra practice.

The ice cream cones and scoops are large enough to use for whole class instruction and small enough to be perfect for a small group.  Students match the ice cream scoops to the matching cone (more than 15, equal to 15 or more than 15).  A recording sheet is included for accountability and to check for student understanding.  I have also included an "I can..." card to help build student independence.  I know I have said it before but I'm not sure what I did before I started using them!

This activity is available at my TPT store.

Tonight I will send a copy to the first 2 followers who can guess the flavor of my favorite ice cream.  Here's a hint - you can find it on one of my earlier ice cream posts.

Ice Cream Measuring

Who doesn't love ice cream?  For some reason I was craving it all day at school.  Maybe it was because the sun was shining and it was warm outside ... yahoo!  I think spring is finally here!  Lucky for me I had some frozen yogurt in the freezer at home ... yummy!

I'm starting to think about getting some warm weather math stations ready and dug out my ice cream measurement activity.

Here's what's included:

• 12 ice cream and popsicle pictures to measure
• 2 different sized ice cream non-standard rulers (for easy differentiation)
• colored and black and white rulers (b&w ones are great for students to personalize and take home)
• 2 recording sheets (one colored and one black and white)
• an "I can..." card to build independence and keep students from asking "What do I do?"

warning - this activity will make your mouth water!

You can pick up a copy of this activity at my TPT store.

As usual, I will send a copy to the first 2 followers who comment on this post.

Ice Cream Persuasive Writing

I recently picked up a copy of a persuasive writing activity by Ms. Smarty Pants at TPT that I need to share with you.

She has it laid out step by step so there is very little prep to do and you're ready to go.  To make it even easier, she and I have the same favorite flavor of ice cream so I could copy her example without even needing to think of my own reasons :-)

I completed this activity over a couple of days.  We began by reading an ice cream story and then brainstorming a list if our favorite flavors (there are some strange flavors out there, I wish I snapped a picture of our list for you!).  Using the ice cream cone templates and some pastels they made some yummy looking creations!  I recorded my opinion statement and then they printed theirs.  We also did shared writing of my reasons before they worked on theirs. 

Here are a couple students samples from my students.

Warning: you'll want ice cream when you're done reading !
 

 

You can read more about the activity by heading over to Ms. Smarty Pants.  While you're there please check out Samantha's post about Miracle.

If you're planning on doing some ice cream writing you might like a copy of my ice cream place value mystery picture.  It's available at my TPT store by clicking onthe picture, but I'll send a copy to the first 2 people who comment on this post.  Don't forget your email.

 

Ice Cream Tens and Ones Mystery Picture

Ummmm ... yes!  Of course I love ice cream!  Who doesn't?

I just added a new mystery picture to my TPT store.  You guessed it - ice cream!

 

You can click on the picture to head over to my store to pick up a copy. 

 

I also added it to my Tens and Ones Mystery Picture Bundle so if you have already purchased a copy you can head over and redownload for free!

There are now 16 pictures included in this bundle.

 

Have you been picking up all the freebies of our For the Love of Teaching 14 Day Blog Hop.  Click on the picture to pick up freebie #9 over at Sugar and Spice.

 

If you made it to the end of this post and you are one of the first 2 comments on this post I'll send you a copy of my Tens and Ones Place Value Ice Cream Mystery Picture.  Don't forget your email :)

Ice Cream Making 10 and 20

I have been in denial for a few days, but now I admit it ... I'm sick :(  Sinuses, headache, fever, chills ... ugh!  I love my precious firsties, but why do they come with germs????  I'm home eating ice cream and popsicles and sleeping the day away.  I should be working on my new unit, but sadly I just can't get the creative juices flowing today.

The ice cream I just finished eating (did I mention it was chocolate chip mint?) was delicious and made me think of my ice cream make 10 and 20 math stations.

Make 10

Make 20

 

They are perfect to add to your math tubs for either partner or small group work.  Both of these math stations are available at my TPT store by clicking on the pictures.
At the end of the evening (which will probably be early tonight) I'll choose 2 followers to receive a copy of both of these stations.  Just leave a comment with your email below.  In your comment I'd love to know a theme you might be working on soon (other than holidays).

UPDATE: I randomly chose 3 numbers.  Susanlulu, Maria and Michelle, I will be sending you an email shortly with the ice cream math stations!

Stay healthy everyone!

P.S. Don't forget about the FREEBIE blog hop starting on Friday!!!