Skittle Math Fun!

I just wanted to stop by really quick to let y'all know about a great little freebie that I've found SUPER helpful in my classroom this week! You may already have it... but if not, you'll want it!

The wonderfully talented Erica Bohrer has created a Skittles graphing/sorting activity that is so kindly offered for free through her Teachers Pay Teachers store... click the top pic to get you there!

Seriously, this little packet is so perfect for getting first graders interested in math again - I mean, who doesn't love a lesson that involves eating CANDY when you've finished?!!? My kiddos soaked it up, and we had about 45 minutes of pure DE-LIGHT in my room... silent, hard-working little ones just make my heart smile :-)

If you're teaching graphing soon, I truly recommend this great file! It's just what my whole class (myself included) needed to get us through these last several days before Break ;-)

Up tomorrow... a great marshmallow graphing activity!

More sugar!

More sweets!

Hopefully more hard working kids!!

All 5 I-Charts!

Hello, friends!!

I hope your week has been a wonderful one - mine was pretty darn good! We are now rockin' and rollin' with all 5 parts to the Daily 5 in our room, and the kids are loving it! I am trying to get better at my small group instruction during this time {it is SO HARD for me not to micro-manage the kids working in their stations, even though they're not really bothering anyone and they're doing their jobs!}, so that's my goal for this upcoming week :) I want to focus on my little kiddos who need me at the table with them, not the kids who are on their own around the room!

Anywho, by popular demand, here are the pics of all of my I-charts, as well as the PDF versions of them for you. However, I got pretty specific with the "where we can do this" part of my charts... you can either cut that part off if you like the rest of it, or you can click the link underneath the pics for the Publisher versions so you can tweak them to fit your needs. :) Be sure to thank the 3am Teacher for the great frame graphics in the PDF! Due to her TOU, I cannot leave the frames in the editable version, but you can grab them from her site if you choose!

Please let me know if you download and enjoy this product :)

Download the PDFs here.

Download the editable Publisher files here.

Coaching Sheet Freebie!

Happy Sunday, everybody!! I hope you are experiencing the same kind of wonderful weather that we have been in KC this weekend... it was SO nice to be able to finally take the baby outside for a while yesterday without worrying if he would swelter in his travel system! :-)

While the hubby is watching his beloved Chiefs get slaughtered play on TV, I've been working on lesson plans and such for next week. I am a bit behind in my Daily 5 intro lessons b/c of being gone for 1 1/2 days last week with a sick boy. BUT, we are going to hit it hard this week and hopefully be up and running with a full 4 rotations by the end of the week!! On Monday, I'll be teaching the kiddos how to decide if their reading partner needs some coaching or some time when they come to a tricky word. Here's the sheet that they'll put in their book box folder (along with their Check for Understanding check mark and other important papers that need to travel with them and not get squished by books!)

Graphics from Just So Scrappy Too. Fonts from Kevin & Amanda.

If you think you can use this file with your kids, please feel free to click the pic and download from Google Docs. It'll print 2 per page.

Have a wonderful Monday!! :-)

Lesson Plan Switcheroo

Happy Thursday!! :-) I am home with a sick little baby boy, but during his mid-day nap, I thought I'd share my new lesson plan format with you all instead of doing housework... ha!!

I started out the year with plans that looked like this:

 I have used a layout like this for years now, and I love it! It's customized every year to my schedule... and I can make the boxes larger or smaller depending on how much detail will need to be written for the lesson.

Buuuuut, this year, it just wasn't working for me! :( Our team is diving into the Daily 5 for the first year {and L.O.V.I.N.G. it, by the way!}, and I needed more space to write out what parts of our basal series {Storytown} needed to be taught before each Daily 5 breakout, along with which kids I would pull each session and what I was going to teach them! Plus, to add to that, we don't have reading support on Tuesdays, so we have an extra hour and a half to fill with engaging activities.

Soooo... the new version of my lesson plans was born. I have one page PER DAY now, instead of being able to see the whole week at a glance, but it is going to keep me more accountable and on track, and, most importantly, it will make my small group time much more intentional and focused every day!

{Ummm... SO SORRY for the poor quality :( I don't know what's going on, and baby just woke up, so I can't investigate right now!}

If you think you can use something like this in your room, please click on the pics to download the entire week in an editable format from Google docs! Leave me some love if you like 'em!

Ohmygoodness! Technology and I ARE NOT seeing eye-to-eye today! :( I clicked the link to make sure it worked, but the pages show up all sorts of caddywhompus {is that even how you spell that? My brain gives up!}. If you are interested, please shoot me an email and I'll send a Word doc your way!

iheartfirstgrade@gmail.com

Work on Writing I Chart

Here is the chart I made for my kiddos based on our Work on Writing lessons... click the pic to download if you think you can use it in your own classroom!

If you're interested in my Read to Self chart, check here! :) Let me know if you download it and like it!

Therapy & Freebie!

I am linking up again with Blog Hoppin's Teacher Week... 2 posts combined into one :)

I know that I am a little late to the game, but my sweet baby came down with his first ear infection this week, and that leads to a very unhappy 4-month-old! :( Blogging took a back seat for a few days...

Anywho, here is how I unwind after a long day/week/month/year at school - my "therapy"!

Pedicures always make me happy!

Speaks for itself ;)

Chocolate Moose Tracks Ice Cream... yum... my favorite!

But the best, best, BEST therapy for me??

Snuggles with this cutie pie!!

*************And now for your Friday Freebie!*************

This is usually for sale in my TpT store for $6.00, but I'll give it to you, my lovely followers, for free this weekend! The link will be good through Sunday night... so spread the word! If you like what you see, head over to my store to find some more great activities! Also, please follow my blog and let me know if you like the Making Words activities!

EDIT: The link is now closed, but please visit my TpT store to find the Making Words activity that so many people enjoy!!

Have a WONDERFUL weekend, everyone, and link up if you can!!



One Week Down...!

Whew! My kiddos and I have successfully survived our first week of first grade! :) And by first week, I mean a FULL first week - we started school on a Monday this year. That's one looooong week for all involved. ;)

Thankfully, I have a super group this year, and we had a very fun week at school together. I have some teaching to do in regards to raising hands before talking, not chit-chatting with friends while I'm teaching, and the like, but other than that, I think we're gonna be good!!

I have decided to jump right on in with Daily 5 this year, and I am SO EXCITED about it!! Our whole team began the procedures this week, and I saw great success! We have completed 3 days of the implementation lesson plans, and we're up to 9 minutes of stamina for Read to Self :) We will discuss Good-Fit books, the I-Pick lesson, and intro Work on Writing this week.... and I think my kids are going to LOVE it all!

Here is what our I-Chart for Read to Self will look like when I hang it up in our classroom (we made one together, but I can't have something that's not in fun handwriting up all year... you know how it is!). If this fits your class' discussion as well, feel free to grab it for your room! It is set up to print on legal size paper (8.5 x 14), but I bet you can make it whatever you need it to be :)

I'll be back soon (hopefully tomorrow!) with pics of my room this year... I am loooooving my black backgrounds, B&W borders, and bright color accents!!

Weather Chart FREEBIE!

Ok, here's another something cute I found on Pinterest that has no originating link!! Have you seen it?

Click the pic to see my pin

Well....here's my interpretation of it! I haven't actually put it all together yet, but it should be close to the picture above. I'm thinking that the arrows are either put onto clothespins or little sticky clips. :) Feel free to snag your own free copy if you choose here: http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Weather-Chart-Freebie-768986

Enjoy!!



Bursting With Happiness FREEBIE!

Have you all seen this floating around Pinterest?

Click pic to see my pin

Of course you have! There is no original source to credit (well, Mrs. Potter, I guess!)... and I made my own for this year. Feel free to download and use if you choose! Lemme know if you like it :)

Click on the pic to get your FREEBIE!

Happy Thursday!