Howdy Friends!

I wanted to share with you a super fun resource that I created for my

kiddos when we return in January!

My students loved Jingle Belle {our sweet little elf} and they are

going to love writing letters to her in our writing station! Along with several different writing pages

to accomodate all my little writers, their station will be filled with envelopes, glitter pens

and holiday stickers!

I created a Parts of a Letter Anchor Chart to hang in my station.

Just {click here} to download!

I also wanted to share that it's almost my birthday....YAY!

So I am having a sale!!

Have a safe and wonderful New Year!

300,000 Views and New Year Giveaway!

The day after Christmas my blog reached 300,000 views!  I think that's a cause for celebration, as well as moving into a brand new year!

With the help of several of my blogging buddies, we've put together a nice giveaway package to start of 2013!

If you'll stop by Elementary Matters, you'll see how to win this:

Plus, 20 other products kindly donated by some of my blogging buddies!

Good luck!

Sequencing Train

I love Scrappin Doodles. . . do you? Have you seen their work? Click on the link to find out more about all their products.

This morning I bought some of her trains and felt the need to put everything aside and make something. So I made this simple sequencing activity that would be good for some first graders, but most 2nd and 3rd graders. The students arrange the cars in order from smallest to largest. There is nothing to write down, but there is an answer key to check their work.

This set has the numbers from 100-300.

This set has numbers from 300-600. 

If you are interested in winning one of these, I'm giving away 3 of them on my blog by tomorrow night. Or if you want to buy one or both, go to my TPT Store.

Patty 

2ndinline.blogspot.com

How NOT to Read Fluently

Today, my students spent some of our reading time practicing fluency.  Especially at this time of year, I go out of my way to make it fun.  (Brain research shows us that "fun" is a big motivator, but I think teachers knew that before the research was done!)

Click image to download freebie.

There are 4 important parts to fluency:

1. automaticity in word recognition 
2. accurate word recognition
3. rate (speed) of reading
4. prosody, or expression

I thought this activity would be perfect to put into my emergency sub plans.  It's got limited materials and is a skill that needs to be practiced frequently.  I've typed up the directions for you to download and put into your own emergency plans.  Come on over to Elementary Matters to learn more!

Enjoy!

Calendar Math in the Upper Grades

I don't know about you, but during my winter break I always seem to revamp things in my room.  I look at what is working....and what isn't....and start to tinker with things.

One area that I am always trying to make better is math instruction.  A few years back, during one of these winter breaks, I came up with something that I really feel has made ALL the difference in the world in my upper grade classroom.  I started doing Calendar Math...and I don't regret it for a second.  In fact, it is THE thing that I feel really cements my math block and helps my kids succeed.

Come on over to my blog to see how I have adapted this concept usually reserved for the primary grades into my class so that my students are receiving daily standards based review.  And pick up your free forms to get started on your own!

TOP TEACHER SMORGASBOARD WINNER REVEAL

Well everyone the moment has finally arrived and one lucky winner of the NOOK COLOR HD has been PICKED!  

CONGRATULATIONS to KELLY J.B, Contestant # 4002! 

 

 

CONGRATULATIONS KELLY!

Please check your inbox, for an email and respond to that email ASAP.  We want you to claim your winnings so that you can enjoy your BRAND NEW NOOK COLOR HD  for the holidays.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Silence for Sandy Hook Elementary

A Hard and Soft G Holiday *Freebie*

Teaching the sounds of /g/ can be tough, so I created this cute little freebie that's HOLIDAY themed:

My First Graders really liked this sorting activity, but it would also work with 2nd graders too!

 

You can download the freebie here! 

 

And, a few of my blogger friends pointed me to some REALLY cute Hard and Soft G video clips too! My students especially loved these two:

AND....




Hope you found this useful! :)

Marie

 

Christmas Story Prompts {FREEBIE}

Looking for a way to put a *spark* into your Writer's Workshop during the Christmas craze?

I have a brand-new set of Christmas story prompts to share with you! I've made them in color and black-and-white to please the ink fairies. :) There is also a prompt included for those sweet kiddos who do not celebrate the holiday season.

Hop on over to grab it (for FREE, of course!) from my TpT store!

Holiday Task Cards

I love Christmas! 

I love Math! 

Who doesn't love a freebie?  

Head over to check them out for a fun Common Core Holiday freebie! :)  

Twelve About Twelve

Did you realize this Wednesday is 12-12-12?  Did you realize this won't happen again until December 12, 2112?  We won't have triple numbers like that until January 1, 2101, and I have a feeling I won't be around by then!

When I realized 1,212 was my the number of "likes" I have on facebook, I thought I might have some fun by brainstorming 12 things we can have kids do to celebrate 12-12-12! Come on over to Elementary Matters to download this Cuisenaire Rod freebie, and see lots of other ideas to celebrate 12-12-12!

     
                                               

Santa's Verb Sort FREEBIE!

I have a brand new freebie for you!

 

It is a super-cute verb sort that my kiddos love! I made it last year with the intention of sharing it, forgot about it and found it last week. Lucky you! :)


Come visit me to grab the freebie and read about how I've used it in my own classroom! :)

Singular and Plural With a Holiday Twist

This is a key Common Core Standard in Language for grades 1 - 3:
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.1:  Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.

Here are singular and plural nouns, holiday style! There are several noun pairs, some regular plurals, some irregular plurals, with several activities for the kiddos!

Come on over to Elementary Matters to see how to get this product at a reduced price in honor of my quest for Acts of Kindness during the holiday Season!

Illustrating to Build Reading Skills

I often have my students do some illustrating when I want to make sure they really "get" a concept.  It forces them to visualize what they're learning.  Brain research tells us that visualizing helps the memory.  Brain research also tells us that adding an element of fun helps them remember as well... and don't kids love to draw?  Add some classical music in the background, and the brain is more activated! Want to add a little more assurance that the kids are learning?  Let them talk about what they're drawing and why!

These sheets for illustrating are great for centers, or great for the Sub Tub!

I have several items in my Teachers Pay Teachers store that involve children illustrating.  Come on over to Elementary Matters to see some of these items that will help make learning permanent!

Of course, any illustrating is enhanced by music.  May I suggest this one?  (Click image for a link to Amazon!)

Christmas Math Trees

Looking for a way to have some Christmas fun, but still cover your standards?  We had so much creating these Math Christmas Trees that do just that!  

Head over and check out how we made them!  Your kiddos will love them! :)

3-D Life Cycle of a Christmas Tree Craftivity

I've been busy creating more 3-D Life Cycle Science Crafts. Just in time for Christmas, I created this 3-D Life Cycle of a Conifer Craft. It's a super way to teach about life cycles and it works really well for a science holiday craft that all students can participate in. 

Head on over to Sweet Tea Classroom to learn more.

Thanks, Robin Sellers

Freebies, Freebies, and More Freebies!

Christmas is the season of giving.  I love to share my teaching ideas, and that's my plan for the next few weeks:  sharing what I have with my wonderful readers!

If you come on over to Elementary Matters, you can download "Drawing Holiday Conclusions".  There are 20 holiday riddles for the children to use their knowledge and draw conclusions from the clues given.  I think they'll have some fun reading these cards for each other!

Don't forget to come back for more freebies!