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