What's in the Bag?

 Any guesses what all I've brought home today?

I hate bringing work home, but this is the first Saturday that I *won't* be working since school started. I'll be coaching at our first volleyball tournament. So excited!

My homework this weekend...

Book order

Grading handwriting 

Grading placement assessments

New science curriculum

(need to plan for next week)

After last week when I had so many pictures, I couldn't share them all...this is the ONLY picture. :(

Short weeks always seem so much harder to me! 

Here's a quick rundown of our week (without pictures):

We practiced Daily 5 rounds--ready to rock and roll on Monday (I hope)!

We continued our Addition Strategies unit and started on Subtraction Strategies as well.

Speaking of that...kids love the simplest games. Give them two dice (one with larger numbers) and let them roll. They write a subtraction number sentence and solve. Happiness all around. :-)

We learned the "rule of 5" for illustrating. Not sure where I got this, but the kiddos have to make sure their illustrations have 5 details and 5 colors.

We studied The Pledge of Allegiance in K-2 social studies and made these books from Sliding into Second. 

And finally, I was adventurous this year and ordered some stability balls for my class. I only got 5 for now--wanted to try them out. I'm drawing names for now and making observations as to how it helps--or distracts--my kiddos. I can't believe I didn't take a picture of them! I promise I will soon.

Have a great weekend!

Five for Friday (a day late)!

Good morning!

I hope you have a great weekend plan with your idea of fun…mine right now includes a lot of relaxing. Hee hee!

I'm headed out later to watch my little kiddos play basketball. Several of the boys and girls in my class are playing "little league" and have been wanting me to come watch them. I can't wait! Reminds me of when my own kids were just little ones running around on the basketball court. 

But first I thought I'd pop in with some pictures from my week, so here goes…

Be sure to link up with Doodle Bugs!

First, I was finally brave enough to try writing on our table with dry-erase markers. I have seen this all over, but was always to afraid to try it. 

What if it didn't come off well and I ruined the table?

I tested a small area first because I'm cautious that way...

It made subtraction with regrouping so much more exciting and I was the "best teacher ever." Ha! 

And look:

Afterwards, a Clorox wipe and good as new! 

You should try it (if you haven't already) and then you can be the "best teacher ever" too.

Math problem types…I posted this last week, but didn't have the shading. Here's the problem types by grade level:

K - Green

1st - Orange

2nd - Blue

This definitely shows how much ground work is laid in the K-1 classroom. Thank you K-1 teachers (and I really love teaching 2nd)!

I am a dark chocolate kind of girl. I have a piece (or two) after lunch every day. I came upon this wrapper twice this week and it gave me a chuckle.

And finally, the reason that I don't post on Friday evenings. 

I am supposed to, you know. That is the deal during the school year. Kristi posts on Mondays. I post on Fridays Saturdays.

The green arrow is pointing to my son.

He is a freshman. Last night was the first time he got to suit up for varsity. He looked so short (even though he has outgrown me and nearly his dad too)! I love cheering on my kids…and I'm really glad they love to play basketball. It is my favorite sport.

My daughter has two more weeks playing in middle school, which means I have two more weeks coaching. I love to do it, but I am definitely ready to have more time on my hands. 

Speaking of basketball…Rock Chalk, Jayhawk! KU plays K-State today. I told my littles that I'd wear purple on Monday if we lost…hope the Jayhawks don't let me down! ;-)

Individual Math Review Games

I have started to have 2 rotations during my math time so that I am able to give more individual help to the kiddos.  I teach a whole group lesson and then dismiss.  Nine of the students begin with the book page while the other 9 work on a fact practice page and then we switch.  On Tuesday and Thursdays, instead of fact practice, the kids will work on writing numbers (we are working on writing our numbers to 1,000).  I am lucky to work in a school where I get an aid to help out during the math time, so while I'm helping the kids with the book, my aid is helping with the fact practice and the writing numbers.

 

Some of the kids finish the fact practice early and I am trying to find some game type ideas of things they can do quietly by themselves at his/her seat.  I found this cool idea that they have loved to do this week at Math Coach's Corner:

 

 

 

I would like to find ideas for counting money, telling time, addition, subtraction, and/or odd and even numbers.  These are a few skills that we have been learning about so far and I would like to find something to reinforce those skills.  Something like a game that they can work on quietly and by themselves if they finish early.  Any ideas?

 

Hope you have a great weekend!