Category Archives: elementary

Getting Ready to Go Back to School

Posted in back to school, classroom ideas, elementary by

Hello everyone! In case you haven’t heard, I am going back to the classroom next year! I am super excited! I have spent a lot of time on Pinterest looking at ideas to decorate and organize my new room! I must also confess that I have been to several dollar stores and Targets as well as buying things from neighbors on beg barter Facebook groups. I know it seems early and I see some of my friends are upset about the back to school stuff being out in stores, but I am excited to get back and don’t want to wait until the last minute to get it all together!

First up, look at these colorful totes I found in the Target Dollar Spot (I might have gone to a few Targets to get the colors I wanted)!  The labels were FREE from The Hungry Teacher.

welcome to school

Also, I found the triangles for a welcome banner using letters I already had! I am planning on adding some black and white polka dot ribbon to make finishing touches!

How cute are these colored clothes pins??? I think I will use them on this string to hang student work!

clothes pins.jpg

I also found these pencil cups and used FREE labels to prep them!

pencil cups.jpg

I was planning on making tissue paper pom poms, but lucked out at the dollar store and found these!

pom poms.jpg

Should I hang them from the ceiling or use them to make truffula trees?

Last, but not least, these Dr. Seuss posters were a steal… All 6 for $1 at the Target Dollar Spot!!!  The Seuss stickers were also $1 for each pack.

seuss posters.jpg

Here are a few rooms that I have been looking at for inspiration:

Target Teacher Hacks

And, don’t worry, I have not forgotten to prepare for the ACADEMICS!  All this cute decor is fine and fun, but we do need to think about content and curriculum! Look at my last post to see all the fun games I have been making for my 4th graders!  place value game

Super Fun Fourth Grade Math Games

Want to see more?  Check out my Pinterest Board:

 

 

 

Super Fun Fourth Grade Math Games

Posted in addition, elementary, games, guided math, math, task cards, Uncategorized by

What is a great way to get your students to practice key math skills and stay engaged?  Games!  Here are a few of my favorite games for Fourth Grade Math!

  1.  Multiplication by 10s & 100’s Task Cards and Game Board – This collection of 40 task cards is perfect for solving problems multiplying by 10 and 100 and multiples of tens and hundreds. There is a Board Game included to print or you could use the cards for a Scoot or Scavenger Hunt! Record sheet and answer key included!  mult by 10 and 100.jpg
  2.  Place Value 4 Score – Written Form This includes 24 cards with written form of numbers in the thousands, millions, and up to 1 billion. The students find the number in standard form on the game board. Players earn tallies for completing rows of 4. The game is good for 2,3, or 4 players.  place value 4 score.jpg
  3.  Place Value Task Cards and Game Board: Your students will love these cute task cards for reading and writing Whole Numbers in standard form, expanded form and expanded notation as well as describing the relationship in base 10 through the 1,000,000,000 place. Use the task cards in centers, small group, or as a scoot game! Students can work independently or with partners to solve the problems. There are 32 Task Cards. There is also a coordinating game board included.  Also includes record sheet and answer key!  place value game.jpg
  4.  Comparing & Ordering Card Games  Your students will have fun practicing math skills of comparing and ordering whole numbers with these game cards. This download includes printable pages for the game directions, cards, record sheets and suggestions for use. compare order square.png

For more great Fourth Grade Math activities, check out my Pinterest Board!

 

Easter Egg Math Activities

Posted in addition, Easter, elementary, fractions, freebies, games, guided math, math, Spring by

Spring is in the air and Easter is right around the corner, so why not have some fun in your classroom?  I am planning on having an egg hunt later this week to get my students moving while practicing word problems! I found a few ideas from other bloggers while looking on Pinterest this morning! Thought I should share! I hope you find at least one activity to try this week!

For more great Easter Egg Ideas check out my Spring Pinterest Board:

Free Estimating Sums & Differences Game

Posted in addition, elementary, estimating, freebies, games, guided math, math by

Estimating sums and differences is a skill I have found students need a lot of opportunities to practice! I love to create engaging activities to help keep my students motivated while they practice! This game is great for students who need extra practice or a review! And today I would like to give it to my blog followers for FREE!

Materials Needed:

Teacher Prep:

  • Download free resource
  • Print game cards and game board on colored paper or card stock
  • Cut cards

How to Play: (directions are also included in FREE download)!

game card

  • Students work in groups of 2,3,4 based on teacher preference
  • Students each need their own color of crayon or marker
  • Player one turns over a card
  • Solve on record sheet or scratch paper
  • Find the answer on the game board and color in the square
  • The next player follows the steps
  • The first player with 4 in row is the winner
  • Players can keep playing to see who gets the most 4 in a row!

estimation game record sheetfun game estimating

Discovering Multiplication

Posted in classroom ideas, elementary, guided math, hands on learning, multiplication by

Multiplication can be a daunting concept for some students. But in my many years as a teacher I have learned that starting out with a discovery activity can help students to understand the process of multiplication and relieve some of the stress.

I like to start off with a real world problem such as “Jessie has 4 plates of cookies. There are 5 cookies on each plate. How many cookies does she have in all?” I have students work in groups or with partners and with counters or color tiles to solve the problem concretely.  I will walk around the room and discuss the methods used, and give a lot of praise for effort.

cookies multiplication

After working out the problem with the counters we will have a class discussion to recognize that there are many ways to solve the problem. Some students count, some skip count, some use repeated addition and some might already know a few multiplication tricks. I validate each method and move into the next phase, drawing pictures… Again I let students work in groups to find ways to draw pictures and then we share. After sharing I show the the way I like to make my pictures:

cookie groups.jpg

I continue this process with several more problems and then name multiplication as a way to solve problems with equal groups more quickly than adding.

We practice with picture problems as well and I reinforce vocabulary…

cupcakes.jpg

And, as with any skill, we practice, practice, practice!!!

stars.jpgbutterflies

I would love to know what strategies you use to introduce multiplication in your classroom! Add them in the comment section below!

 

New Year’s Math Fun!

Posted in addition, classroom ideas, elementary, games, kinesthetic learners, math, student engagement by

Looking for something fun to do when you return from the Holiday Break? This New Year’s Math Scavenger Hunt is a great way to practice engage students while practicing math skills!

Math Scavenger Hunts are perfect for guided math, whole class, centers or small groups! They are a great way to have students moving while working with a partner on Math.

And they are so easy for the teacher to prep! Simply print the problems, hang them around the room or another area. Print record sheets for your students and you are all set!

new years frog

You can hang the problems on the walls in your classroom or hallway.

new years on bookshelf.jpg

You can hide the problems on bookshelves or even have a scavenger hunt on the playground if weather permits! Just give students a clipboard to use while they work on their record sheets!

new years math on playgrouond

Click any image in this post to get the Scavenger Hunt!

 

math new year scavenger hunt.png

 

 

Holiday Math Craftivities and Activities!

Posted in addition, Christmas, elementary, fractions, games, guided math, hands on learning, holidays, kinesthetic learners, math, measurement, multiplication, student engagement by

‘Tis the season to be jolly … but, if we are in school we still have math skills to teach and review! Here are some awesome Holiday Math Craftivities and Activities to help your students have fun while still learning!

Have your students measure and cut strips of paper in specific lengths and use the strips to make Christmas Trees! This can be as simple as 1 inch, 2 inch, 3 inch or as complicated as area and perimeter or fractions depending on your students’ age/grade level.

How about fraction snowmen or “symmetries”?  Cute, fun and educational!

This stacking cup game is designed for addition facts, but it could really be modified for any math skill!

These math games are lots of fun too!  They are low prep and easy to play!

 

For more great Holiday Math Ideas check out my pinterest board!

Very Merry Classroom Ideas for December

Posted in Christmas, classroom ideas, elementary, hands on learning, holidays, math, student engagement by

very merry classroom blog

Well, Thanksgiving break was a great time for relaxing and visiting with family and friends. But … Now we have to go back to school?  What on Earth will we do with these excited children while they count the days until their holiday break?  Here are some ideas to help you make the days/weeks leading up to the holiday break fun and educational.

Joy, Sunshine, and Lollipops has excellent  ideas on her blog for celebrating Holidays Around the World!

How about a Grinch Day?  Falling Into First has great ideas on her blog for celebrating Grinch Day!

Get your students moving around the room with this Math Scavenger Hunt! Your students will love solving word problems with partners.

Looking for great Read A Louds for Christmas? The Printable Princess has a collection for you.

How cute is this writing activity “If Santa Was Stuck in My Chimney…”? Check out other related ideas on the blog, First Grade Wow

These Holiday Math Games are perfect for elementary classrooms!

This Gumdrop Math Challenge is a great way to get your students using critical thinking skills while having fun!

More Math??? Here are some great ideas!

If you are having a class party, check out these 15 Class Games from A Girl and A Glue Gun.

And, how about some crafts?

 

Want more great ideas? Check out my Pinterest Holiday Board:

 

Math Ideas for Turkey Time!

Posted in addition, elementary, Fall, games, guided math, math, multiplication, problem solving by

Well, I am a bit behind on posting, but I have a good excuse! I have been working on some new resources for November! I finally uploaded my two new Thanksgiving themed games to TpT.

The first one is a Word Problem Scavenger Hunt! Your students will get a chance to move around and work collaboratively with partners while solving one and two step addition and subtraction problems. The problems all have a Thanksgiving theme and have great clipart to go with the questions.

Thanksgiving math hunt.png

The second one is called Turkey Tic Tac Toe! It is a Thanksgiving themed multiplication game.  Make fact practice a little more fun with this game.

Square Cover Turkey Tic Tac Toe

I will be creating more Thanksgiving math activities so keep your eye on my Fall Pinterest Board or Visit my TpT store.