I Have, Who Has Math Games & Giveaway

Last Sunday I received this packet to try out with my class. It's from Caroline over at Educator Designs and it's a fabulous packet of 4 "I Have... Who Has" games good for all primary grades. Caroline is a busy mom who's created these games perfectly made for us busy teachers. Great games, and easy to print today and use tomorrow. What could be better than that?

Yesterday we played the Addition to 20 game and, of course, my kiddos loved it! I loved it too because it was easy for me to give easier facts to my struggling kiddos and harder facts to my higher kiddos. Any chance to differentiate, right? And it was a very easy way to do that too. I can't wait to use the tally marks game tomorrow!

Another great thing about these is that (if you hurry!) you could win the whole set! Yes, that's right. Just hop on over to Caroline's blog for your chance to win! Check out her sweet blog and become a follower while you're there. Have fun!

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Winners Announced! and a Freebie too

Ahhhh... Friday. This morning I was talking to another teacher who said she's been waiting for this since Monday. You know, some weeks are like that. Mine was a good one, though. Hopefully yours was too. I'm going to make this post short and sweet. But first I have to say a huge THANK YOU to all of you who follow my blog and those who entered my giveaway. Having 400+ followers is humbling. 

The winners of the giveaway are

I've sent Kelly and Michelle emails. Congratulations!

I also wanted to offer these two word search freebies. My kiddos just did the number word search. I gave them 8 minutes to work alone then let them find a partner to help them find any words they had left. The loved it! We just don't do these often enough. I hope you can use either of these and that your kiddos will enjoy them too. Click on either picture to grab both word searches. All I ask is that you please leave a little comment if you do download them. Thanks a bunch!

borders from Scrappin Doodles, font from Kevin and Amanda

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Let's Get Acquainted and a Giveaway!

Wow! 400 followers! I'm amazed and grateful for the friendships and connections I've made through blogging. It's taken me a few days to decide what to do to celebrate but I decided on a giveaway of TPT gift certificates. There are 2 $10 certificates up for grabs. I'm not sure if I can choose 2 winners  through rafflecopter, but if not I'll randomly choose a number and that person will win the 2nd certificate. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


I also wanted to link up again with Latoya for Skittles game. I haven't had skittles in a while but the red ones are my favorite along with the tropical flavors. Yum! Maybe my class needs a little treat tomorrow...

Red- Favorite Ice Cream flavor

Butter Pecan without a doubt. Whenever I could persuade my mom after school we'd go to Thrifty's and I'd get a double scoop cone. One scoop pistachio and the other butter pecan. 

Orange- Favorite College Memory

Mine would be summer orientation. I was transferring as a junior so I went to the summer orientation. I was lucky enough to meet 4 friends that first day who were bridesmaids at my wedding and are still friends now. 

Yellow- Favorite Sports Team

This Friday at school is Sports Day. My favorite sport is NASCAR (my husband's too. Funny how that happened...). My favorite driver is Kyle Busch.

 

Green- Favorite Fast Food Place

I'd probably say Subway since it's here and most often where I go for a quick lunch. Sadly we don't have a Five Guys. But that's probably a good thing.

Purple- Wild Card

If I could move anywhere it would be to Austin, Texas, or Scottsdale, Arizona. I'm craving warm weather today! 

Have a great week!

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California Common Core App

Hi there! I'm on my last day of Spring Break (sigh). It's been fabulous to have such a relaxing week. It was so warm in Arizona last weekend and I loved being in Scottsdale. 

It was 87 degrees and sunny and it's been below 70 here at home since Wednesday.

But we're going up to my mom's for the afternoon and she's going to help me cut out a large pile of laminating (cheer!).

And she's fixing a ham dinner (yum!). And I found out yesterday when I checked my school email that our principal and education consultant are not coming through our rooms tomorrow to check that we're all doing just curriculum and following our schedule to the minute (jumping for joy!). So I guess that it's my last day of break really isn't too bad. I do miss the kids a little bit and I know they'll have lots to talk about. Maybe instead of math first things we'll write about Spring Break. Otherwise we'll talk about it first thing and write about it in the afternoon. That doesn't really make sense. And I'm free to adjust my schedule a bit without having to worry about explaining it. Yay!

There's a great Common Core Standards App that you've probably seen but did you know there is an app for the California CCSS? I had downloaded an app with the California Common Core Standards (since ours are slightly different) on my ipad and when I went to look something up last night there was a message that there is now an app with the California CCSS that includes a search feature (nice!) and ELD Standards. Here's what it looks like 

It includes the same things it did before but with ELD standards too.

And for each heading you click on there are three levels- emerging, expanding, and bridging. Have you heard those terms before? Maybe my district is behind, but they're new to me. Is it weird for me to be excited about exploring these? I sure hope they give me good direction in my planning. I feel like such a teacher nerd saying that, but I really like having all this info at my finger tips. But through blogging I've discovered that I'm not the only one who loves this kind of thing. And that's part of the reason I appreciate all you other teacher bloggers so much!

Wishing you a fabulous week ahead!

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Simple Math Games- very little prep!

I'm on Spring Break and enjoying a lazy day of blogstalking finding so many spectacular ideas, packets, activities, and crafts and I want to do them ALL with my class! I wish we had more than 6 hours a day- it's not enough time! Wait, did I say that? Am I crazy? It must be the Spring Break talking! No, really, I wish we taught an extra hour because it would take some stress off about trying to fit everything in. But I still wouldn't have enough time for all the fun ideas out there. Oh well, I'll fit in what I can. 

While I've been sitting here I realized that there's a fun math game I haven't played with my class this year that's perfect for place value when we go back next week. I posted about it HERE. It's super-simple and requires almost NO PREP! What could be better than that, huh? 

Using the same type of simple game board, students can practice adding or subtracting and greater than/less than at the same time. Most of the time I use our lined writing paper and fold it in half. Each student writes his/her name at the top of a column, they draw a line down the middle, and voila! a game board. I also made this quick version of the game board that you can download if you like.

To play the adding version player 1 rolls two dice, adds the numbers, and writes the sum on the first line on his/her side of the board. Player 2 does the same and records their sum on the same line under their column. The student with the greater number circles their sum and wins that round. The game is over when the students have used all the lines on that side of the paper. The student who wins the most rounds wins the game. I have those who finish quickly turn the paper over and play a second game on the back.

When we play the subtraction version, I tell them to roll the two dice but put the bigger number in front like this

and subtract. Again each player takes a turn and writes the answer under their column. You could have students circle the smaller or larger number to win the round- whatever you feel like doing!

My students always enjoy these and I like that they're fun, good fact practice, and easy to prepare and explain. Thanks for stopping by!

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Let's Get Acquainted- April 1st

Sitting by the pool in the warm sunshine on Spring Break...  what a wonderful place to blog! Thought I'd link up before the 5 hour car ride heading home today. Hope you have a nice Monday!

Favorite Place to Shop

Favorite TV Show

I really can't choose just one. I love Parenthood, but it's over at least for this season. So my current faves would probably be Hawaii 5-0 (probably because of the cute guys, I'll be honest) and Scandal.

Favorite Sweet Treat

Am I wishy-washy or what? I can't seem to narrow down to just one favorite today. One of my favorites, though, has to be Girl Scout cookies. Especially the Thin Mints! I stood outside my share of grocery stores asking, "Would you like to buy some Girl Scout cookies?"

Favorite Food and Restaurant

It really depends on my mood and what I feel like having. But I love this place! They have fantastic enchiladas and ribs with a spicy, sweet glaze that are delicious! I love Mexican food!

Bye for now!

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