Let's Get Acquainted Linky Party

 

I've been so busy lately and I really wanted an easy and fun post. 

That is why I am linking up with Latoya for...

 

 

TOPIC - Skittles Game

 Here is the code:

Red- Favorite Ice Cream Flavor

Orange- Favorite Memory from College

Yellow- Favorite Sports Team

Green- Favorite Fast Food Place

Purple- Wild Card(Tell anything about yourself)

 

Red - I have a very specific ice cream that I love to eat...Oberweis Chocolate and Peanut Butter. 

It can't be in a container from the store. 

It must be from the Oberweis Ice Cream Shop. 

The best is when half the ice cream scoop ends up being peanut butter. 

 

Orange - I don't remember much of college.  Just kidding. 

Meeting my husband was a great memory for me.  Isn't that sweet?

 

Yellow The Chicago Cubs - This is the year!?

 

Green - I'm not much of a fast food person. 

 I would have to say any place that serves sandwiches with chips.

 

Purple - My favorite season is summer because of the hot weather. 

I wish I could move somewhere that is warm all the time. 

The spring weather here in Chicago has been awful. 

I need warm weather now!

Five for Friday

This week I have a bunch of random things going on in my:

 

 

1.     It was another busy week at school, but tomorrow is the only thing on my mind.

Tomorrow is the day my baby girl turns 1!

She is the second born and I keep getting emotional

when I think about her birthday.

I love seeing her grow, but I really want her to stay little.

I'm so nuts about this that I took pictures of her

before she went to bed tonight, just so I could

remember the final minutes of her as a baby.

Am I crazy?  Yes.  Do I care?  No.

 

 

2.  My kids had a wonderful time in math this week. 

I introduced them to QR codes. 

They loved using the codes and being able to bring in their own devices. 

 

 

3.  On Sunday, my sister and I went to a Blackhawks game. 

 It was so much fun to have some sister time and the Hawks won! 

The game put them in the playoffs.

 

 

4. I'm trying to decide if I should sign up for a 1/2 marathon this summer. 

I ran one about three years ago and thinking of doing another one.

Anyone else signed up for a race this summer? 

I need someone to just tell me to sign up already!

 

5.  I got a new pair of running shoes this week. 

I'm looking forward to going out Sunday morning and running in them.

  I love running in new shoes.

How was your week?

Anyone have fun plans this weekend?

 

 

 



Multi-Step Story Problems and QR Codes

 

Don't laugh, but I just learned about these codes a few weeks ago.

I've seen them everywhere, but never knew how they worked.

That all changed, thanks to Matt over at Digital: Divide and Conquer.

 

After I learned about them, my first thought was MATH! 

 I love math and my kids love any chance they have to use technology.

So math seemed like an easy place for me to start.  

 

 

I started by placing these cards around the room. 

I put the story problem and the code next to each other.

 

 

Then the fun began. 

The kids went around the room with a partner

and tried to solve the story problem.

 

 

The rule was you had to show your work. 

Most of these are multi-step problems, so I needed to see each step. 

 Once the students solved the problem, they moved on to the scan.

 

After they scanned the code, they were given the answer to the problem.

 

If their answer was incorrect, they needed to go back

and figure out what they did wrong. 

I was circulating around the room the whole time,

so I could help anyone who was stuck.

 



 

I work in a school where many of the students have access

to a handheld device, so about half of them brought one to school.  

Also, they uploaded a free QR code scanning app at home. 

I had my phone and a school Ipad for us to use too.

 

I know not everyone has this type of technology at their school.

A math center would be a great place for these cards

if you have at least one device in your classroom. 

 

My kids loved this activity. 

I looked over their recording sheets and they really did a great job.

Another third grade teacher tried this today and

her kids were just as excited as mine.

 

 

Have you used QR codes in your classroom? 

 

Are you interested in this set of cards? 

I will send these for free to the first two people who email me.

Scan the code at the top of this post to get my email address.

 

Just think...the weekend is almost here!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monday (Tuesday) Made It and Tried it Tuesday

I'm a day late for one linky and right on time for another.  Today I am linking up with Tara from Fourth Grade Frolics and Holly from Fourth Grade Flipper.  Both ladies have some really great things going on.

  Below are the gift bags for my one year old daughter's birthday.   I didn't make them, but my sister did.  I just helped to put the goodies inside.  Aren't they so cute.  My girls need to bring goodie bags to their daycare for their birthday celebrations.   I don't like to buy those plastic bags that will be thrown in the garbage, so we went with cloth bags that can be reused. You should see all the other awesome things my sister has sewn for the girls.  I told her she needs to start selling her stuff.  

Here is my older one holding one of the bags.  Yes, those are Hulk pajamas. 

She puts them on as soon as she gets home and doesn't take them off until the next morning.

 



 

Third Grade Math Review Cards - I made them and then tried them as well.  I love them. 

I needed something that was a quick daily review for my kids and also introduced a few new topics. 

 

 

 

I usually copy two cards back to back.  Then we spend about ten minutes going over the two skills.  There has been a lot of math talk in my room.  I love having the kids come up and show us how they solved their math problems. 

 

 

Sometimes they solve a problem in a way I never thought about. 

The great part, I haven't heard any complaints about these cards. 

 

I can't wait to see what you made or even tried recently.

Have a great week.

 

 

 

 

     

Five for Friday!

Really?  Another week is already over?  These days are just going by so fast.  Do you feel the same way?  So I am back for another ...

 

1.  Easter was so much fun with my older daughter as she was looking for eggs. 

Here was one filled with Skittles!

 

2.  Over the break we went to see The Croods.  Have you seen it yet? 

I thought it was a really funny movie and the popcorn was pretty good too.

 

 

3.  This week we started one of our favorite units in third grade - Westward Movement.  I think the kids enjoy this unit because they are able to compare themselves to the children that lived back then.  Our first activity was charting words that we thought of when we heard the word "Moving."

 

We've listed ten items that we would bring with us if we had to move today and even started writing in our travel journals.  The kids are actually asking for more time to write everyday.  I'll share some of the journals once the kids have written more.  Here is the unit I created for my class.

 

4.  There is a really big giveaway over at Mrs. Rios Teaches Second Grade that you will want to check out.  There are over 107 prizes to be given away.

 

 

Also check out 3 Hoots for Little Learners for another big giveaway.  There are so many awesome products that you can win.

 

 

 

5.  Lately, my students are having a hard time getting along.  At least one person is in tears every day and they seem to have forgotten how to talk kindly to one another.  I was discussing this issue with two of my colleagues and they came up with some great ideas.  It's all going to start with a video called, "Kid President: Make the World Awesome."
 

You can also check out a blog post about it at Digital: Divide & Conquer.
 I'm hoping to share some ideas with you next week about my plan
and if it had any effect on the kids.

Hope you had a great week and have an even better weekend.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Tried It Tuesday - "I Have, Who Has" Cards

 

This week was a "kind of tried something new." 

I always see other teachers selling "I have, Who Has" cards. 

I've used them in the past, but never really liked the outcome. 

Half the kids weren't paying attention. 

I tried including the recording sheets that went along with the set of cards, but at least 1/3 of the class forgot to record an answer or answered it incorrectly. 

I really wanted to use the cards, so I tried a new approach. 

 

 

I divided my class up into groups of 4 or 5 students. 
Each group was given a set of "I have, Who Has" cards. 
Then it was up to them how to organize the activity.

 

 

Most of the kids divided the cards up among the groups.

 

 

Other groups put the cards in middle and they solved the problems together. 

I only had two groups lose track of their responses,

but we were able to quickly figure out the issues.

It was great to hear all the math talk that was happening and the kids had a lot of fun.

 

Have you ever successfully used these cards?

What did you do?

 

 

 

 

Two Linkies!

It's the start of a new month, so that means April Linkies.

I have linked up with two for this month.

 

The first one is with Farley and her Currently Linky.

 



 

Listening: We were laughing at the Wonder Woman comic.  It made Diana such a stereotypical woman.  She became a nurse so she could take care of the man she loved. 

 

Loving:  Have you noticed that the sun is starting to stay out just a little bit longer?

 

Thinking:  There are so many other things I should be doing instead of this.  Oh well.  This is more fun.

 

Wanting:  I really dislike winter.  We had a few days in the 50's and now we are back in the 30's.  I really want it to warm up.

 

Needing:  My second daughter turns 1 year old in a few days.  I love watching my kids grow, but I wish we could keep them little for a bit longer.

 

Advice:  There are so many awesome teachers and creators on Tpt.  It is so hard not to compare yourself to other people.  Do what works for you and be proud of your accomplishments.

 

 

I am also linking up with Jessica from Literacy Spark for her Anticipating the Month Ahead Linky.

 

 

Looking Forward To:  I actually am looking forward to a month of no interruptions at school.  We have no field trips, assemblies, holidays, institute days, etc.  It will be nice to have a regular schedule for a while. 

 

Dreading:  I am dreading having to get report cards done.  The quarter ends on Wednesday and then report cards go home the following Wednesday.  Our report cards are not done electronically, so it takes a while to write in all the grades.

 

Hoping to Accomplish:  I would like to sew some skirts for my daughters to wear over the summer.  I won't sew them until the summer, but I want to start getting some of the fabric now.  That gives me time to wash/iron the materials and get the pattern cut out.  Let's see if that happens!

 

Hope your week is off to a good start!