Napping House Guest Post From Oceans of First Grade Fun

I am thrilled to have Ms. A from Oceans of First Grade Fun guest blogging today. The very first blog I ever read was hers. I was blown away with her knowledge, creativity, and piazza for teaching. She is fantastic! I hope you ENJOY!!!


Hi to all! Ms. A here from Oceans of First Grade Fun. I was so honored when Sheree from Petersons-Pad asked me to guest blog for her. I love her blog, especially the math and word work games she posts. I have such a good time planning for math so I thought I'd share with you one of the activities I use with my first graders every year.

Speaking of love, I love, love the book the Napping House. I read it every year during Math Workshop in my classroom. Usually on Wednesdays we will complete a math and literature connection, and this book kicks off the first Wonderful Wednesday Math and Literature activity in my classroom.

After reading the book I ask the students to estimate the number of feet they think are in our classroom, including the teacher. After I write their guesses we talk about what would make good estimates. Then I charge students with the task of finding out how many feet are in our classroom. They can use whatever manipulatives they'd like in order to find the answer. After they have completed their work they fill in the activity sheet. On subsequent days they'll find out how many feet, eyes and hands are in their own house. Some students will connect right away that they will have the same number of feet, hands and eyes in their family.

Here are some pictures from a few years ago. We created origami type houses to display our work.

This activity comes from the book Math and Literature. I've tweaked it over the years to include how many feet, hands and eyes are in their families.

The last page of this kit is where I really get to see their thinking in math class. Usually I'll hand out a random number (even) and my students have to come up with the make-up of the family. For example, if a student gets eight they could draw a mom, dad, son and a daughter. Or they might draw a mom, dad and a dog. To use the sheet I've provided you can plug in the number or have your students choose a number. Now, I've had a student use an odd number and come up with a really creative way to show that number.

  I hope you enjoy the kit. Click on the picture to download your copy. I want to thank Sheree for asking me to guest post today! This was so much fun!

AWESOME as always! Thanks Ms. Arnold!

Awesome News!

Some awesome news to report this morning.

Awesome News #1: I'm having a guest blogger on FRIDAY. You will not want to miss this. Ms. Arnold from Oceans of First Grade Fun will be here blogging on my little ole blog! She has got to be the greatest math blogger on the internet. Not to mention she is also fantastic in literacy too. She is taking time out from her busy schedule to be a guest blogger for me. I'm in awe I tell you. WaHoo!


Awesome News #2: TpT is having their annual Back-To-School Sale this weekend August 12th and 13th. So you need to window shopping and make your wishlist. Then go back on the 12th or 13th and fill your cart. Oh I forgot to mention that it's up to 28% off. Everything in my shop will be 20% off and then when you check out you need the code (BTS12) to get an additional 10% off your entire cart. They only do this sale twice a year so stock-up and SAVE BIG!

Awesome News #3:
I added some more themed Number Charts to my shops.

 An OCEAN theme

 A BRIGHT Multi-Colored Star theme

An Outer Space theme

Remember if you don't see a theme that goes with your classroom, just email me and I'll see what I can make for you. Click on the word for a link to my shop.

TeacherPayTeacher

Have an awesome day and I'll see ya back on FRIDAY!

Good-Bye Summer Linking Party

I know most of us are back in the classroom working hard getting ready for our darling little people. Some of you have already started and others have a few more weeks of summer left. So I thought I'd have-a-go at my very first linking party. It's time, whether we want to or not to say GOOD-BYE to SUMMER 2012.

Here's the rules:
*Share 4 things about your summer!

1: a place you visited 

2: a book you read (either for fun or for school)

3: something you did or made for your school class

4: a fun thing you did

*Grab the picture above and share it on your blog.
*Write your post then come back here and link up.
Then like Farley and her Currently,
*PLEASE comment on the 2 links before you and the 1 after you.
If you don't have a blog, then please leave me a comment.

I think it will be fun to see what everyone did over the summer. 

Here's mine-

1: We went to Lake Powell in Utah and spent some relaxing time on a house boat.

2: I read-

 3: Something I made for school- This is my CAFE binder. I think the Sisters call is 'a pensieve' and I fancied up my note taking book.

4: Something I did for FUN-

I went repelling off a 50 foot cliff!!! 

It's fun thinking about it now but at the time I was TERRIFIED!!! See me hugging the cliff.

 I can't wait to read about every ones summer fun.

 GOOD-BYE SUMMER 2012!

Currently and I'm Back!

I'm linking up with Farley over on Oh' Boy 4th Grade.

I don't know about you but I'm loving the Olympics. I just sit and cut out ALL my lamination and cheer for the USA!.

I went back to my classroom yesterday for the first time. Oh brother! I spent the whole day, about 7 hours. I was pooped when I got home and I hadn't even tied a shoe, wiped a nose, zipped a zip or hugged a kid. I've got to get myself in shape for those little darlings AND my room. I'm doing some house cleaning so it's going to take me a little longer this year to get ready. I'm purging files, books, and cupboards. Do any of you have a hard time throwing books away? Some of mine are VERY, VERY old, falling apart, with pages missing and I still have a hard time putting them in the recycling bin. What can I say, I'm just a book lover.
Well, I'm off to watch more of the Olympics.
Have a great weekend everyone!

Product SWAP

Hey everyone! I am participating in Jessica's TpT product swap linky. She paired us up with other TpT sellers and we swapped products. I sent one of my packets to Arlene over on her blog at It's Elementary LMN.

And Arlene sent me one of hers. We made each others packets, played it and then wrote a review. Pretty fun idea!
Arlene sent me her packet called- "Don't Get Skunked"

This is a cute game for your kiddos to practice reading CVC words. It covers the new common core 1.RFS.3.b. There are 8 different games in the packet which is super for the price of only $3.95!!! The games cover many of the common word families. The directions are very clear and precise and easy to follow.

All you have to do is print, laminate if desired, cut, and you're ready to play. Each game is colored coded with around 44-54 cards each if you choose to print the cards twice which gives the students more practice by repeating the words in the game. Kiddos take turns picking a card telling them how many word cards they have to read. They try to do it before they pick a 'skunk' card. 

My favorite was the adorable skunk!

 The winner gets to wear the "I DIDN'T GET SKUNKED" headband which was a big hit!

 Here's a few pics of my grandkids playing.

Please check out this fun, engaging game that I'm sure your firsties will love by clicking HERE. Arlene has also made one for Kindergarten and 2nd grade. Thanks Arlene for letting me review your great game! I know my kiddos will LOVE playing it!

I sent Arlene my Long and Short A Fun packet.

You can head over to her blog to check out her review of my packet by clicking HERE.

You can also head over to Jessica's blog for ALL the links to ALL the amazing product swaps. Just click the picture below.

Thanks for stopping by!

Monday Made It- Paper Pennant Banner

Anyone who knows me very well knows I'm not a crafty person. It's not that I lack desire. I LOVE crafty things but I have a hard time making them. I think it's because I'm too much of a perfectionist and not artsy enough. But I keep trying. I've been making lots of things for my new classroom theme (Happy Campers) on my computer this year. Creating on the computer is easier for me than the crafty way to go. Maybe because I can see it finished and if I don't like it I can change it and I don't have to throw it away and start over. Anyhow, I took a stab at a craft this week and this is what I made-A Pennant Banner!

I'd seen pennants made with fabric and on the computer but I'm going through ink like it's water. So I decided to make my banner out of scrapbook paper. Here's a few pictures of the process.

Here's everything I used. Four different papers that looked good together. It was like planning a quilt. (I do make quilts so maybe I am a little crafty). The jute is what I used to fasten the banner together. I wanted the outdoorsy look. I also used reinforcement hole sticky thingys.

Planned my pattern and contrast of letters.

Used my Cricut to cut out the letters but you could use a die-cut machine or trace them or even print on the computer.

 Then I cut my triangles with a rotary cutter. I got two per 12 x12 pages because I wanted them big. My triangles are 8" wide by 12" long. For a short triangle and 3 per page, you can cut them 6" by 9".

Then I punched the holes, glued on the letters and strung the jute.

I have to admit, it turned out better than I thought it would. I can't wait to hang it in my room.

For lots for cute ideas from other blogger you really should check out 4th Grade Frolics. She does a linky every Monday. Click on the picture to go to her blog.

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great Monday. I only have 2 left and then I'm back in school!