Bar Models in the Barnyard

The more I read about Singapore Math, the more I find myself using the strategies in my classroom.  Recently, we have been spending a lot of time using "Bar Models" or "Model Drawings."  These bar models have served as a great visual representation of "Part-Part-Whole."

Bar Models in The Barnyard.

My students really enjoyed playing this game, which encouraged them to find missing parts to Bar Models.  Each time they completed a Bar Model, they got to "collect" a farm animal (the best part!!)

Get a copy at TPT or Teachers Notebook.

Thanks for stopping by!

Tracey :)

When Do I Capitalize?

I hope everyone is having a good holiday week.  Now that the hustle bustle is just about over, I wanted to set some time aside to prep for the RETURN TO SCHOOL...

We go back on Wednesday, which means it is a short week.  Short weeks are always good for a review, so I put together a Capitalization Freebie to share :)

It's geared to both first and second grade Common Core standards, so our first graders will end up doing a bit more than is expected of them - the practice will only help!  

Grab a copy here:

or here :)

Have a great day everyone!

The Star Polisher

I woke up thinking about this poem today...I've always loved it. A reminder of how fortunate I am to be a teacher who spends her days with little stars each day :)

I thought I would share - please pass it along to all of your teacher friends as we join our hearts and prayers together against violence in our school and for the victims of unspeakable tragedies.

God Bless Sandy Hook

Prayers...

Sweet Sentences

We'll be calling on our gingerbread friends to help us make some "Sweet Sentences" today using nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs!

Click on my sample below to grab your FREEBIE!

Have a sweet day everyone!

Tracey :)

Favorite Pins of the Week 12/9/12

One way I thought I would reach out to my followers is to post some of my favorite pins that I found throughout the week.  There are so many out there, I thought I would share these...in case you missed them.

Click on the pictures below to find them on my Pinterest boards!

From My "Math" Board...

Mental Math Strategies by Shelley Gray...Have you seen any of her videos?  

They are great!  Thanks Shelley!

Teaching in the Early Years

From my "January" Board...

How adorable is this?? Thank you Lesson Plan Diva!  The glasses really got me on this one!

Lesson Plan Diva

Some pins just make me giggle, like this one...I am particularly fond of glitter!

Find this pin (from Elementary-teacher-resources.com) and more like it on my "Just Sayin" Board:

Do you love to pin?  Share a comment and a link to your boards...I'd love to come check them out!

Tracey :)

Putting Addition Strategies into Action

Thank you, Common Core for freeing me from teaching addition and subtraction algorithms and helping me to deepen students' understanding through meaningful base 10 strategies!

A while back, I showed you all a packet of information I made to inform parents of the "new math" strategies.  I got really good feedback from parents who appreciated the information.  A few reported that they were keeping it "up on the fridge."

To follow up all of that strategy building, I have put together a packet that puts the strategies in action. Each sheet comes with a "Challenge" companion sheet for those students who are ready to tackle higher numbers.

You can grab a little FREEBIE preview from my Google Docs.

Help yourself:)

You can find the complete packet here...

Teachers Notebook

or here...

TPT

If you didn't have the chance to see what my first packet was all about, you may want to check it out :)  It would be a huge help if you plan on using the practice pages.

Click on either picture below...

I'd love to hear what math strategies you are using in your classroom - I am always on the lookout for great ideas.  Add a comment and I will come check out your blog!

Tracey :)

Snowman Science

In science, we are learning about the States of Matter.  What perfect way to study changing states of matter than through a melting snowman experiment!  The thing is, I had the experiment, we just needed the snowman!  

While Pinteresting one day, I came across a way to bring a little ol' snowman right into my classroom.

I love this post by The Frugal Teacher.

Check out her "Life Cycle of a Snowman" Activity - so, so meaningful (and cute!!)

If you are interested in conducting a melting snowman experiment in your classroom, grab a copy of my Snowman Science Scientific Process packet!

You can find it at Teachers Notebook.

(click below)

or...TPT

(click below)

I am looking forward to doing this activity this week with my students. They will follow it up with a letter to a little snowman explaining the states of matter.  I'll post some pics :)

I am looking for some more great matter ideas...If you have a link to a matter activity on your blog, I'd love to come visit!

TBA Christmas Week Linky

TBA is looking for posts about simple or complex recipes for the holiday season.  Although I don't make these treats with my students, I have given them out as gifts.  My inspiration comes from my favorite little baker, Angie Dudley, aka Bakerella! Do you know who this wonderful lady is?

If not, you will be amazed at her unbelievable cake creations!

 I am a little obsessed with her talent...I have a cake hobby that I'll share with you someday :)

Although my holiday cake pops cannot hold a candle to Bakerella's, the kids seem to love them nonetheless!  Here are two examples of my holiday cake pops inspired by Bakerella:

Santa Hats

Triple Cake Pop Snowmen.  I'm a little in love with these cuties!

Once I put them on a cake like this to send in for a holiday party:

I look forward to seeing what recipes YOU use in your classroom during the holiday season!

            

                                          :)  Tracey

Snowman Addition Strategies

Classroom Freebies :)

Both of these are listed on my TPT and Teacher's Notebook, but you can grab it Right Now by clicking below!

Now that all of the addition strategies have been taught, it's time for my students to put them into action.  As a way to show the three different strategies that they learned, they created the flip book you see below.  On the inside, they needed to solve one addition problem three different ways and explain their thinking.  I think they did a great job!  You can get a FREE copy of this by clicking below:

Grab it from my Google Docs!