More than the Basic Math Number Sentence

My students have worked on their math addition facts for a few weeks and now I have begin to teach them how these math facts can be connected to create equations!

Instead of just knowing that 4 + 2 = 6 and 3 + 3 = 6,
my students are beginning to understand that 4 + 2 = 3 + 3.

Connecting two sets of expressions with an equal sign to create an equation like this is a very new concept to many of my students.  To help my students practice their fluency and review this math concept, I have introduced the game Make it Equal.  The students must match different expressions that are equal to one another.

Check it out in my Teachers Pay Teachers Store!

iPads in my classroom

Yesterday as my students were finishing their math work, an exciting delivery showed up at my classroom door.  Three wonderful technology people arrived with a hands full of iPads for my students.  I have been honored to be able to be a part of the Connected Classroom Pilot this year.

I cannot wait to start to use these iPads daily to help my students learn and grow.  As I begin to prepare lessons for my students, I have strived to make sure that my students know exactly what I expect and how to use the iPads before we begin using the apps and websites on the devices.

I created a student activity for my second graders to discuss how to use these devices.  The students were able to share with each other how they believed the iPads should be used and then as a teacher I was able to explain any misunderstandings.  This was a wonderful way to begin our journey as a class with these devices.

Click here to view the student activity on Teachers Pay Teachers!

Romans 7:19

Packing Up the Classroom

Every year I have the fun task of clearing out my classroom so my floors can be cleaned over the summer.  All of my desks and bookcases have to be emptied out and moved into the hallway.  I am able to put a lot of book baskets in my cubbies for storage, but this year I had a new idea for packing up.  

At the beginning of the school year, I made 12 crate seats for my students.  I used these around my small group table and student computers.  During the year, I used these crates to store extra packs of notebook paper, tissue boxes.  As I was cleaning up my bookshelves, I stored a lot of books in these crates.  I designated some crates for my holiday books so they will be easy to get to next year.

My neighbor teacher had a wonderful idea to turn the wooden cushion over on the crate as she stored them.  This is a great way to keep the cushion clean during the summer.  I stacked many of the crates when I put them away.  By flipping the cushion over, I was able to keep the cushions from being squished all summer long.

Matthew 6:19-21

Summer Reading Bookmarks

As I send my students off to summer break, I keep reminding them to read, read, read!  My students have made so much progress this year with their reading and I want them to keep working on their reading all summer long.  In my classroom, I have books organized in book baskets so my students can easily tell which books are on their level.  I teach my children how to find "just right" books but these labeled baskets help keep my classroom library neat and organized.

I was trying to think about how my students would know which books or book series would be good for them to read over the summer vacation.  I created a Bookworm Bookmark for Just Right books for each of my students.  I included book titles and pictures of books on the correct Fountas and Pinnell level for each of my students.  The bookmarks include just right books for each reading level and a few books from the next reading level.

To download my bookmarks, click here.



Acts 8:26-40

The End of the Year is Here!

I cannot believe that the end of the year is here.  It is crazy to think that we only have three days left of this school year!  Today I had my classroom awards ceremony and my students loved it!  I used my school awards and created candy bar certificates for each pin the school provides.  Today I called each student's name, shook his or her hand and presented the child with a certificate and a candy bar that went along with the award.

It took some thinking to find candy bars that match each school award, but did my best to find ones that would work.  Click Here to download the set of 20 candy bar award certificates from Teachers Pay Teachers.

There are a few samples below.  To download this free sample pack, click here.

1 Corinthians 9:24

Measuring Length

My class just finished a math unit on measuring length with metric and customary units.  My students had a great time using rulers, yardsticks, meter sticks, and tape measures to measure items around our classroom.  Within the Common Core, my students have to determine which unit to use when measuring items.  I created two mini-assessments for my students.  One is for customary and one is for metric units.  These could be used as pre and post assessments to see what students learn about the different units used to measure length.

Click here to see in my TPT store!

Click here to see in my TPT store!

1 Corinthians 15:58

Nutty About Nouns

I have been working on reviewing some grammar in my classroom recently and I decided to spend a week on nouns.  Click here to check out my Nutty About Nouns Activity Set on Teachers Pay Teachers!

This activity set includes a word sort for common nouns and proper nouns along with a recording sheet .

 There is a pronoun activity where the students can work individually or with a partner to match the correct pronoun to the sentence.  There is a recording sheet for this activity.

Nutty about Nouns also has a writing assessment where the students use common nouns, proper nouns and pronouns to write a letter to a squirrel.

1 Corinthians 9:24-25

Where Am I? Student Tracking Chart

My students are not allowed to leave my classroom whenever they want to.  They must ask permission go to the bathroom or the nurse.  Sometimes I also send students to the office with messages or to the library to return books.  I know that I am the one who gives my students permission to go to these places, but sometimes it is nice to have a posted reminder near my door to tell me where each student is.    This has also become very handy when I have students who leave my classroom at schedule times for extra support in reading or math.

I have the chart below printed and matted on construction paper and then labeled.  I hang this with a magnet next to my door with close pins numbered for each of my students.   I use numbers to identify each of my students so I can recognize where each student is, but a parent who may be volunteering in the classroom does not automatically know which students are pulled from my classroom for extra assistance in math or reading by looking at the chart.

I keep the close pins on "Learning in the Classroom" whenever my students are within my classroom.  My students are taught to move their clip to the appropriate box when they leave the classroom and then place it back in numerical order on the "Learning in the Classroom" when they return to the classroom.  I like to keep the close pins in numerical order so I can quickly tell which students are or are not in the classroom.  

This chart can also be helpful during fire drills or other safety drills to know where each child is. 

Click here to see this chart within my Teachers Pay Teachers store.

Psalm 9:11

Sign Language in My Classroom

My sister is minoring in American Sign Language at Clemson University and it has inspired me to use some sign language in my classroom.  I didn't like calling on students and then having the answer to my question be another question of, "Can I go to the bathroom?"  Now my class uses American Sign Language signs for restroom and water.  To make the sign for restroom, you make a ASL "t" and shake your hand slightly.  My students know times that they can or cannot ask to use the restroom, but this symbol works great if there is an emergency while I am teaching.

We also use the sign for water.  I have a water fountain in my classroom, but I do not allow students to get up and get water whenever they want.  To make the ASL sign for water, you make the sign for "w" (your pointer, middle, and ring finger to make a W) and then softly tap your chin with your pointer finger.

These signs are great because they do not interrupt my lessons, but I am able to address my students' needs by nodding or shaking my head.

Psalm 63:4

Measuring Readers Theatre

My students loved working on this Readers Theatre after our math unit on measurement.  This was a great way to incorporate math and reading together!

Check it out on TPT!

Luke 15:3-6

South Carolina Readers Theatre

Every Friday in my classroom my students spend time working on a Readers Theatre.  I create these for my children to focus on the topics that we are currently learning in the classroom.  My children love this chance to work with others!

Check it out on TPT!

Luke 15:3-6