Five for Friday- American Revolution, Geometry terms, Word Study, and Clipart!

Hey there!  Here's a flashback of our week!!  We love linking up with Kacey at Doodle Bugs Teaching  and with Amanda from Teaching Maddenenss!

 

1.  We have been teaching about the constitution and we taught about The Preamble.  Holy cow, were those founding fathers speaking English??  ;O)

We LOVE this book, and our students do too, because it puts it in kid terms!!

2.  Since we've been talking about the American Revolution and now we are talking about how the nation was built (a.k.a. how these really smart guys set up our government and how we still stand by it today) we have been reading George Washington Socks as our extended text.  (Not that it has anything to do with the government, but it is historical fiction about Washington crossing the Delaware River!)

They L-O-V-E this book!!  The author is so great and really pulls the students into the book.  She has amazing language throughout her book.  So, we took a paragraph out of this book (an idea from a teacher we work with) and "noticed" everything we could about this paragraph and how the author used craft to help us visualize the passage.  The students identified the parts of speech, the figurative language, and other word study aspects (homophones, suffixes, etc) and then illustrated it based on what the author told us in the story.  Here's an example:

We put everything we noticed on the left and the picture we saw in our mind on the right.  They had a lot of fun with it!!

3.  We have been working on the prefix auto- in word study.  I needed an activity that I could take a grade on, and so I had the students make a cartoon using 5 words that had auto- as a prefix.  They were so excited about this!!!!  Here are 2 examples:  

Sorry!  You can't read it very well!  I just wanted them to have an authentic task that wasn't just a fill-in-the-blank worksheet!!  Plus, I got to see if they really understood the words by using them in context!!

4. We are touching on geometry terms (mainly because I'm waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay behind in math and they learned a lot of it in 3rd grade, so we are reviewing right now while I'm trying to focus on decimals).  Here is our geometry terms wall:

We are creating the terms with our bodies to help us remember.  I posted these out in the hall where we line up in hopes they can peruse the terms and the pictures as a reminder of these terms.  They are pretty excited about it and I caught some 4th graders from another class talking about it outside my room today, so maybe it will work!!!!  I'm just so behind I am glad to do anything that will help!!  We've always acted out the terms but this is the first time I've taken pictures of them "acting it out"!  Hopefully, it will stick!!  (My cutie that is a line has both of her hands open, which symbolizes a line that never ends!)

(These posters came from our geometry unit that you can find HERE.)

5.  Last, but not least, Stacia finished her Chick Cutie clipart set.

If you missed out on this, check THIS POST to see them in action (and to get a few FREEBIES!!)

How was your week???

Amanda

Eggcellent Word Study- Take it and Make it- Synonym, Antonym, and Homophone Practice that's FUN! Plus, Spring Chick Clipart!!

Hi there!

I have some really fun stuff to share with you today!!

So, I saw this linky and I knew I had to link up because I had had a similar idea of throwing a linky like this, but now, since Cynthia at 2nd Grade Pad is throwing it, I don't have to feel pressure to have something ready every week!  I can link up when we have an idea, or for weeks that we don't, I can just go check out her blog for more ideas!  SCORE!!  (not that I'm lazy or anything, but you know how some weeks go!!)  ;O)

Now, I'll say this- our school doesn't really celebrate holidays (Christmas, Easter, etc.) because we have students that have different beliefs, so I get a little stressed about that sometimes. However, I'm throwing caution to the wind because, well, I just want to do this activity.  So.  There.

I like to see all the activities that younger grade teachers come up with for centers and stuff, but I find myself thinking, awwwww, I wish we could do something like that! 

So, we are going to.

Do it.

Well, something similar, anyway.  :O)

Our district does not teach spelling (I know, don't even get me started) so in 4th grade we focus on word study- greek and latin roots, prefixes, and suffixes, as well as synonyms, antonyms, and homophones.  The roots can be hard so we throw in synonyms, etc, to off-set some of that.

I've seen different activities used with Easter eggs.  So I had this idea.  I talked it out with Stacia, and she had a different idea, after some trial and error, we found Stacia's idea to work better so I'm here to share it with you!

I have 3 sets of words- synonyms, antonyms, and homophones.

Each sheet is a different set of words.  Cut them in pairs.  The words are put inside the eggs.  Then, give out the eggs with the different sets all mixed up.  Each student would open their egg, read the two words, decide if they were synonyms, antonyms, or homophones.  Then, they would take it to the basket with the corresponding label.  So, smile and frown would go in the antonym basket.  This could be whole group, pairs, or even individual.  Then, they could check themselves with an answer sheet (you could print an extra sheet and label it so they could use it as an answer key). Or, they could sort their eggs (maybe 5 to a basket) and then write them in a list and you could even take it for a grade!

Here is the freebie for download- 

Go check out the other Take it and Make it ideas at Cynthia's blog by clicking the button below!

And!!  Stacia JUST finished her Cutie Chick Clipart!!

If you missed the free download, click the button below to download the freebie.

But, if the freebies are not enough for you, and you are like me and JUST HAVE TO HAVE these cutie chicks, you can get them for yourself!!!  Look at these cuties!!

(look at their tail feathers!!)

You can get each set separately by clicking each picture, or, you can get them all bundled together by clicking HERE!  If you buy it bundled, you SAVE!

I HAD to make something with these cute chicks, so in theme with our Take it and Make it idea, here's a FREE synonym, antonym, and homophone practice sheet!  (I know we did one with shamrocks recently, but hey, practice is practice!!)  :O)

What do you think about our center ideas and our new clipart??  We'd love to have feedback!!

So, have a great Friday, chics!  ;O)
Amanda

 

Free Spring Clipart- Cutie Chick and Eggs Plus Linky Galore!!

Stacia is working on some adorable clip art and we wanted to share a few with you as freebies (and a preview) for our wonderful followers!!! Just click the button below to get your own Spring Cuties!!  Keep an eye out for the entire set! Won't they be cute on some spring centers or printables!?!

I decided to link up to a few linkies because they are fun and I like getting to know everyone better!   :O)

The first one is from Brittany at Lovely Literacy and More and it's very simple.  What makes you feel lucky and share the luck by posting a freebie (which is above)!

I would have to say that I feel more blessed than lucky.  I guess I sort of believe in luck, but I really like to count it more as blessings than luck...  :O)

So, here I go, counting my blessings:

My family- I thank God for them everyday!

My friends and coworkers who support me when things get tough and make me laugh when I don't even know there's a laugh in there!  I'm incredibly blessed to have Stacia right through the doorway of my classroom!  I couldn't do it without her!

I feel blessed because of new friends found through blogging!  I had no idea what I was getting into when we decided to start blogging but I am so very thankful we took that leap because we have met some incredible teachers (and now friends!) along the way!  I was going to put everyone's blog buttons in but then it started taking up so much space and I started getting stressed I would leave someone out without meaning to, so I took them out.  But, there are so many wonderful people who read our blog and comment when we post, and it REALLY means a lot (and if your email is not hooked up to your blogger account I hope you'll consider doing that because that's how we've made so many connections- emailing back and forth because of sweet people taking the time to comment.  I feel so sad when I can't email a response to comments and I never know if people come back and check if we responded to your comment- but that's how connections have been made for us!).  So we love all of our new friends we've found through this little blog and we sooooo appreciate all of your support!

Okay, here's a complete change of subject...SQUIRREL!!

Here is one if from Brigid at Brigid's Daily Lesson Log:

 Our spring break is the 2nd week in April.  I'm not counting down to the break, or anything...  ;O) 

We are probably not going anywhere for spring break, so I'm thinking a staycation is in order:

1.  I need to clean and organize my house- spring cleaning.  I know- it sounds sooooo fun doesn't it?  You can come help if you want...actually, I wouldn't allow you in my house right now because it's a hot mess and with testing coming up, I have been focusing on school more than anything else.  My house will tell you I've neglected it!  It needs a cleaning and I'll feel better once I get that done, and then I can get on to the fun stuff!

Spend time with my family!:

2.  Take the kids to the museum!

3.  Take them to see a movie!

4.  Hang out at the park and indulge in lots of ice cream!  

Other, less fun stuff:

5.  Get back to exercising (well, this will be fun once I'm back in shape but not at first when I probably won't be able to walk up and down the stairs)

6.  Plan my week before the BIG TEST so that my students are locked and loaded and ready to KILL THAT TEST!!

7.  Maybe I'll end it all with a shopping spree- THAT sounds fun!!  :O)

What are you planning to do over your spring break (if you haven't already had it)?  If you want to go link up, I'd love to hear what you'll be up to!  Maybe I can get some ideas from you!  And if you aren't a blogger, please leave us a comment with some things you think I might be able to entertain my littles with!

We are linking up the clipart to Mrs. Kelly's Klass for her Spread the Spring Fever Linky Party- click the button to find more great spring ideas from bloggers!

Also, head over and see Gina at Beach Sand and Lesson Plans!  It's her birthday week and she is giving away something each day!  You can go in and enter any time, all week, for all of the prizes!!  You might just see a prize from us in there!!  Happy Birthday week, Gina!!
*Amanda*

Hooray! Hooray! We have winners today!!

Drum roll pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease!!

We are here to announce the winners of our first HUGE giveaway!!

Thank you again to all of the wonderful bloggers that donated to this giveaway!!  You are the BEST!

SO, HERE WE GO!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

And the Winners of the Pin and Win Giveaways earlier this week...

Have a fantastic Thursday! :)

Math Games for Math Workshop

Do you do math workshop?

What IS math workshop?

Well, it looks very similar to reading and writing workshop, but you're teaching math!  ;O)

I learned several years ago that my students learn math better in small group.  When I was teaching whole group, I would lose my kiddos that struggle in math or didn't like math.  There's just too much to learn in a short time for me to "lose" any of them!  Plus, I could really watch what they were doing well and where they were making mistakes and give them immediate feedback when we were in small groups.

They always say that you don't want students to practice math wrong because that's what will be ingrained in their brain. I took that to heart, so I teach most of my math lessons in small group.  Granted, there are some lessons better taught whole group (introductions to new units, review, and unit culminations) but really, for the most part, I teach small group math.

So what are the students doing while I'm teaching in small group, you might ask?

Weeeeeeeeelllllllll, a few different things.

I give them a packet (I know, I know....a packet!!  It sounds horrible but there is a method to my madness!)

The packet has an exemplar in it (a word problem that requires multi-steps and writing to show how they worked the problem and why they worked it that way).  And, the packet has a review sheet that has a multitude of skills that we have previously learned (so hopefully they don't forget everything!).

They have all week to complete the packet.  For some, it takes a day or two.  Most of them are done by Wednesday.  Once they have finished, they partner up and work on math games together.

As we learn skills, I teach them new games to add to the game tub.  Some weeks I'll give them specific games to play.  Other weeks, I will allow them to play any of the games that they've learned so far.  It just depends on the amount of practice they need.

Long story short- I wanted to share a few games with you that I use during math workshop.  They are nothing major and require very little prep time.  The main materials needed are decks of cards and dice (or number cubes if you aren't allowed to call them dice- because, you know, we don't want to promote gambling...)  ;O)

The first game I teach at the beginning of the year is a favorite of my students.  When I am first getting them acclimated to math workshop (what to do and what not to do while I'm working with groups and HOW to work with a partner QUIETLY) I use this simple game to just practice, but they love it.

It's called Oh No 99!! (I did not make this up- I learned it at a staff development.)

(Note- for cards- you can use a deck of cards or ten-frame cards, but for some games, it's better to take the face cards out)

Materials- a deck of cards

A few other games that Stacia and I have made up over the year:

Click HERE for a printable of these game posters.

Sometimes, they play games and they fill in a sheet for their games.  I rarely grade those sheets, but sometimes I will have them turn it in just so I can see if they are actually doing what they are supposed to be doing while playing games.  We will share more of those games when I have a little more time to get that all organized and ready to share!

Mostly, I just use the games for practice.  Because, ultimately, I call it a game, but it's practice.  But, they think it's SO FUN and they don't care that they are just rolling dice or flipping cards and still doing the practice.  It beats a worksheet any day!!  :O)

What are some math games that you use?  Check out the linky at Ideas by Jivey to find new ideas or to link up your ideas!!  If you don't link up, but have a game, please leave us a comment because we'd love to add new games!  :O)

We will be back later this week to announce our winners of the giveaways!!  I promise!!