Move It, Move It, Move It

In yesterday's post, I gave you suggestions for songs I have used with my students for brain breaks.  Music is the perfect cure for the spring fever wiggles.

Movement in the classroom also serves other purposes.  Crossing midline is an important activity that should be incorporated into your schedule.  Read this article for more information about the importance of this activity.  My students practice this skill during calendar time each day.  If you peeked into my classroom, you would think my class was doing aerobics!  This directions for this activity is included with my FREE Skip Counting Birds packet.  Click on the picture to get your copy:

I included a skip counting by 2's math center in my Skip Counting Birds packet for you to try.  If you like the activity and would like the set of skip counting by 2's, 3's, 4's, 5's, 6's, 7's, 8's, 9's, and 10's, you can purchase the complete set at my TPT store for $3.  

There is a colorful page like this for each number.  I would suggest putting these sheets in a page protector and letting your students write their answer with a marker.

There is also a page like this that students can color.

Here's a fun rap video you can show your class, too.

Add caption

2 minutes 36 seconds

Brain Breaks

Brain Breaks are a great way to refocus your students when they have a case of the wiggles.  Why not give them a great way to get their wiggles out so they can focus on their school work?

My favorite brain break involves music and movement.  I absolutely love Greg & Steve - We All Live Together CDs,  and your students will, too!

My favorite songs for movement are:

Volume #1:  Skip to My Loo

Volume #2:  Listen & Move, The Boogie Walk, and The Freeze

Volume #3:  Shapes

When we listen to the Shapes song, I pass out shapes glued to popsicle sticks. Students stand and hold up their shapes when the song tells them to stand up.  

       

For more ideas, visit Rachel @ Minds in Bloom Move to Learn linky party.

Early bird catches the worm!

You know the expression, the early bird catches the worm?  Well, when it comes to curriculum, the early bird catches mistakes.  Many of you have been buying my "Documenting Common Core Standards" packets for next school year.  One of the teachers who bought one of these packets was an early bird.  This early bird teacher is already working on her plans for next school year.  Pretty amazing, right?  She found an alignment problem when she printed the standards labels and was nice enough to let me know about it.  When I printed the labels with the Open Office program that I made the labels with, they printed correctly.  But, went I printed the pdf file of labels, the labels weren't printing correctly on the labels.  I made sure I had the updated version of Open Office and Adobe, but it didn't solve the problem.   After many, many hours of moving this label and that label down a row or two, convert it to pdf, and print it, I finally got a set of labels that was lined up correctly in the pdf format.  But, I could see how labor intensive and costly in labels this was going to be.  Plus, I might want to include labels in future lesson packets.  So, what's a girl to do, but go shopping!  I thought Microsoft Word would solve all my label pdf problems.  Wrong!  I found the same pdf issue when I used this program.  UGH!  If someone in cyber-land knows how to solve this problem, please e-mail me.  The first person who can tell me what I'm doing wrong will get to go on a $20 shopping trip in my TPT store.  Email me at:  teach123.school@gmail.com

Until someone can tell what I'm doing wrong, I knew I needed to fix this problem.  What I did was make all new labels with Microsoft Word and saved them as a word doc.  There are two versions of each label.  One with lines and one without lines.  Here are examples:

I thought teachers who plan to print these files on labels would want the ones without lines.  The ones with lines would be helpful if you plan to copy these files in the copier, cut them apart and have your students glue them in their documentation books.  The advantage of the word doc. is if you want to make a page of one standard you can cut and paste from these files to a make a new sheet easily.  With every dark cloud, there is a silver lining.

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE!  If you know what I'm doing wrong, please help me.  I use labels a lot!  I can't make labels with clipart in a word doc.  Due to copyright issues, I have to save clipart in pdf files.  Plus, if I use a font that you don't have on your computer, the labels wouldn't look the same in a word doc.

Math Center: Graphing Boxes

Do you shop at Staples very often?  I swear I should get a stipend for all the publicity I do for them.  But, I love Staples, and I can't resist telling you about the great stuff they carry.  On my latest trip, I bought these:

The package of small plastic containers was $2 and each of the bag of 36 erasers was $1.

Do you ever do this?  Look at something like this at a store, and then try to come up with a lesson to use them with.  I do that all the time!  I think it's one of those inductive-deductive things.  Some teachers probably begin with the lesson and then shop for supplies.  I do reverse of that.  Shopping inspires me!

I think these would be great in a graphing center.  Students will choose a box that they want to use to graph.  There are graphing templates and sorting sheets.  Students need to sort the shapes first so they'll know which graphing sheet to use.  Some boxes have 3 different shapes.  The packages come with more than 3 shapes, but I only put 3 different ones in one of the boxes.  Other boxes have different amounts of shapes which is why they need to sort first.  After sorting, they will make a graph using the correct template.  They need to write the title, number it, write the names of the shapes, and graph the amount of shapes that was in the box.  They need to write the number of the box so you'll be able to grade their assignment.

This type of center has so many positives.  It is quick and easy to set up.  You can add a seasonal touch by adding seasonal objects such as:  feathers in November, small ornaments in December, different colored hearts or conversation hearts in February, and the list goes on and on.  If you are studying shapes in math, put attribute blocks in your graphing boxes.

Included with this packet are:

*Graphing center directions - one for teachers and one for students

*2 graphs (one with labels and one without labels) of each of the following:  3 different objects, 4 different objects, and 5 different objects

*Box number labels

*Writing paper - 3 different types:  For students who finish early, they will write a story that includes their shapes in the story.

*3 sorting sheets - black and white

*2 sorting sheets - color

*1 pattern sheet

Here's a preview of the sorting sheets.  There is a colorful version and a black and white version:

Here are examples of the graphs included with this packet:

These are extension activities:

Click HERE to visit my TPT store.

Mother's Day & Graphic Novels

Do you have students who have absolutely no interest whatsoever in reading a book?  Doesn't it just break your heart!   You've tried everything in your bag of tricks to share your love of books, but nothing has worked.  The thing I found interesting about these students is, their lack of love for reading doesn't necessarily mean they are poor readers.  In fact, I've had some high readers who never read for pleasure.  Sometimes I've found the trouble is a limited attention span.  These students are often overwhelmed by all the words they see on a page and shut down mentally when they see a book that has "too many pages" (their opinion).  These students do better with non-fiction books because the reading is divided into bite-sized pieces.

 Graphic novels are another type of book that will hold these readers' attention.  Here's a great article you should read.  These books appeal to boys and girls.  A favorite of my students is the Baby Mouse series.  Boys love all the ones about Superheroes.

I put together a new packet called "My Mother is My Superhero" which has activities about superheroes.  Students make a book, which I thought would be a great Mother's Day gift.  This unit can be taught at any time of the year, but with Mother's Day right around the corner, this seemed like a great time to use it.  Activities include:

My Mom is My Superhero (book)

• Front cover page

• Writing page: My Mom's super power is . . .

• Design your superhero's logo and write about it

• Comic strip: Write a comic strip about your superhero

Book Center

• Non-fiction worksheet

• Fiction worksheet

• Book list of books about superheroes and moms includes: title, author, reading level, and fiction/non-fiction

Language Arts worksheets:

• ABC order

• How many words can you make from SUPERHERO?

• Palindrome worksheet

• Writing worksheets

• Comparison: Fill out chart comparing two superheroes and

then complete a venn diagram

Math Center

• Superhero Scrabble: Choose words from the word bank, find

the letters' scrabble value, and add the amount.

Available at TPT for $4.

Isn't the clipart cute?  Teacher Tam made it.  Go check out her great stuff!

Celebrating Birthdays at School

How do you celebrate birthdays with your students?  Some schools do not allow special snacks (a.k.a. cupcakes), in those cases it takes more creativity on the teachers part to make a students feel special on their special day.

GIFT:

I like to give my students a small gift to open.

These are from Oriental Trading.  They cost $3.75/dozen.

I put in small things like glittery pencils, pencil grips, and silly bands.

These are from Oriental  Trading.  They cost $1.99/50.

The added bonus of these gift bags is they will add color to your classroom.  I like to cut the tops of the sack off with decorative scissors, fold over the top, and staple it.  Then  hang them from a clothes line in the classroom.  I had mine hanging in front of a row of windows.  I hung the sacks on the clothes line in a pattern, secured it with a clothes pin, and TADAH!  You now have a colorful addition to your classroom.  

ACTIVITIES:

BIRTHDAY STAR:

Through the years, I have had mixed feelings about having a Star Student.  Yes, I think each child needs a time devoted to him or her so he or she feels special.  But, it never fails!  I will type up the schedule for the entire year and give it to parents at the Back to School night so they can put it on their calendar.  Plus, I add a reminder in my weekly newsletter and send home a reminder note to parents the week before.  After all of this communication, a parent will forget and then wants to reschedule or a parent wants to take their child out of town that week to go to Disneyland and wants to reschedule.  The trouble is, I've already wrote and copied my newsletters for the next three weeks.  So, now I have to revise my newsletter and make more copies.  The solution to all of this is a BIRTHDAY STAR!  How many students are out of town on their birthday?  Very few I'm sure.  How many parents forget their child's birthday?  Zero.  Birthday stars have special privileges!  The star gets to:

*Choose a game or activity for your classmates. A few

choices include: Heads Up 7-Up, chalkboard races, or free

choice centers.

*Share your favorite book

*Share your favorite toy, game, or stuffed animal

Our class makes the Birthday Star a book, too.

I am joining Denise @ Sunny Days's  birthday linky party.  Thank you Denise for hosting this party.

Do you like FREE stuff?

It's Giveaway time and you are not going to believe this!  Over 20 items are up for grabs from AMAZING bloggers all over the USA!  It's Top Teacher's Giveaway Galore!

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Don't forget to include your email address.

You must enter by April 27th.
 From me you could win:

Busy Teacher Forms: Fourteen forms to help busy teachers. (K-3)
Forms include: Behavior charts, estimation jar note, snack reminder, student information form, reading log, reading log rubric, weekly report which includes behavior and work habits, assignment paper for collecting students' work, happy notes, supply alert, tardy reminder, desk fairy, and a wish list letter to parents.

While you are here, be sure to join my:

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Then stop by these great BLOGS, look for this same post and enter to win their free products with them!

Please note there is a link to the product and blog.
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 Sight Word Snap Cubes by Jennifer of Empowering Little Learners: "Looking for a fun new center for your kids? How about having them make the sight words with Snap Cubes! Use these cards to have your students count out blocks to create the letters and form the pre-primer sight words! Then they count how many cubes it took to make the words! Two recording sheets are included (one where students just count the snap cubes, and another where students count and write the word.)" (K-3)



 Making Words with Blends by DeAnne of First Grade and Fabulous: "Making Words is a great activity to work on phoneme isolation, segmenting sounds, and blending sounds to make words. This packet includes Blends (with both short vowels and long vowels with silent e. You will find ten different making word directions which include their own recording sheets." (k-2)


 Dolch Sight Words for Kindergarten by Lidia Barbosa of Kid’s Reading Activities: Sight word cards in a fun theme. Use them in a center, small group or on your word wall. A word sorting activity is included. (K)

   Center Signs in Spanish by Lidia Barbosa of Kinder Latino: These are 24 colorful center signs in Spanish. It includes two sizes. One full page size plus small cards for your Centers pocket chart. (K)


   Adding 3 Numbers Pack by Melissa of Dilly Dabbles: Pack full of activities to support instruction on adding three numbers with sums within 20. (K-2)

  Baseball Antonyms by Sally DeCost of Elementary Matters: This is a game to practice antonyms. It has a baseball theme, and can be played like "Old Maid" or like "Concentration". It can be played with a pair of children, or a whole reading group. (1 - 3)

  Compound Word Magic Square for Grades 3, 4, & 5 by Heather of HoJo's Teaching Adventures: This is a great fun puzzle where students need to match 24 compound words together. You will get three different puzzles with this item. (3-5)

   Interactive Student Notebook by A Teacher's Treasure: The ultimate alternative assessment & differentiating tool. Students will become creative, independent, reflective, thinkers, readers and writers. Students will be able to express their own ideas, process, and or apply the information and skills learned in this class. This notebook serves as a live journal, personalized textbook, and working portfolio. Engages learners of all learning modalities & multiple intelligences.  (4-12)

   Vocabulary Detectives 2 by Ruth of Teacher Park: Run weekly vocabulary contests! As your students read their books, they fill out the Vocabulary Detective cards and put them in the Detective Jar. Have a drawing at the end of the week for the winners!  (4-6)


   Alphabet Writing: Quick Prompts From A to Z by Erin of Small Types: Get students' pencils moving and their creativity flowing with these short alphabet-themed writing prompts. Students can write notes to friends, make lists, turn alphabet letters into main characters and describe the details in fictional adventures--All corresponding to the letters of the alphabet. (Includes five prompts for each letter to suit different levels and interests.)

 Fun on the Farm by Brian of Hopkins' Hoppin' Happenings: Here is a fun Farm Packet for primary grades. It includes Farm Rhyming Words - The words used are actually from the book Country Morning by Christine Lynn. Read more about it on my blog. It also includes I Have Who Has Dolch Words, Addition and Subtraction Center. You can use them as concentration matching, go fish, etc. All, but the I Have Who Has, has a work sheet and an answer key to go with it! I hope you enjoy! (K-2)

 Geometry Fun: A Supplemental Unit by Mandy of Mandy's Tips for Teachers: This 77 page packet includes vocabulary cards, a student dictionary, three games, two sorting activities, two creative art projects and a short assessment. (2-4)

 Farm Math Work Station Activities numbers 11-20 by Mandy of A Special Kind of Class: Seven math work station activities including, subtracting, counting, number recognition, number matching, measuring and 2 adding activities. Includes response sheets and answer keys. (K-1)

   The Three Frogs by Arlene of LMN Tree: This is an ELA Guided Reading and Writing Unit for Grades 1-2. It includes a complete lesson plan, Word Study, Make and Take Book, Graphic Organizers, Story Sequence Writing Activity, Phonics Worksheet, Writing, Chant and Activities.

   Writing Center by Caitlin of Kindergarten Smiles: I created these activities for my students writing center. They are all independent and fun! These can be used throughout the year (more than once). Activities range from name writing, to writing the globe, to sight word writing, to much, much, more!  (K-2)

   I Spy With My Frog's Eye-A Differentiated Word Work Activity by Marsha of A Differentiated Kindergarten : This is a differentiated I-Spy activity which includes 16 pages of CVC, CVCC and CVCe activities that are tiered to help you meet the readiness levels of all your students.  (K-2)

   Writing Lists by Nicole of Teaching With Style: This set of 10 lists is perfect for using during Daily 5. In my classroom, if students choose Work on Writing, they can work on their story from Writer's Workshop, start a new story, write a letter to a friend, or write a list.   (K-3)

   Digital Clock Sorting Game by Jennifer of Best Practices 4 Teaching: This product allows students to sort digital clocks by 'quarter til', 'quarter of', 'quarter after', etc. Students will quickly see the pattern of the times and commit it to memory! In 2 days, all of my students had learned this concept using this sort whereas the lesson in our math kit totally confused them!

   Synonym-Antonym Rap Packet by Abby of Third Grade Bookworm: This packet is full of activities for a 2nd or 3rd grade classroom studying synonyms and antonyms.  Students will enjoy the Synonym-Antonym Rap, partner game, buddy reading activity and other printables included in this set. Wrap it all up with a cute class book template that can be used with other units in the future! (2-3)

  Early Elementary Science - Human Body Unit with Literacy Math by Lisa of The Lesson Guide: This Early Elementary Science based Anatomy Unit will teach students about the Human Body (inside and out) with colorful graphics and diagrams using a variety of Literacy and Math skills. This unit includes Measurement Skills, an original Poem with a Get Moving Analysis, Information/Facts about each Body Part with Vocabulary, Templates for students to create a nonfiction book about their body, Full color pictures of body parts and locations of body parts, a Classification and Math graphing activity with Critical Thinking Analysis, a Unit Project/Human Diagram, a Word Wall Classification activity with Phrase Cards, Resources and more! (K-2)

   Building Popcorn Words by Krissy of Mrs. Miner's Monkey Business: This product includes weekly cut, build, and glue activities that follow along with my Monkey Popcorn Word Fun Unit as well as the Treasures series word list (which includes many Dolch and other HFW as well). It also has center materials that students can build the words in a pocket chart.  (K-1)

   Scooping Up Story Elements by Tonya of Super Second Graders: This is a fun way for students to pick story elements to plan out a story. Students will pick a card from characters, setting, and plot and record then on the recording sheet. Students will use the chosen element to create a story. Students will have a blast getting to create fun and whimsical stories. (1-4)

   The Answer is… What’s the Question? Math Task Cards by Michelle of Making It As A Middle School Teacher: 28 numbered cards that leave the level of difficulty and specific math skill to be assessed up to you!  Some students may only do basic operations, while other students may be required to do more advanced skills and give more details for their answers. Two student response options are also included!!  Use for early finishers, have the whole class complete in Round Robin style, or use as a center. Pull out specific cards or use all 28 cards." (5-8)

   David Shannon Author Study by Mary of Sharing Kindergarten: This is an 80 page author study using the books of David Shannon. It features 8 book. Each book title has a reading comprehension game, answer key, and writign prompts with it.   (K-1)

   Candy Land Long Vowel Game by Mel D of Seusstastic Classroom Inspirations: This unique game is one of over 50 games I have to offer! Over 18 pages of long vowel words are on "look-alike" Candy Land cards. All you need is a game board & game pieces. Print, laminate & cut & use for years to come. These games can be used during Daily 5, tutoring, literacy stations, Daily 5 Math, RTI, ELL, Title 1 groups, homeschooling & more! The possibilities are endless!  (K-3)

  A Not So Wimpy Resource: Fractions, Decimals & Percents Using Money by Kathie of The Diary of a Not So Wimpy Teacher : This resource is great for differentiating instruction. Help struggling students, or those who have a difficult time with math concepts, understand fractions using money. This resource includes an info sheet, practice sheet, flashcards, and a bingo board.   (3-5)

Again, join my blog and leave a comment with your email on this post to win my product before APRIL 27th.  Winner will be announced on April 28th!  




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I used Random Generator to decide my winner.  Although there are 39 comments, there were 37 different people who entered my contest.