Blog Hoppin': March 2012

Spring Addition Matching Game for Numbers 1 to 5

This w

eek I tried out a new addition game with my kinders. Addition is something that we have always exposed our kiddos to, but never really have expected fluency in it. But the new Common Core Standards for kindergarten have this standard: "We can fluently add number combinations to 5" . Yikes! So after much trial and error with my little kiddos, I think that I have an addition game that will work for practicing this standard. If you are interested hop on over to my blog and get a copy for free!

Using Place Value Tent Cards

Place value and expanded notation can be difficult concepts to teach in a kinesthetic manner. In my first year as a teacher I was given templates for place value tent cards. Year after year, they have proven to be an AMAZING way to teach place value with early years students. The students love them and do not even realize that they are practicing essential skills. To read more about how to use place value tent cards, and to download your own set for free, visit my blog, Teaching in the Early Years by clicking on the image below.

If you are looking for additional place value ideas, you may also want to visit my "Place Value" Pinterest board by clicking here.

Have a great day!

I'm Celebrating

In celebration of nearing 250,000 pageviews at Cooperative Learning 365, I'm having a giveaway!! To learn more, visit my blog by clicking Celebration!

Every wonder what it is like to teach in France?

My pal, Yvonne, over at Mixminder did a really great guest blog for me. She currently lives in France and tells about her experience as a part-time teacher and mother with the schools in France. She also includes the link to a lesson she created about the culture of France. So, if you teach about Europe, or maybe even about France, here is your chance to get some great reading in!

Enjoy reading it!

Aargh! It's a Pirate Themed Giveaway!

Click on the picture below to enter to win tons of pirate themed products from some of your favorite sellers!

Best of luck to you me mateys!

Spring/Easter Linky Party and Freebie!

My friend Brian at Hopkin's Hopping Blog is having an Easter Linky Party. I didn't have anything for Easter or Spring, so I spent a little time this Sunday Morning (not feeling well so I didn't go to church) to throw this little math fact puzzle activity together. I hope you enjoy it!

Go check out Brian's Linky Party!!

Enjoy!

The Traps Are Set!

I am laughing right now as I type this post because my students are SOOOO into the Leprechaun that has been visiting our classroom. I wish I had a video of the student who found the first Leprechaun mess in the class bathroom a few days ago! I tried so hard to keep a straight face while looking surprised at the same time! Then students kept smelling the foot prints that were left on a few desks! Then one told me the Leprechaun has stinky feet! (Okay, I have teary eyes from laughing so hard right now!) Okay, I'm better! They also go hunting for Leprechaun clues outside during recess!
The students brought in their traps today and they are all set and ready on their desks. They turned out Super Cute!! See for yourself!

Here is our St. Patrick Week so far:

We did some data collecting with Lucky Charms thanks to Made for First Grade! Stop by their blog for this freebie!

We did a very fun experiment with pennies, salt, and vinegar today! The Leprechaun sneaks in and takes the shiny pennies then leaves a note for each student! I am leaving notes for them to find when they come to school tomorrow! "Luring Leprechauns" is a freebie from my friend and First Grade co-worker! CLICK HERE to download and try it with your class!

The students had fun this week with Math Centers from my Lucky Clover Math Center Games

I hope you all are having as much St. Patrick's fun as we are!!

There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Chick

Put that green away and let's get ready for Easter. I have some fun items to help you plan those after St. Patrick's Day activities.

Here is the unit.

Here is the art project.

I love this book! It is so much fun to use. I hope you can enjoy!
Hope over to my blog tomorrow for a FREEBIE reading comprehension game too!

Mary, Sharing Kindergarten

http://sharingkindergarten.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/SharingKindergarten

Healthy Kids!

Last month, we were discussing our next kindergarten science/social studies unit and we saw that it was to be our health unit. We all just went "Ho hum" and had no excitement at all about the upcoming unit. So, after many hours of trial and error, I wrote a new healthy kid unit. We just finished it last week and what fun we had! We talked about our hearts, lungs, and digestive system - in a simple way, of course. We discussed healthy eating, learned about MyPlate.gov and how important exercise is to keep our bodies healthy. We talked about getting a good night's sleep, dental health, and washing our hands. All our activities were put inside a cute book cover that the kids created themselves. It is amazing to me how interested little kids are in keeping healthy! If only we could keep this excitement going in them; maybe our little ones would grow into healthy adults!
If you would like to see some more pictures, hop on over to my blog!

Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun Unit

Link over to grab freebies to align with my unit and Maria Dismondy's book Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun. I'm giving away two copies of this unit...Plus more.

Lesson Plan Help!

This week is St. Patrick's Day... and you are ready. Right? Well, you are now.

I made a retelling art project to go with There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Clover book.

Here

This is a fun center or small group idea. The students use the code breaker sheet to break the secret code word on the pots. There are 110 pots to decode and 5 code breaker sheets.