math tub labels freebie

Last year was the first year that I organized math centers into tubs. Before the centers were in folders or envelopes and the kids were responsible for getting all the supplies necessary for the center. Why didn't I use tubs before?! It was so much better!

The only thing I didn't really love was the fact that they were a little bigger than they needed to be and didn't really fit on the shelf well without manhandling them. 

So I recently bought this kind of tub. Its size should work better with the shelf and free up some room for other things since my classroom is the size of a closet. Even though they are smaller, I will still be able to fit the the paper and other supplies necessary for math centers very easily.

I got them at Walmart and they were about $4, I think.

The labels for my other tubs are too big to fit on these, so of course I had to make new ones with a fun chevron background pattern.

They are made to fit right here specifically on this container.

Pretty right?

As I was taking the picture I realized that after I laminated these labels they would be too wide to fit, so I made the labels narrower in width. Each label is 2" high and 2.75" wide.

I put these labels in my TpT shop for you for free! Click on the picture to get yours.

You're welcome.

I'm thinking I need some more of these containers for English/Language Arts centers.

And then, I'll need more labels. . .

   

starting off with place value

I'll be starting my year off in math with place value.

Oh, place value.

Some students get it right away. No worries. Others need a little more time. And then there are still others who need a lot of time and reinforcement.

I've been working on some place value activities to add to our math time.

The first is a set of six centers that reinforce:

• identify the value of a digit;
• number forms;
• comparing numbers;
• number patterns (skip count by 5, 10, and 100); and
• adding or subtracting 1 or 10 from any number.

Each center activity comes with directions, game cards, and a recording sheet. No other manipulatives are needed for these centers.

Next, is an around the room activity. My students always love doing the around the room activities. I don't think they realize they are just doing the same work we have been doing for the entire unit. They just know it's fun.

We typically do the around the room activity as a review for the assessment.

There is also an I Have... Who Has.... activity. This can be done whole group, small group, or students can order the cards individually. Also an excellent review.

All of these place value activities are available in my TpT store.  And just for fun, since everyone is getting ready for the new school year, these three products will be 15% off through Sunday.

     

place value games

I'm so excited to be going back to 2nd grade next year. Even though we're on summer break, I can't seem to stop thinking about next year. The best part about "working" during the summer is that it's on my own terms. I do it when I feel like it.

My state implemented the Common Core Standards last year ~ during my brief interlude back to 4th grade. So, going back to 2nd with a new set of standards is like starting all over again. Sort of. It seems to me a lot is still really the same.

While I've been cozying up with the standards and surfing the net, I came across a video on the Teaching Channel (nerdy, right?) about two place value games. The kids in the video seem to be having fun (while learning!), so I bet my kids will too.


I didn't find a link on the site for recording sheets, so I created my own. And guess what, I'm gonna play nice and share with you. Click on the picture to download.

There's a second page for the 101 and Out game so, when copied back to back, four games can be played. 

I'm planning on introducing the games as a whole group activity, like the teacher on the video, then including the games in centers/rotations.

      

polygon pictures

Just before spring break we studied polygons. We didn't have a lot of time to devote to this topic, but we managed to squeeze in a fun little activity.

I put slips of paper in a bucket with various polygon shape names & each student chose 5 slips. Any duplicates were put back and they drew again. With those five shapes they were to create a picture incorporating those shapes.

They also had to incorporate one transformation (translation, rotation, reflection) into their picture.

They also had to include an example of symmetry.

Finally, they had to write about what they drew, specifically naming the polygons, transformations, and symmetry. This was a double duty step ~ I didn't have to guess at how they meant to represent their polygons, transformation, and symmetry AND they got extra practice in writing. Win-win.

This activity was 10-year old approved! When I first told them we were going to do something fun with polygons, I think some of them didn't believe me. Doubters! As they were working, several of the kids exclaimed how fun it was. They especially liked it when I turned on the thinking music. I'm sure they'd rather be listening to their pop/rap/whatever music ~ but they never complain when I turn on other genres of music while they work. As you can see, some of them turned out really cute.

 

welcome to the schoolyard!

I have finally succumbed to the siren call of the teacher blog. I originally started blogging on our family blog to keep the family updated with the kids. Then I made everybody read about added my crafting and cooking adventures to the mix, with an occasional tale from the schoolyard.

I'm pretty sure the grandparents and aunts and uncles don't want to hear more about the classroom than they already do, hence the teaching blog. I'm not completely done decorating around here, but I'm excited to get this started.

Let's meet the teacher.

This is my 16th year of teaching. I've taught mostly 2nd and 4th grade, with a year of 3rd added in for good measure. I'm back in 4th grade this year after teaching 2nd for the last 5 years. Confused yet?  I am married with two sweet daughters. That sentence alone can keep a teacher girl busy enough, right? So let's just add in that I love to sew, paint, and do paper crafts. Oh, and of course, I love to read books and blogs.

I also just opened up a Teachers Pay Teachers store. I am blown away by all the creative offerings in that store. I am always making stuff on the computer for my class and a friend of mine encourage me to open a store. A little flattery goes a long way with me, I guess. There's not much in there yet, but I'm sneaking in some time to work on it in between working on the school yearbook right now.

To celebrate a new blog and a new TpT venture, I'm offering these two fun Valentine's Day math bingo activities for free for about a week. So hurry and grab one. Actually, it's only one activity ~ one is multiplication for intermediate grades and one is addition for 2nd and 3rd grades.  Enjoy!

See you on the playground!