30 Seconds of Fame and More!

I usually don't toot my own horn, but this has to be tooted. It is not often that teachers get recognized for the hard work that they do day in and day out.  I was so fortunate to have the mother of one of my students- Mrs. Oller ( I also had her son last year) to write an essay for My Teacher Rocks in the local October Parenting Magazine.  Her essay won and we both won tickets to see the Radio City Christmas Spectacular starring the Rockettes perform their Christmas Extravaganza here in West Palm Beach.  I was so honored to have a parent write such a beautiful essay.  We had such an amazing evening.

After that a reporter from the Palm Beach Post saw the My Teacher Rocks essay and asked if he could do an article about me.  Wow!  What a nice surprise to see such a great article and photos of my class and I.  I am truly honored and blessed.

Thank you to all the hardworking teachers every where!  You all deserve to receive recognition!

Thinking Back to Fall...

It is hard to believe that December is almost here.  We have been very busy during October and November and I would like to share a few highlights.

Pumpkin Carving-
Each year I invite parents and volunteers to come in and help with Pumpkin Carving.  Before we begin, we are scientists who weigh, measure and make predictions about the pumpkin floating and how many seeds will be inside.  I was surprised that most of my children had never carved a pumpkin before.  I even had some parents who had never carved before.  Perhaps carving a pumpkin is a dying art?  Not in my room!

Skeleton Fun- We had fun learning about the bones in our bodies, their functions and names.  Step by step we built skeletons.

Character Dress-Up Day-
Each year our school has a Character Dress-Up Day where children dress up as their favorite character.  They bring in the book that the character is from or make up their own storybook.  The kids had so much fun sharing their costumes and books.

Later we had skeleton races to see which team could be the first team to build their skeleton correctly.

We Did It!

On to yummy treats and face painting!

We had an AWESOME OCTOBER!!

Healthy Harvest-  It is my Thanksgiving tradition to have the children celebrate with a Healthy Harvest party.  Everyone brings in vegetables, fruits, raisins, nuts, dips, and more to have the experience of trying new healthy foods.  We sit at a long table (push the desks together) and enjoy a family style tasting activity.  We made our own placemats too!  It was great fun!

 Hope you enjoyed taking a look at our fall activities!

I Spy Spooky Addition Fun- Sums 10-20

Do your students need extra practice solving addition problems with sums 10-20?  Then you need to add this Center package to your collection of October Math Centers. 

My students just love, actually are addicted to the I Spy books. So needing more practice with higher addends, I created this I Spy Spooky Addition Fun. 

Four different spooky scenes are included in this this set.  Each scene contains 14 addition sentences to find with a magnifying glass, record and solve. These centers are kid-tested and teacher approved. So check out this set at my Teachers Pay Teachers or Teacher's Notebook Store.

This set addresses the Common Core Math Standard- MACC.1.OA.1.1 - Represent and solve problems involving addition and subtraction.

Have a Spooktacular week!

Snowy Owl Subtraction Fun

If you want a fun way to practice simple subtraction, then you need to add this Center package to your collection of Math Centers. Two different centers are included in this this set, which are quick and easy to make.  

Click Here

This set addresses the Common Core Math Standard- MACC.1.OA.1.1 - Represent and solve problems involving addition and subtraction.

Snowy Owl Subtraction Fun is 2 different sets of adorable owls with subtraction problems and matching difference cards. I’ve included cute little owl counters to give a more hands-on approach to learning.  These sets can be used as a matching center or a Memory game.  

Subtracting to Compare Fun

Hello Fellow Teachers,
We just completed our section in math about comparing numbers and using subtraction to find "How many more?" or "How many less?"  Some of my Firsties were quick at this while others were a bit stymied about using subtraction to answer a question about "How many more?".  So I created two fun matching activities to give them more practice with these types of problems.  

My latest product is Subtracting to Compare Fun with a Halloween theme.  I designed two different sets to help both the beginning level learner and the more advanced learner making differentiation easy for you.

Set 1 contains word problems with comparisons for groups of 10 or less.  The model is also presented.  The student must read the problem and find the correct subtraction problem.  Next they record the subtraction sentence and difference on the recording sheet.  

Set 2 contains word problems with comparisons for groups of 11-20.  The model is not shown.  The student can use counters to find the difference.  There is also a recording sheet for them to write the subtraction sentence along with the difference.

Click below and see more about this math center.  Your kiddies will love it!
                                  Click Here

Part Part Whole New Math Puzzle Center

Well school has started and the challenge to meet all the Common Core State Standards has begun.  My kiddies have started the Math program but everything came to a halt when we reached the lesson about Part Part Whole last week.  Many of my students were very challenged by this concept. 

MACC.1.OA.D.8 - Determine the unknown whole number in an addition or subtraction equation relating 3 whole numbers.

So what better way to motivate their learning than to create a new math center.

click here

Students are given a puzzle with either the first addend, second addend or sum missing.  They find the missing number to complete the puzzle.  My kiddies loved it!  They want to "play" Part Part Whole every day.  Click above to see more.  Till next time...

TPT Back To School Sale Today and Tomorrow!

BACK TO SCHOOL SALE!!!

If you haven't heard, Teachers Pay Teachers is having a back to school sale from August 18-19.  You can save 28% off of my products as well as many other shops.

Don't forget to enter the Promo Code: BTS13 to save the dollars.  Everyone wants to save the dollars, right?  Have an awesome week.

Back To School Sale!

Happy Sunday Everyone!  At this time of the year everyone needs a little break so starting today August 11th through August 14 all of my items will be 20% off.  Check out my TPT store or Teacher's Notebook for great deals.  I have several products for only $1.00 in the Mega Bundles at Teacher's Notebook.

I can't believe the Summer Vacation is coming to an end this Tuesday.  I spent 3 days last week setting up my classroom in accordance with our new Literacy requirements.  I must say that I really like my new Library set up.  All of the books are now in one area.  Before I had leveled books in one spot and genre baskets in another location.  Now they are all together!  I will post pictures later on.

Meanwhile I am having each student have his/her own book bag.  My requirements were durable yet cheap.  Large ziplock bags were going to be the answer but my husband found this amazing site- DiscountMugs.com . They have so many choices and you can even get a logo put on.

I purchased 100 little green (to go with my Froggy theme) bags with handles for only $36.25. That is 5 years worth of bags and the price of each one dropped to 36 cents. My hubby is so good at finding these types of things.  They should be arriving next week. Just in time to start the year.  Yay!  Check them out!

Bye for now!

Addition Fun With Buggy Friends

My newest  math center package is now out-    Addition Fun With Buggy Friends.  

This first set contains 20 addition facts (addends 1-5).  Each addition fact is written in two different ways.  Set A shows the facts using words and Set B shows the facts with numbers. Both sets have cute little buggy critters and flowers to represent the  equation.  The students then add and find the correct sum card.  I've included 2 recording sheets for the student to write the math equation. There are 6 different ways to use the cards and you can even set up 4 math centers at once!  Click on the title above to check it out.

Have a great day!
Heidi

Liebster Award

I was pleasantly surprised to find out that Ms. Hamm from
Ms. Hamm's First Grade Funland has nominated me for the Liebster Award. The Liebster Award is given to up and coming bloggers who have less than 200 followers. So, what is a Liebster?  The meaning: Liebster is German and means sweetest, kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing, and welcome. Isn't that sweet? Blogging is about building a community and it's a great way to connect with other bloggers and help spread the word about newer bloggers/blogs. I am so happy to be a part of this community.

So here are the rules (we all know we must follow them )
1.  Link back to the blog that nominated me. 
2. Answer the questions posted for me by my nominator.
3.  Share 11 random facts about myself.
4.  Create 11 questions for my nominees.
5.  Nominate 5-11 blogs with fewer than 200 followers. 
6.  Contact my nominees to let them know that I nominated them.

Here are the 11 Questions that Ms. Hamm asked me:
1. What type of behavior management do you use in your classroom?
I use the Punch Card system.  Each week every student gets a Punch Card ( a 5x8 index card) and writes their name on it.  When the student makes good choices or answers questions correctly, he/she receives a punch (a star hole punch).  If the child says please or thank you they are awarded another punch.  When a child misbehaves and has been warned to stop that behavior, they receive an X on the card.  On Friday, the children with the most punches and no Xs visit the Treasure Box.  The card is sent home to be signed.  When the child returns the card signed, he/she receive 10 extra punches on their new weekly card.  If a child gets 4Xs, they are not allowed to participate in Show & Tell.  That is a big deal for them and rarely do students get 4 Xs.  Our First grade has used this system for years and it works.  The parents get a weekly update on their child's behavior and it is great documentation for Child Study Team.
2. How do you get parents involved?  
Parents get updates from the Punch Cards and they sign assessments and return them so they are aware of what is going on with their child's progress.  During curriculum night, I go over how they can help their child at home and I send home a packet of directions.  I conference with all of my parents at least once a Trimester.  When we do special events, (pumpkin carving, involved science experiments etc.) I send home an invitation to come in and help.  Usually the same parents volunteer.
3. What your favorite sweet treat?
I have so many of them, that has caused a serious diet and exercise plan this summer.  For a school pick-me-up I love a snack mix with M&Ms and something salty. (bad) For a special occasion I like chocolate cake with chocolate frosting or carrot cake. (very bad) But the best has to be the Hummingbird cake with cream cheese frosting that my step-daughter has made me for several birthdays.  It's to die for! (extremely bad) LOL
4. If you were stuck on a deserted island, what are your 4 MUST HAVES?
I am spoiled so that only 4 must haves wouldn't do it for me.  But if you insist and I can't include my family I would have to have a murder mystery book, that M&M and something salty mix, a giant container of Ice Tea (unsweetened) and my iPhone with my music.
5. What’s one thing you created or want to create to use/display in your classroom this year?
My classroom theme is Froggy Everything.  I created a 120 chart with a cute froggy in the background poster which a friend laminated for me since it was so big.  I also made a smaller version for each student to have on their desk.
6. How do you infuse technology into your teaching?
I have an iPad and the school lets me check out another one.  They are full of great apps for kids.  My favorite is the Dr. Seuss stories.  My kiddies will watch them over and over.  They have sound effects and highlight each word as it is read to them.  They also allow the student to read them to themselves.
I have a doc camera which I use much of the day.  We use digital cameras to document our work and display the pics.  I also just found the old cassette players new on Amazon.  I have a ton of books with story tapes from Scholastic and now with 5 players I have a very cool center.
7. What is your favorite sport?
I like watching football if the Packers are playing. Go Cheese Heads! I really enjoy biking. I try to put 20 miles on my bike a day during the summers.  Once school starts however, the time for biking falls to the wayside and usually I only get time to bike on the weekends.
8. If you could take a trip to any place in the world where would you go? Why?
I would love to go to Italy.  I have never been and it looks so romantic from the movies and pictures that I have seen.
9. What is your favorite hobby when not teaching?
I love making fun learning games.  My mind is constantly thinking of new things to make. I think it might almost be an illness?? LOL
10. What is your favorite quote?
"A Teacher Takes a Small Hand, Opens a Mind and Touches a Heart"
11. What is your teaching philosophy?
FUN!  I try to make all the learning experiences in my room fun and exciting.  I love seeing them get excited to learn.

           11 Interesting Facts About Me
1.  I am married to the most amazing husband ever!
2.  I am obsessed with Pandora charms.
3.  I have the sweetest step-daughters ever.
4.  I am the oldest of 4 children.
5.  I used to be an insurance agent.
6.  I had several torn tendons in my ankle which caused me to teach from a Knee walker or wheelchair on and off for 3 years.  (I have now been walking on 2 feet for the last 2 years!)
7.  I have had every color cast that they make and had to resort to a two color cast for one of my last ones.
8.  I can re-purpose any used container into something wonderful.
9.  I began college wanting to be a Pediatrician.
10.  This is my 30th year teaching and I still am passionate about it.
11.  My best friend is my sister Jodi.

        11 Questions for my Nominees
1.  If you couldn't be a teacher, what would you be instead?
2.  If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?
3.  What do you have planned for your kiddies to do first thing in the morning?
4.  Who is your favorite author?
5.  Which subject is your favorite to teach and why?
6.  What is your favorite sweet treat?
7.  If you were given 12 different colored sponges, what would you do or make with them?
8.  Tell me about the most wonderful thing that has happened in your classroom.
9.  Would you encourage someone to go into teacher? Why or why not?
10.  If you were on a deserted island, what would be your 4 must haves?
11.  How many years have you been teaching?

My nominees for the Liebster Award are:
Carrie from The First Grade Derby
Haley from My Silly Firsties
Kaitlyn from Wicked Fun In First Grade
Lindsay from First Grade With A Twist

Congratulations Ladies and I can't wait to hear all about you!  Please link your Liebster post back to me.
Heidi