Category Archives: Math | Science | STEM | STEAM

Math resources and Science products for including STEM and STEAM into the classroom.

Games for Assessments. What will they think of next?

Games for Assessments? Are they CRAZY?

1 Reply

Can I really play a FUN game to ASSESS?

Oh YEAH!

We have been playing ( YES…PLAYING) 

fun games this month!

And guess what?

I can use them for assessments! 

( Do I hear OH YEAH!)

Sorry …my WBT is going to my head!

My new SEPTEMBER game is both.

It’s a game & assessment.

I use the foldable game cards as a

What Am I? September assessment game

Red cards. September assessment game

What Am I? September assessment game

I start the month with the cards to see what my kiddos know…

DO I HEAR KWL???

Then I can plan for the month depending on what they DON’T KNOW!

At the end of the month..REASSESS!

Another GAME!

Use DATA for review in small groups.

(WOW!!! I think I am getting this down…sarcasm)

It’s only taken me 27 years..sarcasm

( Some of us have been teaching this way for years!)

Shhhh…don’t tell anyone

Those “young PHDers in Education” may feel sad. 

They think they have created something new..

The education pendulum has swung again!

Smile, nod your head,…and teach!

Do I hear an “OH YEAH!” 🙂

Using Math Data for Guided Math Groups

Leave a reply

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???

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…

I have a district purchased math curriculum 

I am required to teach.

We use  Expressions.

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:

So..  NOW  WHAT?

Now I have LOTS of DATA 

(Student information)

 to put students into

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 

Check out …

for  GRADE  1

See how I use it  HERE  and  HERE

AND

BUGGY  MATH

For  GRADE  2

See how I use it HERE

I also have MORE MATH Products…

Math Talk for Math Discussions

Sticks  and  Stones

Thanks for following!

Here’s a FREEBIE for YOUR TIME! 🙂

ks  and  Stones

ENJOY!

Wendy

Holiday Literacy\Math Games and Activities and a FREEBIE

1 Reply

Are YOU planning for December?

Get your first-grade math games & activities ready for DECEMBER!

Are you ready for holiday first-grade math games and activities?

Do you have your holiday reading and writing centers ready for December?

Do you need help finding them?

Easy Prep?  High student Engagement?

I have HELP FOR YOU!

This ROUND-UP is to help YOU get organized,

NOW!!!!

The FREEBIE is at the BOTTOM! 

KEEP  READING!   🙂 

Get your guided math centers ready to go!

Math games and printables prepped, organized, sorted.

 Students can’t wait

for the exciting activities

to help them get through DECEMBER!

Do your kids need extra help with place value? How about a sorting activity?

Place Value Sorting Cards True or False?

 

How to help your students practice greater than and less than with game activity.

Greater Than Less Than Holiday Edition 

 

Math Fact practice activities for December

December Fact Families

10 more and 10 less task cards for math games using the hundreds chart! Fun game!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This Elf is NOT on the Shelf

Now  it is time for those literacy

( reading, writing, phonics, word) 

centers! 

Are YOU ready? 

Literacy activities and games for reading, writing, and grammar for December.

The Elves are Working Overtime

Helping students read using Word Trees. Reading activity for fluency practice.

Sight Word Trees Holiday Edition

And for a FUN combination of Literacy and MATH…

The Winter Wonderland BUNDLE!

More games and fun activities to help your students practice grade-level standards in a highly energizing way! What a fun way to support learning through the HOLIDAY season!

Reading, writing, phonics, grammar, sight words, place value, task cards, and student practice pages to support learning through DECEMBER!

Winter Wonderland HOLIDAY BUNDLE

Do not forget to take care of YOURSELF! 

Get planned and prepped for December

and then enjoy the season!

Laugh, giggle, give hugs & high-fives.

The holidays are for making memories.

MAKE YOURS!

Here are some posts that can help YOU, too! 🙂

When do YOU put up YOUR Christmas Tree?

What Does Read At Home Really Look Like?

Don’t Blink!

Balanced Literacy

Happy December!  Take Care of Yourself and ENJOY IT!

THANK YOU for hanging in for this LONG POST!

Here is a FREEBIE for YOU!

Click BELOW

Holiday NOUN, VERB, & ADJECTIVES

Wendy

Do YOU want to build a SNOWMAN? A Place Value Snowman? YES!

Leave a reply

I know…

more FROZEN! And Frozen 2

Sorry if the song will NOW be in your head…

ALL DAY!

So…let’s add some FUN!

DO YOU WANT TO BUILD A SNOWMAN???

I DO! I DO!

My firsties are working on place value.

Struggling a little with the different variations on representing numbers.

So, what is a teacher to do?

BUILD A SNOWMAN!

My newest packet allows kids to build a snowman

 AT THEIR LEVEL!

Snowballs available in 

base-ten, expanded notation, math mountains, & ten sticks.

If they are working on building a number in base-ten blocks

then only use the base-ten blocks snowball.

Want to extend?

Add a “expanded notation” snowball.

Challenge students?

Add a few more….mix them up & have them sort…use as an assessment!

WOW!  All in one!

Here it is!

Check out my PINTEREST BOARDS for MORE GOODIES!

Need MORE for Winter in the Classroom? CLICK  HERE

Have FUN! 🙂

Wendy

UPDATE! Math Practice for the WHOLE YEAR!

Leave a reply
Really?
Math practice…DONE?

For the WHOLE YEAR???

YEP! YEP!
Math Practice …Common Core Aligned
Daily skills for kiddos to practice!
My newest packet requires..
NO   LAMINATING!!!
Really?
I mean REALLY?    YES!

I Mean NO! NO  LAMINATING!

HOW? Tell me HOW?
 

First…Print  the  cards  on paper  or cardstock.

I choose…FLUORESCENT!
Pink, green, blue, orange , & yellow!
BRIGHT    BRIGHT   BRIGHT
I have Black walls  ( Wal Mart  Twin  Sheets!)
LOVE THEM!
Bright cards LOOK GREAT!
So how do I put them on the walls?

Sheet Protectors!

Cut them to size….
( I added tape to the bottom of some to make a “POCKET”)
and
VOILA!
To see the whole wall….
Close your eyes!  READY??
Love Love Love it!
Here is a preview!
And here is the best!
The kiddos use this printable
doing 4 sets a day, for 5 days 
AND THEN…
take the cards out of the pockets…place a new card in front…
AND DO IT AGAIN!

New card…same skill!

Here is the student printable:
YOU SEE?
LOTS of Practice…Little teacher WORK!

Work Smarter….NOT HARDER!

Now available at 1stgradefireworks

WINTER IS WONDERFUL

Leave a reply
Winter.
Snow.
Jackets, mittens, scarves, & snowboots.

I am NOT an expert on SNOW!

I live in NORCAL.
Wine country. 

Not a lot of snow here.

My students LOVE to learn about WINTER!

Our favorite theme.

WINTER  IS  WONDERFUL!

ELA  AND  MATH  CENTERS

English  Language  Arts

Contractions

VERBS

MIXED UP SENTENCES

WRITING…MAIN IDEA  &  DETAILS

MATH


Math Mountains
Missing  Addends

MAKING  10  STRATEGY
PLACE  VALUE
WINTER  IS  WONDERFUL

Guided Math..MAKES MY DAY!

Leave a reply
Guided Math.

YES..I have said the words.

GUIDED  MATH.
GUIDED MATH  MAKES  MY  DAY!
via GIPHY

 Why?  Why you ask…

 I love the small group engagement that comes from grouping students into “teams”. I can reach them at their level. I can group them with others who have “like” needs. 

 THEY feel so empowered. They feel so GOOD!

 BUT..another small group.
MANAGEMENT can be “terrifying”!

I have found the “TRICK” that makes MY life 
SO MUCH EASIER!!!

MAGNETIC PRINTER PAPER

Yes…it came from AMAZON…But I have NO AFFILIATION..just like their stuff!

  HOW DO I USE IT?
I made a MATH FOCAL WALL
(Thank You Keri Brown & Brenda Frady)

and printed them on MAGNETIC PAPER..
yes, in my REGULAR Printer (toner not ink).

 NOW…YOU CANNOT use a whiteboard marker on
magnetic paper.
YOU MUST COVER IT.

 So HOW DO I “COVER” IT???

 REPORT  SLEEVES…to the rescue!

 Cut them apart into rectangles.

 Tape on top!
VOILA!

 Eraseable …MAGNETIC..FOCUS WALL

 I put it on my side whiteboard.

 I LOVE IT!

 Here’s the final result(s)…

 SO  HAPPY!

 This helps me get the CALENDAR PORTION of my
Guided Math started.

 Then..my kiddos begin
MATH MUST DO’s.

 Then, I can pull small groups of kids for 
MATH!

Clear REPORT SLEEVES
taped at the top! 🙂

Be still my heart..
MATH  FOCAL WALL 
with 
MATH MUST DO’s!!

I am LOVIN’..Magnetic Printer Paper!

Next…I am printing my
MONKEY MATH.
Independent MATH center
MAGNETIC! 

🙂

Happy Fall…Bring it ON!

Leave a reply
September is almost GONE!
October will be here soon.
And then…NOVEMBER!

Then comes  SANTA!
Ok…I  regress…

I like FALL.
But…I LOVE  CHRISTMAS!

So to get ready for FALL…
Think leaves, scarecrows, pumpkins, LATTES!
Sweaters, boots, scarves, mittens!
Soft, fluffy blankets.
Fires in the fireplace.
Hot cocoa by the fire, READING A BOOK!
HURRY!  HURRY!
I AM  READY!

Here are some fun ideas to help YOU (& ME)

If YOU need anymore FALL ideas…

Stop by  

 1stgradefireworks

Are YOU ready?

(And then…BRING ON SANTA!)
🙂

Have YOU Heard? REALLY??? AM I the LAST to know???

Leave a reply
I feel left out!

HOW did I not know…???
via GIPHY
I just found out that

ORIENTAL  TRADING

has a 
WEB SITE 

JUST FOR TEACHERS!

OMG! 

LIFE  CHANGING!

The “go to” website for class sets of

ANYTHING…

pencils, erasers, crafts, party supplies, etc

NOW…has

TEACHER  SUPPLIES!

Bulletin board materials, pencils, book marks,STEM activities, etc..etc..etc…


Learn365  is  AMAZING!

The WONDERFUL people at ORIENTAL TRADING
sent my students  SOME  GOODIES!

*disclaimer…I was compensated in classroom materials for this blogpost.
 BUT…In my opinion,
 I believe this is a wonderful site 
for teachers when purchasing classroom materials.

My students have
 3 new STEM tubs
 for Problem Solving!

Jumbo Lacing Beads

WHO doesn’t LOVE to make PATTERNS, 
practice stringing beads, 
and work on fine motor skills
 of putting a bead in a string?

My kiddos LOVE this!

Yes…primary kids still need patterning!  🙂

Foam SHOES for practice TYING SHOE LACES!
WHAT A HIT!

It’s a LIFESKILL..not all students have.
Great practice!
These are sturdy & REAL!
Love them!


And their ABSOLUTE
FAVORITE!

Learning Resources® Gears! Gears! Gears! Movin’ Monkeys™ Building Set

STEM  at  it’s  BEST!

They build a rainforest THAT MOVES!
The monkeys MOVE!
The forest MOVES!
They control it through the movement of GEARS!

WOW!


We have only been in school for a week…
but I have already had kids ask
if we can get THIS out again!

WINNER! WINNER!

So..I feel very fortunate to have this wonderful
donation to my class!

GO NOW! Get your STEM ON!


and now YOU know!

I hope I will NOT be the LAST to know again!

Happy Back to School!


The day the BOYS found…DICE!

Leave a reply
My boys have found…DICE!

I must THANK the Dollar Store & Target $1 Spot
for making their “dreams come true!”

I Love to have games in my classroom!
We PLAY LOTS of GAMES!
 I once had a parent ask me if ALL we did was play games….
each day her daughter would go home & MOM would ask..
” What did you do at school today?”
Daughter….”Oh, we just played games…”
YES!  BUT…
We play MY games…
educational games….
games that reinforce concepts I am teaching!
GOOD GAMES! 🙂

So, today,

MY BOYS  FOUND….DICE!

Their world has changed FOREVER!
I have small dice, large dice, EXTRA LARGE FOAM DICE! LOTS!
We are working on beginning addition…
( YOU know where I am going with this!)
Roll…..ADD….Color!

We got out the dice games & had a ball!
Here is my FALL DICE GAMES…
7 games in one packet!
So CHEERS to games 
that make learning FUN!

What games do YOU play
 in your classroom??? 🙂