Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Tasty Tuesdays


Frankenstein Pudding Cups

One of the things that I started this year was a Tasty Tuesday.  I try to find a recipe that has a few steps, but does not require cooking.  I have the students copy the recipe on a recipe sheet and we talk about the ingredients.  We then have to triple or quadruple the recipe so we pull in a little math.  After we have made the recipe the students get to taste it, rate it, and write a review, they also record anything that they think should be changed in the recipe.   I keep these recipe sheets throughout the year and create a book for them to take as a memento of 5th grade. The pictures below is one of their favorites.








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Monday, October 28, 2013

Halloween Math Freebie



Wow, I decided tonight that I was going to take time out of my super, duper, unbelievably busy life to post a freebie for the Halloween Season and saw that it has been two months since I last posted!!  STOP THE HORSE----BACK UP-----WHAT?????
 
This can't be....everybody is busy the first couple of weeks and postings drop tremendously, but two months...that ridic, ridic, ridiculous.
 
Well, the school year is in full swing and we have been busy learning, so for a little holiday fun I created a puzzle to review place value, subtraction, division, addition, and multiplying with zeros.  Print the first two pages back to back, cut apart and put in a snack size Ziploc for the students to place back together on the answer sheet (3rd page)
 
Grab it and enjoy
 
 
 





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Sunday, August 25, 2013

This is a quick look at my schedule, it has changed a few times and is apt to change again, but for now this is what I'm going with.


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Saturday, August 24, 2013

Week #1


Week #1 
Done and boy am I whipped!
 
This is an activity that I found on Eberopolis' blog--the kids loved working on it and I think it took a lot of perseverance for the beginning of the year when brains are still a little mushy.
 
I had to front-load the students with 4! (4 x 3 x 2 x 1 = 24) and we had to discuss the square root of 4, but after that they were off and running.  It was a good opportunity for me to walk around and see who was contributing to the conversation and who was struggling with basic equations.


Rules:
Using some arithmetic combination of four 4's, can you write an equation for each of the numbers from 1-100? Here are the rules:
  • You may use any combination of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and/or division
  • You may combine numbers, e.g., use 2 of the fours to make the number 44
  • You may insert decimal points
  • You may use a four as an exponent
  • You may use square roots
  • You may use factorials, e.g., 4! is equivalent to 4 x 3 x 2 x 1 = 24
  • You may use overbars to make a decimal repeat
  • You may NOT use any digit other than a four
  • You MUST use all four 4's in each solution 
 






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Sunday, August 18, 2013

Classroom

A quick look at the beginnings of a classroom. 

My school rents our space during the summer to different summer camps and I just happen to be one of the lucky gals that "gets" to pack up EVERYTHING.  The summer camp really is a good thing and I know that they appreciate the space, but let me tell ya----it's a lot of work to pack everything up and then unpack and organize during pre-week school. (Along with all of the meetings)

But I'm almost done~insert happy face~










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Monday, August 12, 2013

Tired Teacher


That alarm clock went off very early this morning and while I am not usually a "hit snooze" kind of person, this morning I hit it twice!

We have this week to set things up in the classroom and attend meetings, then on Friday we have Meet-and-Greet. 

Monday is when our little learners walk in the door full of energy and stories to tell. I am super excited to be back and see how all the new Common Core will work in the classroom, BUT.... I really need somebody to wind me up after a summer of sleeping in and reading blogs in my P.J's until noon every day.



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Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Weekly Reflections for Students


Free Download
 

Last year I had the student write goals and a small reflection of what had happened during the week in a Composition Book, as the year came to a close I heard some of the students say that they were going to save that book and it dawned on me......

Weekly reflection--save throughout the year--create an end-of-the-year-book, so this is what I have created thus far.  Some of the questions deal with school, some with specific subjects, some with what the kids are liking at the present time and some just for fun questions.  My plan is to have the students fill out a Weekly Reflection every Friday and hold on to them throughout the year.  I will then bind them and give them back during the last week of school--wow, a GREAT memory book.  I mapped out my year and I have 38 weeks, so I will be making more as the year progresses.  Below is a sample of what they look like.  Click any picture to get a copy for yourself.





















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Saturday, August 3, 2013

Go Rays

No school stuff today....
It's all about the Rays
 

Off to the game.


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Thursday, August 1, 2013



 
This is my very first CURRENTLY---Let's Parrrty
 
I have been a spectator--yep, sitting on the side lines and NOW that is changing, I'm linking up with Farley the
of Currently
 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~And here it is~~~~~~~~~~~~~


1.  Listening to music--wow that does a spirit and soul some good
 
2.  Love the chair covers that I made and posted about--hoping that I can be a blessing to my friend with her set.
 
3.  Thinking about how jealous I am of teachers that can get into their rooms and work before the mandated return date.  My room is used by a summer camp, so I literally pack up EVERYTHING every year and move 100% out of my classroom, this includes, desks, bookcases, library, manuals, games, file cabinets---EVERYTHING!  When teachers return the week before school, I am busy putting everything back together.  Now.....the good part = I can't become a hoarder and everything is  organized again as I put it away.  Always look for the positive.

 4.  I am wanting to get an IPad (oops I see that I wrote IPOD above) or a tablet.  I'm looking at the Surface RT, any comments you have or recommendations would be great.  I would like to run Doceri, which only works with Apple right now, but it says on their website that they will soon have a windows version.

5.  I need to write lesson plans, but still feel confused with all of the new CCSS stuff.

6.  Must have Skittles.  These little itty bitty pieces of candy work like magic for behavior and as an incentive to get things done.  I give one--yes 1--Skittle at a time and the students love it.  I am a huge coffee drinker, so I need my coffee supply full and of course, every teacher needs flair Pens.


Lovin blogin, but wow it takes time

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Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Chair Covers


Wee-bit Late Wednesday
but
Today I'm linking up with Tara at
 
Every year I make chair covers for my classroom.  I tried washing them once, to reuse, but after 180 days of use they just need to be retired.  So, I watch for the 50% off coupon from Joanne Fabrics and spend a day sewing.
 
Materials


Cut and ready to sew


Adding the binding


Almost done


Final product


 
I have the students put their homework folder, planner, and chapter book in the pocket.  Everything else goes in their desk.



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