Math Tubs, Penguins, and a Freebie

Happy Friday, Everyone!

If you're like me, 

you'll simply never tire of hearing that phrase!  

At the end of a long week those three words honestly have the ability to add that extra "oomph" back into my step.

It's simply amazing, I tell ya.

Anyway...

before I get to the freebie, I have two or three things I'd like to share with you.  

If you've got the time, 
I promise to talk 

(type) 

super fast. 

First...

I've been teaching for 24 years and the resources that I've accumulated over time have all fit nicely into the filing cabinets in my classroom.
THEN, I discovered how to create my own 
activities, games, and printables 
and my filing system quickly ceased to be a "system" of any sort. 

So... I recently purchased these lovely tubs at the Big W
 where I probably paid too much 
(What am I saying?  I KNOW I paid too much!)
In any case, they made me happy and I had to have them.

Given the state of my filing cabinets, it made sense for me to organize my math centers first.  After a few hours one Sunday afternoon, I'm pleased to report they're now sorted into each of the 4 critical areas.  To categorize them a tad bit more, I used a sharpie to label each bag with the specific standard that the game/activity addresses.
With this method I'm finding that I can also identify the standards in each domain a wee bit better than before.

Second...

We've been studying penguins this week.
Like... who hasn't been?  :)
Here are two of our projects we completed.

My school didn't have the appropriately colored butcher paper to make a cutesie penguin KWL chart,
 so we improvised with this project.  
Each kiddo simply wrote two facts and I stapled it alongside his/her project.

Here's another...

along with a writing sample I collected, too.

This sweet girl writes...

Penguins can swim and they can lay eggs and they can slide on their bellies and they can huddle in groups when their parents are gone and the parents are gone for 60 days.  

Third... 

I taught greater than/less than in math this week.
My lovely teacher friend across the hall shared this wonderfully fun activity with me.  Perhaps you've seen it...

The "kiddo engagement" meter was off the charts.
I'm thinking these wonderful projects she shares with me must be  related to her membership 
in the pudding club!

Finally...

I'm linkin' up with

with a fun center to practice the 

r-controlled vowel sound

-or and -ore.

You can find it HERE.

Enjoy your weekend, friends!

Saint Valentine's Gift

Hello my Friends!

Once again, I'm linkin' up

with 

Teaching Blog Addicts'

This week, I'm sharing a

Saint Valentine Close Reading passage

I created for the week of Valentine's Day.

It contains the passage in two forms, vocabulary cards, and a quick cut/paste as a culminating activity.  

You can go get it HERE.

Enjoy your weekend, friends!

Predictions 101

Happy Friday, Everyone!

That's code, actually, for another week of 

hosted by the Teaching Blog Addict.

This week I'm sharing a literacy center I created

 to help a young friend who is struggling

with the concept of making predictions.

She will likely need additional practice 

however, I thought this center was a great start.

The clothespins helped, too.

You can find my center here.

In other news... I'm now on Facebook! 

If my center meets with your approval, I'd be thrilled

if you would consider giving my FB page a "like".

More freebies will be posted there, too!

Enjoy your weekend, friends!

Hearts, Kisses, and a Freebie

One of my New Year's resolutions 

was to blog more frequently and while I realize we're only 5 days into the new year, I am excited to say this is Post #2!

Please try and remember we all have to start somewhere...

My other resolution included 

drinking more water 

and I'm sad to say that

as of today... 

January 5th, 

I've had 

8 additional glasses per day

5 glasses...

only 1 glass in the last 5 days.

Is that even measurable improvement?

Perhaps I should attempt this again next year.

In any case,

if you arrived here in search of 

valentine activities, I have good news!

This collection of activities

is certain to keep your kiddos engaged during the week of Valentine's Day.

Here's a sample...

and finally,

I'd love to give away a few freebies to the first three to leave a comment along with your email address, too. 

After that, it will be available HERE.

Happy Sunday!

Welcome, 2014! We've Been Waiting!

Happy New Year to You and Yours!

I'm joining Farley's

(Oh' Boy 4th Grade)

January Currently

for a bit of linky fun on this otherwise

 rainy start to the new year.

Seriously, will the sun ever shine again?

Listening...to an otherwise quiet house.  

We have had guests for days and days 

(not the same ones, mind you!)

so it's been quite nice 

to return to our regular routine.

Loving... that I have almost 

another week at home.  

Although I still have lots of things to accomplish before I return to school, I still have time to be lazy for one more day.

Thinking... how dreary it is outside.

It rained (yet again) this morning and it's going to be raining again tomorrow.

Surprise!

It's not that I am a rain-hater, 

I do like the rain as much as the next person, however it's been overcast for days and days.

Enough already! Geez!

Wanting... my "to do" list to be DONE.

If I allocate my remaining time properly, there's still time to complete 

everything

on my to-do list.

Yeah, sure... whatever I need to tell myself.

(See the Loving... comment)

Needing... to revisit my resolutions, ALREADY!

Seriously, my one little word for 2014 is quiet.

This year I'll be practicing the art of keeping one's opinion to oneself unless self is asked to express oneself.

(Did you get that?)

By 10:30 a.m. I had blown it already.

This is going to be more difficult 

than I thought.

Tradition...  My sisters (along with their families) and my little family of four usually gather at my parents' home for 

fireworks and a bonfire.

It's simply another opportunity to fellowship together and eat. 

Happy New Year Everyone!