Armadillos and a little sale for ya!

I am so excited about my post for the Booking Across the USA blog hop! I was able to represent the state of Texas in a bog hop across the country! It has been so much fun to read about all the states and see all the fabulous ideas that the teachers and bloggers presented to go along with their state inspired books.

I chose two of my favortie books (I am a fiction/nonfiction pairing type of girl)!

Come by

to check out the super cute Aramdillo activity that I use with my kiddos each year to celebrate the rodeo coming into town!

In addition, I am having a sale at my TpT store! My lastest and greatest is a fun set of fonts that I have created that I think you will love! The best aprt is that they are only $3.20 and the resource will definitely keep growing....WOOHOO!!

Literacy Center Cards

How do you organize your centers?  I do a combination of Daily 5 and the requirements of my school district.  Here are some cards that help me communicate with the children.  I mount these on tagboard and put magnets on the back, and I can organize our Literacy time anyway I want.  Come on over to Elementary Matters to see ideas!

Using Technology to Create Community

On March 15th I will be presenting at the European Council of International Schools’ (ECIS) Technology conference. My presentation is called Using Technology to Create Community.

During the presentation, we will be talking about which websites can be used to create community for students.  However, we are also going to start by creating community among the teachers.  One of the best ways for teachers to create community amongst themselves is to share their thoughts on available resources.  I have compiled 15 websites that can be used to build community and I am asking the teachers at the conference to answer the following questions about each resource:

1.)  What grade levels is this site appropriate for?

2.)  What makes this a good community building website?

3.)  What are the benefits of this site?

4.)  What are the downfalls of this site?

 

The participants will fill in their answers on a Google Document, which has been set to allow everyone to edit it.  It will end up with a handy dandy cheat sheet to keep  around and know exactly which of these websites will be what we need for our classrooms. 

After designing this presentation, I got to thinking.  There is a well developed teacher community right now in the “blogosphere”, and I’m sure that if we got together, we could create a similar document and help each other out.  So, I’m bringing the same 4 questions and the same Google Document to you.

So, I’m offering YOU a chance to participate and to receive the same Conference Goodie Bag, of 12 different items, that my participants will be receiving.  All you have to do is leave feedback on at least 5 of the 15 websites.  After you have left feedback on the Google Document, fill out the form below and you will be automatically entered to win the following goodie bag.  Stop by my blog – Raki’s Rad Resources to participate and enter to win.

Adding on An Open Number Line

We are up to our elbows in addition AND subtraction.  According to the new Common Core Standards the traditional algorithm is a fourth grade standard (CCSS.Math.Content.4.NBT.B.4 Fluently add and subtract multi-digit whole numbers using the standard algorithm.). We wanted to make sure we offered students SEVERAL strategies for addition and subtraction so that the algorithm actually makes SENSE rather than becomes a rote task with no meaning.

One strategy we using to teach addition is the open number line.  This is a great strategy that transfers REALLY well to subtraction. The difference between an open number line and a closed number line is that an open number line has no numbers on it- students create and write the number line starting and ending at whatever number they need.

Parents are often VERY confused at all this "new-fangled" math as it is very different from what we learned as children. I created this handout to help teach parents.

Click here to down load the parent handout freebie!!!We are up to our elbows in addition AND subtraction.  According to the new Common Core Standards the traditional algorithm is a fourth grade standard (CCSS.Math.Content.4.NBT.B.4 Fluently add and subtract multi-digit whole numbers using the standard algorithm.). We wanted to make sure we offered students SEVERAL strategies for addition and subtraction so that the algorithm actually makes SENSE rather than becomes a rote task with no meaning.

One strategy we using to teach addition is the open number line.  This is a great strategy that transfers REALLY well to subtraction. The difference between an open number line and a closed number line is that an open number line has no numbers on it- students create and write the number line starting and ending at whatever number they need.

Parents are often VERY confused at all this "new-fangled" math as it is very different from what we learned as children. I created this handout to help teach parents.

Click here to down load the parent handout freebie!!!

Hop on over to my blog to check it out!

Happy Presidents' Day!

Looking for something for Presidents' Day?

I plan on spending most of next week celebrating our presidents as well as our country.

If you've been following my blog, you know I have a strong sense of patriotism, and feel children should take pride in their country.  I also love teaching social studies, and mapping skills.

Here's a freebie I made that includes 2 Fact mini-books on George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.  It also has a mapping activity on finding places related to these presidents. (Click image for freebie.)

  

February's Double the Fun Giveaway & Sale!

The 5th Installment of  Double the Fun Giveaway

Come on over to my blog to win two Fairy Tale Packs from Michelle at Teach123 & my store!

Tonight at midnight is the deadline and it's easy to enter!

Groundhog Day Freebie

Here's a freebie to help you celebrate Groundhog Day! It is a headband topper! I use these all the time in my class! Just print, have the kids color and cut out, then past onto a headband strip (I use sentence strips because they are just the right size!)

Come Link Up at Our Terrific Teacher Blogs Link Up!

We have over 315 different teachers' blogs linked up at our joint "Terrific Teacher Blogs" link up. If you are looking for some new blogs to follow ~ head on over there. It is sooooo big! :)

While you are there, please feel free to link your blog too!