Summer Lovin' and a Freebie

With summer among us, I'm sure many of us have done many (well, maybe some) things on your Summer Bucket List, and.....

I am sure many of you are preparing (maybe even planning) for your return to home away from home (school). Yes, I am guilty too. However, I mainly have been loving my summer break-Sunshine (until 8:30/8:45 p.m.), relaxed schedule, lots of family time, pool, beach, farmers' market, berry and veggie picking, fun with friends, visiting family, vacation, kids sleeping in (well at least 2--but for the past week all 3 and, I've been getting up later too.), meeting hubby for lunch dates, catching up on house projects, tutoring, at home learning with my kids, library, movies, and the list goes on......

Then, reality sets in or my teammate says, "Let's talk business." (Meaning-Let's talk about Meet the Teacher, binders, supplies, procedures, behavior management, and the list goes on.....). So I get to thinking, reflecting, and dreaming. Then, I sit down to create new games, activities, and practice or edit things that I created.  I teach Math, Science, and Social Studies. Last year, I used the UPS check problem solving method.  This is a previous post.

Here  is my newest set of posters. This will be a limited time freebie. Then, I will place it in my store. I ask you leave a comment and become a follower to my blog. (I am in process of figuring out how to add the Facebook button again. I had it, but all was lost when my total blog was wiped. See previous, AHHHH, post.

What is on your Summer Bucket List? What have you completed?
What are you preparing and planning for school? Be sure to grab your freebie and leave a comment.

Problem Solving In Math

 I found this quote from Howard County Public Schools wiki space in regard to problem solving:

Problem solving is not an isolated activity. It doesn't occur every Friday. Instead problem solving is a skill that favors every mathematics lesson. Problem solving is more than just one-step word problems. Problem solving should feature risk tasks, authentic purposes, and multiple ways to be solved.

I completely agree. 

Each day students should be posed with critical thinking. Students should be challenged to think "out of the box". Students should be guided through questioning and class discussion. Problem solving should not only occur in Math class, but it should also involve life matters (which all teachers do each day). These life skills not only foster and promote critical thinking, but they also teach students independence, patience, tolerance, courage, collaboration, discovery, exploration, and so much more. 

However, Math opens a door to problem solving. Therefore, problem-solving strategies are established and used in Math classroom quite often. In the past, I have used a method with the acronym R.O.P.E.S.

R=Read the problem

O=Omit the unnecessary items by marking them out

P=Plan

E=Effectively solve the problem

S=Study your solution (check your work)

This past school year, however, I used the  UPScheck method because this is what our Math series uses. I like the method. As the year has progressed, the students and I have added hints for each step. I love it! It is simple and easy to use.

The above picture shows our anchor chart. It started out:

Understand-What is the problem asking?
Plan-Decide on the problem-solving strategy you will use.
Solve-Solve the problem. Show your thinking. PROVE IT!
Check-Does your answer make sense? Is is reasonable? Do you have proof? If a word problemDid you find the solution to the question(s)?

Sweet Treats!

I have joined my friends at A Classy Collaboration.

My Sweet Treat is just in time for Valentine's Day.

Click here to grab your freebie!

Be sure to head on over to Sweet Treat Linky for more treats!

It is about-TIME-I posted!

It has been quite a long time since I have posted.

 BUSY, BUSY, BUSY! 

 New school  (adjusting and finding my niche -YIPPEE)

 new school year (half way complete-YIPPEE),

 new grade level (great team)

 new teacher evaluation requirements (I scored perfect on part one-YIPPEE!)

 LIFE (AHHHHH!),

 love (AHHHHH!),

 laughter (HAHAHA!)

 FAMILY,

 and the list goes on. 

I know many can relate.

I have been creating all kinds of new games and fun. My students love SCOOT. Check out the new game at my TpT Store

Here is a Freebie!

Problem Solving and What's for Dinner

You are probably wondering how do problem solving and dinner go together. Well, sometime dinner is a problem we all have to solve. Therefore, I have one Monday Made It for you related to solving your problems for dinner, one for dinner planning, and one for your students to help when problem-solving in Math.

What's for dinner?

Tonight my family is having Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken from My Real Food Family. I placed on a whole-wheat tortilla, added some cheese, and some black beans. Viola!

The second item is a menu planner to ease your dinner problem-solving stress.

Last, you can ease the stress in Math. I am always telling my AC Math students to show their work. We created an anchor chart together of what that means. I have it hanging in the front of the room. I also taught them to use this activity sheet, Math Problem-Solving Model, as a guide especially when solving word problems.  They are no longer in the novice stage of where to begin when I say, "Prove It" of "Show Your Work" because this guides them to use  pictures, math thinking in words, and numbers (equations). Each area also has a short explanation.

If you see something you like, please be sure to become a follower. Let me know in the comments.

Enjoy!

Back to School and Me

So  busy...I have made soooo many things and I am sooooo far behind on posting, but I am doing a quick post for now for Manic Monday  at Classroom Freebies and 4th Grade FrolicsMonday Made It.

We have had students back at school for 1 week. It seems pretty odd because....

This year I am not a classroom teacher (sob, sob.....confusion.......strange). However, I am a teacher of gifted learners. Although, my blog name is Learn with ME in Grade Three, I am a teacher to the following

4th and 5th Grade Accelerated Math

2nd Grade Gifted (Resource)

5th Grade Gifted (Resource)

and

1st Grade Gifted (Resource)

It seems very strange. I have been a classroom teacher for 15 years. (I am calling this year Sweet Sixteen.)

I have met with all my students, and I am excited about my new adventure.

I am going to keep my blog name the same (for now. However, I was also thinking about shortening it to Learn with ME. I don't know.) I will be blogging about various things I am doing in my classroom.

Since Math is the first thing I have been teaching, my students have been working on seven Math about Me Projects. Upon completion, there will be pics of each project and how to (lesson plans/ideas), but for now I am sharing part three of the Math about Me. I wanted my students to use measurement (using standard and metric units). So I created an organizer for the students.

Here's the freebie link.

If you like what you see, please be sure to follow.

Enjoy!



My VERY FIRST game!

I told myself that I was going to create a game in March or April. Well, I did it! I have a very busy schedule with three young children, a wonderful husband, a first grade classroom, and life. Anyway, here it is. All you need to do is add a die, players cubes, and a couple of students. Thank you to my friend for all her help in answering my silly questions and encouragement. (You know who you are!)

Click here to get the game-Double Dippin' Digits

Math Tub Signs

Each week (sometimes every two weeks), students have the opportunity to practice math skills through Math Tubs/Games. I have 5 baskets. Sometimes I have two baskets with games about the concept we are learning, two baskets with games about a concept we have learned about, and one basket with a game about a concept that we will learn about in the future. However, some of the time all the games are about the concept we are learning. The students play one game per game. I use this chart to manage Math Tub Rotations. Therefore if we do not use Math Tubs a day or so, the next time that we use Math Tubs rotations will not be any trouble. Just move the clip--WALAH!

These are my Math Tub Baskets.

  I made new Math Tub Labels. You may click here. Add Math Games and Enjoy!

Spin, Count, and Record--A Money Game

Here is a game my class absolutely LOVES! It is so easy! I use it to introduce how to count money. I use a spinner that I can write on and the overhead or digital camera and screen . (My school has two smartboards-housed in the media center.) Anyway, I begin just using pennies and nickels as direct instruction. Then, I transfer to math tub (group games) and last individual game. I proceed with pennies and dimes. Then, we use pennies, dimes, nickels. Last, we use pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters.Of course, this takes several daysand/or weeks (depending on your class). Once, they understand how to play--It is "easy, breezy!" Students can count money before you know it. I have even used this game with kinders. Just add a spinner and money--Let the fun begin!

Click here to download Spin, Count, & Record

Seuss and Measurement Pics as Promised

The Foot Book was a great introduction to measuring using feet. Students used non-standard units to measure their feet. First, they traced and cut out their own foot. Then, they measured.

The Cat in the Hat Comes Back was read. The students discussed the silly things the cat did. Then, we made a T-chart toinclude Places te Cat Could Go and Silly Things He Could Do. The students then completed a sentence starter (in Seuss Unit by Mrs. Larremore) and illustrated. 

Seuss, Measurement, NO Camera-Oh my!

Today, we continued our Seuss Adventure. We read Horton Hatches An Egg. Before reading, I used prior knowledge to begin our discussion and t-chart about what hatches from eggs. It ws amzing what the students said. One student even said that tadpoles come from eggs. (True.) Then, the students created a new animal. They had to be a combination between an elephant and some other animal. These turned out cute. Students then wrote and shared stories about an adventure their animal might take, describing their animal, or creating a story similar to the Seuss book. On the other side of the t-chart, we listed our new animal names. Tomorrow, I will take my camera to post pictures.

This afternoon during Math we continued our study on measurement. We measured things in our room with feet that we use for a sight word game. The students had to measure the length of their desk from top to bottom and left to right. They had to measure the desks height and their height. Then, the students could measure other things in our room. This included measuring my height too. SOOOO fun!

Dr. Seuss is on the Loose!

Last week, we started our Seuss Celebration on Wednesday. (Well, this day turned out to be W.acky Wednesday because my school had to be evacuated due to a gas leak. We had to go to the middle school next door. Everyone was safe, but no Seuss Celebration on his birthday.) Anyway, we started our Seuss Adventures last week. Our grade level took turns switching classes, my lesson included reading My Many Colored Days. We discussed feelings and how wearing colors made us feel.  I used Mrs. Larremore's idea and had the students write about their colored day. I added a because in the writing. When my students shared their writing, they had to use drama or dance to show their feeling. Some classes used colored pencils to illustrate. My class did a crayon resist. Here are some examples:

On Friday, we read If I Ran the Zoo. We made a t-chart as we discussed real zoo animals and Dr. Seuss's (McGrew's Zoo Animals) . Students then used art supplies and cut outs (as an option) to create a McGrew Zoo Animal. We have been discussing Who? What? When? Where? and Why? during our last author study. Therefore, students wrote a story about their zoo animal answering these questions. I will post pics tomorrow of their animals.

Today, we read The Foot Book. We reviewed antonyms by making a list of opposites. Then, the students traced their feet. They had to choose a set of opposites to illustrate and use in a sentence.

Fingers---toes

slow-fast


Then, the students used nonstandard units to measure from toe to heel and from side to side.