Grammar Girls/Guys and The History of Halloween

Here it is! 

This will be my one post for the week.

I have parent/teacher conferences

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday night.

I'm sure by Friday I will have no energy to post.

Wish me luck.

 

So instead of getting things ready,

I'm writing to all of you.

 

These are two of my

 

1.  Grammar Girls/Guys/Animals/etc.

 

We are working a lot of recognizing and using

the different parts of speech.

A fun way to practice these skills

was by creating grammar characters.

Everyone chose their character.

We had animals, famous people, classmates

and some kids even created themselves.

Then we added hands, feet or other equipment

and details that went along with the character.

Finally, we filled in our information.

Each hand, foot or piece of equipment

had a different part of speech.

We used nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs

that were related to our character.

The whole project took about four days,

and the kids had a lot of fun.

Plus it will be great to have these up

for the parents to see at conferences.

 

#2 - The History of Halloween

with QR codes

 

I'm not a big fan of Halloween.

Never have been a fan,

but most kids love it!

In order to make it somewhat educational,

my students will learn about the History of Halloween. 

 

The students get to go around the room

and scan the code.

Then they read the information and answer the questions

on the worksheet that is provided.

 

I know that not everyone has access to QR code scanners,

so I've also included cards with the information and no codes.

 

This could be used as a whole class activity

where the teacher does one card a day.

I place the cards around the room

and we spend two days scanning and answering.

You could also make it into a center.

 

As always, I like to have a mini-giveaway

with my new products.

To enter, comment below:

Are you a fan of Halloween?

 

 



Monday Made It - Quiet Dice and Number of the Day

 

 

I can't believe I made it through today.

My youngest has her molars coming in.

She was asleep/awake last about every 15 minutes.

It wasn't until 2:30am when she finally fell sound asleep.

Tonight will be an early to bed night for me.

 

Just as I like it quiet when I sleep,

I also like it quiet during math rotations.

To help with this, I made some special

bowls just for the dice we use.

I had some plastic bowls and felt.

I traced circle on the felt.

Then I cut the circles and used the spray

adhesive to keep them in place.



It's nothing fancy, but it was cheap and they work.

 

Another product I made were

Number of the Day Activity Sheets.

I love using Number of the Day during math.

It's a great way to review skills.

My problem was not all the children were participating.

Also, it was taking us too long to complete all the skills.

 

So I created these 1/2 sheets with only 4 skills on a sheet.

On days when I have more time,

I copy them back to back for a total of 8 skills.

I also like having the sheets for any day

when a substitute is in my room.

Number of the Day is great for a sub

because the kids know the routine.

Having a sheet for the kids to record their answers

makes sure they are completing their work when I'm not there.

 

Click on the pictures above to check them out at my TpT store.

 

I hope your week is off to a great start. 

 

Be sure to head over to

Fourth Grade Frolics

to see all the great things other people have made.

Math Vocabulary

Today is my last day of summer break.

We have Institute Day tomorrow

and the kids come on Wednesday.

I should be finishing up my plans,

but I needed a break so I'm here typing this post.

 

My district is starting the math CCSS this year.

One thing we are all expected to have is

a math vocabulary board.

 

Here is a picture of mine.

 

It's not the best pictures, but you get the idea.

Last year I learned a trick from another teacher,

use a glue gun.

I hot glued all the letters so there are no staples.

Also, all the edges will stay flat on the board.

 

As we learn new words, I will be putting them up on the board.

I want my kids to keep using the words,

so I created some math vocabulary review

activities for them.

 

Each card has four words

and the kids need to figure out which word

doesn't belong and tell us why.

 

I did this last year and the kids saw it as a game

and not math review.

The great part is there can be more

than one answer.

Most of the cards were created with a specific

answer in mind, but any answer works

as long as the kids give a logical reason.

 

Another review activity I made is

 

Again, I used these often last year.

I usually copied them back to back,

so we completed two questions.

They are quick reviews and

it gives the kids a chance to use

their math vocab.

 

Both items are currently on sale.

Thank you to Krista Wallden for this cute button.

 

What are some fun ways you review math vocabulary

with your class? 

 

 

 



Monday Made It - Curtains

Last night I was sitting around relaxing

and then I remembered that today was Monday.

Oh crap!  I need to make something

so I can link up with Tara for...

This was a project that I started last summer

when I bought the fabric.

That's as far as I got.

So last night I finally made the curtains.

It only took a year, not too bad!

They were really easy to make.

1.  Cut the fabric into a rectangle about 

two times the size of the window.

2.  Fold, iron and sew all four sides.

Make the top edge bigger so 

the curtain rod will fit.

I got the curtain rods and hooks 

from Home Depot.

The hooks are great because you can

move them around. 

I already had to do that once today!

My curtains are not meant to

keep the sun out, but rather make

the room feel a bit cozier.

Back to working on my classroom!

Monday Made-It...Freebie and Back to School Foldables

Three weeks to go and so it's time to get moving!
I'm here to share some items I made for...

 

The first thing I made were some special recognition certificates.

I saw this idea on Pinterest and knew it was something I could make.

(I'm not very crafty!)

Here is how mine turned out.

I used a 5x7 frame

and made four different certificates.

I'll fill in the certificate,

put it in the frame

 and place the frame on the student's desk.

Don't you think it would be fun to come into

the class and see you have a frame on your desk?

 

The original pin showed the teacher using a dry erase marker

on the frame and reusing the certificates.

I haven't decided if I will do that

or write on the actual certificate.

The kids may want to take a certificate home to share with the family.

What do you think?

 

You can pick up the certificates for FREE

by clicking on the picture below. 

 

My second project was Back to School Foldables.

I used foldables a LOT last year.

So I decided to start the year with some new foldables.

 

 

My original idea was to make a lapbook

for the start of school.

Then in the middle of the night,

when we get our best ideas,

I had a different thought.

We will make a lapbook at the beginning of the year

and I'll save it.

Then at the end of the year,

we will add more foldables and finish the lapbook.

It will be a fun way for the kids to see how they have changed

and to have a memory book of the school year.

 

Of course, all of the foldables could be put into a writing journal.

It's a way to slowly get the kids into some daily writing.

Again, they can look back at their ideas throughout the year.

 

All of the foldables you need are available

at my TpT and TN store.

 

Are you a big fan of foldables?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Monday Made It - I-Spy Jars and Word Work

If you read my blog,

you know that I love my two girls

and enjoy spending time with them.

 

Here are two pictures of us

celebrating on the 4th of July. 

Summer is so special because I really

have so much time with them.

Don't you just love that!

 

Well, it's Monday, and that means it is time for

 The first thing I made were I-Spy jars

for, you guessed it, our road trip.

Please pardon the pictures,

I'm not much of a photographer.

 

I started with two empty plastic

containers, a bag of rice and some small trinkets.

 

I alternated putting rice and trinkets into the containers.

 

I wanted my daughter to know what she was looking

for in each jar, so I made little cards.

 

The pictures are upside-down,
but I'm sure you get the idea!
The trinkets were put on a piece of paper

and then I took a picture.

I printed the pictures onto white paper

and cut the cards.

Then I put the cards into a baggie.

 

It's nothing fancy, but I just need it to

last for our trip.

 

This might be fun to use in the classroom with

spelling or vocabulary words.

You could place words in the containers that follow

a certain spelling pattern and those that don't.

The kids would have a recording sheet

to list the words they find -

pattern words and non-pattern words.
 

Math equations could be put in the containers.

Have some correct equations and some incorrect.

Again, give the kids a recording sheet

to share what they find.

 

How else could we use these?

 

My second creation was...

These are word lists and activities

that I use with my own third graders,
but could be used in second or fourth also.

There are three different word lists.

All three packs have

2 skill sheets to use with the word lists,

a word sort and

and two additional activities.

Many of the activities have two versions,

on-level and above level words.

 

 Each of the products below are sold separately

or you can buy the whole bundle.

Also, they are 20% off through Wednesday!

 



 

What have you been working on lately?

Monday Made-It and A Giveaway

It's Monday and that means it is a time

to share all the great things we have made.

I made craft stick puzzles.

 

 My initial reason for making these

was a road trip we are taking soon.

But I really think these could be used in your classroom. 

 

My daughter and I started by printing up

some of her favorite pictures. 

 

Then we laid out the craft sticks,

cut the pictures and

glued them onto the sticks.

I put one picture on each side

so that you actually have two puzzles in one.

 

 

Finally I used a razor to cut

the pictures in between the sticks.

 

 

You have a puzzle!

They are personalized and won't take up much space.

 

Of course, I then began to think how I could

use this idea in the classroom.

 

* Have each puzzle show a vocab word.

Your students could figure out the word

and write the definition on a recording sheet.

 

* Put a math problem on the puzzle for kids to solve.

 

* Show pictures that are a preview of an upcoming unit of study. 

Students can make predictions about what

they will learn.

 

How could you use these puzzles in your classroom? 

 

If you taking a road trip with your kids,

come over and follow my Pinterest board on the topic.

I have a bunch of other fun ideas pinned.

 

 

 

Now onto the giveaway...

Check it out!

You can even enter right here on my blog.

 

  



a Rafflecopter giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hope your week is off to a good start.

Just a reminder that Wednesday is the start of....

 

Monday Made It - Wooden Matching Game and Freebie

It's Monday and so it's time to link up with Tara for...

As you may have read in my other posts,

our family is taking a road trip in July.

So I have been spending a lot of time planning for the big day.

 

One activity I found on Etsy was a wooden memory game.

Handmade by Bright Lift Toys

Are they super cute?

Yes!

They also cost $20.

So cheap me decided to make my own.

 

I'm warning you now,

you will probably laugh at how mine look compared to these.

 

 

I started with these wooden pieces. 

I couldn't find just circles and didn't feel like shopping around.

 

 

 Next, my daughter and I stamped the pieces.

We made sure the same stamp was on two pieces.

 

 

We put the pieces in a cute little bag

that was a leftover from her sister's birthday party.

 

 

We played the game.

I think I see a match!

 

Of course as we were making these,

my head starting coming up with ways to use these in the classroom.

 

I was thinking it would be fun to put math facts on each piece.

Contraction on one and two words that make the contraction on the other.

Let's keep going..... what else?

 

This project inspired me to make a little freebie for you. 

  

 

You can cut out the words and match up the synonyms.

 

 

You can match up the words as a noun, verb or adjective.

 

 

If you want to go with the wooden game idea,

you can glue the words onto a craft stick.

You can even write directly on the stick.

 

 

So there you have it,

my Monday Made It project.

 

How else could we use this idea?