Five for Friday: Five Favorite Freebies

Is it just me or do Fridays seem to roll around really quickly on summer break?  When I was a kid, summers stretched on endlessly and now . . .  not so much.  But since it is Friday, I'll mark the occasion by linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching's Five for Friday.
This week I'd like to do a little something different.  Instead of posting five random things from the week, I'd like to repost five of my favorite freebies that I've been honored to share over the past year.

Number 1

Last summer I compiled my Number of the Day printables into one packet, Number of the Day for a Year.
I created these printables to spiral in complexity as the year progresses.  I really like using these number of the day handouts as part of morning work two or three days a week.  I think they serve as a great review for my students.
If you would like more details or to get your own free copy of Number of the Day for a Year, click on the picture below.

Number 2

Word Work It is a packet of five word work printable activities that I like to use as part of my word work time during our Daily Five time.  My students work with manipulatives, the Ipad, the computer, and these printables each week to practice their spelling words.
While I would prefer to keep our word work time all hands on, the reality is my students need a bit of accountability in order to stay focused during this independent practice time.  Mixing in some written assignments along with the other activities has really helped.
These activities are not specifically designed for use with The Daily Five.  So, if you do not do The Daily Five in your class, these printables can still be useful to you.
Click on the picture for your free copy of Word Work It.

Number 3

The next freebie is for the second semester, which seems like a million years away right now, but bare with me.  If you think you might be able to use this activity, you can always pin it.
Make Way for MLK is a packet that includes two literacy centers, two math centers, and a writing craftivity focusing on Martin Luther King Jr.  Having these centers and the writing activity really gave me a great jumping off point to plan for learning about MLK.
If you would like a free copy of Make Way for MLK, click on the picture.

Number 4

If you use Touchpoint Math, you'll want to check out my Rockin' Touchpoint Numbers.  This freebie is a math center that I use at the beginning of the year when my students are memorizing where the points go on the numbers.
If you are not familiar with Touchpoints or Touch Math, do a little research online.  My students have had great success with addition and subtraction accuracy using this method.
For more details about Rockin' Touchpoint Numbers or a free copy, click on the picture.

Number 5

My final freebie is my set of Whole Brain Teaching Class Rules.  Whole Brain Teaching Class Rules and Mini Book is a packet that includes a variety of posters featuring the Whole Brain Teaching Class Rules and a printable mini book for your students.
I use the posters all year and the mini book is great to use early on when your students are learning the rules.
Like all of the goodies above, click on the picture if you would like a free copy of this packet.

I hope some of these freebies will be useful to you.  If you like them, be sure to browse around School Is a Happy Place.  There are many, many more free activities ready to share.

Thanks again to Doodle Bugs Teaching for hosting Five for Friday.  

Easing Into Summer

I don't know about you, but it seems to take me a few weeks to realize I've made it to summer break.  We've been off for about two weeks now and I have not completely unwound.  I've been working on a couple of school projects and trying to get caught up around the house.   A  and I are also spending some QT together; making crafts, playing some games, swimming, going to the park, reading, and doing a little pre-first grade academic work.
This week has also been Vacation Bible School at my church.  I've had a fabulous little group of kids in my "tribe."  It has been such a blessing to see their joy and excitement each evening.  Of course, being a leader in VBS keeps me in teacher mode (just a bit).  So, maybe next week I'll finish unwinding.

I have had a few minutes to start on my summer reading list.  First on my list is the new edition of The Daily Five by Gail Boushey and Joan Moser.  Ever since starting The Daily Five with my class, I try to reread the book each summer.  I especially like reminding myself about all the details of the launch period.  This summer I am so happy to have an updated edition to read.
One new part of the book that I'm extra interested in is chapter 8, The Math Daily 3.  I can't wait to learn about the authors' take on math independence in the classroom.  I'm using a lot of self control to keep myself from jumping ahead to that chapter.
I'll be sure to post about this book after I finish it up.

The other school related project I have spent time on is actually related to The Daily Five.  I started work on a series of word work packets called Words at Work.  Each of these packets include seven consistently formatted word work activities for each short vowel sound.  These activities are ideal for independent practice and are quick prep (just print and go).  I plan on using them as part of my word work time during Daily Five rotations.
A  has been my tester.  Seeing how a young learner responds to these activities is super helpful to me.   It's also a way to get in a little structured summer academics with  A.   Win.  Win.
All of these packets are available at my store, individually or bundled together in one mega pack.  If you would like to find out more, click on the picture below.

I'm planning additional Words at Work packets for long vowels, vowel variants, and more.  Hopefully I'll have plenty of time to get everything accomplished before school starts back.  But it's summer, so we'll see :) .
Thanks so much for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your week.

Freebies Aplenty and Math Centers for May

I just wanted to pop in and share a few things we've been up to this past week. 

We took full advantage of the four days this week leading up to Easter.  We read loads of lovely Easter themed books and worked with Easter inspired literacy and math centers.  We also had a little friendly partner competition seeing which team could correctly spell the most words using the letters in Happy Easter.  

Each set of students got a carrot with the letters for Happy Easter inside.  I gave them fifteen minutes and one recording sheet.  The winning team spelled twenty three words.  Pretty impressive.  For their efforts they got a box of peeps. 

Click on the picture below for a FREE copy of this activity.

One of the books we read this week was Amy Krouse Rosenthal's Duck Rabbit, which inspired us to go a little old school with a Duck Easter Bunny craft.  I love this craft.  We start by making the duck on one side and then flipped it over to create the bunny on the other.  My first graders are always amazed when they finally see the bunny appear.  So fun!

If you would like a copy of this activity, click on the picture below.

After we wrapped up most of our Easter inspired learning, we went ahead and made our Earth Day writing craftivities.  Since Earth Day is on Tuesday, I really wanted to get our projects up in the classroom so we could enjoy them.

We started by brainstorming ways to help the Earth and then the students wrote what they can do to make the world a better place.  After they completed the writing, we made our Earth Day kids.  You are welcome to have a FREE copy of this pattern as well, by clicking on the picture.

I have more Earth Day activities planned for next week, but this one's a favorite and helps my young learners start thinking about simple things they can do to help the Earth.

Finally, can you believe May is less than two weeks away?!  This year has absolutely flown by.  If you are planning ahead, you may want to check out my new math center packet Flower Power {10 Math Centers for May} available at my tpt store.

If your students are like mine, they need constant review of the math skills we've covered, because . . . out of sight, out of mind.  Activities in this packet are seasonally inspired and include work with skills such as:  addition, subtraction, place value, time, money, number comparisons, fractions, fact families and more.  Click on the picture for more details.

Well, I've got to go put my Easter Bunny ears on now.  Thanks so much for stopping by and Happy Easter!

Mentor Texts for April Fool's Day and a Free Writing Craftivity

The last night of spring break, where did the time go?

Tomorrow is back to business.  I was going to do a little spring break recap, but I'll save that for another day.  I want to make sure I have time to linkup with the Collaboration Cuties for their weekly Must Read Mentor Text Linky.  This week's topic is social studies and I have fun book for (I think) the next upcoming holiday, April Fool's Day.

In first grade we learn about traditions and customs as part of our social studies standards.  A great way to learn about traditions and customs is through holidays.  One of my favorite read alouds to use for April Fool's Day is Barn Yard Fun by Maureen Wright.

This story follows Sheep as he plays pranks on all of the barnyard animals.  Until finally, Horse pays Sheep back for all of his jokes by giving him a poodle inspired haircut.  The illustrations in this story are very expressive.  The story is rhyming, so it is very fun for students to listen to.  If you haven't read this book before, I highly recommend checking it out.  You will be happy you have each year as April Fool's Day rolls around.

I also really like Rookie Reader-About Holidays books.  They are very simple and straightforward nonfiction texts that provide students with a basic understanding of the history, customs, and traditions of various holidays.  Rookie Read-About Holidays: April Fool's Day, by Melissa Schiller, is no exception to this formula.  It is also a useful little book to have in your class for April Fool's Day.

As far as April Fool's Day activities, last year my firsties did a little writing craftivity.  They wrote about April Fool's Day jokes that they have played or have been the victim of.  This year we may do this same craftivity as a spelling art project.  I haven't decided yet.
Below is a picture of the April Fool's Day craftivity we'll be making.  If you would like a free copy of the pattern, click on the picture.  Included in the pattern is a writing option or a spelling option.

It's getting late, so I'd better wrap it up.
Thanks so much for stopping by and be sure to visit the Collaboration Cuties for more books suggestions and loads of related classroom activities.

In Like a Lion (Mardi Gras Freebies & Centers Galore)

March is starting off with a bang.  I just realized a few days ago that Read Across America and Mardi Gras fall on the same week, plus my class will start work on new math and literacy centers for March.  Before all of that craziness starts I wanted to share a few things we will be doing.

Mardi Gras is on Tuesday.  While I do not live in an area that has big Mardi Gras celebrations, I think it's really important for my firsties to learn about all sorts traditions and holidays.  We'll have a King's Cake and for math we'll work on my Mardi Gras Math Mini Book.  The mini book is a collection of Mardi Gras themed word problems focusing on double digit subtraction, patterns, time to the half hour, place value, and more.  You are more than welcome to a free copy.  Just click on the picture below to check it out.

Thanks to Melonheadz for such adorable clip art and Cara Carroll for most of the fonts.

Last week we also made our Mardi Gras Friends spelling craftivity.  My Mardi Gras Friends got a little makeover since last year.  You are also welcome to this pattern if you would like to use it with your students.  There are two recording page options: a spelling list or a writing prompt.  Click on the picture for a free copy of this pattern.

Like I mentioned before, my students will also begin working through my new March centers for math and literacy.  

Oh So Lucky {10 Math Centers for March} is a packet full of colorful centers to go along with St. Patrick's Day, spring, Read Across America, and March Madness.  It includes work with number comparisons, balanced equations, time to the half hour, addition, subtraction, fractions, and more.  You can click on the picture if you would like more details.

Oh So Lucky {10 Literacy Centers for March} is a packet that also includes activities to go along with St. Patrick's Day, spring, Read Across America, and March Madness.  It features work with rhyming words, synonyms, long & short vowel discrimination, sentence types, syllables, contractions, antonyms, and more.  If you would like more details about this packet, click on the picture below.  Both packets are at my Teachers Pay Teachers store.

Whew . . . sounds like a lot.  In my opinion, it is best to stay busy and boy we are!  Have a great week and thanks so much for stopping by.

Love Is in the Air: Ideas & Freebies for Valentine's Day

It's only a couple of more days until Valentine's Day and I'm the final prep phase for the big day.  I have a few new activities planned, as well as some old favorites.

To begin with, we are working a bit with initial blends this week.  The new phonics program we are using this year seemed to (in my humble opinion) slide right past blends.  So, my class is spending more time with them over the next couple of weeks.
I made a Valentine's themed L blends and R blends sorting center to go along with these adorable mailboxes I scooped up at Target's dollar spot.

This center is part of a free packet I just put together called Cupid's Helper.  If you would like to use this activities with your students and do not have the mailboxes, no worries.  I included a couple of sorting mats to use instead.

Another literacy activity we'll be doing is Valentine's Day Spelling Challenge.  Students have to build as many words as they can using the letters in Valentine's Day and then write them on their recording sheet.  My students will work with a partner on this activity.

I started writing down the words I could make with Valentine's Day and there are a ton.  I'm curious to see how my first grade friends do with this challenge.

As part of our math time students will review skip counting by 2's.  The number cards in Cupcake Counting fit perfectly into some heart shaped tins I also found at the dollar spot.

Before moving on to the final center in this packet, I want to share about a wonderful book that I picked up a few weeks ago, that we will be reading on Valentine's Day.  It is Love Monster by Rachel Bright.

Monster lives in a world of cute, fluffy things which makes finding love very difficult for him.  He searches and searches and in the end . . .   Well, you'll just have to get your own copy to find out.

It's a sweet story, with fantastic illustrations.  We'll be making our own Monsters.  I think the boys will really enjoy a Valentine's craft that is not overly "girly."

Monster was also the inspiration for the final center in Cupid's Helper.  In Monsters Love Math, students will sort the missing sign equations according to if they are adding or subtracting equations.  We have not practiced this skill in a while, so it should be a good review.

If you would like any of the centers featured above, they are all together in my FREE Cupid's Helper packet.  These centers are my Valentine to all you sweet and hard working teachers.  I hope you enjoy.

I also want to thank my little helper.  A  sat down with me and worked out all of these centers.  She is my #1 quality control inspector and my favorite Valentine.

Wilson Fundations on a Shoestring

Hi friends.  How often do you find yourself in a situation where you would like to implement something in your classroom, but you just do not have the resources to do it?  I know, I know, I'm sure you  n e v e r  deal with type of issue in your classroom.

Wait, let me rephrase that . . .

I'm sure you constantly deal with that type of issue in your classroom.  Well, right now I am trying to implement Wilson Fundations in my class with very few resources provided for me.  

If you are unfamiliar with Wilson, it is a phonics/reading program.  It appeals to me because of the emphasis on hands on activities.  From what I can tell, to really set your class up with Wilson, the cost would be about as much as a new reading series.

However, like most teachers, I am not going to give up because the cost of something makes it seem out of reach.  For the materials to get started with Fundations, I decided to get resourceful (when possible) and make or find less expensive substitutes.  I also decided to purchase as much as I could from Wilson, but I had to be very targeted in how I spent my money.

One resource not pictured above is the Teacher's Manual.  It is very important when teaching with Wilson Fundations.

So far I am happy with the work my class has been doing with Wilson.  The whole group activities serve as reinforcement of letter sounds and are perfect for formative assessments. The activities fit in nicely during my Daily Five time as mini lessons.  For my struggling readers, working a bit more with Wilson during small group time seems to be just what they need.

Where there's a will, there's a way.  I'm happy to be getting my feet wet with Wilson Fundations without breaking the bank.

Just Fooling: An April Fool's Day FREEBIE and My Two Truths Reveal

Since Easter is in March, I thought we might need a fun little craftivity for display in April.  I decided to go with April Fool's Day.  Every teachers' favorite holiday.  R i g h t ?  I made this craftivity to try to channel some of that first grade April Fool's Day energy in a positive way.

Click on one of the samples below if you would like a FREE copy of this pattern.

The clip art is from Scrappin Doodles.  As far as the recording sheets there is a spelling practice page option and a writing option.  I plan on using the writing assignment this year.  The students will write about an April Fool's Day prank they have pulled on someone else or a prank they have been the victim of.

Just in case my sweet students are limited as far as their April Fool's Day prank experiences, yours truly has a pinned prank planned that is perfect for a first grade class.

Behold, The Brown E's . . .

All you have to do is die cut some upper case and lower case E's out of brown construction paper.  Place them in a baking pan and cover them with aluminum foil and you have your April Fools Day prank all ready to go.  This pic above is from a Lesson Plan SOS post.

In addition to the writing and the pranking, I'm also using April Fool, Phyllis! by Susanna Leonard Hill.  This story follows Phyllis after she predicts a blizzard on April 1st, a prediction no one believes.  The story is really fun and the illustrations are lovely.

Since we are on the subject of April Fool's and tricks, it is time to reveal my two truths and my lie from Latoya Reed's Let's Get Acquainted Linky Party. 

Mine were:

1.  I am pretty good at carving pumpkins.  I came in second place at the state fair this year for my entry.

2.  I teach group fitness classes.  I have been an instructor for just shy of twenty years.

3.  My front porch is a minor celebrity right now.  It is featured on a local television commercial.

My two truths are numbers 2 and 3.  

I started teaching group fitness classes when I was a freshman in college.  Next year, it will be twenty years of instructing.  (Please don't do the math.)

My porch is on a local bank commercial.  Our porch is only shown for about 15-20 seconds of the commercial, but our spot took hours to shoot.

My lie (of course) is number 1.

I would love to be able to do some artful pumpkin carving, but I must admit I usually lose interest by the time we get to the carving portion.  So, I usually stay simple. 

Thanks to those of you that stopped by and made a guess.  I'm looking forward to seeing more reveals this weekend.  

Best.

King For a Day (A Mardi Gras Freebie)

Have you noticed, all the special days have been lining up lately?
100th Day, Groundhog Day, Super Bowl.  Up next . . . Chinese New Year, Mardi Gras, Valentine's Day.  Wow, wow, wow!  Lots of chances to mix up your class's routine and maybe expose your sweeties to some unfamiliar traditions and events.
I wanted to share some of the Mardi Gras activities I'll be using with my firsties.  Mardi Gras is on February 12th this year.  After learning a bit about Mardi Gras traditions and before having some King cake, students will make this craftivity and write about if they were king for a day.

Click on one of the pictures below if you want your free copy.

I have also included a spelling practice recording sheet if you do not want to use this pattern for writing.

One book we will read is Timothy Hubble and the King Cake Party by Anita C. Prieto.  I ordered my copy from Amazon.  If you have any favorite Mardi Gras children's books, email me.  I would love to add more to my collection.

As far as the King cake, if you do not have a bakery in your area that makes them, check online.  There are many mail order resources.  

Laissez les bons temps rouler!

Best.

Super FREE Super Bowl Craftivity

The weekend is wrapping up and tomorrow is our 100th Day Celebration.  My team has had to reschedule two times because of weather.  Starting the week with a special day is not always my favorite.  We usually try to plan special days for Fridays, I'm sure you totally know why.  But, just to be safe we decided to not push it back any further.
Later in the week I'm going to fit in a few football themed activities.  One is a craftivity that you can use for spelling practice or as a writing activity.  If you would like your own FREE copy of this project, click on one of the pictures below.

writing sample

spelling sample

The clip art is from Melonheadz.  There are four different recording sheets to choose from.  I plan on letting the kids pick which team they are rooting for to determine the colors on each helmet (black and purple for the Ravens or yellow and red for the 49ers).

My team is not in the Super Bowl this year.

 

We are Titans fans and this year was not even close.  But . . . there is always next year.  Football seasons are like school years, you always get a fresh start.

I hope you have fabulous week.

100 Days Smarter FREE Craftivity

Our first grade celebration of the 100th day of School is just a few days away.  I think I have too many activities planned.  But better to have too many than too few,  r i g h t ?

Hopefully my sweet students are working on their projects to show and share on that day.  They have to make a 100th Day t-shirts.  If you're not familiar, students can paint, draw, glue, stick, stitch (with help), pin (you get the picture) anything to their shirts to represent 100.  It's always pretty fun to see what they come up with each year.

I wanted to share one activity we will be using during the week leading up to the 100th Day.  Students will be making a little 100th Day cutie to help them practice their spelling words.

If you click on the picture below you can have your own copy of this craftivity for free.

The pattern also includes a recording sheet for a 100th Day writing assignment.

It will be best if you use construction paper colors to match the features of the each student in your class.  I used scrapbook paper for the arms of my samples.  But, plain construction paper will work just as well.  You may also want to play around with the positioning of the arms.  The clip art on the recording sheets is from Melonheadz.

*Please note, this pattern has been updated with legs and feet.  However, you can still make it the same as pictured above even with the updates)

I hope you and your class have a fun day of learning on your 100th Day of School.  Let me know if you have any questions about this project.

Have a great week.