Low-Stress December Math Centers

This will help your math centers for December!

I don’t know about you, but I have WAY TOO MANY things going on in December!

I want my classroom to run like a “well-oiled” machine…independently.

I need to ASSESS, read with kids, check those who need “help” are getting it, and TEACH!

( Makes me tired looking at this!)

MATH. It is like a GIGANTIC ROLLERCOASTER!

Somedays they are UP…they know it ALL!

and the next day, they are down, down, down,

( can’t do ANY math!)

WHAT HAPPENED?

They need practice. DAILY practice.

Daily math center practice with both addition and subtraction math facts.

Kids love to play games. I want them to practice math facts.

Hmmm

Games + Practice = SUCCESS

Here you go! My newest BFF.

Addition and Subtraction Math Task Cards to 20…Winter Edition

464 Task Cards

and

20 Math Mats for Sorting

You can PRINT individual Math Sorting Mats

( There are 21)

or… You can PRINT 2 to a page and save INK & PAPER!

Teachers LOVE CHOICES too!

Need MORE Practice math Centers? I’ve got your BACK!

Place Value Sorting Cards

Do your kids need extra help with place value? How about a sorting activity? Place Value True or False?

If you are NEW to MATH Games, this blog post might help:

Math Games & Activities for December

Ask for help, don’t get too much on your plate, it’s ok to say “NO!”

Check out my December:

Are You a Helper Elf?

December in Room 3

How to Have a “NO STRESS” December

Enjoy, the holidays, stay safe, keep yourself healthy, and have fun!

Stop by in 2022 and say HI!

Wendy

1stgradefireworks

I Failed at ELF ON THE SHELF!

2 Replies

I admit it…I failed..

I tried the ELF thing…FAILED!

I forgot to move it.

I didn’t want to spend the time moving it to who knows where.

My kiddos didn’t find it!

OH…exhausting!

I went to PINTEREST and saw ALL of these AMAZING ELF activities.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/53409945561232171/

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/219761656796958212/

I GIVE UP!

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/140526450852865539/

And so…I QUIT! I am NOT “ELFABLE!”

Change my mindset. Change is good. Change is necessary!

So maybe I don’t ELF this year. Maybe I will “ELF” a different way.

Maybe I focus on a DIFFERENT type of KINDNESS. I think I might look at…

Sharing ORNAMENTS! Or presents, or smiles! Or handshakes, or time.

https://youtu.be/hqOOUJFv1n0

Maybe my “LESSON” to my students isn’t about THINGS…

So I think I will focus on content.

I will share the GOODWILL of the ELF ideals, through lesson content.

I hope my students’ families will give them the “warm fuzzies” they deserve. I do EVERY DAY.

But for now, we will focus on learning.

Are YOU a HELPER ELF?

( BORING I KNOW…BUT NECESSARY!)

So…next in my list…MATH!

UGH! I know. HOW CAN THE ELF HELP US IN MATH?

THIS ELF IS NOT ON THE SHELF

1 more..1 less…10 more..10 less

So…to help with my “ELF FAILURE”

AND

to maximize my math time…

This ELF is NOT on the SHELF! — This Elf is NOT on the SHELF

This can be made into a booklet, used as math centers, individual practice, assessments…

ENDLESS possibilities!

It may NOT be as EXCITING as finding the ELF each day.

The ELVES are WORKING OVERTIME!

The Elves are Working OVERTIME!

BUT…my students won’t be confused or saddened because they think the ELF doesn’t care.

They know I care. And that’s better than ANY ELF!

And so my friends, I admit it. I am an ELF on the Shelf failure.

But…my student’s did REALLY WELL on their math assessments and we

giggled, grinned, hugged, & gave high-fives all through the year.

Now…where did I leave that ELF? 🙂

Elf on the Shelf taped to classroom clock. — HELP ME!

Holiday HELPERS for YOU! 🙂

Classroom Literacy

Data Collecting

Guided Reading

Leave me a comment…help me be an “ELF” convert. How do YOU use the “ELF”??? There must be a support group SOMEWHERE! 🙂 Happy Holidays!

How to get ready for Christmas without the STRESS!

4 Replies

I know…BUSY, BUSY, BUSY!

Folks..LIFE IS BUSY! Christmas time is BUSY!

Sorry to be the one to tell you that.

BUT…

30 days …from TODAY (11.25.21) 4 SUNDAYS! YES, 4 SUNDAYS…

Christmas will be here!

I LOVE CHRISTMAS!

So??

How to get ready??

PACE YOURSELF!

Think

MARATHON…NOT SPRINT!

Where to start?

#1…..Make LISTS!

(I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE LISTS! )

List ALL ( YES ALL ) of the people you

WOULD LIKE to give gifts to.

Now…

PUT A STAR next to the people you MUST give a gift to.

(I know that sounds weird..but..I would LOVE to give gifts to

EVERYONE…but…my bank account says I must prioritize).

It doesn’t mean I won’t give a gift…

just might be a “thoughtful”… not-as-costly gift.

Reality people!

If money grew on trees…

#2…..DO NOT PUT YOURSELF IN DEBT FOR THE NEW YEAR!

So…there is officially 1 more PAYCHECK until Christmas.

( Or figure out HOW many PAYCHECKS YOU have until DEC. 24 )

Take the number of gifts YOU MUST purchase

and divide by EXTRA $$.

***If you have been SAVING for Christmas, which you WILL DO for NEXT year, add that too!

That tells you HOW many GIFTS you MUST purchase and the amount you have to spend.

That’s important because

now you can begin looking for a gift

for the PERSON…not just a checkoff on a list.

SLOW DOWN! Not ready to buy yet!

Now….start talking, texting, asking others…

#3…..DO YOUR RESEARCH PEOPLE!

ASK!!!!

What items do the people on your list WANT…NEED…LOVE?????

Add this to your LIST!

( If for kids…ASK THEIR PARENTS…sizes, likes, ages,etc )

Now…start looking…

online? Look for FREE shipping!

(AMAZON PRIME ..I am speed dial!)

Friends & Family …FAR AWAY??? ( Sorry )

SHIP TO THEM!

Don’t ship to YOU & then pay to ship to them!

SHIP DIRECTLY! FREE!

STOP!

YOU HAVE NOT MADE A BUDGET YET!

#4…..Figure out what you can spend..

AFTER PAYING YOUR BILLS & feeding your family.

They always come first…don’t forget to add them to your MUST list!

Your kids COME FIRST!

And NOT going into SEVERE debt!

Only charge what YOU can pay off the next month!

NO DEBT AFTER JANUARY!

OK..then..start listing whom you will purchase for.

After you purchase…keep the receipt!

I write the name of the person I purchased it for on the back..

RETURNS? Easy Peasy!

After you purchase…

or it arrives from SANTA’S HELPER

IN THE BROWN UPS TRUCK… 🙂

WRAP IT AND ATTACH A NAME TAG!

( This from a Santa’s Helper…who has forgotten and was wrapping WAY TOO LATE INTO CHRISTMAS EVE! )

After Thanksgiving..

#5…..I begin to look at my

LIST of ” WANT to purchase for”

but NOT necessarily,

“Must Purchase For”

on my list!

( Yes I keep it in a little book in my purse! )

Now I have a better idea of “extras”…

Do I need to do “homemade”….giftcards…..”I thought of you- but have no $$ left” card?

What kinds of gifts can you give for NO MONEY?

How about a picnic at the park? A TEA PARTY for kids? A trip to the library to read books? Take a young child to the ZOO???

Gifts of “ONE TO ONE” time…ARE THE BEST!

And you can schedule them AFTER the holidays.

The gift that keeps on giving!

Whatever fits YOU!

RELAX!

NO GUILT!

Christmas is NOT about who can GUILT YOU the MOST!

It’s about telling the people you care about..

THEY ARE IMPORTANT TO YOU!

Enjoy the season.

Spend time with friends & family!

TAKE LOTS OF PICTURES!

Make Memories!

And when JANUARY comes around..

SMILE!

(And maybe a mani / pedi for yourself?)

But…remember…

Christmas is from the HEART..not the WALLET!

Have FUN!

Elf on the Shelf… FAILURE!

Do OVER!

What do YOU do to get ready for CHRISTMAS????

UPDATE to Book Club Book Reports

This is crazy!

I’m getting LAZY!

Now ..I work 3 jobs..I get up at 5:00AM and go to bed at 9:00PM.

I think I deserve some DOWN time!

BUT…

Then…I..get…really….complacient…procrastinate…LAZY!

So every once in a while…

I need someone to give me a little

PUSH SHOVE KICK IN THE PANTS!

Time to git’er DONE!

Git ‘er DONE!

This has been one of those weeks!

So…

I have a packet I made that I use in my classroom

A LOT!

If any of you already have this…

DO NOT FEAR!

Help is on it’s way!

Book Club Book Reports

Now,

MY KIDS LOVE THIS!

The packet is full of independent activities, comprehension questions, word work, etc

ALL related to the BOOK OF THEIR CHOICE!

I can use it with ANY book…

AND

My independent readers can read a book

and as a GROUP

( can we say COLLABORATE )

they can DISCUSS & complete the pack TOGETHER!

Now I don’t use it daily…maybe once every two weeks or so.

It takes them a while & I really want them to “get into it”.

Lots of rewards, positive notes, specials when completed.

It’s a GOOD THING!

BUT…

It’s OLD. Really OLD.

It was in need of “A LIFT” ( in all the right places ).

It sounds like me!

SO…I DID IT!

I GOT ‘ER DONE!

And here she is…

ALL gussied up and purdy!

Preview of ALL of the NEW additions to Book CLUB!

Updated Book Club Book Reports

Character discussion cards for Book Clubs

Booklets for Book Clubs! YES!

Proper nouns in Book Clubs

Writing and Reading!

Booklets for easy PREP & GO!

Reading and writing BOOKLETS for Book CLUBS

Book CLubs have Phonics pages too!

She has grown from 14 pages to 44!

She is ALL GROWED UP NOW!

I added a booklet style because

PAPER & INK ARE AT A PREMIUM!

So now…less paper…less ink…more productive teacher & students!

My Little LOVE…

Book Club

is available

at my TPT store

(click picture)

1stgradefireworks

Happy Veteran’s Day from A Proud Military Family

1 Reply

Veteran’s DAY!

We are a military family.

Army & Navy.

We have heard stories from WWII to Korea to today.

Great Grandpa’s, Grandpa’s, Dad’s, cousins, sons, daughter-in-law…

WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!

In MY classroom

I spend a lot of time discussing MY SON

ACTIVE US NAVY…

and why it is SOOO important to say

“THANK YOU” for their service.

He is currently on deployment…

He was married to an active military US NAVY wife,

AND they had …MY GRANDDAUGHTER!

( She is sooooo cute!)

But he left them behind to live on a ship and PROTECT US!

So how can we say THANK YOU?

We send letters, pictures, stories, and cutsie art projects.

And this MOMMY sends BOXES of COOKIES! 🙂

I try to send things at least once a month.

This month’s ideas…

( Pinterest is GREAT FOR THIS! )

Let’s Talk Turkey

Let’s Talk Turkey

Next Month…… DECEMBER CRAFTIVITIES

Winter Wonderland BUNDLE

Just a little something to remind them of

All of us at home who CARE!

When my son is no longer on a ship…

we send things to friends & family who are

ACTIVE soldiers & sailors.

AND

We send things to the local Veteran’s HOSPITAL.

All who serve and who have served…deserve a THANK YOU!

I searched GOOGLE for a local VA Hospital address…

takes a little searching, but time WELL spent!

ALL will appreciate it.

Parents who cannot ( or are not) with their own kids

appreciate a little art project or note from a child, any child.

A little smile, a little laugh, a warm fuzzy from home.

No need to put names on them.

Here are a few addresses …

To those Veteran’s ( active or inactive )

AND THEIR FAMILIES …

THANK YOU!

Happy Veteran’s Day!

Wendy

Teacher Tips! Look What I FOUND!

1 Reply

Sometimes I find something ( or do something )

that I think..

“DUH!!!

WHY HAVEN’T I BEEN DOING THIS FOREVER???”

This is one of those teacher tips for classroom organization!

Teacher Tips: Vinyl Letters for objectives!

Have you ever used

REPOSITIONAL VINYL LETTERS??

OMG! I LOVE THEM!

I got mine…at STAPLES

BEFORE…last 23 YEARS…

I would write the numbers & Content areas

EVERY WEEK..

( Work SMARTER NOT HARDER!)

NOW…I can just add the words / skills

& the kids ALWAYS know where to look!

You can erase over the letters

AND

when you remove them..

NOT sticky ucky GLUE stuff!

I use multiple sizes for interest…

MY NAME is GIGANTIC!

(Don’t ask me how to spell…MRS. McCARTY!)

Love Love Love this!

Teacher Tips…

WORK SMARTER…NOT HARDER!

So remember… time is IMPORTANT!

Do what YOU need to do to streamline YOUR day!

For more TEACHER TIPS…

Routines Help Us Get Out the Door!

10 Teacher Items YOU NEED TODAY!

Balanced Literacy HOW TO?

$guided math data$

Using Math DATA for Guided Math Groups

How do we use MATH data for Guided Math Groups?

I teach MATH.

I “think”

I teach math well.

BUT..

HOW DO I KNOW IF THEY “GET IT”???

How do I know if they have mastered ( or internalized )

the concept,

BEFORE THE TESTING BEGINS???

Students work with technology during Guided Math groups.

I mean…it’s NOT..

I REPEAT…NOT

always about

THE TEST!

But.. my kiddos WANT to do well!

Even in First Grade, they KNOW!

They KNOW TESTS COUNT!

Whether or not we like tests or don’t,

TESTS COUNT!

And so..

How do I know if they are ready?

How do I use Guided Math data to help students?

Students work with manipulatives during guided math .

Boy counting place value cubes during guided math.

I have a district purchased math curriculum

I am required to teach.

We use Expressions.

Math Expressions is my district curriculum.

I have a pacing guide from my district to use as a “tool”

to
Keep ME on track.

Mostly to ensure I have taught the required concepts for

THE TEST!

I am NOT a fan of WASTED WORKSHEETS!

SOME…I LIKE!

SOME…I DON’T!

So …now what?

I NEED DATA!

SHOW ME WHAT YOU KNOW!

And so..

THEY DO!

Here is my Lesson on

ADDITION using 3 digits:

Whole Class math lesson with photo

Whole class math lesson with groups.

Independent math practice during guided math groups.

Independent math becomes data for guided math groups.

Differentiated math. The data becomes our groups.

So.. NOW WHAT?

Now I have LOTS of DATA (Student information)

to put students into

guided MATH groups!

I have noted students who need scaffolding in:

number sense

subitizing

numbers beyond 10

addition

grouping numbers

writing numbers

expanding numbers

place value

shape recognition

AND ALL OF THIS..

with 2 pieces of white paper & some crayons!

But…

in the next few weeks

when we

“TEST”

My kiddos will “GET IT”!

I know they will!

If YOU need any help with

MATH PRACTICE…

Check out …

MONKEY MATH

Monkey Math

Monkey Math preview

Monkey math centers

for GRADE 1

See how I use it HERE and HERE

AND

BUGGY MATH

Buggy Math for Second Grade

For GRADE 2

See how I use it HERE

I also have MORE MATH Products…

Math Talk. Math Discussions.

Math Talk for Math Discussions

Sticks and Stones Place Value

Sticks and Stones

Thanks for following!

Here’s a FREEBIE for YOUR TIME! 🙂

ks and Stones

FREEBIE…Strategy Book for Making 10

- math games

- dice

Morning Meetings

ENJOY!

NOVEMBER already? Don’t BLINK!

4 Replies

I just LOVE

Kenny Chesney…

Kenny Chesney

I think he is speaking to ME!

As I am singing…no… BELTING OUT.. his song

( in my car of course…windows up..no one wants to hear this voice) 🙂

“DON’T BLINK”

Don’t blink!

Just like that, you’re six years old and you take a nap and you

Wake up and you’re twenty-five and your high school sweetheart becomes your wife

Don’t blink

You just might miss your babies growing like mine did

Turning into moms and dads next thing you know your better half

Of fifty years is there in bed

And you’re praying God takes you instead

Trust me friend a hundred years goes faster than you think

So don’t blink

I can TOTALLY RELATE!

I swear..I just looked at the calendar & it was OCTOBER!

Early OCTOBER!

THEN…WHAM!

Halloween is here..NO..GONE!

and now it is NOVEMBER!

WHERE DID OCTOBER GO??

As I turn the calendar, I realize

I need to slow down

and appreciate ALL that I have in the HERE & NOW!

So, my friends..

BEFORE the Holidays come…55 days to be exact!

and then BAM! Christmas Carols EVERYWHERE!

Take a few moments to

STOP! Look around! Remember this MOMENT!

It will be gone in a BLINK!

Enjoy the..

LULL

( Before the RUSH!)

Take a minute, relish in the moment, and ENJOY!

BECAUSE…tomorrow will be here soon enough..

I wonder where I can get a 2019 CALENDAR?

(I better hurry…it will be here SOON!)

HAHAHA

Here are a few

“helpers” to get you through the

Nov./Dec. rush!

DON’T BLINK!

Let’s Talk TURKEY ( TpT 1stgradefireworks)

Let’s Talk Turkey

November Fact Family Booklets from TpT 1stgradefireworks

Fact Family

November Adding 3 numbers MATH Booklets from TpT 1stgradefireworks

Adding 3 numbers

November Vocabulary BANNERS from TpT 1stgradefireworks

November Vocabulary Banners

The Elves are Working OVERTIME from TpT 1stgradefireworks

The Elves are Working OVERTIME!

WINTER Vocabulary BANNERS from TpT 1stgradefireworks

Winter Vocabulary Banners

So remember:

1. Don’t BLINK!

2. Enjoy each and every moment

3. Tell those you care about, what they mean to YOU! Kind WORDS COUNT!

4. Take care of yourself.

5. Live, Laugh, Love!

Primary Teachers are Quirky!

Close Reading

How important is READING?

Enjoy!

Do YOU Dress Up for Halloween?

1 Reply

I hate to wear hats when I dress up.

I don’t like things on my head.

I do enjoy a great laugh.

I want to participate with the group.

I am a TEAM PLAYER.

Grade Level Halloween Costumes

BUT… I don’t dress up for Halloween!

Sreaming Child

There! I said it!

I am the “old teacher” who does NOT dress up for Halloween.

Old Granny

WHY? I dunno.

Just never got “into it”.

The whole “make-up, costume, prop thing” just doesn’t appeal to me.

I don’t get the whole “dress up as someone else”, thing.

DON’T GET ME WRONG!

I love HALLOWEEN!

I dressed my kids up in HOMEMADE costumes AND store-bought costumes.

Halloween Costumes for Kids

They were SO CUTE!

Teachers EVERYWHERE dress up and they are AMAZING!

Teacher Group Costumes

I just can’t do it at school!

My kiddos are NOT allowed to wear costumes to school.

I will NOT, if they cannot.

I wouldn’t dress up, even if THEY could. Sorry, Not me!

Maybe I’ll dress up at home!

A cute T-SHIRT! YES!

Maybe. Maybe not.

Maybe??

So for now… I will live in my “COSTUME”

vicariously through all of YOU on PINTEREST!

This post might help me…

My Fall Dilemma

WOW! CUTE hat!… Maybe… Gotta go…I think I found a HAT I LIke.

Halloween Hat

Stay tuned. Check out my Instagram.

There may be a HALLOWEEN pic.

Maybe. 🙂

Do YOU “dress up” for Halloween?

Help me out…What do YOU dress up for on HALLOWEEN?

Leave me a comment. 🙂

Wendy

OCTOBER Baseball! But… MATH BASEBALL?

1 Reply

Yes! It is OCTOBER!

If you don’t follow baseball…

It’s time for the playoffs & CHAMPIONSHIPS!

AND then… THE WORLD SERIES!

I have 4 kids.

My 3 boys ALL played baseball ( for MANY YEARS).

And my daughter played SOFTBALL for 16 years! She even played in the Softball World Series! WAHOO!

So, baseball is in our home. A LOT!

Even though MY team, SF Giants are NOT in the playoffs, we still LOVE the game!

My favorite baseball team! Go SF Giants!

But, I am teaching first-graders in OCTOBER!

I need academic “FUN”!

And so… we play! And we play a LOT! 🙂

The expert of anything was once a beginner!

Remember, baseball is about skills, strategies, and hard work.

It is a TEAM sport.

You must work hard, practice, and have the DESIRE to be BETTER!

WOW! It sounds like my classroom MOTTO!

Work Hard, Play hard,

LIFESKILLS! 🙂

Inspire others.

I have created a Baseball MATH Game for OCTOBER!

WHAT? A MATH GAME? YES!

A fast-paced math game for K-3 students!

Math Baseball in OCTOBER

Directions for MATH GAME are included!

Easy Prep… lots of giggles!

Math Mats for Baseball in OCTOBER

Math Facts Baseballs

Math Manipulative BASEBALLS for LITTLE ONES!

Place the “MITT(s)” in a big circle.

Students take a “baseball” card and QUICKLY, place it in the correct MITT!

HURRY! Then “RUN” to the end of the line. The next “batter” is UP!

They choose the next baseball card & place it in the CORRECT MITT!

Some baseballs have numbers, some have math facts,

some have MANIPULATIVES ( ten frames, dice, dominoes, etc )

to represent the NUMBERS!

The winners are the “players” who get ALL of the baseball cards into the MItts!

Teamwork is REQUIRED!

Can you HEAR the CHEERS??? 🙂

We love to have fun, play games, and practice TEAMWORK!

What more can you ask of First Graders?

Maybe…learn to tie your shoes? HAHA HAve fun with this!

Need MORE?

SPORTS BANG! Sight Word GAMES!

5 games in a BUNDLE! WOW!

Sports BANG! Sight Word GAMES

Check it out!

Math Baseball in OCTOBER

This will help your math centers for December!

MATH. It is like a GIGANTIC ROLLERCOASTER!

They need practice. DAILY practice.

Games + Practice = SUCCESS

If you are NEW to MATH Games, this blog post might help:

Share this:

Like this:

I tried the ELF thing…FAILED!

I went to PINTEREST and saw ALL of these AMAZING ELF activities.

And so…I QUIT! I am NOT “ELFABLE!”

Change my mindset. Change is good. Change is necessary!

So I think I will focus on content.

So…to help with my “ELF FAILURE”

They know I care. And that’s better than ANY ELF!

And so my friends, I admit it. I am an ELF on the Shelf failure.

Now…where did I leave that ELF? 🙂

Share this:

Like this:

Christmas will be here!

How to get ready??

PACE YOURSELF!

Where to start?

#1…..Make LISTS!

#2…..DO NOT PUT YOURSELF IN DEBT FOR THE NEW YEAR!

SLOW DOWN! Not ready to buy yet!

#3…..DO YOUR RESEARCH PEOPLE!

#4…..Figure out what you can spend..

AFTER PAYING YOUR BILLS & feeding your family.

Your kids COME FIRST!

NO DEBT AFTER JANUARY!

#5…..I begin to look at my

LIST of ” WANT to purchase for”

Christmas is NOT about who can GUILT YOU the MOST!

Christmas is from the HEART..not the WALLET!

Share this:

Like this:

This is crazy!

So every once in a while…

PUSH SHOVE KICK IN THE PANTS!

I have a packet I made that I use in my classroom

A LOT!

It was in need of “A LIFT” ( in all the right places ).

She is ALL GROWED UP NOW!

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

WHY HAVEN’T I BEEN DOING THIS FOREVER???”

This is one of those teacher tips for classroom organization!

REPOSITIONAL VINYL LETTERS??

OMG! I LOVE THEM!

Teacher Tips…

WORK SMARTER…NOT HARDER!

Share this:

Like this:

How do we use MATH data for Guided Math Groups?

How do I use Guided Math data to help students?

Now I have LOTS of DATA (Student information)

to put students into

guided MATH groups!

Share this:

Like this:

“DON’T BLINK”

So don’t blink

Take a few moments to

STOP! Look around! Remember this MOMENT!

Here are a few

“helpers” to get you through the

Nov./Dec. rush!

So remember:

1. Don’t BLINK!

Share this:

Like this:

I hate to wear hats when I dress up.

BUT… I don’t dress up for Halloween!

Teachers EVERYWHERE dress up and they are AMAZING!

Maybe I’ll dress up at home!

So for now… I will live in my “COSTUME”

vicariously through all of YOU on PINTEREST!

Do YOU “dress up” for Halloween?