Ones and Tens...Valentine Heart Style!

I won't even begin to waste time saying how long it's been since I last blogged or explaining why.  In a nutshell, being a full-time mom and full-time teacher is a "full time" job. Who knew?! :) Even though my daughter is almost a year old, (seriously?!)  doing the working mom thing is still not easy for me.  I don't think it ever will be. I struggle with it...a lot. Those of you that make it "look" easy...  I'm in awe! 

 Truth be told, there are STILL more mornings than I'd like to admit that I cry on the way to work and every afternoon is a struggle between wanting to run home to my family and staying at work just "5 minutes longer" to get things ready for the next day.   

Having said that, there are still moments every day that I LOVE my job and know that I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing.  I seriously miss blogging more and I know that eventually I will find my way back on a more regular basis, but for now I'm not going to worry about it and just blog and share when I can (like when I get 2 snow days in a row! yippee!).

This girl gets her "love" of cold weather from her momma, I do believe!

But we did enjoy our snow days for extra cuddling!  How is she 11 months old already?

If you follow me on Instagram, then you already saw the obscene amount of candy hearts we used last week! Seriously...these things taste disgusting so I KNOW teachers are the only people keeping the lights on in the candy heart factories.  Am I right?

We did probability, estimation, graphing, place value, and dissolving experiments with our matter unit so I got my money's worth out of the hearts!  I kept some "clean" for the kids to eat and we just used the rest for all of our activities.

Every year, some kids struggle with the one more/one less/ten more/ten less concept.  Since we are a little (gasp!) ahead in math this year as of now, I wanted to incorporate candy hearts into some extra practice.  I found these little dressing cups at Target (100 of them for 1.99!) and pre-made groups of ten to use.  We use ten frames and base ten blocks all.the.time.  and I just like for them to see these important concepts in a lot of different ways. 

Plus...I am a firm believer that a little novelty goes a long way!

By the way...We are not playing Race to 100, I just accidentally pulled these mats out instead of my regular place value ones! Pretty sure the ones pictured are from Cara Carroll's fabulous place value unit.

This activity made it easier to "talk" math and see who was still struggling because we could say "Do we need to change the number of CUPS or the number of hearts?"  I even had a few inquisitive minds ask if they could count the hearts in their cups to MAKE SURE there were 10 in each one.  Sheesh...it's like they've seen me make mistakes before or something. ;)  I also made one large tupperware container with ten of the "groups of ten" cups inside as a visual for what 100 looks like.  I forgot to snap a picture.

Even my little friend who doesn't speak any English was able to get in on the action and count some "ones" with his partner! YES!

I did an activity very similar to this that I blogged about here last year if you are working on this concept and it's NOT Valentine's Day. However, I really liked  having a visual "group of ten" so if I did this again I would probably use the little disposable cups again with groups of 10 M&Ms instead of the pretzel rods. Plus, the cups were fun to stack!

Do you notice a theme here with my math instruction?  FOOD! 

Hehe.

If you are looking for more place value and number sense activities, check out my "Making Sense of Numbers" resource HERE.

Happy teaching to you!

'

My clock is broken.

Seriously, it must be broken.  I woke up early, poured some coffee in my Bon Jovi mug (Yes...I have one of those.  Don't you judge me.) and watched part of the Today Show.  Then, I went to get my oil changed (wow.  WAY past due.), went by my parents' house, ran to Target, and I swear the next time I looked at the clock it was 6 pm. 

 

Why do spring break days go by so darn fast??

 

I'm going to blame it on Target. 

 

Going to Target on a weekday is a little slice of heaven...and it's possible I may have indulged for a little too long.

 

On that note, here is an ode to Target via Pinterest.  These make me laugh.

 

 

 

 

 

I haven't posted a lot lately because my student teacher took over full time teaching the two weeks before break and her time with us has been FLYING by. Is it seriously April?

I have been a labeling/filing/paperwork doing/grade entering/long-term planning FOOL while she's been teaching.  

 

I did want to drop in tonight and say a belated "HAPPY EASTER"...and of course...drop off a quick freebie!

 

This is such a simple math activity, but one of my (and my kids') absolute favorites.  They have no clue how much they are learning by doing these 100's Chart Puzzles. ;) 

They just think it's fun!

 

I made new ones this year because my originals were showing their age.  I leave these in my regular math tub rotation and keep some handy for early finishers because they learn so much by working them and noticing all of the patterns.  They will get REALLY quick at doing these eventually...but the first few times they are totally bewildered with all of the pieces and feel pretty awesome when they get it all put together!

 

Basically...I just printed this little 100's chart on lots of different colors of paper and laminated them.  (My Scotch laminator at home has a lot thicker plastic than the one at school, so I used that to keep the pieces a little sturdier.)

 

Then, just cut each 100's chart into crazy, zig-zag pieces and stick them in a bag. 

 

Voila! Puzzles!

Click on the picture below to get your free copy!

(By the way - it is supposed to be off-center. I wanted the pieces to be more square instead of rectangular so I squished it to one side.)

 

Also...here's another fun 100's chart just in case you need one!  Feel free to grab it.

 

 

 

I'll be back soon with a brand new packet full of Reading and Writing Ideas to study Main Idea! Check back to WIN it.

 

Happy Spring Break and Happy Teaching to you!

 

 

 

Catching Up!

Well, hello!  It's been a while! 

 

My blog was having major technical difficulties for a little while and apparently...planning a wedding and teaching first grade is a full time job...TWO full time jobs...so, this girl has been a bit busy. 

But, in extremely important news...my gals are going to be STUNNING, aren't they?

 

I'm so excited.

 

My house is currently a disaster but my bridesmaids have dresses... and report cards are finished. Sawyer doesn't mind the house being a wreck, and I have a good excuse.  It's called...

I had to work on a SATURDAY.

 

Yep, it's true. I wouldn't kid about such a thing.  Working on a Saturday is not a joking matter. 

 

I know you don't believe me, but it's true.  Our snow days caused us to have staff development day last Saturday.   I had to present, so I was nervous and for some reason I kept thinking about the hilarious Kristin, aka the Teeny Tiny Teacher, talking about people throwing rotten tomatoes. 

 

(She cracks me up.  If you haven't checked out her blog...you must.  I especially love her Tuesday recaps of the Bachelor.  She makes me laugh out loud. A lot.)

 

Anyways...luckily, no one had any rotten tomatoes to throw so I'll take that as a success....especially for a Saturday. 

 

I actually presented about all of the fabulous resources in blogland and on TPT, Pinterest, etc.  So, basically, I've been too busy talking about blogging to actually blog.

 

Sigh.

 

Things have not slowed down in Room 106, though!  My student teacher has been gradually taking over more subjects and it's been eye opening to sit and watch from a different perspective.  It's crazy how many more little conversations I hear and things I notice when I'm not the one in charge of instruction.  I'm learning things about myself and the way I teach. 

Today, I heard one little guy say "I got the most sleep I've gotten in ages last night!"

He's like a 70 year old trapped in a 7 year old's body.  Cuteness.

 

I try to get things done that I never have time to do while she's teaching, but I have a hard time concentrating because I'm always turned around watching my kiddos and giving them "looks" when they are not acting right.  I can't help it.

 

I did go on a "labeling" spree, though.  Labeling things is therapeutic for me.  I use these cards from Creative Teaching Press to label EVERYTHING in my room.  Everything.  It's concerning, really.

 

 

I just noticed that they are out of stock until April 6th.  I will personally apologize for that.  If anyone needs some, I have approximately 700 packs hoarded in my classroom. ;)

 

We have been working on place value and numbers to 100 in math.  It's one of my FAVORITE things to teach. Love it.  I have oodles of resources for place value that I've collected over time...but most of my games are from Cara Carroll's Place Value Packet of Fun!  Awesome resource!

 

Race to 100 - We will continue to play this all year!  It's tough to learn to trade but when they finally get it, angels sing...or something like that.

 

Cover Up

 

"Make the Most" 

Super simple game played with numbers 1-9 of a deck of cards and unifix cubes to keep score.  Each student takes turns picking a card and deciding whether to put it in the "tens" or "ones" space.  It didn't take long for them to realize that if they got a high number they should put it in the tens place to make the biggest number!  Fun to watch the light bulbs go off!

 

 

Here are some fun websites to check out as well...
 

 

Big Count Bayou - Love this bear's southern drawl

 

Dogbone 100 - Addictive!
 

 

Interactive 100 Grid - So many possibilities

We worked on 1 more, 1 less, 10 more, and 10 less today.  Some of them got it right away...some of them looked at me like I was crrraaazzyy. 

So, while I was at CVS today using a coupon for some anti-aging eye cream,

(ever since this last birthday, I've been a little nervous about this whole "getting old" thing)

I had an idea!  Tomorrow, we shall EAT our place value and I am quite sure that will do the trick.  I got some pretzel sticks for tens (rods) and some M&Ms for ones (cubes)...because let's be honest...math is always better when you can snack!


We also studied the sun, earth, and moon last week.  I am a firm believer that sometimes the simplest of projects turn out to be the best!  We had some extra time on Friday, so I set out my basket of "space" books and piled scrap paper on the table and let them go to town making their own picture of what they had learned about outer space.  It led to a lot of great discussions and some pretty phenomenal pieces of art!




 

 

 

This picture has evidence of my sick labeling obsession. I wasn't kidding.

 

Happy Friday and Happy Teaching to YOU!









What's Normal??

We have had some cRaZy weather here in Virginia which translates to some crazy schedules at school.  For example, we went to school 2 hours late this morning due to freezing rain.  This afternoon...the dog and I were hanging on the back patio enjoying the sunshine in short sleeves.  Well, I was wearing short sleeves...not so much the dog. 

 

We reserve dressing him up for special occasions. ;)

 

In other news...the crazy schedule means that my plan book is a hot mess!  My poor student teacher has yet to see a "normal" week or hardly a "normal" day since she's been with me. 

 

But I'm not complaining...the extra time off has given me a few extra days to snuggle with the newest sweetie in my life...my brand new niece and goddaughter. 

 

This is Hadleigh. 

 

 

Total sweetness.

 

We are quite smitten with her...obviously.

 

Well, I am off to do a little bit of laminating and watch the Bachelor... but I did manage to finish up my latest math pack and wanted to share with you in case you are getting ready to stock up for the BIG sale on Sunday!  Have ya heard??


All of my goodies will be 20% off and TPT is throwing in 10% off the discounted price as well!



So here it is! 

It's all about making sense of numbers...teens, beginning place value, skip counting, and more!  Check it out on TPT!

*The first 2 people to comment on this post will receive this new math pack for FREE* 


Oh, and before I go...
I know this is all over social media...but if by chance one person reading hasn't seen this, it's worth posting.  If you've seen it and havent clicked on it yet...it's worth it. 

Love him, love his message.  Just plain love!
 

 

"You got air comin' through your nose. You got a heartbeat. That means it's time to do something!

 

We were made to be awesome."

 

I need this little guy in my class every day to "pep talk" me. :)

 

Happy teaching to you!