New Blogs I Am Following

There are so many great blogs out there.  I want to some new fantastic blogs that I recently found.  They are:

http://firstgradefrosting.blogspot.com/
http://stellar-students.blogspot.com/
http://simplysweetteaching.blogspot.com/
http://krazyaboutkiddos.blogspot.com/
http://mcdonaldgrade4.blogspot.com/

Fact and Opinion Lunch

Your students will enjoy helping Fact and Opinion make their lunches.  Fact only likes foods with facts on them.  Opinion only likes foods with opinions on them.  While students place foods into the correct lunch boxes, they will review the meanings of fact and opinion.  Click the link for more information.Click Here

Blog Make And Take

The first Literacy and Math Ideas Make And Take! Each of these games can be downloaded directly from this blog.  Just click on the link to access it through Google Docs.


Money Game
This first game is a great way to review adding, subtracting, and multiplying money.  Click on the click to access the game.Money Game


How to Assemble and Play
Cut out each money card.  Follow the directions on each card in order to make a purchase.




Vowel Sound Pizza Game
Students often get the long i, short i, and short e sounds confused.  Click on the link to access the game.Pizza Phonics Game


How to Play
To remember these sounds, students sort pizza toppings.  Cut out the mushrooms only.  Match the mushrooms with the mat that has the same sound.




Money Naming Game
These puzzles are a great way to review coins.


How to Play
Cut out and laminate each puzzle.  Cut each puzzle along the heavy black line in the middle to make two pieces.  Students should then take turns matching the coin to the word that names it. Click on the link to access the game.  Money Naming Game

Author's Purpose Snacks

This is going to be a fun weekend!  This weekend will be the first Blog Make and Take for Literacy & Math Ideas.  It will include how-to tutorials about how to make three FREE learning centers and will include free downloadable templates.  So check back.

With this blog I have included a link for my newest product called Author's Purpose Snacks Literacy Center and Worksheets.  Students determine the author's purpose written on each potato chip and place each one into the correct potato chip bag.  Click on the link for more information.   Two author's purpose worksheets are also included with this set.  Click Here

Common Core Standards Task Cards

The Common Core Standards are approaching soon.  These tasks cards cover ALL of the major categories of the Reading Common Core Standards and include over 40 task cards.  Use them for the fiction (literature) and the nonfiction (informational) sections of the Common Core Standards.  They work great as a literacy center.  They are also great for guided reading lessons.  Click the link for more information about these convenient task cards.


Kindergarten Task Cards
Grade 1 Task Cards
Grade 2 Task Cards
Grade 3 Task Cards
Grade 4 Task Cards

More learning center ideas this weekend!  Visit back this weekend for our very first Blog Make and Take.  This weekend I will provide step-by-step directions and free templates for a cute reusable learning center.

Main Idea Learning Centers

I have two great learning centers to share.  This first center is actually one that I learned from a Make and Take workshop.  This learning center was created on a display board using newspaper articles.  Each headline is cut from the article.  Students must then match each headline to it's article.

The second main idea learning center pics are actually sample pictures from a product in my TpT store.  It contains 19 pages and has actually been my TpT best seller for the past two weeks.  It includes task cards, a learning center game, bonus main idea worksheets, and answer keys for everything.  Click on the link for more information.  Click Here

Archaeology for Kids (Progress)

These are the clay figures that started it all.  Each time kids enter my office they ask me about the clay soldiers.  I love history and enjoy integrating history with reading and math.  Since we are beginning our unit with Greece and Rome, the students began by creating their own statues.

These are the Roman and Greek artifacts the students have begun making for our archaeological dig.

These books were purchased at Barnes and Noble.  The students were allowed to begin their in-depth study about any of the three topics.  They will look for the main idea of different sections as well as develop facts and opinions.

Movies Kids Can Make to Learn Comprehension Skills

This will be my fourth time teaching an Ancient Civilizations unit.  I have been brainstorming how to give it a makeover.  Animation!  Kids can summarize, analyze characters, determine the main idea, and integrate technology by creating their own animations based on what they have read and learned. 


The video on the right of your screen is a 13 second video I created using FREE software from a website I just discovered called goanimate.com.  There is an upgraded package that I will probably purchase for use with my students. There are characters for them to choose from on GoAnimate.  Students type in their own lines the want the computer voice to read for them or they can record their voices.  The characters read the lines the students have created for them..  They can even select an emotion so that the gestures and animated voice can show how the characters feel.


On Monday, they will begin creating their videos.

How to Use for Comprehension


Students will begin by reading books.  They will then demonstrate their understanding by completing the following tasks.
1.  There are a variety of settings that can be chosen from.  Students can select the setting that depicts what they are reading.
2.  For fluency practice, students can think about how the characters  in the text or author may feel.  Students can demonstrate this understanding by the words they choose their animations to say and by how their animations feel.
3.  Students can show their understanding of the main idea about what they have read by creating a movie script revolving around this main idea.

Free Place Value Sandwich Math Center

I am back with a place value freebie! Would you like a 1,567 sandwich or a 345 sandwich?  This free math center is like a sandwich shop in the classroom.  It is a great way to review and differentiate instruction.  Click on the link Place Value Sandwiches for the place value learning center game.Place-Value-Sandwiches

Archaeology Ideas for Kids

My students are so fascinated with life in the past.  As a result, I have been working on a new unit so that we can compare life in the past to today.  We are going to begin with Ancient Rome and Ancient Greece.  Each group of kids is creating clay artifacts.  Once they are fully finished hardening, I am going to place them in my wooden container (that will be lined with plastic).  The entire container will be filled with salt.  As the students dig them out, we will think about the clues that archaeologists use to discover what life was like in the past.  In between my other posts, I will share pics of this unit.

Each student will get a burlap bag.  They will keep artifacts and notes in their sack.  At the end of the unit, they will take the sack home. 

This is the unfolded version of the sack.  Burlap material was used.  Roughly 4-5 sacks can be made from a half yard of burlap.

Ideas for an Archaeological Dig
1.  Bury an apple or orange in September outside.  Come back in May to check the rate of decomposition.  (Kids really love this)
2.  Bury bleached chicken bones in an indoor dig site and have students reassemble the bones.
3.  Summarize what has been learned or read about.
4.  Read myths or folktales.  Have students create their own folktales that revolve around one of the major themes from the folktales that have been read.

Fun With Similes & Metaphors

Everyone loves a great pizza and pasta party!  This set of TWO Common Core Learning Centers is aligned to Common Core Standard RL.4.  In game one, students place simile and metaphor pizzas into their correct boxes.  In game two, students serve as "chefs" by place metaphor pasta onto one plate and simile pasta onto another.  Click on the attached link.Click Here

Similes and metaphors are on the pasta.  Students sort the pasta and place metaphors on one plate and similes on another plate. 

This second game is part of the set.  Students have to place the pizzas inside of the correct pizza box.  Each pizza has a metaphor or simile.  Each pizza must be placed inside of the box that explains it's meaning.

Valentine's Day Guided Reading Ideas

As you know, I work with kindergarten thru eighth grade students  as an instructional coach.  I am always looking for ways to adjust my centers to fit the younger students and older ones.  I left these reading response manipulatives blank in order to inspire ideas across multiple grades for your classrooms. 

Materials

• Lollipop Wrapping Kit or Popsicle Sticks and Clear Cellophane
• Pink, Brown, and Red Cardstock or Construction Paper
• Muffin Cups
• Glue or Tape

Possible Uses

1. Use the lollipops as a graphic organizer.  Students write down the main idea, details, cause, or even effect on their lollipops.
2. Write Fact on one lollipop and Opinion on another lollipop. Every student will have a fact and opinion pop.  The teacher will make statements.  If it is a fact the students will hold up the fact lollipop.  If an opinion is given, students will hold up the opinion lollipop.
3. Create a place value matching game with the chocolates.  The expanded form of a number can be written on the bottom of one candy.  The standard number form of a number can be written on another candy.  After matches have been written on the chocolates, they are placed face down on the table.  Students then turn over two cards at a time to find a match.

Below is a link to a free Valentine's Day Party Game.
Click on the link for this FREE Valentine's Day Party Game
Valentines-Day-Party-Game

Strategies For Improving Comprehension

Yesterday I got almost teary-eyed as I worked with students.  They actually got it!  They actually understood how to infer.  There have been days in which I have felt like trying to teach someone how to infer is like trying to hunt for the Loch Ness Monster.  Then there are those other days in which students learn so much that I feel as though I have just won a marathon.  Well yesterday was one of those days.  What helped? Annotating the text.  

Annotating the text is a great way to assist students in applying the reading strategy of determining importance.  In fact, I rank determining importance and making connections as strong areas for focus when it comes to comprehension improvement.

Below I list some useful steps.

Tips for Teaching Kids How to Annotate to Infer
1.  Show kids what details to look when they read different genres. 
a.  When they read fiction stories they should look for details that show what the characters are like as well as any details that show motives for their behavior. Students should use what they know about setting to help them better understand what the character is like.  If the setting is 1700, what types of problems did people have? How did people think at this time?
b.  When reading nonfiction, students should look for repeated ideas and how the author organizes those ideas.  Is it a cause and effect text structure?  Is it a large description?

2.  Often students lack background knowledge about specific topics and are unable to make connections to text.  Having students select books from one particular topic to read is a fantastic way to ensure background knowledge building.
a.  Organize books by topic as well as genre.  Categories of books could include pioneer life, plants, ancient life, animals, rocks and minerals, or even categorize by theme or character traits.  Students will then select a book from the same category to read and respond to for one or two weeks.
b.  Teach thematic units based on social studies and science topics.  Folktales can be easily connected to a unit about maps and geography.  Character traits can be connected to biographies and realistic fiction.

I will be back this weekend with more pics and info to share.

Free Empty Altoid Tin Centers

This week, we are celebrating the one month anniversary of Literacy and Math Ideas.  As a thank big thank you for over 3,990 views and all your support, I am handing out a second freebie.  This time you can access Empty Altoid Math Centers for FREE for the next 20 hours.  Click on the link Empty-Altoid-Tin-Centers

Free CD Case Math Centers

As you know, Literacy & Math Ideas is celebrating it's one month anniversary!  There are well over 3,700 views in just one month.  To tell you guys thank you, I will post 24 hour freebies throughout the week of some of the different centers on this blog.  If you are not a follower, click on follow to get updates about new postings.  For 24 hours, you can click on my link below to download the CD Math Centers for FREE.
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/CD-Case-Math-Centers

CD Case Math Centers

There is a new use for old CD cases, math and reading centers!  Why do I love them?  Students can write directly onto the CD case with a dry erase or overhead marker and wipe off their answers for reuse!  They are self checking.  When they open the CD case, students can check their answers.  They are easy to store and are a great way to differentiate instruction.  I have included pics of math CD case math centers and will include pics of my CD case reading centers this week also.  The link includes a free download of an activity inside of the CD Math Center item in my TpT store.  CD-Case-Math-Centers-Sampler

The answer key is located inside of the CD case cover

                               

Learning Centers Made from Household Items Part One



Rhyming Golf Course

Let's begin with a quick recap.  Last week, we began our journey  with the theme 'You Can Teach This By Using...".  We have so far investigated 3D worksheets from printer paper and learning center stations using clay.  Today we will create a tabletop golf course using a chopstick as a golf club.  We will also make a learning center from an empty Pringles container.  Visit throughout the week for more ideas.


Needed Materials

Materials:

1 chopstick

1 piece of grey cardstock paper

1 sheet of blue paper

1 sheet of green paper

1 sheet of red paper

1 sheet of black paper

1 bamboo skewer or 1 toothpick with the sharp points cut off

1 foam cup

Wooden discs (Or small round foam pieces)

1 foam cup

Glue Stick

Tape

Marker

Scissors





Directions

Standard 8 1/2" x 11" paper was used for this project. 

1.  Begin by wrapping one chopstick with black paper.  Glue and or tape it to fasten.

2.  Cut the grey paper into a wide letter "c" to make the end of the golf club and attach to the chopstick.

3.  Cut two circular pieces from the blue paper.  This will be the water for your golf course.



4.  Cut a foam cup to make it shorter and cover the top of the cup with red paper.  Then cut a "c" shaped hole on the side of the cup.

5.  Break the bamboo skewer in half and cut off the sharp edges for your flag.  Make a flag from red paper.  Glue the flag onto the stick.

6.  Write whatever you would like on the wooden or foam discs and flag. 

To Play:

 Slide the disc that matches what is written on the flag into the foam cup using the golf club. 

Empty Pringles Container

The second literacy center is made from an empty Pringles container that has been covered with printed paper.  Words were written onto clothespins for sorting.

Adapt these centers by sorting for fact and opinion, cause and effect, factors, types of angles, author's purpose, etc.

One Month Blog Anniversary!

Can you believe it?  It's just been one month!  I want to thank you guys for your support. I also want to thank Heather at Beg Borrow Teach for giving me the Versatile Blogger Award.  Check out Heather's blog.  She has a fantastic winter poetry unit.  I want to also thank Beth Ann and Brian for both giving me the Liebster Award.  Beth Ann at Taming My Flock of Firsties has a great freebie printout for sentences and questions at Taming My Flock of Firsties.  Brian has a new blog and with his new blog is a cool freebie about rabbits at http://hopkinshoppinblog.blogspot.com/2011/12/welcome-to-my-blog.html.

Guys, it was a rough first week back after break.  So I did not get a chance to finish sharing all the cool things that can be made for your learning centers or classroom teaching using ordinary objects from around the house.  Get your empty cd cases, empty mayonaisse jars, and shoe boxes ready.  Trust me this will be fun.  Check back for the pics and tutorials!

Teaching With Clay

Clay learning centers are a fantastic way to address the needs of hands-on learners.  They also provide a unique way for students to show what they have learned.  My clay station is stocked with clay and gadgets kids can use to work with the clay such as rolling pins and plastic cookie cutters. I have included a link for free task cards to go with the station.  Click on Clay Learning Center Station Task Cards to get them.  Click Here

Teaching With Clay (Tomorrow)

Tommorow's blog is dedicated to the hands-on, tactile learner.  I will share my pics of teaching using clay.

Hot Dog Stand Synonyms

Happy New Year!  I have some really cool pics, freebies, and ideas to share this week.  The theme for this week is 'You Can Teach This By Using...' This week will have a mixture of freebies and teaching ideas that will make you say "What in the world? I think I'll try it".  It will be a lot of fun.  We will begin with the freebie.  The link is for a free synonym game that is on my TpT site.  If you are not signed up for Teacher's pay Teacher's, it is totally free to sign up.  Some of you may be saying, "What is that creepy website?"  I admit that I used to think the same thing, but it is a really cool site.

Click on the following link that says Hot Dog Stand Synonyms.  When you get to the site, click free download.  Click Here

Happy New Year!

Blog with you soon!