A Rockin New Year and a FREE Math Printable

Math Box Freebie for the New Year

My family just wrapped up our last Christmas party this afternoon and now I'm looking forward to the next chance to get together with friends for a fun evening.  Next up...New Year's Eve.  I'm still working on my party outfit. (I found a fab skirt at The Loft.  Cute right?)  But, I still have some work to do on top.  Anyway...

Thinking of the New Year also turned my attention to my school sweeties and what we will be doing  when we return from break.

In math we will be focusing on number comparisons and learning about the greater than and less than signs.  I created a New Year's themed math box activity to help students practice this skill.

We play Yes/No Way (a Whole Brain Teaching activity) all the time in class.  I put this activity to work for this math box.  Students will sort the cards according to if they show a correct number sentence or not.

Click on the picture below if you would like your FREE copy of this activity.

I hope you like it.  The clipart is from Scrappin Doodles.  If you have any questions or comments please let me know.  

Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas!

Flu Shmu Bring On the Glitter

Despite the fact I may have the flu (4 of my school sweeties were confirmed with the flu right before we left on break) and I feel pretty yuck, I wanted to share a very kid friendly ornament idea I got from my mother-in-law's Christmas tree.  She still has D's (my husband's) first grade picture ornament.  It is very sweet and so easy to make.

What you need:

• two photographs
• glue
• scissors
• glitter
• a hole punch
• ribbon
• something circular (like a jar lid)

Directions:

1. Trace the jar lid on both pictures.
2. Cut them out.
3. Glue them together.
4. Hole punch at the top.
5. Trace the outside of the picture with glue.
6. Apply glitter and allow time to dry.
7. Repeat step 5 and 6 on the other side.
8. String ribbon through the hole.
9. I like to add the date at the bottom of one side with a metallic Sharpie.

I make one of these each year with my daughter for our tree and we make one to give to the grandparents too.  I also do this project with my school sweeties.  I plan for two days so that each side has time to dry.

Happy glittering!

Take a Moment

First Post

Today is a really great day.

Yes, it is the first day of winter break.  But, I am pretty excited about something else.  At the beginning of 2012 I made a resolution, let's call it more of a goal, to start a teaching blog.  I spent time throughout the year thinking about blogs I really like and possible names for  mine.

This entry is obviously my first post.  I have accomplished my resolution for 2012, with a few days to spare.  Now it's time to open my classroom and hopefully give back to the teaching universe for all of the inspirational ideas I have gleaned through the generosity of other educators out in the blog world and in my life.

Welcome!