Flashback Friday: One of my best Common Core Posts from last Oct.

When The Teacher Becomes The Facilitator:

This was a super-popular post that I wrote last year:

We were exploring all of the ways to create 6.  I didn't give any directions; I only gave my small group of four students 6 double-sided (red & white) chips and the ten frames I won at I Teach K last summer.   I asked a few questions, but mostly I just let them discover on their own or with a partner.

"I arranged my chips in a different way than you did,
but we both have 2 white chips and 4 red chips."

At first, I just let them play with the ten frames and chips. 

Then, The Magic Happened:

Let me show you how to make an AB pattern with your chips.

They explored and discussed so many ways to create 6.  

They learned from each other.

They helped each other.

They used their words and had so much fun making different combinations of 6.

How many more do I need to get to ten?

You can get these plastic double ten-frames at Lakeshore.  Click HERE for the link.

Now, we will complete page 6:

Each week, we created a picture using one or two shapes.  On week one we used only one piece.
We made one of these things: a sun, a kite, a gift, a bowl, a tee-pee, or a fish.

Students were also encouraged to come up with new things to make out of only one piece. 

Student may choose one of these or create their own.

On week 2 we used 2 pieces.  They could be 2 of the same piece or 2 different pieces.

Can you see how the house is 1 + 1 = 2, but the bird is 2 + 0 = 2?
Sorry about the paint on the sunglasses :o/

On week 3 we used 3 pieces.  They could pick 3 pieces that were all the same or 2 different shapes (1 of one shape and 2 of another shape), but NOT 3 different shapes.

Can you tell why the face is 3 + 0 = 3, but the cat is 2 + 1 - 3? 

Imagine the fun your kids will have creating objects with all one shape or two shapes.

After we created the picture, we completed the sentence with words.  This is what page 6 might have had on it:

My students came up with these.

 Then, we wrote:  6 is a ________.  (flower, star, ship, etc.  They got to pick one.)

I printed 2 of the same page on each master so you can simply copy
the entire packet, cut the pages in half, and staple both mini books.

Then, we completed the number sentence that went with the picture:  

0 + 6 = 6

1 + 5 = 6

2 + 4 = 6

or 

3 + 3 = 6

This makes a great book to keep for Open House.  

You can find my Addition Book by clicking HERE.

Time For Number Lines & a FREEBIE or 2

My Attendance Number Line:

Once you take attendance, allow the children to use it as a center.  They can remove the cards, mix them up, and try to put them back on the clothesline in order.  They can also play "Which number is missing?"

Students slip their folded cards onto the clothesline.
As students come up to place their card, they have to look at the cards
already on the clothesline and decide where to place their card.  

As my students arrive in the morning, they pick up their number card and place it on the giant number line.  

I store the cards in this box.  Before the students arrive, I scatter the cards on a table.
They look for their card and place it on the number line where they think it should go.

It's Easy To Make One:

I picked up a synthetic rope at the 99 cent store and I attached it to the side of my Discovery Center counter with these little screws with circles on the ends of them.

You can check out my fancy knot work.  :oD

It looks like the perfect place for such a long number line.

If you don't have a space big enough for cards, you can also pick up some colored clothespins at the 99 cent store and write the students' numbers on them.  I would write it on the top and then flip it over and write it near the opposite end up-side-down just in case the clothespin swings down and hangs from the clothesline. 

Higher Level Thinking At Its Best:

It's great to see them re-adjust the numbers already on the clothesline as they figure out where to place their own number.

"This is where the 7 goes, after the six."

They work together to problem solve so all of the numbers fit on the clothesline.

"You should put the 9 right before the 10 because nine comes before ten."

The Cards:

You can make your own cards on a computer.  Just remember to fold them like the photo below and not evenly in half.  They are easier to slip on and stay on the clothesline better that way.

You can store them in a little container like this one, or place them in your students' cubbies before school.  

You might like:

Number formation cards.  Print & laminate and you have a great practice card to use with DRY ERASE MARKERS.  It's easy to print when the pen glides smoothly over the lamination.  A quick erase and you are ready for the next student.

We used the straight "4" and the straight "9" instead of the pointy 4 and curvy 9.
Click the image to get see this set in our TPT store.  

Here are 2 FREEBIES:

Here is a set of number line cards that are perfect for folding and placing on your own clothesline.  They go from 0-100 so print as many or as few as you like:  CLICK HERE.

CLICK the image to get the FREE set.

Here is a set of our small perfect number cards.  You can give a set to your students to arrange, in order, on the carpet so you can see if they can order numbers, or use them as flashcards.  This set goes from 0-30.  You will love the fours and the nines.  :)

Click the image to grab your FREEBIE.

CLICK HERE FOR YOUR FREEBIE.

Check out my:

FaceBook:

 Click Here to see my Facebook. 

(Tons of FREE ideas.)

PiNtErEsT:

 Click Here to see my Pinterest Boards. 

(Oh, the ideas on these boards!)

TeAcHeRs PaY TeAcHeRs:

Click Here to see my TPT Store

(Did you say, "15 freebies?!")

See you all tomorrow.

Palma :)

Please Come to My Party...

Thank you, I will if you invite...

Scroll to the bottom for non-Halloween ideas.

Do you love the story,  Witch, Which Come To My Party, as much as I do?  

It's by Arden Druce and illustrated by Pat Ludlow.

The illustrations are amazing and the story creates a "circle story" that ends up exactly where it began.

The illustrations are filled with hidden clues like the wolf hiding behind the tree.

My kids made their own version...

 ... to take home and read to their parents.  

But wait... you don't have to stick with the Halloween theme.  You can choose ANY THEME:

Thanksgiving, Christmas, any holiday, any story, nursery rhyme characters.  The choices are endless.

Here is an example of our Halloween theme:

Click the image.

They got to choose any characters they wanted, I wrote them down on lined Post-its, and they copied and illustrated.  

The pumpkin wanted to invite the cat, and the vampire wanted to invite the skeleton.

Since I am teaching a TK/K combination class, the T.K. kids got to create only 3 pages and the kindergarten kids got to create 5 pages.  Each character invites a new character, but the last one invites the very first character so the story can start all over again.  

They had so much fun thinking up new characters to invite.

The best part was that we got to have a nice discussion about CHARACTERS.  

We were able to complete 3-5 pages in a 30 minute small group setting.  Then, they got to read their own story to a friend before taking it home.  It was a huge hit!

Here are the new templates I made for you:

Click the image.

Just imagine writing this book with a nursery rhyme theme:  

"Jack, Jack, please come to my party."  "Thank you, I will, if you invite Jill."

"Jill, Jill, please come to my party."  "Thank you, I will, if you invite Little Bo Peep."

"Bo Peep, Bo Peep, please come to my party."  "Thank you, I will, if you invite Little Boy Blue."

You get the idea  :o)

Check out my:

FaceBook: 

I have a Give-Away that ends Monday night, 

so check it out:

 Click Here to see my Facebook. 

(Tons of FREE ideas.)

PiNtErEsT:

 Click Here to see my Pinterest Boards. 

(Oh, the ideas on these boards!)

TeAcHeRs PaY TeAcHeRs:

Click Here to see my TPT Store

(Did you say, "15 freebies?!")

See you all tomorrow!

Palma :) 

Common Core At Its Best

When The Teacher Becomes The Facilitator:

We were exploring all of the ways to create 6.  I didn't give any directions; I only gave my small group of four students 6 double sided (red & white) chips and the ten frames I won at I Teach K last summer.   I asked a few questions, but mostly I just let them discover on their own or with a partner.

I arranged my chips in a different way than you did,
but we both have 2 white chips and 4 red chips.

At first, I just let them play with the ten frames and chips. 

Then, The Magic Happened:

Let me show you how to make an AB pattern with your chips.

They explored and discussed so many ways to create 6.  

They learned from each other.

They helped each other.

They used their words and had so much fun making different combinations of 6.

How many more do I need to get to ten?

You can get these plastic double ten-frames at Lakeshore.  Click HERE for the link.

Now, We Will Complete Page 6:

Each week, we create a picture using one or two shapes.  On week one we used only one piece.

Student may choose one of these or create their own.

On week 2 we used 2 pieces.  They could be the same or different.

Can you see how the house is 1 + 1 = 2, but the bird is 2 + 0 = 2?Sorry about the paint on the sunglasses :o/

On week 3 we used 3 pieces.  They could pick one or two shapes, not three.

Imagine the fun your kids will have creating objects with all one shape or two shapes.

After we created the picture, we completed the sentence with words.  This is what page 6 might have had on it:

My students came up with these.

 Then, we wrote:  6 is a ________.  (flower, star, ship, etc.  They got to pick one.)

I printed 2 of the same page on each master so you can simply copy
the entire packet, cut the pages in half, and staple both mini books.

Then, we completed the number sentence that went with the picture:  

0 + 6 = 6

1 + 5 = 6

2 + 4 = 6

or 

3 + 3 = 6

This makes a great book to keep for Open House.  

You can find my Addition Book by clicking HERE.

See you all tomorrow.

Palma 

Have You Seen These??? A New Series: Palma's Favorite Things:

I LOVE My New Apron!

My new apron from Kinder Gardening.

I LOVE my new apron from Kinder Gardening.  You can grab one by clicking HERE.

Just think of the possibilities! 

You can create CVC words.

You can add a "magic silent e" to CVC words.

You can use sight words.

You can create addition or subtraction sentences.

You can show < or > with numbers or dots on cards.

It's endless and oh, so CUTE!

They come in the cutest color too!

You can find more ideas on their blog by clicking HERE.  

There is a FREE, adorable "Hello" song there too.

See you all tomorrow for more of Palma's Favorite Things.

Palma :)

Today's FREEBIE & 1, 2, 3 Sale

A Colorful FREEBIE:

Children trace color words and match them to the rainbow strips.  This will brighten your room at the beginning of the year!  

Click the image for the FREEBIE.

Our Common Core Counting & Cardinality Pack:

Our Counting & Cardinality Pack is on sale for 50% off today only.  

It includes numbers 0-20.

Click any image to go to the download.

Blackline masters for tracing
and matching sets.

                         

Counting, number formation, ten-frames, number lines,
 number bonds, and number order.  It's all here!

Number Memory Game:

You will use our Number Memory Game all year long to reinforce numbers:

Click the image to go to the download.

Number Bingo:

Number Bingo is one of our most popular products.  You can use this game all year long and the kids will LoVe it!

Click the image to go to the $1.00 download.

Have you checked out our Pinterest Boards?

Follow us on Pinterest for even more FUN!

Click the image to go to our boards.

Sorry today's post was so late.  

I went to see the play "Once" last night :)

See you all tomorrow.

Palma :)

Grab the rainbow FREEBIE by clicking HERE.

Which Came First? The Chicken or the Egg?

In Our Classroom, It Was The Chicks...

... because our eggs didn't hatch, so we had to find some new baby chicks FAST!

We found some that were just 1 day old!

Our Classroom Barn:

I found this old rabbit hutch at a garage sale last summer and decided to clean it up and turn it into a barn for our farm unit.

The chicks love having a private side and a side where they can see what we are doing in our classroom.  

Today, We Sat In A Circle...

... and we let the little chicks walk around inside of our circle.  The children got to watch them drink water and eat chicken feed, run, and even try to fly!

They loved getting to pet the chicks and the chicks loved climbing up on their shoes.  

Now, My Head Is Into Next Year:

Planning for the beginning of next year is taking over my mind.  Here is one thing that I start each new year with:  My Beginning of the Year Bundle.  It's on sale for a limited time and it includes so many great products to help you start the year off right.  

Click on the image.

Here is what you get:

First Day Certificates- Beautiful, colorful certificates that are sure to be a keepsake for your students.

First Day Comfort Note For Parents- Help your parents cope with leaving their child at school with this cute note.  

Letter-Name Book-  There is one page for each letter of the alphabet.  As the class looks at the students' name cards, they find the day's focus letter.  You write all of the names that include that letter on that letter page.  Students love to find their name on the pages of this book.

Daily Journal-  Students help you to complete the journal prompt for each day.  At the end of the month, you send the journal home with each child so they may share all of the things they did during that month with their family.  Great for home-school communication.

Boomer, Our Class Mascot Book-  Each weekend a different student gets to take home our class stuffed animal and write about what they did together over the weekend.  They include a photo too. 

This $19 value is usually offered for $15, but it's on sale this week for $12.  You can find it by clicking HERE or on the image.  

See you all tomorrow.

Palma :)