2D and 3D Shapes

In Math, we worked on 2D and 3D shapes.  This little Math Helper on TPT came in handy to help remember the shapes.  

After working all week on the shapes, we ended with building the shapes.  The kids had a blast doing this and worked really hard on it.  Each student got some toothpicks and mini marshmallows along with a card that had a shape on it.  I found these cards that showed how to build the shapes on TPT.  They got to build their shape and when they made the shape, they got a new shape to try.  The last shape that they made they got to keep and take home.

Have a great week!

Five for Friday: Video Tour, Science Success, and Back to School Fun!

Happy THREE day weekend!

After our first full week with students, I need it! My week has been crazy busy and last night was the first evening I made it home before 8:30. 

Exhausted is an understatement, and I've decided the world will be lucky if I get out of my pajamas today. ;-)

I've got LOTS to share with you today, so if I blow past FIVE I'm sorry (but there is some good stuff toward the end so hang in there).

Thanks, Kacey, for a great linky!

1

I love task cards, so we started practicing our task cards procedures right away with this "Get to Know Me" roam the room from Amanda Madden. 

P.S. If you don't follow her, you should. She gives amazing freebies to followers now and then, and I'm pretty sure this was a freebie at one time. Priced at $3, still a great deal!

2

Um...did I mention I love task cards? 

These were new to me this year and perfect for teaching my kids how to read QR codes (another thing I love) using the QRafter app.

This "Back to School Fun Quiz" is a freebie from Teacher's Toolkit.

3

Read to Self stamina is at 10 minutes after 7 days of school. We tried 12 on Friday, but...well, let's just say that ended in an impromptu lesson on "stamina breakers" (activities, not students though maybe I really would have liked to name names!) and "stamina builders."

P.S. I love two things about my tiny room (okay, three).

1. Two walls are covered with whiteboards (no wasting chart paper for this stamina graph).

2. One wall of shelves.

3. One wall of windows.

So the walls. 

I love the walls.

The space between the walls is tiny!

4

 We are also building our Work on Writing stamina. I think I have a group of authors because this has been easier than read to self!

Friday we tried Read to Someone, but that also needs more work. Volume is a biggie for this bunch!

5

We also got busy with some math this week using two of my favorite resources.

Math Helper on the right.

HOTSHOTS on the left.

6

This is one of the good ones, so I'm sorry the explanation is long!

In case you don't know, I teach 2nd grade, but I am also the K-2 science teacher. This year I have 1st and 2nd grade combined for a 20 minute science block (and then K for 20 minutes while 1st/2nd goes to music). That's 30 students in science at one time. 

I know, I know. Some of you have 30 students all day, but for me that is a large group!

The first week was a great success because of this blog post! You must check it out. She literally has everything you need for a great first week of science and it was all FREE!

I stretched her five day plan into 7. We watched the books suggested on YouTube because I didn't have them. The "Super Scientist" procedures and badges (see red arrow in picture) made it possible to do a non-chaotic experiment with 30 kids! I'll be using her "Super Scientist" procedures all year for experiments. I just cannot explain how excited I am about how the week went!

7

And finally, last Saturday I made a video tour of my classroom on Facebook. In case you missed it, here is the link.

I wish I would have dressed up a little--or maybe even fixed my hair--because it has about 2,400 views now! But oh well, that is the real Saturday me. :-)

If you have questions about anything you see, leave them in the comments here or on the FB post and I'll try to answer. I'll be making a video later today to explain the Fluency Tubs so keep an eye out (and I promise I won't be in my PJs ;-))! 

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Big Heartland Back-to-School Blog Hop and Giveaway!

Hey there! We have some new friends from the Heartland, and we've teamed up with them for a back-to-school blog hop.

First, we wanted to share our back-to-school tips with you!

If you want to see how I'm doing #2 and #3 with a video this year, check out this post!

Kristi and I picked some of our best back-to-school resources to giveaway to one lucky winner. Here's what our winner will receive:

Math Helper (with workmats)

Super Sight Words Pack (level of your choice)

1st Nine Weeks HOTSHOTS (your choice 1st or 2nd grade)

Check out this post for an explanation of HOTSHOTS!

Go ahead...enter to win these back-to-school goodies!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Big Heartland will also be having a linky each month that you are going to want to check out!

That will be a featured product priced at only $1 on the 1st of every month!

This month our featured product is our Sight Word Connect Four game pack (regular price is $5), so hop on over to our TPT store to pick it up for only a $1! 

Then you'll want to visit our new friends to see what back-to-school tips and tricks they have for you, enter their giveaways, and check out their $1 deals. 

An InLinkz Link-up

Happy Friday! Freebie Alert--Today Only!

Good morning! 

My first full week off has been crazy! Although Wednesday was a chilly day and perfect for a little curled up on the couch, movie watching with my kids. ;-) 

My son is finishing up driver's education this morning which means we are on our way to getting his restricted license. Yikes! Each morning while he was in class, my daughter and I have been working out and shooting hoops. 

Yesterday I was sent to Wichita to get the things we need to tile my new bathroom and laundry room floors. Yippee! I should have a functioning second bathroom on Monday. I have waited FOREVER for this so I am super excited. I'll post pictures soon. :-)

Okay, now for the real purpose of this post. I wanted to let you in on a great new product I posted on TPT: Math Helper (with workmats)! These are going to be AMAZING for my kiddos next year. Our math series had a math folder with some of the information, but I'm abandoning the series for next year AND I wanted the open number line, 20 frame, and most of all a place value mat! 

I listed it as a freebie because I wanted to thank all of our followers--TPT, blog, and Instagram. The price will change to $2 (still a great deal if you ask me) after today, so go grab it for free while you can.

Click the pictures to check it out:

Enjoy your day!