Poinsettia Calendar Gift Idea

I love the holiday season. I also love to have projects that my students can work on and give to theri families. My go-to art project is a Poinsettia vase but sometimes I have a student with a sibling that has been in my class a previous year, Of course, this means their families already have a vase. 

mThis takes me to option two. I stick with the poinsettia theme, but I do a calendar instead. It does take a little more work, but it is still a great project. This Poinsettia Calendar is an easy-to-make and inexpensive gift idea. You simply create the cover, laminate, add calendar pages, and bind it together. 

I've included step-by-step instructions as a Freebie in my TPT Store. You can check it out if you are interested. 

Pointsettia Calendar Gift Idea

Just in case you are interested, the Poinsettia vase idea is also a Freebie. I've included the link to that resource as well. 

Poinsettia Vase Gift Idea 

I hope that you enjoy these Christmas gift ideas. I also hope that you have a wonderful holiday season. 

Phonics Reading Phones

These Phonics Reading Phones are a great addition to your classroom. I like to use them during choice reading time or at my library center. The kids have fun using them. Mine were made years ago, so they are a little warn. It just goes to show that they definitely last the test of time.

The phones are pretty easy to make and way more affordable then the commercially sold products. Here is what you do:

- Purchase a long tube of 1" PVC tubing and cut it into  3 1/4" length  

  pieces.

- Purchase 1" PVC elbows (2 for each phone).

- Push the elbows on to each end of the PVC tubing piece.

- Decorate with colorful tape and stickers.

To use these phones students just hold the phone up to their ear and mouth and talk. They definitely need to be trained to speak in a regular voice or even a whisper, because at first they think they need to speak loudly.

                                                     

TPT Store 

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Anna-Navarre

Teacher's Notebook

http://www.teachersnotebook.com/shop/anavarre

Common Core Unknown Number with Flower Petal

One of the Common Core math standards for first grade is determining the unknown number. It is a standard that is somewhat tricky for my first graders. Obviously those students with strong number sense get it, but it has been more difficult for the others.

Determining the Unknown Number with Flower Petals is a set of worksheets that I created to help students begin to understand what they are looking for; what it means when there is a missing number; and how to figure out what number goes in the missing number spot. It has been very helpful to my students. The set includes three addition and three subtraction sheets, which isn’t a lot, but the student are able to carry this strategy over to other similar worksheets or problems I assign for their math journals.

The way the Unknown Number with Flower Petals worksheets work is that students draw flower petals (circles) around the unknown number box as they are counting up for addition or back for subtraction. Once they have the flower petals drawn they count the petals and then write that number in the missing number box. Students do need to be encouraged to draw neatly or they have difficulty being able to see/count the petals. I also like having them put a mark on each petal while they are counting in order to help them count more accurately.

As I’ve mentioned already, this strategy could be used with any unknown number worksheet, but I have made my Determining the Unknown Number with Flower Petals set available at my teacher’s store. Please feel free to check it out, or to view my other products if you are interested.

 Determining the Unknown Numbers with Flower Petals

Pie Pan Phonics

Pie Pan Phonics is a good center activity that provides students with decoding practice and helps to build fluency. Students use a 9" pie pan, a small ball, and the phonics wheels to read words as the ball goes around the pan. Pie Pan Phonics are available at both my TPT and Teacher's Notebook Stores. Please feel free to check them out if you are interested.
 

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/CVC-Pie-Pan-Phonics-912152
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/CVCe-Pie-Pan-Phonics-912186
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/ll-and-ck-Pie-Pan-Phonics-912206

Brain Break YouTube Videos

There are times in my classroom where it is plain to see that my students need a break. They really like it when I call a "Brain Break" and we put on one of our favorite videos. I have a YouTube account, which allows me to save a playlist for these videos. If you don't have one, I highly recommend it. Anyways, here are some links to the ones I use. There are a lot more to choose from, but I really try to watch and listen for what is appropriate for first grades.

                         Click on the links to view:                                                                

                                                          Mario
                                                   The Sid Shuffle
                                                Boom Chicka Boom
                                              Just Dance 2014 - Happy
                                                Happy - Music Video
                                              Just Dance - Dynamite
                              Just Dance Kids 2 - I am a Gummy Bear
                                   Halloween Song - Monster Shuffle


I know that some schools block YouTube. Ours does too, but it has been set up where staff can sign in and be allowed to access it that way. If this isn't an option for you then you could always try recording it.

Note; I have recently had to update this post, because previous videos are no longer available on YouTube. I am sorry if you run into this problem.

Reusable Worksheets with Sheet Protectors

If you have never used sheet protectors with white board markers in the classroom, I have to tell you it is a must, or at least it is in my 1st grade classroom. I'm not really a worksheet person anyways, but when I give worksheets I want them to really be worth the time. Using sheet protectors allows me to: 1) make fewer copies, and 2) reuse them over and over for additional practice. It is not to say that I never give paper and pencil worksheets, I just use sheet protectors whenever it makes more sense.

I especially love using sheet protectors to make reusable workbooks for a center activity. I put worksheets in sheet protectors and then I place them in a three pronged folder or staple them in a sheet of construction paper. Some of the books I have made have lasted several years. Here is a picture of some examples.

I use sheet protectors for math practice, assessment review, comprehension pages, sentence practice folders, writing organizers, Word Wall practice activities, and individual practice sheets. I have used sheet protectors for the past 13 years and I love them. There have been a couple of draw backs though. The first big one is that white board markers can be expensive when you are buying a whole class set, plus extras. Here is what I have done to work around this: 1) ask for parent donations; 2) purchase from the Dollar or 99 Cent Store; and 3) stock up at the beginning of the year during Back-to-School sales. I recommend ONLY using black white board markers. The other colors tend to stain. Also, make sure to train students on how to use the white board markers without destroying them (i.e., don't push too hard, don't lose the cap, cap up marker).

The other problem that I had, which wasn't much of a problem, just more time consuming, was changing out individual sheets. For example, this year I am using a CAT Facts math practice sheet, number writing, Black Bean Activities, and my Roll and Add game. Putting all those activities in sheet protector/changing them out can be a bit of a hassle. This year I had my students purchase reusable pockets from Lakeshore Teaching supply, plus I purchased 10 extra. This gave everyone their own pocket. These pockets are more kid friendly and students can change or switch papers on their own.

As I have already mentioned, I love using sheet protectors. I recommend that you try them if you have never used them before. You don' have to start big, just try it with a small group and see how it works for you.

Descriptive Language Games

I have found that once my students are feeling comfortable with writing simple sentences, that it is a process to have them begin adding more detail to these sentences. They can usually write more, but these extra sentences are still usually pretty basic. I of course give direct instruction on what adjectives are and how to use them in their writing, but it is still difficult for them to begin using these words in their writing. I usually have to ask them to go back and underline these words in red, or to add some of these words. 

I think the main issue is that students don't purposely speak with adjectives, and are definitely not aware if and when they are using them. I created a couple games to help with this language development and awareness. Student play the Dog Describing Game and the Bear Describing Game to verbally practice building sentences using descriptive language. It is a fun way for them to practice and to be more aware of the use of adjectives. Please feel free to visit my TPT Store if you are interested in checking out these products.   

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Dog-Describing-Game-745583

 

 http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Bear-Describing-Game-745560