Seesaw Daily Calendar

 So with the crazy world of eLearning, Virtual Teaching, Hybrid Classrooms, and Social Distancing we've all had to change the way we teach. It's been frustrating, it's been time consuming, and it's been a time of learning for us all. 

I absolutely love Seesaw and I am an ambassador. I've been using it for a few years now and each year (or every few months now) they've pushed out phenomenal updates! 

My school has purchased Seesaw for Schools and our K-2 teachers are using it in class and remotely. 

Since I can no longer gather with my kiddos on the carpet and do instruction, read alouds, or calendar I've had to become creative.

The first thing I've made are Daily Calendar activities for each month. 

Click the image to see it on TpT

Monday Made It & BlogLovin Winners

Hey everyone! I'm here to link up with two of the best linkys around! First I'm linking up with 4th Grade Frolics for Monday Made It. This is my first one of the summer! To be fair...it's my version of Monday Made It...which means Monday remade it.

First of all I want to share that my nearby Michael's and Hobby Lobby are neighbors. Now that I've seen the awesomeness of Hobby Lobby thanks to my Instagram friends I think I'll be spending more time there.

Neighbors people!

Last week I went shopping--mostly teacher shopping. I went to Dollar Tree, Target (two days in a row), Michael's and Hobby Lobby.

I got the following items and headed to school.

stickers $1.99, Binder clips 10 for $1 and tape $3.99

I have those blue cardboard mailboxes in my classroom. They were cheap and I got a set of them for free. They're about 4 or 5 years old now and they're showing their age. They aren't as sturdy as they once were...and frankly I don't care for how they look. But remember...cheap and free. Here's what I came up with!

click to enlarge

click to enlarge

I have two sets of these but I ran out of tape :( I may eventually wrap the entire exterior in tape but for now I did the front and I reinforced the part in the back where it's folded together. I'm quite happy about my little mailbox makeover. The hope is that I'll get more time out of them--and they'll look spiffy.

So, I got those new bright book boxes from Really Good Stuff.

(Hmm, they're the same colors as the stripes on the duck tape!) Anywho. I offered this freebie exclusive to followers. (click here to see how to get your freebie)

I really liked my number labels for book baskets. Well, I also have 4 trays in the same color scheme. I really like the brightness of the colors. So, I decided to make MORE labels. Some are even editable. 

The big labels are full page, and the pages with three labels per sheet are 3.5"x5"
Pre made labels include:

these include some different editable labels than the pic above

If you'd like to get them from TpT click here.

I also made these (perhaps computer made things don't count?)

our math series begins w/ numbers 1-20 check them out on TpT

You'll get number puzzles for number 1-20. There is a full sheet and half sheet version. Both versions are black and white. 

Students will identify and count tens frames, digits, dominoes, dice, tally marks, and base ten blocks. 

First grade standards that could be applied are:
CCSS.Math.Content.1.NBT.B.2a
CCSS.Math.Content.1.NBT.B.2b
CCSS.Math.Content.1.OA.C.6

our math series begins w/ numbers 1-20 check them out on TpT

Today only they're both 20% off!!
**and if you follow me on Instagram you have a chance to win them for free** 

look for directions later today on Instagram!

I have contacted the Rafflecopter winners! Thank you for all of your entries and congrats to the winners of my giveaway (and all of the other winners out in blog land today)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Currently

Farley is a blogging Rock Star.  I swear every month I wait with anticipation, like the tooth fairy or Easter bunny are on their way, waiting for the Currently!

Listening--> Watching ANTM...okay...Kristin is very pretty....but only on the outside.

Loving-->Teaching about the election. In first grade you get to be one of the first people to expose them to so many things. They're pretty much a blank slate. Love it! I have a committee meeting ALL day on Monday so we talked about it a little bit on Friday but I have some fun stuff lined up for Tuesday!

Thinking-->Speaking of election, lol. I think I'm going to put on 'day pants' (I'm totally in comfy yoga pants right now) and go to my early vote location.

Wanting-->A laundry fairy....know one?

Needing-->There are just a few things I'm not happy with. So, I acknowledge I shouldn't complain about them, I should change them.

Music-->Last month was Kidz Bop Halloween. I am loving this linky because other than seasonal music I play classical music on Pandora during quiet time or writing time. I'd like to see what others use.

Also, please check out, pin, download the preview (with a sorting/venn diagram/anchor chart type freebie included) of my November reading and writing activities.

I used Picasa to create this scattered collage...kinda love it. Click to enlarge.

click here to read my original post about my November packet

Click to go check out Farley's blog and the other awesome Currently posts

All kinds of November stuff and a freebie!

I've been feverishly working on these to get them out in time to share. I've also printed them and they're laminated at school. Thanks to a few parent helpers they'll be cut out and ready to go on Monday!! Hooray!

In this packet you'll get writing prompts, graphic organizers, and reading/phonics center activities.

• nonsense word game (multi-player)
• nonsense/real word sorting
• ABC order (with worksheet)
• Sorting naming words and action words (with worksheet)
• Contractions (with worksheet)
• 4 graphic organizers
• 3 different writing prompts (each with three leveled writing papers) 
• images of sample anchor charts with words to use for Pilgrim Venn Diagram

Okay, I also promised a freebie!!!

This is included in the packet but I wanted to share it with everyone (in the file I've typed up the words that go on the anchor charts)

the words to do this in your classroom are included when you download the preview

Click here to check it out in my TpT store! (feedback appreciated & feel free to pin)

I love October

Okay okay...maybe I love it because it's my birthday month...but there is other cool stuff this month, too. To ring in the decorating I made this banner to hang up in my classroom.

Check it out!

Do you love October? Why?
Tell me why you love October and I'll send one lucky winner this freebie!

Counting Up Game

My school adopted Math in Focus a few years ago. It's based on the Singapore approach. It's a difficult program and at times I feel some of it isn't developmentally appropriate. It is a great program for enrichment in first.

 

That being said...it's what we have and it's what I'm going to do my very best with. I don't know a lot of other people using the program so I'm definitely cranking out materials to help my kiddos learn while keeping with the program.

Right now we are working on subtraction. We've already completed Chapter 3 over addition. One of the subtraction strategies that is taught is counting up to find the difference. I will say that this program has a lot of CD and online resources. The text, in first grade, offers some games to correlate with some of the math strategies.

The game we were working on this week after introducing the lesson the kiddos loved!

•  Each pair of student receives 10 counters (I used linking cubes)
• Student A chooses 1-10 cubes and puts them in the middle
• Student B closes their eyes and Student A takes away 'some' of the cubes
• Student B counts how many remaining cubes there are and then counts up to the beginning number

I teach the kids to grab and count (post on that coming soon) but I tried to give the directions as general as possible.

I finished Set 2 of my math journals! I created 30 journal prompts and I based them on my math curriculum but luckily Math in Focus coincides with several CCS. That was one of the selling points to the program. Set 2 covers varied addition strategies.

Click here to check out Set 2
Click here to check out Set 1 (my best selling item!)

Some Set 1 feedback:
"We just adopted Math in Focus as our new curriculum and I'm excited to have extra handouts to accompany the lessons."

"Loved the graphics! I can't wait to share this with my students."

"Great resource! Thank you for creating this!"

Halloween Math Centers (and a freebie)

September is fun. The weather cools down a bit, cool colors appear in nature, and Johnny Appleseed units are fun...but really it's just a stepping stone to October for me. I love the seasonal and spooky ideas and decorations. I've created some math centers to use during October for my groups.

I really wish I could share some pictures of the finished products but we're waiting on laminating film at my school...so that's put up a road block for me. I think I see a personal laminator in my future. (I just needed an excuse people, they're nifty!)

• Practice time to the hour and half hour
• Doubles addition facts
• Number sequencing
• Dice addition
• Odd and Evens
• Most of the centers come with a follow-up worksheet that can be used to assess mastery or used as an independent assignment.

Click here to check this out in my TpT store

Oh and here's a freebie with a Halloween theme:

Click image to enlarge. Then, right click and save image as... For your freebie

Be the first one to pin this & leave the link in a comment and I'll send you a free copy! Oh, and leave your email, too.

Me: C was your paper book signed?
C: (mumbles) Ummm
Me: -waiting-
C: Well, either it was or it wasn't. (with a straight sincere face)
Me: Yes, I know that. It has to be one of those. Go check your folder
#YouMightBeaFirstGrader

Letter Circles

In first grade we practice so many letters and their sounds...and combinations of letters and their sounds. I wanted to have some practice letters that fit the color scheme (kinda) of my room. Here is what I came up with to practice these letters and create a sound wall.(Click to enlarge)

Check it Out

Each time we introduce a new letter sound I'll pull out the corresponding circle and practice it daily, probably during our morning meeting.

Some other ideas:

• If you have a focus wall this would be a cute addition. 
• You could also hang them all in advance and expose the children to them as a preview to upcoming lessons.
• Find pictures of items that have the sounds you're practicing and use these as sorting mats.
• Find pictures of items that have the sounds you're practicing and glue them to a clothespin and clip the picture to the correct sound
• Word wall word headers (for a sound word wall)

How else could you use them?
Have other first grade letter combo suggestions?

Pirate Choices for my Clip Chart

Happy Sunday. I'll try to keep this brief and sweet for Sunday afternoon.

I've updated my Classroom Management Resources packet again. I've added even more font choices for the  words for the clip chart, one set with a designed background, and two PIRATE SETS!!!! One of the teachers at my school decided to do a Pirate them (and it's adorable) so I created these choices for her and I thought I'd add them to my packet.

The clip chart system is only one option of classroom management in the packet. I've been learning about more and more management systems and as I try them out I'll add them to the packet.

Click here to get the updated packet. 

I know the yellow wording looks odd, but it prints fine. It was just weird in preview mode. 

If you've purchased my packet and have a theme suggestion please leave me a message and I'll try to make a set with that theme in mind. 

Go Fish!

I was looking at the Fry Words that I'll do some word testing with. I purchased Sight Word Superstars: Building Fry List Fluency from Jennifer Bates.

I'm very excited to use it and I've already printed my first set for the kiddos...I'm tempted to write names but with a week until school starts I'm apprehensive because I know it'll change.

Anyways.

The fluency packet that I purchased comes with some really cute game/study ideas for the words. I was in bed the other night and a new game hit me. Don't you love when you're half asleep and a school idea hits you...I was willing myself to remember...and I did! I decided to make a Go Fish game with 100 of the words. I used the words as grouped in the kit I bought but since they all have the same graphics you can mix and match. You could do one set at a time for the younger kiddos or mix them together for more proficient students. If students are working on their own they can use them as flashcards or a memory game.

Preview of words 1-20

AAAANNND

 

If you go to TpT and download the preview you'll get the first set for free!

If this works out I'll get to work on the next 100 words. Let me know what you think and feel free to pin! 

I'll be cooking up my giveaway soon for the big 1-0-0!!! 

But wait...there's more!
The first and fifth (five is my lucky number for some reason) commenter on this post can get these for free. They'll need to comment (of course!), leave their email, pin the game on Pinterest and show me the link where they pinned my Go Fish! game. Easy peasy.

Happy August

Today is August 1st. If you're like me you have about two weeks until returning to school. Not that we haven't been in and out of our rooms all summer but that was when it was quiet. In just a few days our organized, decorated, thoughtful rooms will be overflowing with inquisitive little hands and feet.

First grade is such a year of growth. Now I know students grow each year and I may be bias but I feel it's a growth so vast that some seem like brand new kiddos. I've made a mini-packet to help me keep samples of how far their writing and drawing has really come. I do journals yearly but I thought it'd be neat to see the samples side by side. I've also created a page where the kids will write their name each month so you can see how much this changes. I'm hoping to keep these samples safe all year and make something neat to send home to the parents in May. Please check it out at my TpT store.

There is a First Grade version and a general version.

Math Journals

My school adopted Singapore Math about two years ago. We use a version of it anyway. Last year I started math journals but they were sparsely used. The kids did like them. I'd print the prompt and they'd cut and glue it into their journals. This year I'm creating my own. I just finished the first set. The first set of problems is 25 journal prompts (two of which are templates where you can create your own things). This will last me a while as I went through the first few chapters to refresh my memory to make them. I'm going to see how these go with the kiddos and I'll modify them if needed. I'll be working on the second set very soon...but it starts with subtraction and I want a math break, haha.

So, here is a preview and if you'd like to get your own copy check out my TpT store.

Oh, first comment (with an email address) gets it as a freebie!!!

I'm off to IKEA today. I'm going to be  on the lookout for classroom items and I'm sure I"ll find one or two things for me :)

Classroom Freebies Too

I just wanted to let you know that I got the chance to post to Classroom Freebies Too this week. I plan on sharing so many things on there. I have about a dozen freebies in my TpT store so I'm eager to share them and hopefully get some constructive feedback.

So, here's my post!

First of all I feel so lucky to get to post here. I've totally blog stalked here and found some great finds. It is now my turn to repay the favor.
So every once in a while I have to take a day off. Whether it's an appointment, sickness, or mental health day. I usually try to prep the kiddos and go over listening and manners and the whole shabang. Well, last year I decided I would not give any warning. (Yes, I was totally nervous). I left very thorough sub plans, as per the usual, and I left the book Miss. Nelson is Missing. Very cute book about a teacher that goes 'missing.' I created this worksheet to go with it. I had the kiddos think of where I could be. I tell you what, I had the cutest ideas...from a dog show, sickness, to a pie racing contest...yes racing not eating, haha. So, click the image to check it out!! Feedback is appreciated. Have a great day and I look forward to sharing my many freebies with you!!

Check out the site if you haven't. Tons of awesome freebies and you can search by grade level!

Nonsense Word Fluency (NWF) Packet

Though I am weeks away from doing those awful  lovely standardized assessments with my firsties I thought I'd be proactive and be prepared. One thing that we test for at the beginning of the year is Nonsense Word Fluency. Basically the kids read CVC words that are make-believe. They get a point for each correct sound and are scored on how many they actually read as words, too. We do this test (among with others) three times a year and the benchmarks increase each time. The first time I try not to practice any of the skills so the scores I receive really reflect their level upon entering first grade.

Once assessment time is over I look at the data and go from there. So, I've created 3 NWF games for my kiddos to practice during center time. Some practice reading the words and one of them is set to practice at differentiating between real and nonsense words.

BTW It is way harder making up nonsense words than you think! haha.

 
 Check it out in my TpT store.

 X'ed

How to play:

(2-4 players)

Each player will choose a card. The player will need to read the

nonsense word correctly. If s/he reads it correctly they get to keep the card. If it is read incorrectly it goes back into the pile. If a

student draws an ‘X’ card then they lose all of their cards. Whoever has the most cards at the end of the game is the winner.

Variation:

· When an ‘X’ is draw students lose all of their card but the cards may be put back into the draw pile

· When an ‘X’ is drawn it may be set aside or returned to the draw pile for prolonged play

Sample of Nonsense Words

Real or Make-Believe

How to play:

(1-2 players)

Roll dice and write the word on the recording sheet under the

correct heading.

When playing a 2 player game players (or teacher) may decide if the winner has made the most make-believe words or real words.

Recording Sheet for Game

Trash Digging for Nonsense

How to play:

(1-2 players)

Players take turns picking a piece of ‘trash’ from the trashcan.

The player must correctly read the CVC word and identify it as real or nonsense (make-believe) and place it on their mat.

The player with the most nonsense words at the end of the game is the winner.

Beware...if you draw the trashcan card you LOSE all of your

nonsense words!!!

 Tip: You may want to crumple the words to make them look like real trash!

Card Sorting Mat

Awards Day

I promise to start enjoying my three day weekend....right after I post, lol. I have three more school days for the year. I'm going to try to keep Tuesday as fun *and regimented* as I can. On Wednesday we have field day and a volunteers luncheon. Throughout the year we have so many volunteers (moms, dads, friends of staff, grandparents, and even retired teachers) that our school provides a luncheon for them to come and see our gratitude. I'll post more on that later. Thursday is our last day. In the morning each grade level has a small, short, sweet awards ceremony. It's nothing big but we try to make sure everyone walks away with something. The school provides some awards but I try to add a few extra. I have used Word templates in the past and they were okay. I decided to try my hand at making some and I like how they turned out so I decided to share. Just click here to download.

For those of you that have a few days left like myself I wish you luck. For those of you already finished enjoy your break and get a fruity drink ready for me because I'll be there soon.