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Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Building With Ten Frames Freebie

When rooting through the Target Dollar Spot (I know...I am obsessed)  I found some Dr. Suess themed erasers and number flashcards.  My mind instantly thought "math station!" but I wanted to make it a little more organized than "here is the number card and put that amount of erasers wherever you want." So....that got me thinking about math graphic organizers and then it came to me - TEN FRAMES!!  Of course!  So I immediately went home to my computer and designed my first freebie! YEAH!  I feel so accomplished!


Inside you will find a five frame, a ten frame, and a twenty frame.  I also included some star counters and number cards just in case you didn't want to buy or have to root around for items.  No need - its all there, just download and print!
I am going to use the frames in my small groups and then transition them to a math workstation.  I will start with the five frame and then switch to the bigger frames as we study higher numbers.

Two snapshots: 
Target Dollar Spot Finds - Dr. Seuss number flashcards and erasers
Here they are in action!
 Click here to download a free copy for your classroom. I appreciate your feedback!!!

Thanks for stopping by!


Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Target Dollar Spot Finds #4

Fun Fact Mini Books ($1 each):
Sometimes it pays off to root through the bottom bins in the Target Dollar Spot!  I found these neat little "Fun Fact" books.  I bought all the different topics they had - dogs, horses,under the sea, bugs & critters, and dinosaurs.  They are pretty durable - plastic binding on the left side and laminated type pages. I really like the colorful eye-drawing pictures on the inside!


I plan on putting them in my research bucket located in the science station.  I put a variety of reading material (magazines, newspapers, books)  for kiddos to research and study different topics.

Crayola Flashcards ($1 each):
I picked up three different flashcards sets - Color Connect, Same & Different, and Counting 1-20. Every teacher can use more flash cards....right?....I may have an overboard supply in my room but the kiddos love em!


Counting 1-20 Set: I got for quick reviews on counting sets.  I hand each kiddo a card and then I call out numbers - when I call their number that is when they are free from the carpet to go to a station or table, etc.

Color Connect Set:  I got this one for the color title cards!  My whole group carpet has five different colors and this is the first set of color flashcards that has the color TEAL!!!! Whoop!  So now I have a card for the teal row!  I use these to dismiss/call kiddos to and from the carpet.  Gives a random spin to which row gets to go first and everyone is paying attention because they don't want to miss their row card!
Here is a picture of pink, green, red and teal...blue in on the back of red.
The set also comes with pictures for each color so it could be used in a pocket chart for color recognition.

Same or Different Set:
I plan on using these cards as "brain warm ups" in math to engage higher level thinking.  Most kiddos will get the obvious same/different, however I want to go outside the box and explore other options as a class.  This will fit in nicely during our sorting unit. 
Here are two examples of the cards.  The cards are front/back.  
Example of Brain Warm-Up Using Animal Card:  
Same:  All Animals, have legs, can walk, some are the same color, etc
Different: different numbers of legs, noises, colors, wings, where they live/found, etc
After modeling a couple with the class, the kiddos are pretty good at coming up with their own same/different.  I love when they come up with one I didn't think of!

Alphabet Wipe Clean Cards ($1 each):
I bought two packs because these are a perfect quick workstation for 2 kiddos.  I put them in "Work on Writing" and kiddos can practice writing their letters at their own pace.  I bought two pencil boxes to store them.  I put one card set in each pencil box with a dry erase marker and a sock as an eraser.  Then all they need to do is grab the pencil box and they are ready to work!

Thanks for reading!  Tomorrow I am sharing all my Dr. Seuss finds!

Monday, July 14, 2014

Monday Made It


I am linking up with 4th Grade Frolics to complete my first Monday Made-it!

I have discovered a new love for Modge-Podge, scrapbook materials and clipboards!  I have been experimenting with different layouts and patterns.  I made some for my Kinder team and personalized them with thier initial.  The first one was a little rough but I got the hang of it after awhile!  Here are two of the ones I completed - front and backs.




              


I am not super talented with a sewing machine but I decided to wipe the dust of mine and attempt to make seat pockets.  Sew Mama Sew had awesome directions and gave you a list of what was needed.  I bought black duck fabric, zebra ribbon, polka dot fabric patterns in green, blue, red and yellow and came back home to attempt at least one.  (I chose the 4 different polka dot patterns so the chair pockets would match the table colors).  Here is one of them - I made 3 pockets one for markers, one for a folder/book and a drip glue pocket (I improvised with a tv remote and resource book for now).  I can't wait to bring it to my classroom and try them out!



We have been in our house almost a year - August 8th is one year!  Time is flying by!  Needless to say we moved in right when I was setting up my classroom and getting into the swing of a new year.  I have been collecting items with visions in mind for the walls and I finally got around to hanging them!  My next mission is to put pictures in the frames! 




Thanks for stopping by!

Sunday, July 13, 2014

Target Dollar Spot Finds #3

I'm back with another round of Target goodies!

Reward Sticker Badges ($1 each):
I found these positive reward stickers which I absolutely love! I like to make a big deal when I see a kiddo make the right choice or help another friend without being asked.  These stickers will be perfect to hand out in those situations!
I want to make sure I am fair so here is my plan:
There are 24 stickers in a pack and my district is broken up into 4 nine week grading periods.   I bought four packs so I will reward each kiddo a sticker each 9 weeks.  I have a lot of other incentives in my room to make the right choice but it never hurts to add one more!  And an easy one - its a sticker that is ready when I need it!

Target dollar spot also has other stickers:
Little Superstar stickers - same size as stickers above, 24 in a pack for $1 (no picture, sorry!)


Pencils ($1 each):
Target dollar spot comes out with pencils at least once a month - typically they are themed (back to school, Halloween, Christmas, etc).   There are 8 in a pack.
I scoop up 3 packs every time I see pencils because they are the perfect mini gift to surprise the kiddos with!   My classes have always loved new pencils and this the perfect affordable solution!  $3 and I have 24 pencils (our classes are typically 22-23).   I put the extras in a bucket and I have another reward option for when they make a right choice!  They love the pencil bucket - it is a smorgasbord of pencils from glitter to dinosaurs.  Something for everyone!

Target dollar spot also has other pencils:
Glitter (light and primary sets)  6 in a pack for $1
 
Reward themed (super star, great job, etc) 8 pack for $1












Dominoes ($1 each):
While rooting through the bins I found a pack of mini dominoes.  I love using dominoes for addition and comparing numbers!  They are colored coded - all the twos are green, all the sixes are yellow, etc.
Dominoes are also great for recognizing sets.


Best of luck on your Target adventures!





Saturday, July 12, 2014

Target Dollar Spot Finds #2

I'm back with more awesome finds from the Target dollar spot!  Target always has something great to buy - clothes, sandals (love the Sam & Libby brand!), desk items and best of all the dollar spot!  I always buy more than what was on "the list" and need a shopping cart!  Sometimes I can get away with the hand held basket ones, but that is a rarity.  

Mini School Themed Erasers ($1 each):
A couple times a year the Target dollar spot has these little packets of erasers.  I always buy 4 packets because I use them for lots of math tubs - sorting, graphing, measuring, counting, etc.  I have Halloween, Spring, Valentines, Christmas, and now school!  My collection is growing, which is fantastic because the erasers are always a hot pick with the kiddos!



Card Sorts ($1 each):
I found these card sorts that focus on different skills - addition, animal classification and colors.  They have header cards and then the kiddos sort the remaining cards. Perfect for pocket chart activities - whole group and then a workstation! 



Dr. Seuss Hats ($1 each):
These hats will be perfect in March for Dr. Seuss day.  There are 6 in a pack and all you have to do is staple them!  I plan on doing an author study on Dr. Seuss and crowning all my little "Seuss experts" with the hats.   Whenever we study something in depth I tell the kiddos they are "experts" - they LOVE it! 



I'll have some more goodies to share later!


Five For Friday


Yeah! My first linky party with Doodle Bugs Teaching!  I am a day late but better late than never! 




I spent 2 fantastic days visiting my boyfriend, Greg's family in Michigan.  It was a little chilly at night but otherwise the weather was perfect - even for us Texans!  We celebrated his grandpa's 80th birthday and then spent time at Lake Michigan - Pronto Pup time (world's best corn dogs)! It was a short but memorable trip!
 

 



                                  
I got my blog up and running! Thank goodness for blog tutorials, a free template from Design by Dani and my first student teacher and now great friend Stacia (she just started a new blog too - go check her out at Stacia's Scoop!).




Target Dollar Spot put out their teacher/back to school stuff!  Whoop!  I'm like a kid in a candy store when that stuff pops up. I will be sharing my findings and what I plan to do with them in my Target Dollar Spot Finds posts!





I finally went and got a pedicure!  There are fewer things more relaxing than foot massages!  I got my standard - french manicure.  Can't got wrong - it matches everything and I can wait awhile till my next one since there is no color polish!  I also get in trouble most of the time by the nail salon - I cut my toenails short so the pedicure will last longer, but they always say "too short!"



I got an origami owl necklace last year and I finally ordered a new set of charms to change the locket. I went with a turquoise ocean/beach theme and the package arrived this week.  LOVE it!  The little flip flops are my favorite!  A little bling to sparkle it up and it is perfection!


I also started an origami locket for Greg's mom with all her favorite things!




Thanks for stopping by and listening to my week!