Get cracking... comparing numbers

Today we worked on comparing numbers.  Each table of students got a basket full of plastic Easter eggs.  Inside the eggs were numbers.  They also each had a supply of connecting cubes.  The directions were to pull two eggs out of the basket, open one, write the number, build it with cubes, and repeat for the second egg.  Then, they compared the two numbers by looking at their cube towers.  I was amazed at how well the lesson went.  Kiddos who normally struggle with math skills were rocking it out!

Here's a quick freebie for you to get cracking with your kids!

Directions:  Write the first number in the first egg and the second number in the second egg.

Then, make your symbol in the circle between the eggs.

Apologies for the blurry pictures.  I didn't have either of my cameras or my iPod with me so I used my old school phone to snap a few pictures.

Only 2 more days until Spring Break!  WOOHOO!  How about you?  When's your break?

Lost Crayons?

I know each and every one of you teachers out there has this problem... lost crayons.  It's amazing how these things can just grow legs and walk out of their boxes, but it happens.  I've always had one big crayon box for these misfit crayons where students can go retrieve them as they need a color.  My problem with this is that finding that one special crayon can take forever!  My fix to this problem?  Individual color cans-- each color crayon has its own lost can so you just go and grab the color you need quickly.  Just train your kids at the beginning of the school year to put any crayons they find on the floor in the correct color can so it's ready when someone needs it.  {Be sure to teach them to politely ask someone who is coloring right by the crayon if it is theirs before taking it to the lost cup.  Some kiddos are just too eager to 'help'.}

Head on over to my TPT store and grab this lil' {freebie} for your classroom!

37 Days and a Freebie

Yes, that's right... 37 days to go!  Today was my first day back from Spring Break.  5:20am has never felt so early.  Phew, it was hard this morning.  I know y'all feel the same way!  I'm pretty excited about trucking through the next 37 days with my kiddos so I know it'll get easier.  I've got some exciting things planned to help get each of my firsties ready for second grade and keep their attention until the last day {fingers crossed}.  I realize I haven't been so good lately about posting on here, but keep an eye out for new pictures in the upcoming weeks.

Now, to the promised freebie.  My state hasn't fully implemented Common Core so we're still teaching our state standards for math.  One objective is for students to be able to identify an event as being 'certain' or 'impossible'.  Let me just tell you... this is a tricky concept for seven year olds!  I've created this little sort in case you're needing to teach this concept in your classroom as well.  Check out this {freebie} in my TPT store!

I would love if you left feedback on the product after you download!

It makes my heart happy to hear from y'all!  :)

I've also uploaded a few other items to my TPT store recently.  Check them out!

1. More & Less Math Station

2. Jack & the Beanstalk Unit

3. Celebrate Cinco de Mayo {I am so excited about this unit & celebration!}

--Mrs. Pollard

Rockin' Writing

After finishing up this last round of testing in my classroom, I made it a personal goal to focus on my students' writing.  I'm sure you know how it goes... you have all of these wonderful lessons planned and then reality happens and you just don't get everything done the way you want.  {Please don't tell me I'm alone with this!}  So, I have been stopping anything else that we're doing so that we can write and I have been overjoyed with my students' writing so far this week!  Some of them still have a long way to go, but to see them trying and engaged is a huge step in my eyes.

On Monday we did our weekend story.  We do this every Monday so they are very familiar with the routine.

Here are a few samples:

Yesterday we used  a writing activity from The Teacher Wife's Awesome Adjective Unit about superheros.  Yes, you heard me, superheros.  My kids just about fell out of their chairs when they saw the superheros on their papers.  And, did you know that superhero is a compound word... my kids did and they were pumped!  First, we brainstormed descriptive words as a class and then they went to town writing.  Our class minimum is 3 good sentences, but 4 or 5 are encouraged.  Some kids just couldn't help themselves and went above and beyond to 10 sentences!!

{I'm not sure-- Is Green Lantern.... green?}  :)

Today we did a squiggle story.  Have you heard of these?  You seriously just give the kids a paper with a squiggle on it and they turn it into a picture and then write a story about their creation.  Amazing!  They are so into their writing because they are writing about their creation.  To introduce squiggle writing and get their juices flowing, you could use either of these books: "The Neat Line" {thanks to my teammate for the suggestion} or "Harold and the Purple Crayon".

Here are a few samples:

Tomorrow we'll be writing about a magazine picture/ad.  Students usually love this lesson.  My mom has been so helpful in collecting a huge selection of pictures to use for this activity.  {Thanks, mom!} The uses of magazine pictures are endless.  I highly recommend you start collecting now if you haven't already.  I've run mine through my personal laminator so they should hold up for years.  On Friday, we will be doing a sticker story.

I just love how engaged and excited my kids are about writing this week!  Check out my TPT store to download my newly updated {free} writing paper pack.  It includes weekend story paper and squiggle story paper!  Please leave me some feedback on TPT if you download it!

How's writing going in your classroom?

--Mrs. Pollard

Hibernation Station & Groundhog Day Unit... plus a {freebie}

Hey y'all!  I have teamed up with my teammate Randi from Teach it with Class to make an 84 page unit about hibernation and Groundhog Day.  I am so darn excited about it!  It has loads of stuff in it-- including reading, math, and writing ideas, 4 literacy stations, 4 math stations, 2 crafts, and lots of graphic organizers and writing pages!  My kids always love doing activities about hibernating animals and learning about the silly groundhog who pops up to see his shadow.

Click {here} to check it out in my TPT store!

And now, about that {freebie} promised in the post title.... head on over to Randi's blog to check out all of her wonderful ideas and resources.  If you become a follower and leave your email in her post comments, she'll email you a 10 page groundhog freebie!  How awesome is that?  She also has tons of other freebies in her TPT store.  Check her out!

--Mrs. Pollard