Busy in December

December - So much to cover in such a short month! Here are some of the things we're working and the tools I'm using to help teach them.

Using Addition Strategies 

We have spent the past few weeks learning addition strategies such as adding 1, 2, or 3, doubles, doubles +1, counting on from the larger number, and make a 10. I like to play this game, first as teacher versus students, so I can model how to play and use think-alouds to model using the stategies to solve. Then, as I'm playing against the children, I have them tell me what strategy they use to solve the problems. The next time we play, I divide the class into two teams, and they play against each other, again having them tell me what strategies they use to solve the problems. Finally, I put the game out at as a math center for independent practice. 

 If you'd like to learn more about this FREE resource, click one of the pictures below.

 More FREE Addition Strategies Practice 

Another fun, low-prep addition strategies prep that could be used as a formative assessment to check your students' understanding of the concept is this Addtion Strategies Scoot game. It also works well with a small group to reinforce addition strategies if you have a few students who are just not "getting it." This resource comes with two answer sheets, one where students put the answer in the strategies column, and one where they just solve the problem (in case you're not reinforcing addition strategies.) If you'd like to learn more about this FREE resource, click the picture below.

Still working on CVC? 

I have these fun CVC tic-tac-toe boards I use in small group for children still struggling to master CVC skills. This PAID bundle includes nonsense words, short vowels in isolation, and all short vowels review. You can also click on the "view bundle" button on TpT to see the individual components. 

Complete Sentence Practice 

In first grade, getting my students to recognize and especially write a complete sentence is a year-long lesson. This PAID resource is a great way to practice putting together a complete sentence. I use it with the whole group at first, then I transfer it to a center. It's perfect to use that way because it's possible to spin many combinations of sentences!

The Nativity Retelling Circle 

This FREE resource is a great way to have your children retell the Nativity Story. In the week before Christmas break, after learning about the birth of Jesus, my students make this wheel in religion class. Then they partner up and retell the story to a friend. Finally, I send it home with a note asking their adults to have them use the wheel on Christmas morning to share the story with their families before the unwrapping begins. Hopefully, this will help keep Jesus in their thoughts as they unwrap presents.  

Religion Christmas Resources 

I have several other free and paid Christmas religion resources available. You can see them by clicking on the picture below.

Wishing you the peace, joy, and love that the Christmas Season brings.

Practicing Addition Strategies through Games

Hello!  Welcome to the first iTeachFirst linkup!                         
In these monthly linkups, we will be sharing timely tips, teaching strategies, resources, and some freebies with you.  If you like what you see in this blog post, be sure to follow me (or any of the participating bloggers) and check back at the beginning of the each month for a new link up.  Today, I will be sharing some  free and paid teaching resources with you that I use during November and December to keep the children active and focused on learning math!

I spent November introducing several addition strategies to my students, such as counting on from the larger number, using a number line, using doubles, and doubles plus one.  While most of the children quickly caught on to these strategies, there were a few who struggled with them, and our math text, as is the case with so many texts these days, spent 1 day -- ONE day -- on each strategy.  I know my kiddos need more practice recognizing when to use the strategies and more practice with actually applying the strategies.

Cue the math games!  Every Friday, I pick a fun math game for my students to play that allows them to apply and practice the various strategies.

For Thanksgiving, we used my Turkey Toss game.  It's a ramped up and extra challenge added version of Bump.  The kids love playing it, and I love that they don't even realize they are practicing math strategies.

 Turkey Toss can be played on the SMARTBoard

Or, if you don't have a SMARTBoard, use the PDF version.  I like to play a few times on the SMARTBoard with the whole group, then let them team up and play using the PDF version.

After the fun of playing the game, you can use the included sheets for more practice, homework, or as a summative assessment for acquisition of basic facts.

Now that Thanksgiving has passed, and Christmas is coming, I have a similar game called Elf Toss.
Christmas Elf Toss is a fun and fast-paced Christmas math game played similar to Bump, but with a twist. There are two Elf Toss game boards for differentiated learning. The two-dice gameboard requires the children to add or subtract to place or lock their squares or bump their opponent off a square. It requires strategic thinking to figure out what is the best move.
The second game board uses three dice and is played either like the traditional Bump, or -- I just thought of this -- the children can add or subtract in any combination to get the best strategic move!

After playing the game, you can use the follow-up worksheets for practice, formative assessment, or homework!

 And, as an added bonus, this game also includes a Notebook file for SMARTBoard use!

Let's end with a longtime freebie in my store, another game I developed for practicing addition strategies, in particular the counting on to add strategy.  You can download it from my store by clicking on the cover picture.  Enjoy!

Be sure to check below to see more great ideas from other iTeachFirst bloggers!

An InLinkz Link-up