End of the Year!

It's hard to believe there are less than 2 weeks left of school. The year has whizzed by so quickly.

This is such a busy time for teachers with testing, end of the year programs, portfolios, grades, etc. etc. etc.

But it is a favorite of mine because it forces me to reflect on how much and how far we've come. It also comes with mixed emotions of saying good-bye to my precious little ones but hello to my beloved summer sanity.

I made my going away gifts this weekend. I got a cute idea from Pinterest with the crazy straws and Kool-Aid. Then I always give my kiddos a book.

If you'd like to grab a copy of the 'KOOL' tag click HERE.

 Every year I snap photos of all the things we do in class throughout the year. Then I put together a DVD for each of my students. I add our favorite songs and there you have it- The Class Memory Movie. Parents tell me this is an all time favorite and students watch it non-stop. It takes me many hours to put it together and during the process I wonder if it's worth it. This year's DVD is around 650 slides and 33 minutes long. But when I see the finished product, I cry every time and know it was well worth it. It's so fun to see the growth and learning that takes place in first grade. My babies come in hardly being able to read or write and go out reading chapter books and writing novels! 

(Well maybe not novels but really long stories)

It also helps me remember why I LOVE being a teacher!

volunteer gift

I found a darling idea on Pinterest for my volunteer moms.

They turned out pretty cute.

I found oven mitts at the dollar store for a dollar of course. Then all the kiddos signed them with colored Sharpies. 

We stuff them with gummy lifesavers, added a card and a bow.

Very easy, memorable, inexpensive, and useful!

Teacher Appreciation SALE!

It's the ANNUAL Teacher Appreciation SALE on TpT.

(Thanks Room 213 for the cute SALE BANNER)

My shop is 20% off on Tuesday and Wednesday. 

Use the promo code TPTXO for an additional savings.

Even my new packets are marked down.

LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! teachers and the greatest profession in the world!

Happy shopping!

SALE on TEACHER NOTEBOOK

BIG SALE this weekend on TEACHER NOTEBOOK.

My shop is up to 20% off plus an additional 10% at checkout!

Plus you can enter to win the Sweepstakes drawing.

Happy shopping everyone!

Sight WORD Practice Packets

So happy they are FINALLY finished and up loaded to my shops!!!

This is a great resource for practicing sight words. Activities include tracing, writing, building, finding, coloring, and reading sentences for each word.

They are practice sheets for the 100 Fry's Word List. They are divided into 4 packets of 25 words each or the MEGA pack with all 100 words. Each packet also comes with a fun spinner game that also has a homework version. There is also an assessment and tracking card.

I have spent the last 4 months testing, revising, and adding to these sight word packets. I've been using them with my firsties and they LOVE them. I've used them whole class, small group, and individually. I've really seen some great progress with sight words.

Here's some suggested ideas for use.

When I started this packet, I researched the difference between the Dolch and Fry lists. I found that the Dolch was created in the early 1900's and is made up of 220 basic sight words. It has not been revised for decades. Fry's list was created as an updated list based on the changes in language and is made up of 1000 of the most commonly used words in the English language. It is ordered by frequency so all of the Dolch words are embedded in Fry's list. That's why I chose to use Fry's list for my packet instead of Dolch. There is very little difference but Fry's list contains Dolch's and more. Whatever list you use, I hope you'll find my packets useful and helpful.

If you go to my shops and click on the preview there is a sample you can download to use.

All the packets are on sale until Friday over on TpT!

Happy Teaching!!!

Are you a 'Pooper' 'Pointer' or 'Scooper'?

I LOVE this book!

It is a true story about a dog that does his 'business' on a soccer field and his owner fails to clean up after him. So the teams have to play around a pile of dog poop. Everyone from parents, to referees, to coaches, to players point out the poop and advise all to stay away. But no one takes the initiative to just clean it up. Author Kirk Weisler does a great job explaining about the poopers (problem causers), pointers (tattlers, do-nothings) and scoopers (fixers, problem solvers) in this world.
Which one are you?
I've got to admit that at times I've probably been a little bit of a pooper and a pointer. But this book inspires me to try a little harder to be a scooper!

I was first introduced to this book several years ago at our first faculty meeting of the year. I had a wonderful principal, Jeanne Bates, who read this book to us and then presented each of us with our own book and a little plastic piece of fake doggy poo. She challenged us to put our fake doggy doo-doo on a shelf and let it remind us daily "Which one are you?"

Our school's character trait word for the month is INITIATIVE. That's a pretty hard word to explain to first graders. So I read them this book. They loved it! At first, we had lots of giggles every time I read the word poop but they got over it. We had a great discussion after about taking initiative but it also turned into a discussion on tattling. I loved how they were able to see that the 'pointers' are not taking initiative to help solve the problems but are just adding to it. I've seen a difference in the tattling and lots of kiddos are jumping in to help each other.
 I love it when a book inspires kids!

Click on the book below for a link to Amazon.com


Have a great weekend and thanks for stopping by!

2 Digit Addition Algorithm or Not?

I'm a little depressed today because my spring break is OVER and it's starting to get cold again outside. It's been gorgeous ALL week so I guess if we have to be back in school then it can get stormy again.

On Monday, I'm going to dive right into teaching 2 digit addition. Our 'Go Math' book has us teaching it by adding tens (with no regrouping). Then we add on the hundreds chart (the problems would have regrouping if you're not using the hundreds chart) and finally with place value (tens and ones no regrouping). It never discusses the algorithm of regrouping (carrying).

I love how in depth we go with the base ten blocks, and hundreds chart. The kiddos really need to know the WHY of it. I'm thinking maybe the reason the book doesn't teach it is because they want the students to really learn the WHY before concentrating on the HOW (the algorithm). 

Last year I knew this concept was coming up on the new core so I spent a few days on it. Several of my firsties picked up on the regrouping with the algorithm without me showing them.

Sooooo do I show ALL of them the algorithm or not in first grade? I'm curious as to what you all do?

To add a little FUN to my week, I put together a little mini packet for 2 digit addition. It has 4 extra practice sheets, a game (my kids are going to LOVE), and a scoot activity.

You can check it out at my shops!

I'd LOVE to hear your comments on teaching the algorithm or not in first grade.

Have a terrific weekend!