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.

Count Down to Thanksgiving Break

I don't know about you all, but I am so ready for an extended break.  I'm just plain old tired.  We've only had one day off since school started, Veteran's Day.  We've had half days followed by faculty meetings and teacher clerical days as well.  I don't know how some schools get fall breaks and a week off at Thanksgiving and still manage to get out of school before we do?  Maybe they started earlier.

But before I can luxuriate in some time off -- well, if you don't count planning and searching out resources and checking papers and entering grades, all of which I will be doing -- we still have 2 1/2 days this week.  I know from past experience that the kids will be antsy and hard to keep focused, so I've saved some of my best November lessons for these few days.

In math, we just started formally learning about addition strategies.  On Monday, I will introduce the add in any order and count on from the bigger number strategies.  Now, technically, my kids do know about this because we've talked about turn-around facts.  I've pointed out the facts to them when we've come across them.  I've helped them think through problems with oral prompts -- you know what 4+1 equals right? So what's 1+4?  But we've never actually used manipulatives and shown how it works.

After introducing and practicing the strategies, on Tuesday the children will get the chance to practice applying the strategies while using the SMARTBoard Game I created called Turkey Toss. It is a fun game, similar to Bump, but I have added differentiation to the game by adding a few twists.  In the two-dice version, the children can add or subtract to find an open number.  The three-dice version, shown below, is played the traditional way.  I'll divide the class into two teams, and we'll use the SMARTBoard to play the game as a group.

As the children are playing, I am encouraging them to add in any order and add from the bigger number.  If they roll a 3 and a 6, I'll use think-alouds to help them by saying, "If it were me, I'd start with the 6 and count on 3.  It's a great and fun game to have the children practice addition, subtraction, strategy, and mental math.

On Wednesday, I will have the children work in groups of 2 or 3 with a game board of their own, and play the same game again.  This time, I'm circulating, watching, assessing, and seeing who is applying the strategies to solve the problems already, and who may need to have the concepts reinforced.

I've also created two worksheet to go along with the game that I will give the children as homework on Monday and  Tuesday evening.

You can find this bundled set in my TPT store.  It is bundled as zip file that includes the game in a PDF version and the Notebook file for the SMARTBoard.  Click on the picture below to see this resource in my store.

I also have a freebie for you!  If you click on the picture below, you can download this addition and subtraction practice sheet from the game.  It's one of the sheets I use for homework.  

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!  I hope you have a wonderful break with many things to be thankful for.