Super Bowl Sale Linky!

I am linking up with Keepin' It Kool in Kinderland (click on pic below to join in).  

Phew!  I didn't think I was going to make the self-inflicted deadline to complete my fifth installment of my math menus- Sunday.  I have a big Super Bowl Sale going on, just like many other TpT sellers.  Go and check out all the cool stuff everyone is placing on sale.  I already have too many things in my shopping cart!  

Below is a sneak peak at the Math Menu #5.  The first 2 people who comment on it below will get it for FREE.  Just make sure you leave me your email address so I know where to send it.

Oh...and yes this will be on sale (even though it's brand new).  

Thanks for your interest.
Amy  

Clutter-Free #3

I am in week 3 for the challenge given to many by The Clutter-Free Classroom.  Please check the blog out by clicking the pic above.  It is a great site, for more than just clutter management.

I worked hard this week to make a clean sweep in the room.

1.  Alright!!!!  I did some organizing.  I worked on 7-10 files, as planned.  I began with the reading group files.  I am working on getting the files into binders instead of my cabinet.  This week I threw a bunch of paper in the recycling and it felt great!  I will post the before/after pics when I have the files for reading completed.

2.  I re-organized my writing center, long over due!  Here are the before and after pics.
Anyway, the kids love the new set up for the writing area.  I also began working on cleaning out my craft closet but I am not done yet...so pics on that later.

Before

After

I know it doesn't seem like much, but the drawers were a disaster and all the paper and stickers were hard to contain.  So the paper stacker was a new and welcome addition and the revised board looks better organized.  I don't have a lot of space for this center.  It's right under the s and t section of my word wall, so makes it tricky for making a board as I have to leave plenty of space for the words above the board.

I still have a little bit to do to this center but it feels better organized now.

Amy

Currently February

I have not done a currently before.  Join the linky to Farley's blog by clicking {HERE}.

This was fun.  Now, I am off to begin my Math Menu!!!

Amy

Friday Recap

It's time for another flashback and five.  Click the buttons above to join the fun with Teaching Maddeness and Doodle Bugs Teaching.  Really fun blogs to read!

1.  We started our timed math fact tests this week.  Here's how it works.
I give the students 20 addition AND subtraction problems on a page and give them less than 2 minutes to solve the problems.

When complete, I grade the tests and record their score in their folders.

If they get 18/20 or more correct, they move on to the next number family.  They get a sticker on their fact booklet, a new set of fact cards to practice, and practice worksheets on the number family they are moving into.

I keep all these papers in hanging file folders sorted into number families.  The folders are in a crate under my overhead projector.

We completed our first round of these tests and the students did well.  I was very proud.
We have 2 tests a week.  We sometimes practice our math facts with giant blow up dice.

2.  I felt it was time to revisit the bucket filling that we began in the beginning of the year.  I will be organizing it differently than in past years.  Usually, I have students fill out bucket filler papers for various kids in the class...but it never fails that there are some kids who don't get as many papers.  This time, I will highlight one person per day and we will fill out cards for that person only, that day.  This way, all kids are writing something nice about EVERYONE!  I can't wait to see all their faces when they get their bucket's filled!

3.  Like many other TpT folks, I am having a Super Sunday sale.  Just enter the promo code "Super" when checking out.

4.  I don't "do" sports...but I am originally from Maryland...Howard County area.  I was there from 6 mths old until I was 24.  Soooo, I guess- Go Ravens!  I won't watch the game, but I will ask someone who won.  I hope you sporty folks out there have fun watching the game and rooting for your team.

5.  This week I began decorating for February in the classroom.  I will post pics of how it looks- soon.

Amy

Sunday Grading

Anyone else out there find that Sunday is grading day?  We cleaned the house, did the laundry, and the kid's rooms are clean too.  My husband even went to the grocery store and stocked us up for the coming week.  Now, I have my typical giant stack of papers to grade.  The funny thing is, when I go to pass out the papers to the kid's mailboxes- it looks like only 3-5 pages going home to parents.

To those in older grades, this probably doesn't look like much.  It takes me about 2-3 hours.  I believe one of my awesome 5th grade friends/colleagues takes many more hours than that....I know, the older the grade, the more grading involved!  My brother is a college professor and he practically grades papers 24/7.

So, to give a little love out there to those Sunday graders- here is a freebie to help sweeten your grading adventures.  Think like a first grade teacher and don't forget the cute stickers on all the papers!!!

Click the picture below to download the freebie.  Enjoy!  If you wish to, show me a little love on my TpT sight by doing a little more "grading" and rating my freebie.  Thanks for your time and happy grading!!!

Amy

Clutter Free Wannabe- Week 2

My Week #2

So this post is supposed to be about my plan to create a clutter-free class environment.

  

Rules:

1.  If I haven't used it in 2 years, get rid of it.  This one might hurt, I am not good at letting go of stuff that I think "I might use another year, if I switch grades again."  I don't hoard, but I certainly can't stand when I start a different grade/return to a grade and I got rid of something I bought and I used other years happily.  BUT- I can do it!

2.  Go through 7-10 files a week to get rid of unwanted extra papers and re-file in a binder or another more manageable and/or attractive way.

3.  Be decisive about the management of each area in my room.  If it feels like the area doesn't work-change/fix it!

4.  If it is large and creates wasted space, get something smaller and  more effective.

5.  If it doesn't get used, get rid of it.. 

Well, there you have it.  I am officially ready to get organizing.  I will begin Monday!  Pictures of some reorganized areas of the room to come next week.

Amy

Friday Flashback and Five

Flashback and Five:

I'm linking up (late) again.  Here are the five things from the week I want to highlight.

1.  My daughters did an amazing job this week at a HUGE musical our school put together.  I also was proudly watching my 1st graders in it too!  My eyes were looking everywhere, ha!  Here is a pic of my own kids as I don't like posting my student pics.

2.  We had an extra short week as we not only missed Monday for MLK, we also had half of Thurs away from school for our dress rehearsal of the musical at a church.  So, we were cramming in all sorts of things in odd places of the day.  Right before dismissal, we were practicing our math facts with giant blow-up dice that have facts all over them.  They toss the cube, and when they catch it they solve the fact that is under their right thumb.  They did this in small groups.  We will be starting timed math fact tests on Tuesday.  

Sorry- forgot to take pictures.  I'll try to get a pic of the dice soon and post it.

3.  My plan book is almost empty for next week...so that's what I'll be doing this weekend.  Hopefully, I'll be able to get a few weeks ahead now that the musical is done.  

4.  In math, we have been working on Unit 4 in the Everyday Math program.  I have been using my math menu that I have posted in TpT to extend/support the unit.  I use it with the kids during small groups.  If you want to look at it, click on either of the pics below.

5.  We began our big winter writing project this week.  Our outline is finished and we will move onto the rough copy this coming week.  I will post a picture of some outlines and rough copies next week.  

Happy weekend,

Amy