Taking the 'Common' out of Common Core

The common core is everywhere! And in some States, it's not....anymore. For those of us that are still driven by the Common Core, posting those "I can" statements daily/weekly/permanently throughout our classrooms....how do you find ways to keep your classroom creative, fun, & hands-on, all while meeting those Common Core objectives?

Here's a few things that we've recently done in my classroom to keep our learning fun, fresh, and engaging! I thought I had a picture of this....but I can't seem to find it amongst the bazillion photos in my camera roll. So, imagine this.....a first grade classroom with a sand table? Yep--that's us! We often use it for math. Actually, it's not a sand table....but sand totes (the plastic rubbermaid ones). Since we live in Michigan where it still feels like the Arctic....we have laminated missing addend snowflakes buried in the sand. We call it Blizzard Beach. It's funny that none of my students found the mix of beach, summer, winter, & snow items all mixed together a bit odd----that's Michigan for ya! But it keeps sensory play in my classroom at the same time my students find missing addends. Using different totes for various levels of missing addend work keeps that station FUN & differentiated. I really need to grab a picture of that, but in the mean time, use your mental images, and look HERE.

Recently, it was the 120th day of school for my students. 1.NBT.1 says that students should count to 120 starting at any number less than 120. In this range, read and write numerals and represent a number of objects with a written numeral. So that we did! Not that we haven't been working on it all year----but because we HAVE been working so hard, we chose the 120th day to celebrate it!

We decorated our entrance to our classroom....and just in case anyone questioned the hustle & bustle, the giggles galore, and the multiple times the firsties broke out in tune ("Red Solo Cup....I fill you up..")

 Go ahead, I'll wait while you sing along...

....but just in case anyone questioned our day, I went ahead and posted my 1.NBT.1 objective right on our sign! 

Students decorated their own T-shirts----some were tallied, BeJewled, covered in buttons, painted, and more! Not one shirt was the same!

 And here.....you'll understand why Toby Keith is considering letting us cover his Kids Bop version of Red Solo Cup (wink, wink). There were multiple structures built throughout the day with 120 Red Solo cups. Cooperative learning, planning, and creating....I loved listening to their conversations, compromises, ideas, and minds at work!

Here's one child enjoying 120's day to the fullest....crown, 120 apple jack necklace, 120 pom-pom shirt....what's not to love about 1.NBT.1?! 

1.NBT.1 also helped my students satisfy their tastebuds by counting out 12 groups of 10 snack items to contribute to a trail mix. See? The Common Core is Y-U-M-M-Y! 

(Click the photo of the smarties above to get your own 1st Grade 120 Day fun!)

At this point in the year, if you are like me, you are finding the Common Core just another 'chore'. And when something becomes a little too chore-like....it means we need to spice it up! What fun ways do you put the paper/pencils down in order to take the 'Common' out of Common Core? 

@MiTeacherGirl

Blog Sabbatical Over! #INSPIRED!

It seems as if this year has thrown me for a bit of a loop----but in a great way! I haven't been so great about blogging since, well, November....because I have been so busy diving in and trying to be the the best I can be at my new grade level. Something had to give for awhile, and it happened to be blogging. So, to say the least, it's been a long while since I've been in the blogging world, but I just returned from the MACUL conference for 2 full days and am feeling more inspired and motivated than ever!

I was able to attend this conference by invitation with 11 of my K-12 colleagues from my district! I was so honored to attend and we had a blast! I attended several amazing sessions and was a little star struck by some of my favorite people on Twitter/blogs. Insert name dropping: Kevin HoneyCutt, Adam Bellow, Erin Klein, Kim Powell - to name a few! How about any of you? Did I pass you in the halls? Were we in the same sessions together?! I'd love to hear from you if you were there! 

Not only did I hear some very inspiring words, I learned SO much from my sessions. As I dive into some projects, explore some of the fabulous apps, and implement all of the innovative ideas and techniques, I will roll those out into my blog to share with you! The overall theme that I noticed is that classrooms have already, or are working toward, putting a device in each child's hand in the classroom. Some of the buzzwords I heard repeatedly? iPads, interactive whiteboards, apps, technology bond, and 1:1 classrooms. I can't tell you how many times I heard 1:1, 1:1, 1:1. JEALOUS!.... and motivated to see if I can work toward that goal. Donor Choose project submitted less than 24 hours post conference? CHECK! Pre-Grant Writing thinking and searching....CHECK! I can so vividly see how I would integrate iPads into all areas of my instruction, especially - and not limited to - Daily 5! If my students had their own iPad on a daily basis----oh, the possibilities!! 

Clearly, technology and devices in classrooms is quickly becoming ever popular, and necessary. It's the new paper/pencil, it's innovative, IT'S. THEIR. WORLD!!!! Currently, my students have better technology at home than they do in our school/my classroom. And some don't have technology at all---and I don't have much to offer them. That's so backwards! It is my job, my mission, and my responsibility to provide them with cutting edge projects, time to explore, learn, create, and publish. As Adam Bellow so wisely noted, we are currently preparing our students for the 22 century and occupations that don't yet exist! The longer I don't have technology & the longer my school district doesn't have this technology, the less prepared our students will be for the real world, for their world, for the technology driven world. 

I cannot wait to dive in to all the knowledge and put all this excitement to good use! In the meantime...

I'm curious, how many of you have 1:1 classrooms, use kindles, use hand-held interactive whiteboard tablets, have 7+ iPads? Tell me, I'd love to hear from you about what technology you have available in your classroom! 

Where's Waldo? My blog still exists!!...

I haven't completely fallen off the face of the Earth. I've been...well BUSY! Wife, mom, sport spectator for my children, teacher, new grade level this year, snuck in a vacation over Thanksgiving for 7 WHOLE days....you know....just living 

life, and blogging less. That's okay to do? Right? 

Don't think I have stopped blog stalking you all, and downloading from TN & TpT like crazy......oh, I still do that!

As the year has settled in (a third of the way done already)----WHAT?! And winter break coming up, maybe I can start to pick up on my blogging again! I bet all you busy ladies understand, though. 

Anyway....regardless, I've found a wee bit of time to create a few new things. Here you go! Some Freebies, and new winter things on the way....

MY TEACHER IS MISSING! Writing Prompt - FREE!http://www.teachersnotebook.com/product/MiTeacherGirl/my-teacher-is-missing

FRIENDLY LETTER TEMPLATE - FREE!
http://www.teachersnotebook.com/product/MiTeacherGirl/friendly-letter-template

GREAT GOBBLER-FACT FAMILIES TO 20
http://www.teachersnotebook.com/product/MiTeacherGirl/great-gobbler

WINTER WONDERLAND-BASE TEN MATCH
http://www.teachersnotebook.com/product/MiTeacherGirl/winter-wonderland-base-10-match

THANK YOU NOTE TEMPLATE - FREE!
http://www.teachersnotebook.com/product/MiTeacherGirl/thank-you-note-template

OhMYword...it's nearly October!

I have been a busy, busy, BUSY little teacher in my new grade level, and I have totally neglected my blog(s)! I can't help it---being a wife, and mom come first and foremost. Then, being a teacher, and finally, sharing anything on my blog comes in any "free" time I can spare. You totally get that, right?! Right!

I am having so much fun in first....I've caught what seems to be the proverbial "First Grade Fever!" Best illness by far! ;) 

However, it's been a bit of a jump.....just when I thought I was getting ahead of the game, I go and jump ship on PreK-K grade levels and throw myself into a new grade----without many activities and stations made for first graders. Thank the high heavens for TpT and TN....I've been buying goodies left and right that have been huge time savers. In the mix, I've been trying to make a few fun stations of my own. I've got a long way to go, but I feel like September was a complete blur.....so I'm trying to make sure that October feels less insane! 

Now that we have routine, order, initial assessments and running records complete, and math and literacy stations (Daily 6 of my own interpretation---yes, I said 6)....I feel like I can dig in and give them some goodies to work with. 

Here's a bit of what we've been doing....

 We've been working on before/between/after.....so, of course, one of our stations was practicing ordering numbers. Students draw an owl card (you can break this activity up into 3 levels/tiers)....write the number that is on the owl on the laminated/dry ease recording sheet, and then write the other numbers that either fall before, after, or between. The kids LOVED the Free Pick card. Little math minds thought it was hilarious to pick numbers like 5, 018! If they can do it, why not?!



We also played (I say played, because they essentially think it's a game!)...Write Around the Room to 120. This activity also has 3 levels. Some students search for the green cards, some pink, and some yellow. A scavenger hunt that was 25 minutes of FUN...and also ordering numbers as the Common Core tells me to do! ;)

Click any of the activity images to get a copy of your own! 

We've also been working with GIANT fall 10-frames. The kids thought the giant frames were so funny. Nearly everything is funny when you are 7---I'm catching on to that, real quick! 

Here, this little math mind is working to draw a ten frame to match the one she drew out of the pile, write the corresponding number, tally it, and write an addition sentence for it! 

Lots of skills in one little, I mean GIANT, 10 frame! 

Coming up, we'll enjoy some base 10 matching & building our own Freaky Frames! Have you seen the huge pack of 50 erasers (i.e.: math counters) at Big Lots? $3.00 and they will go great with my Freaky Frames game! 

Freaky Frames + a sunny Autumn afternoon - a FREEBIE for you!  Click the photo! 

I hope your stations are up and running and you are finding some routine and productivity in your classroom! I hope October is less blurry than September!!! Have a great weekend, everyone!  

Dolch "Ball Words"

It's been days in the making (literally)....printing, laminating, cutting, and placing on rings, but I'm finally done!! I'm using the "Ball Words" from A Differentiated Kindergarten to help my students work toward mastery of all 220 words. With such a fun little program (complete with student recognition and awards), it shouldn't be a problem at all! I am certain students will take full initiative to want to practice their words and play all of the fun little games included.

I can't even begin to tell you how many games you can squeeze out of these fun little cards---and many of the other printables included but not shown here. How awesome!! 

If you get this printable, here are my recommendations: 

1. 1. Get a ton of card stock & ink (worth the money you will spend!...better yet if your school has a color printer you can use!!)
2. Stock up on your caffeinated beverage of choice and throw it down the hatch often!! Maybe even order a pizza & throw on some comfy clothes - you'll be there awhile.
3. Gather several of your closest friends and relatives to help. (I got mine done with the help of some chatty work sessions with my friends and colleagues & paying a small fee to my 9 year old for each page cut out...and to my 5 year old daughter for sorting the words into piles!...it's not child labor if they offer, you pay, and they love it! Right?!---OH, and not to forget my dear husband who cut the very last set that I "just couldn't muster up the energy to do!)
4. Find a place to hang all these in your classroom - child accessible! 
5. Have fun and keep in mind the smiles & excitement you know your students will have learning with colorful, aesthetically appealing, learning materials!! ---which is why we do what we do! 

In other words, "Have a Ball!" 

Ready, Set, GO: Essentials!!

At the beginning of the year, there are some particular essentials that I must have to help keep my students organized AND keep the ever-so-important lines of communication between home and school open!

My essentials are (but not limited to): 

• Home/School Folder - sent home daily & returned daily. I prefer daily communication, rather than Friday folders. As a parent of three children, it's hard to get an over-stuffed folder on Fridays with work that my little ones may not even remember. So, as a teacher and parent, I think it's easier to send home whatever needs to go home on THAT day. Granted, there's great pieces of work to display in the hall, or art that needs to dry, or writing that may take a few days to get through the whole process....but you get the gist. 
• Money/Notes Pocket  - for inside the home/school folder

This year, I am also using writing folders. My Pre-Kinders did not need it...but now that I'm moving on up to first, we are going to need somewhere to store our writing pieces as we are working on them! So, that's another essential to stay organized. 

And...of course, there's the typical essentials to stay organized: student name labels, labels, labels!! 

Today, much to my surprise while I was putting together & making these essentials, I stumbled across the best label designer!! Did you know that Avery (the maker of all the self-adhesive labels) - has an online design and print area on their website?! Am I the only one who has just found this little gem of a free design tool?!?!?!?! If you want to check it out, click HERE. You can create your labels, save them online or to your computer, create PDF's & totally rock it out---so simple!! 

Here's what I made today....

CUPCAKES stands for: Children Using Practical Communication And Keeping Everything Safe! 

The ones I made for my students have their names on them under the cupcake. If you'd like to grab this FREEBIE, click on the photo! They go great with my other Sweet Shop Theme in my TN shop.

I also made this Money & Notes Pocket label for inside the CUPCAKES Folder. The label goes on the zipper pocket with the clear window. No more missing lunch money, popcorn money, book orders, or notes from parents. It's in one safe place, rather than jiggling around the bottom of a backpack! Want this label, too? Just click the photo--it's FREE! 

Lastly, here's the writing folder label. All the labels are made for Avery Shipping labels 58164. 

I hope you get a chance to design some great stuff on the Avery Design and Print Online site. 

It's a great teacher's helper!!!! 

It's CrUnCh TIME!

Does anyone else feel like it's CrUnCh TIME?! I know some of you bloggers out in GA, FL, and even Texas are just about ready to start school any day now---if you haven't already! I still have until after Labor Day, but am suddenly feeling like it's crunch time!

I've spent quite a few hours in my room already....but having moved to a new building, and new grade level, I was feeling a little panicked. In order to focus on the curriculum, I really wanted to have my room in order. Because, you know....as the saying goes....

Source: someecards.com via Keri on Pinterest

I'll be sure to get some pictures up of my classroom soon! I'm not a big fan of work in progress pictures....so I will post when everything is done (or at least will look done to anyone besides me!) I think I'm really going to enjoy my new room this year....and with all the Pinteresting ideas, TpT purchases, crafts, and the like that has consumed me this summwe, it should be a fun, bright, cheerful place for me and my new first grade friends!

But, speaking of CrUnCh TIME....here's some schedule cards that I made to keep track of our daily schedule. I have to say that I am pretty good about keeping to the schedule in my lesson plans, especially if I post it for the kids to see. And while I can be flexible whenever needed, a good schedule will keep our day running smooth and with focus.

These schedule cards do not have cute little pictures on them for emergent readers....but rather I wanted the focus to be on the word, and the TIME! I notice that the Common Core doesn't hit time too much, and I don't really like when concepts are covered in a unit and then not revisited. We all know that learning needs to be circular---come back and re-visit skills and concepts often. Use it or lose it, right?!

By including working with time at Calendar/group using Every Day Counts math, and with our daily schedule cards, we will be off to a good start practicing telling time each day!

Click the picture below to grab your copy in my Teacher's Notebook Store.

I've also recently added quick daily reading practice for students!

Are you a first grade teacher that uses Harcourt Trophies?  Click HERE to see how I've aligned it!