Well.....it's been a LOOOOONG time!!  I apologize for not blogging more - life seems to get in the way :)  

How is the year going?   I have to say, this is one of the best classes I have ever had.  Maybe it is that I have changed things so much!!  This year I started doing The Daily 5.  My first graders love it!!  We went on a field trip and they complained that we didn't do the Daily 5 today!!!  How awesome is that?  My kids WANT to read!!!!  And read they have been doing!!  Writing too :)  I also mix in a lot of Kagan Cooperative Learning structures - it works so well together.  Sit and read or write - get up and do a structure :)

Math, well math is still a struggle for some.  However, by using lots of Kagan Cooperative learning structures, they are finally getting it.

Wishing for at least a snow day or two - in southwest Ohio we have only had one and that was before Christmas!!  Time for another one or two!!!

Hope everyone is having a great year!  Hopefully I'll be blogging more often!!!

Here is a link to a new product I just made for math.  It is for non-standard measurement - comparing two items.
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Quiz-Quiz-Trade-Non-Standard-Measurement-2-item-comparison-1694679

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving!!!!  I'm looking forward to the three days off (5 with the weekend :)   Time to recharge so we can make it through the next few weeks!!!

How many of you do Black Friday shopping???  I'm not ever getting up early to do that again…..it would take a HUGE sale…and I mean HUGE for me to ever do that again….. last time I did….I got screamed at by a crazy lady because I took one of her 10 carts….by accident mind you….Geeesh…

Anyway….if you do Cyber shopping….Monday and Tuesday 12/2 and 12/3 all of my TpT store is on sale!!!

Enjoy Thanksgiving!!!

Linda

Thanksgiving Subtraction Freebie!!!

Oh my goodness!!!  Thanksgiving is almost here!!! I can't believe how fast the year is going by!!

Just wondering…..Do you get Veteran's Day off?  We don't….can't decide if I wish we did or not.  We do spend at least a half an hour that day teaching about what Veteran's Day is.  For some of my kids….that will be the only time they hear about Veterans.  So maybe being in school is a good thing :)

We have been working on subtraction in my class…..and I've been trying to think of games to help them practice the skill.  Here is a Freebie for you!!  Hope you enjoy!!!

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Roll-and-Cover-Subtraction-Thanksgiving-Theme-968164

Hello Again!

Welcome Fall!!!

I don't know about all of you……but I LOVE Fall!!!!  The leaves are so beautiful!!

I know it has been a long time since I last posted…..and I have to apologize.  I was in a wreck this summer and it really took a lot out of me.  Thankfully I am healing and ready to hopefully blog more often!!

So, I have a question for you…..How do you do your lesson plans?  Write them out by hand? Do them on the computer?  I have a blank template that I use that has the basics….and then write in the rest.  I have to tell you about the most incredible pens I found!!!  At the end of summer I got this pen in the Office Depot Teacher bag…..It is made by Pilot…and called Frixion.  It is the BEST erasable ink pen I have ever found!!!  I can write in plans and a week later go back and erase and change my plans without a problem!!!!  

How are you doing with the Common Core???  We have adopted a new math program that is really….I mean really moving the kids towards addition and subtraction fluency!!!  It has been different trying to plan it as it is completely different from what we have used in the past…..but I can see a major improvement in my kids number sense and ability to add and subtract.  

I made a game for my class to use - we are on Chapter 4 of Math in Focus and we are learning subtraction!!  You can check it out at my TPT store!  

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Subtraction-in-10-947064

Week 2 Linky Party - Math Books

Don't you LOVE to use good picture books to teach all subjects?!  I do!!  Here are a few that I use...

   

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2qt718f8BcaH1vfEw0hYrCblDULOwpPa9tOLAykKVKVlVEOztGPjAF9fWexSsLGOCEd6Uu5rbceC2tTgO3QJm3gj4E1ALHF367HYoAbh5KcckHZya_YGjehw-2nAaQwK5-HqkqsFlludY/s960/Presentation1+(5).jpg

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_10?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=the+mitten+by+jan+brett&sprefix=The+Mitten%2Caps%2C254

I use this to count by 2's,  and 4's.  The kids get to make all the creatures and then figure out how many feet are in the mitten!!  They LOVE this :)  Plus it is great for them to take home and retell the story!!

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_pg_3?rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Amath+picture+books&page=3&keywords=math+picture+books&ie=UTF8&qid=1372632355

This is a great one to introduce the shapes.  I have used a large piece of yarn that is tied together - 3 children hold it to make the triangle and then more children join in as the shape changes!  It is very visual and they like helping make more sides!

http://www.amazon.com/The-Napping-House-Audrey-Wood/dp/0152567089/ref=sr_1_107?ie=UTF8&qid=1372632821&sr=8-107&keywords=math+picture+books

This one I use to teach counting by 2's and 4's also!  The kids then make a house and draw the feet in their house....They have to write the number sentence to go with it.

I can't wait to see some of the math books you are using!!!  I've added links to Amazon for the books....these are just a few that I use!!!

Books for the First Week of School!

My favorite book to read the first week of school is How Full is Your Bucket?

http://www.amazon.com/How-Full-Your-Bucket-Kids/dp/1595620273/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_y

We use this book to discuss behavior!!  I have a "Bucket" that is on my bulliten board and as I see "whole class good behavior"  I add drops of water to the bucket.  When it is filled....we celebrate.  We either have a special snack, extra recess, or everyone gets something out of the "prize box".  It is a great way to motivate the entire class.  I read it whenever we have behavior problems....and we talk about words that will Fill someones bucket or empty it.  

Another Great one to follow up with this one is:

http://www.amazon.com/Filled-Bucket-Today-Guide-Happiness/dp/0978507517/ref=pd_sim_b_3

This one is wonderful too!!!  Check them both out!  I have given you the links to get them on Amazon!!!  

Find me on FB!!!

Hi!  I have a page on Facebook now!!  I am hoping you will go to my page and Like it!!!   Hope to see you there!!!

https://www.facebook.com/CooperatingInFirstGrade?skip_nax_wizard=true

Summer......yikes it's expensive!

Wow!  Summer break is only in it's third week.....and I'm exhausted!  Do any of you "put off" most home improvements/projects until summer??  Well we do......and what a surprise we got this year!  After ordering new blinds we started washing windows and realized.....our windows are falling apart!!   Soooo......new windows are now ordered along with a new front door!  Blinds are on hold until the new windows are in......goodness.....

Anyway.....Are we ready for the New Common Core??  I'm excited to get started on teaching them all!  During the year to come we will be implementing the math common core for the first time.....due to our district adopting the Math In Focus - Singapore Math.  I'm excited to start this new program!  Do any of you use this program?  I would love to hear from you!!

I'll try to post more often this summer - and school year!!!  Sorry I'm not the best blogger :)   I have already made one new cooperative learning structure packet to go with our new math...it is Quiz Quiz Trade Number Bonds....you can check it out on my TpT store.....http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Quiz-Quiz-Trade-Number-Bonds-652516

Have a relaxing summer!!!

New TpT Item!!

I am happy to say I finally got a new product uploaded on TpT - it is Quiz Quiz Trade.  My kiddos love doing this structure!  If you are a Treasures Reading Series user....this goes with Unit 4 phonics skills.....if you don't use the same series....it is still good for long vowel reviews!  Each game covers a different phonics skill!  Here is the link to it!
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Quiz-Quiz-Trade-Treasures-Unit-4

Have you had snow in your area??  We had our first snow day in 2 years here in southwestern Ohio today!!  I was so excited!

I am so bad at this!

Hello Blog Friends!  I am so sorry I haven't blogged more!  I just have a hard time thinking of what to tell you!!!  Well....last week my daughter and I went to the Kagan Cooperative Learning Winter Academy in Henderson, Nevada!  It was wonderful....a very fast 2 days of classes.  I am now an official Kagan Coach!!  I am very excited about that and hope that I can help my colleagues to incorporate Kagan structures into their classrooms.

Right now I am working on game boards for Unit 4 of Teasures....a little late..... I guess better late than never!

I am hoping to make some Structure materials to go with the Common Core and our SLO.....time is always the issue here....

So...what has everyone been doing this winter??  Any exciting ideas to get your first graders on target??

Leave a message!!

Happy New Year!!!

I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas and New Year's Eve.  I am ready to go back to school tomorrow......but I've been busy writing lesson plans and making new games for my class!

Here is my newest item on TpT.....I hope you can use it!
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Vocabulary-and-Phonics-Games-Treasures-Unit-3


My kids love playing games with dice and since very few have board games at home, I try to turn a lot of games into board games!!

Enjoy this beautiful weather.....no matter where you are!  In Ohio we have about 6-8 inches of snow.....I LOVE IT!!!

Wow! Time Flies!!

I can't believe how long it has been since I posted!!!  Well....it was a busy summer and the school year is off to a great start!!!  I LOVED the week of Kagan Cooperative learning.  If you haven't checked out Kagan structures....go to Kaganonline to learn more!!
So I'm wondering how many of you are using the new Common Core Standards?  Do you like/hate them??  Personally, I like them.....they seem more focused!!  It is easier to teach a few things well rather than touching on a million little things.
Ohio has the new 3rd grade guarantee to contend with.....with 24 students in my first grade class....18 are on intervention to insure they make the grade on the 3rd grade reading test!  I like that none of my kids are getting over looked....but wow it is a lot to keep up with!!!  How is your school doing this (if you have a stipulation like this)?
Hoping this will become a regular Saturday morning this for me.....
I plan on making more things for TpT too.....just don't look for it real soon...... :)

Praying everyone has a happy and safe weekend!!

Linda

New Item in TpT!!

I'm so excited....I have my first item for sale in TpT!!   Click here to go see it!!!  I would appreciate any feedback you may have!!

Linda

Thank you so much to Alyce at Mrs. Bartel’s School Family for the award!!!

Now I need to pass it on to others :)

There are some rules:

Once you receive the award, you have to pass it on to others! Here are the 3 rules to follow:
1. Follow the person who gave you the award.
2. Link back to the person who gave you the award.
3. Pass the award on to 15 new bloggers.

So here are some of my award winners...

1.  Bethany at La Manzana Dulce

2.  DeAnne at First Grade and Fabulous

3.  Penny at  The Math Solution

4.  Alicia at  First Grade Factory

5.  Christy and Tammy at   http://flutteringthroughfirstgrade.blogspot.com/

I'll be adding more soon....to get to my 15!!

Next week I am taking a week long class on Kagan Cooperative Learning!!  I am so excited....I won a scholarship for the class from Kagan!!  I can't wait to share some new ideas with you!!

New QQT - well Remade QQT

https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B92ehXrWLeIBNUdIY3VuMWNuTTg

Hey Friends!  I am trying to create "nicer" QQT cards....so the above link will take you (hopefully) to my new QQT for Smart Start Words for the Treasures program!  Check it out and let me know what you think!!!

Linda

Hello!!

Hello All!  So I've been crazy busy this week.  My church hosted close to 1,000 6th-12th graders this week!  It is called SOS - Summer of Service.  I was on the Prayer Trail....it was a very hot week, but so rewarding!!  Anyway.....I'll be back to posting regularly next week - hopefully :)  Have a wonderful rest of the weekend!!!

Linda

Guided Math Book Study

I am doing the Guided Math book study with several other bloggers.  If you haven't started....you can go to  http://primaryinspired.blogspot.com/    to read the thoughts on chapter one.  Chapter two is being hosted by http://www.3rdgradegridiron.com/

These are my thoughts on chapter two:  

I agree with her Foundational Principals of Guided Math.  I found the principal "Learning Math is a Social Process" is so on target with how I teach!  I strongly believe that children learn more when they are able to discuss and process with their classmates.  My students are always involved in interactive structures that allows them to discuss and process with classmates.  

As fars a building a classroom that shows math is important.....well I don't think I do such a good job.  As Sammons says, we do a great job of making our classrooms literacy rich - but not rich in math.  That is a spot I will be working on for the fall.  As I think of my room.....I need a great deal more math on the walls.  

I loved her ideas of infusing the math into all subjects.....like getting out measurement tools to show exactly how tall a character is - if the story talks about that.  That visualization piece is so important in reading....but I never really think about using math to help them visualize!!  Maybe that comes naturally to some of you.....but not me :)

The emphasis on organization is a point that I worry about.  No matter how organized I am the first day of school.....it falls apart within a month or so.  This will be the year that I work harder on staying organized!  If anyone has any suggestions...I am open!!  Please post and let me know what works for you!

I have a question for everyone.....How do you feel about the Common Core Standards?  Have you started using them?  Do you feel Guided Math will help you better implement the CCS?

I am including another Quiz, Quiz Trade for you!  If you don't know how to play it see my earlier post that describes it.  This one is for math - the "Social" part of math :)  Just click the link below!!

https://docs.google.com/document/d/15fc-T5PagMyQLYR8NOIrPH1dI_ah8tOI_OFRNTIpzv8/edit

Linda

First attempt to share a document!

Okay, so today I am going to try and share with you one my favorite Kagan structures....and one of my class' favorites.  It is called Quiz, Quiz, Trade.  I am attaching (hopefully!) a QQT that I made up for the beginning of the school year - for Treasures Reading.  Print the cards and cut them out and fold them so the word is the same on both sides.  Each student gets a card.  You tell them to Stand Up - Hand Up (to give a high five to a partner) and pair up.  Once they have paired up they show the partner the card - partner reads the card and the one holding the card either praises the partner for getting the word correct or helps them to read it.  Then they trade jobs....the other partner shows his/her card and praises/coaches.  Once they have done that they TRADE CARDS and find new partners.  My class LOVES this!!  I let them do this for about 10 minutes.  It gives them a quick review of the words and helps them to learn to work together.  One important rule is THEY CAN'T PASS SOMEONE BY TO GET TO A FRIEND!!  They have to go to the person closest to them.  I love, love, love this structure!!  I have them made for all the Treasures Units and several for math, science, social studies......I guess my next adventure will be to get a Teacher Pay Teacher account :)  Let me know what you think!!!
Here is the link:https://docs.google.com/document/d/1r94X9Xbe0s7CwWW3w2QW9JkQM8vYrq5Ur65ZXRsChBY/edit

Linda

A Little More about Me :)

I am so excited!!  I am starting a program at my school for my first grade team called Growing Readers.  It is based off of a program at my daughter's school..(that was funded by a  wealthy Cincinnati family) ...I have put together 9 boxes of books with 30 books in each box.  The students will have the chance to take a book home every night to read.  They will bring it back each day for a new book.  I have collected books for years that have been sitting in my spare bedrooms - so now they have a better use!!  I have made up lists of each book in each box and we are ready to go!  


I thought I should also explain to you about my banner picture.  I took that photo last year while my hubby and I were celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary.  We took a trip to the Grand Canyon and I got to walk out on the Sky Walk!!  It was soooo cool!!!  If you have never been to the Grand Canyon or LasVegas - GO!!!  It was so much fun - and we are not gamblers so we didn't lose any money!!


I have told you that I teach using Kagan Cooperative Learning.  This approach really helps kids learn to work together and have a vested interested in their learning and that of their classmates.  If you have never heard of it....check it out!  Kaganonline.com


Hope you are resting and enjoying your summer!!


Linda

A New Beginning for me!

Well, I am not sure how well I will do with this - but here goes!  My first ever blog :)  I love teaching first grade and have been inspired by so many other wonderful bloggers out there!  I use a teaching method by Kagan Cooperative Learning and I am excited to share some ideas with you!  Right now though, I will be trying to make a blog site that is welcoming and a place you want to come back to!  Hope you will hang in there with me!


Linda