Common Core Math Curriculum

Are you struggling with finding math curriculum that aligns with Common Core?  Join the club!  I have recently been introduced to engageNY and I am LOVING it!!!

This is offered (currently) for free - yes free!  I am downloading all of the modules for my grade level, just in case it's not free in the future!  I have to say that I am very impressed with what I have used so far.

There is a scripted teacher's guide (which I don't read verbatim) that is a great guide, work pages, exit tickets, homework, and assessments!  It sounds too good to be true - but it's not!!!

Below are a few pics of my kids enjoying one of the "hands on" activities!  One of the students actually said, "Are you crazy?" when I dumped 1,000 - yes 1,000 popsicle sticks on the floor!  Students had so much fun grouping them into tens, hundreds, and eventually counting to 1,000 by using groups of 100 :-)

 

 

Many of the lessons have "hands on activities" such as shown above.  I really enjoy the exit tickets, which are quick to check each day and give me the opportunity to correct any misunderstandings that may have occurred before they work on the homework that night!

 

 

To add the "Mom Factor" to Teacher and a Mom, here is a pic of my own sweet kiddos on Super Bowl Sunday!  We were so excited to FINALLY be, not only in the Super Bowl, but to be winners too!

 

 

 

 

 



Place Value Game Freebie

I haven't been able to post much lately.  It's been a crazy few months getting into the school year and getting settled into a routine.  You all know the feeling!  Here is a game I made for our upcoming Family Math Night!  Click on the game board below to download for FREE (for a limited time!) from my Teachers Notebook Shop! 

Enjoy!

Fall Math Freebie

I have been terrible about posting lately!  I feel like all that I do is work, work, work and I haven't had any time to do fun things like blog! Now don't get me wrong, I still spend a fair amount of time blog stalking but haven't had time to share anything I'm doing!!! 

I am new to many things this year, and Investigations is one of them!  Our district has mapped out how to use the program and part of that includes pulling parts from other grade levels.  So, we've been playing Capture 5 from the third grade level.  Most of my kids really enjoy playing, and others are still a bit lost - and therefore not really interested!  Sooo, I made a fall version of the game. to make it a little bit more of a draw to those kiddos  This is played exactly the same way as Capture 5, so you can use the number cards (+10, -10, +3, -1, etc.) from the program.  I just made a fun game board and instead of using chips as markers, you use pumpkin markers :-)  I printed the game board on green construction paper and the pumpkin markers on orange.  Click on picture below for game board and here for pumpkin markers.  Enjoy :-)

 

 

Integrating Music and Dance into the Classrooom

Do you remember educational songs from when you were a child?  I remember the Conjunction Junction song and the Counting to 12 song (that had the pinballs) from Saturday morning cartoons... any of these sound familiar?

My 5 year old recently taught me the continent song she learned at school!  I could name the continents before, but really had to think about them.  Now I can't get the song out of my head!  The continent song is from a Dr. Jean C.D.  She has some great educational songs and videos for PreK-1st grade! 

Here is a You Tube video of Dr. Jean doing the Macarena Count to 100:

I love the idea of integrating more music and dance into the classroom.  Research shows that integrating movement (mucle-memory,) music, art, etc. is how students learn best! 

I've used Wrap-ups with my students and the songs that go with them.  Some kids love it and others are easily frustrated with the pace of the song and completing the Wrap-ups.

How do you integrate music and/or dance into the classroom?  I would love hear your ideas!!!

Place Value Game Played with a Deck of Cards

This is a fun place value game that would be great for math centers!  The game board is formated for legal sized paper. Links for free game board, directions, and recording sheet are below!

Building Numbers Directions

Building Numbers Recording Sheet

Building Numbers Game Board