You'll Find Me on Facebook & a Giveaway

I did it.

First Grade Found Me is on Facebook.

I've got a lot to learn about using Facebook but I'm looking forward to it. 

I've gotta make this short and sweet today. I had a little more to say, but I tried the post on the BlogGo app and it wouldn't publish. The wheels just kept spinning. I'll try it again another day. It seems very easy to use.

Before I go I wanted to mention my sweet bloggy friend Jessica's 250/275 Follower and Bloggy Birthday giveaway. There's a lot to win! 

Have a terrific Saturday!

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Operation Smile! (& a writing freebie)

Happy Friday! Congratulations to those of you who finished school this week. Welcome to summer vacation! It sure feels good.

Have you ever heard of Operation Smile. It's an organization that provides free surgeries to children with facial defects such as cleft palate. Through this charity they send volunteer medical staff to perform and assist with these types of surgeries as well as to train local doctors in some of the poorest countries in the world. In 30 years they've been able to perform over 200,000 procedures. Their website also has teacher resources including a Final Mile Curriculum that I'm seriously considering using in my classroom next year.

Let me back up a minute. In general, my students are ones who need a lot. They benefit from local organizations that donate backpacks, Toys for Tots, and other such things. I thought it would be nice to do something philanthropic and give them a chance to see that they can also donate and help others. My thought right now is to organize a penny drive in my classroom, maybe school wide too, and try to raise some money for this great organization and encourage my students to be civic-minded as well. I wonder how much money they could raise??

Back to Final Mile. I've looked through this curriculum and it looks very educational and fun. The Final Mile is a marathon held every year in Virginia to raise money for Operation Smile. The Final Mile program encourages physical fitness by incorporating a class goal of running 25.2 miles (a little each week) and finishing the last mile on the day of the marathon. Doesn't that sounds fun? I know my kiddos could really get into this! And I could use the encouragement to exercise too!

So to get started, I made some writing stationery to encourage my kiddos to write about what makes them smile. It's here as a freebie if you'd like to use it. Just click on the picture below.

Have you ever done a penny drive or other philanthropic fundraising like this with your class? It is my first time so if you have any advice I'd love to hear it!

There are several organizations that have partnered with Operation Smile to raise money for this important work. One is a company called Campus Book Rentals (www.campusbookrentals.com) that allows students to Rent Back (www.rentback.com) their college textbooks and make some money off those extremely expensive books. I would have rented my $150 zoology textbook if I could have! It may help your college bound son or daughter get a little more money back then they'd get selling the book back to the campus bookstore.

Have a wonderful rest of the day!

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Ten Pins Linky- Math

I haven't said this to many people, but math was my worst subject in school. I struggled with algebra and survived geometry, barely. So it seems so strange to me that math is just about my favorite thing to teach. Odd, isn't it? I remember teachers teaching formulas like these

and I used them to solve problems that often didn't come out quite right. What was wrong? I plugged in the numbers just like my teachers said to. Well, I know now that I didn't understand the problem, equation, and number sense I needed to have a good handle on. In an algebra class during my 2nd year of college, I finally found myself starting to really understand algebra. In my junior year of college, as part of a class about teaching math, my instructor handed out geoboards. I'd never used one before. He had us make a square, then change it into a triangle.

One of these must have actually appeared above my head

I instantly understood how the area of a triangle is 1/2 the base times the height! I couldn't believe it! I'd memorized that formula a few times for tests, used it, then forgot it. But after using the geoboard it's in my head forever. So I try so hard to help my students build number sense and understanding because I know firsthand how hard thing are if you don't have that strong background. There. The secret is out.

Now I love teaching math! Passing along the basics of number sense and seeing lightbulbs appear above my students' heads is everything to me! No one could be more surprised than my (well, maybe my mom) that I think math is so much fun now.

So I'm excited about this weeks Ten Pin Linky Party for math. 

 Here are some of my math pins:

1. Some books I love for teaching math:

I bought this Family Math book in 1995 (don't think about how long ago that was, please) and I've used it ever since. It's full of fun, easy to prep, easy to teach games. The games are clearly marked for the grade levels they are best used with and it's easy to make the slight changes needed to make them appropriate for different groups if you're doing a family math night.

2. This game is SO good for learning ways to make 10. I found it shortly after reading Math Work Stations and used it whole class then as a work station. My students got really good at it and I saw the difference it made for them.

3. Thank you so much to Yolanda from Oceans of First Grade Fun for this one. It was so much fun for my students and it made me smile to see it hanging up in my classroom. It's cute, fun, and helped them learn. What could be better?

4. This was part of my calendar wall once I found it. After a while the student calendar leader was the one who filled it in each day.

5. I did this with my class as a math project to display after my kiddos worked hard to learn facts to ten. The kids liked it to. Hard to believe, huh??? The only problem I had was that the color from the M&M's bled into the glue. I'll have to work that out next time.

6. My class did this near the end of the year because I thought it would be good for them to think about numbers this way. I thought it would maybe be a little too easy, but it would be a fun thing to display. Boy was I wrong! They had such a hard time with it! It's something I'd do again, for sure, since I really like it and I'm pretty sure it wouldn't be that hard with every group.

7. This is a fantastic series of games for kids to practice ways to make 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and I think 10, 11, and 12 too. Kids use the double sided red and yellow counters, toss them, and record the ways to make the target numbers. They loved it!

8. The genius of these color by codes, as far as I am concerned, is that the kids can't automatically tell what the picture is supposed to be so they really have to figure out the problems or read the words to complete the coloring page. I think I've purchased all of Kathy's monthly sets by now!

9. I saw this and thought "Common Core" ! This will be such a fun thing to do while teaching fractions next year.

10. Isn't this adorable?! Almost every year my class paints snowmen for me to put up on the wall in January. One day we'll use it for measurement too.

This has made me want to go create some more math games and activities for next year. Hopefully I'll have some to share with you soon. Have fun pinning!

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How Do You Manage?

Today I'm linking up with Ashley and Leigh and their Classroom Management Linky Parties. Im a little late, please forgive me. I actually started this a few days ago but didn't get back to finish until now. 

One of my master teachers during my student teaching told me she thought organization was the most important thing she could pass along to me. I think the other thing a master teacher could pass along is behavior management. That's one of the things I just had to figure out on my own. So here I go with some Pinterest finds that I use and some I'd like to incorporate.

1. These are books I use in my classroom at the being of the year to start discussions about behavior. I love the Helen Lester books!

2. I used these this year and they are fabulous! I'm planning to give my kiddos more down time during the day next year. Shhh... don't tell!

3. I really should read this again this summer.

4. You know that student who you just need to get out of the classroom for a few minutes to keep your sanity? I've sent notes like this but I especially like the wording of this one. It's a note to explain to another teacher that you're sending the student so they can take a break. I need to prep this before school starts and keep it handy so I won't have to write a note when I'm in the middle of something else. Should have done this last year! Next year will be easier, I'm sure, it will be, right? Maybe I'll never even need this  :)

5. I started using Class Dojo after the first of the year because my class was such a challenge. It was fabulous and easy to use! If you want to read more about how I use it, you can check out the post {here}.

6. Do you have your kiddos talk to a partner often during the day? I need to get better at that. This is something I pinned quite a while ago and need to break out and get ready and actually use it next year. I love how it pairs a student who is a "peanut butter" with one who is "jelly." Too cute!

7. So far I've just used the "Class- Yes" part of Whole Brain Teaching. It's fabulous and I really should read this and start using other parts of the program.

8. And I pinned this just as something to remember. One of my goals for next year is to incorporate much, MUCH more music.

Well, I didn't quite have 10 pins to share. But this should get me started on some new things, don't you think? If you'd like to check out other things I've pinned, please follow me on Pinterest. Have a great Tuesday evening! 

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Vegas, baby! (+BUMP game freebie)

Yep, that's right, I'm Vegas bound! I'm so excited to be going to the I Teach K conference! My best teacher friend is coming too. I'm looking forward to the amazing workshops I registered for and to meeting many new friends that week! Maybe some of you who participated in the Alphabet Exchange will be there too.

Thinking of Las Vegas makes me think of dice games and this little game I made for a friend who was decorating her classroom in zebra print. So I thought I'd share it with you. Just click on the picture to grab it if you want.

clipart: Scrappin Doodles, font: kevinandamanda.com

You probably know how to play, but just in case here are some quick directions:

 each player needs 10 markers (one color for each player. I use linker cubes.). Each pair of students needs one game board and 2 dice. Player 1 rolls, adds the numbers and puts one of his/her markers on the sum. Player 2 does the same. However, if a player gets a sum that is already covered by an opponents marker, that player can "bump" the other person's marker off the circle. If a player rolls a sum that is covered with one of his/her own markers, that player can add another of their markers to "lock" that space as their own. The first player who uses all of hi/her markers wins the game.

Have fun! Hopefully I'll see some of you in Las Vegas!

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Alphabet Letter Exchange News

I got good news and bad news yesterday. I'd been hoping to change schools which would have meant changing grade levels. But it didn't work out for next year. I'm kinda bummed but it means that I don't have to think of a new name for my blog. And that's good because I like the name of my little blog.

Another good thing is that the Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Alphabet Letter Exchange I hosted last year is a GO for this year!! I'm so excited! 

For now I just wanted to spread the good news. I'll post about signing up for it sometime around mid-July. For now, just something to think about. If you'd like more information you can check out the project {here}. There are pictures of the bulletin board I created to display the letters and pictures of what a few other teachers did with their letters {here}. 

Have a wonderful Tuesday!

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Ten Pin Linky- Classroom Decor Ideas

I LOVE Pinterest! Then again, who doesn't? So when Ashley started her Ten Pin Linky party I couldn't resist! This week's topic is Classroom Decor. Perfect timing as I'm trying to figure out how to decorate next year. The idea is to post your 10 favorite classroom decor pictures. Here goes (in no particular order)...

1. I adore these pictures from Reagan's classroom! It looks so homey and comfortable. Sure wish my room looked like this! Hmmm... 2 tall bookcases from IKEA and a plant from Michael's...

 2. Michelle's schedule cards were perfect for my classroom animal print theme last year!I just loved them. I laminated them, put magnets on the back and used them on my whiteboard. They are so cute!

3. What a great idea! I will make this for next year. I made one this year but then realized that too many of my students might tear pages just to put the book in the hospital. I know that sounds strange but that's just something they may have done. It was an odd year.

4. This year my class was pen pals with Monica's class in Texas. She made this timeline wall as a way to help here kiddos remember what they'd done and to highlight some special projects. There's a bulletin board in my room crying out to become a timeline next year! Thanks Monica!

5. Last year I was supposed to have learning goals/standards posted, and I kind of did. But I love this idea and it wouldn't take up much space.

6. A loft! The teacher who was in my classroom before me had one and I'd love to have one too. Wonder what my principal would think? I know for sure what my students would think!!

7. My file cabinet SO needs a facelift like this one. Just click on the pic to get directions. And check out WallPops for the peel and stick sheets to decorate with.

8. How could a classroom with a palm tree in it not be fun?

9. Do you have focus walls in your room? We're supposed to and I like this one from Teacher Bits & Bobs better than what I did last year. I really like how neat and clean it looks and heading and numbers below are cute!

 10.  Sunny days are my favorite! This would bring some sunshine into my room even on those many foggy mornings.

I'm off to check out the other classroom decor pins. I hope you'll link up with Ashley too.

There are definitely

but what a fun problem to have!

Thanks for stopping by.

You can check out these pins and more and follow me on Pinterest here

Chrissy's Pins

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