Math Stations Review and Boggle

Reviewing for a math test is never fun.  Most kids never do it because they dont know what to study or how.  So I believe it is my duty to review for math in as fun a way as possible to help prepare them for the test!

I have tried group work, book work, worksheets, games, all sorts of things.  This is by far the best and easiest way we have reviewed so far!!  I was inspired by this pin which sadly led me no where helpful. But the concept sparked a plan.

Our Math book provides lots and lots of extra practice for the students.  It also provides review reteaching of each section.  With our chapter solely focusing on multiplication the best way to review is practice!

SO I copied the math book and the teacher book of the same reteaching pages.  (In Thailand we are allowed to do that ;] not sure the protocol in other areas.) I then cut them apart so that each station was focusing on one or two lessons from the chapter.  I glued the answers on one page and the questions and reviewing go on another. Of course I had to make it colorful and color coded!  Here is the lot of them.

Here is a close up of one card with answer sheet on the left side.

I then placed the problem cards around the room and the answer cards on the white board.  At first I had the answer cards this close together but quickly realized we need people room. So I spread them out so multiple people could check their answers at the same time.  

The students were able to work at their own pace and check their answers when they were done. It is also self differentiating.  Those that I knew needed extra practice in a certain area had to do all the problems and maybe skip a station they did not need to work on.  Those that take FOREVER but understand the concepts had to do 1 or 2 problems from each station.  My high achievers had to do all the problems at each station.  

It was beautiful!! The kids seemed to enjoy it as much as multiplication review can be!  It was great.  Then afterward I clipped them all together and wrote a note for myself for next year and slipped it into my files.

The other thing I finally accomplished was my Boggle board.  This was something similar to my Star Student Work board that I had wanted to do since the beginning of school but never got around to it.  My mother in law being the amazing woman that she is sent me a packet of perforated letters  for bulletin boards.  I laminated a set of them so I would be prepared for any bulletin board need! I then realized that I had everything I needed for boggle!

So here is my board.  My kids LOVE it.  It is the first week so we will see how it goes after that, but they work on it every chance they get!

Do you do Boggle in your classroom? How often do you change the letters? Do you have a winner? Do you check every kids paper for 'proper' words or do you let it be a just for fun thing?

Alive and Motivated

It has been officially over a MONTH since I blogged last.  I am so sorry.  But let me be very honest with you.  I had zero, zilch, nada, nothing to say. And I was pretty down on myself. As a first year teacher I am feeling the stress and pain of beginning this profession.  Most days, I feel like I am barely getting by.  So coming home and blogging is not on the top of my to do list!  Plus, I have been questioning why anyone would want to listen to what a youngin' like me would have to say anyway.

BUT I am now somewhat motivated.  I have a few things I have deemed worthy of the blog world, so I am back and hopefully for good!

Since the beginning of the year, I wanted to have a bulletin board dedicated solely to student work.  I wanted to showcase the work and then have a compilation of work by the end of the year. A coworker showed me a cool way to use folders and prong type things to hold work.

But for some reason I put it in my head that this project would take forEVER, so I kept putting it off.  Over the holidays, it quickly rose to the top of my list as I needed to fill the board that was the same thing for over a month (and not relevant things for 3 weeks!) And, it took me ONE period to complete it.  It was wonderful.

This picture is from the very first day! All but two kids found something right away to put on the board.  The other two found something the next day.

Each week my students are strongly encouraged to put things in their folder/on the board.  They can choose anything from tests, quizzes, worksheets, drawings, journal entries, whatever they wish.  Each student has their own folder, with their name visible.

At first they seemed to dread doing this, but now they get very excited when new things get put up on the board!  We use the words 'Star Student' a lot in our room, so it fit perfectly for the name of our board.  Plus I got the star border from my mother-in-law (who is FabUlous!) and it works wonderfully as well!

It is the perfect addition to our room and brings me much joy each time I reflect on it.  I now know not to put things off for too long, especially when they are so easy!

Classroom Photos

Today was long. But it ended on such a good note.  The new teachers all went out to dinner to relax and not talk about school!! It was wonderful and very much needed for a girl like me.

I know that I should have posted these pictures earlier but I never got around to it!  Also, I am not incredibly happy with my room design and layout still but for now it is what I have to work with.  So without further ado.....


Welcome to 4 B!

Super Summer Writing Activity from Coffee, Kids, and Compulsive Lists

freshly painted wall that will become our math stations

cubbies for back packs

classroom jobs above the white board

crazy desk area....

I did just get my Elmo today at the very end of the day.... BUT I can't wait to use it.  It does require me to rearrange my desk space so hopefully that area will be much more neat in a little while!

I am linking up with Swimming into Second

Birthdays and cupcakes

I have seen all over pinterest and blogs ideas for birthdays and early preparation for them.  I decided that I wanted to create something as well.  I personally love birthdays (it's is my favorite holiday!).  Anyway, because I love birthdays I want to do something a little special like choosing their favorite candy or something... clearly I haven't thought this part through all the way yet!

Anyway, I was at a yard sale this past spring and found this ah-mazing cupcake! It is HUGE.  So much so that I wanted to show you by including a ruler in the pic! I know super cheesy but can you sense my excitement!  My idea is to put this on the board by the door and write the name of the birthday person and leave it up for the day. Every kid likes to have their name on the board in a positive way right!?!

I also made these fun cards. I'm going to print them on cardstock.  I hope to write a personal note on the back to each student but that might not happen! 

Currently, all I have to do is sign the bottom. And you can too. I also have a candle border on the second page that can be printed on the back of these if you want to write a note as well. Here is the link that will get your copy as well.  Hope it works and hope you like it.  Any comments on it would be wonderful!

What do you do for birthdays? Any advice for a newbie? 

Monday Made It...Finally

I have wanted to link up with Tara from 4th Grade Frolics to do a Monday Made It for a long time but since I am moving haven't thought I could participate.  Then, I realized that I could do something digital that was practical for my classroom and traveling and what not.  

So here it goes. I have had this pinned on Pinterest for a super long time.  It is from Laura Candler's management strategies. 

I wanted to do something similar but want to be able to flip it so that only what we are doing is visible.  This is was what I made.  (I wanted them to be side by side but you get the idea!) I will bind them with 2 rings or something like that.  I know this isn't anything crazy but still something I hope to use in my classroom!

 

I also made this for my bulletin board near the entrance of the room (every school has one of those right!?!)  Anyway, I made these puzzle pieces with a di-cut machine in lots of fun colors.  I laminated them and cut them out again!! 

I couldnt take a picture of all of them but the idea is that they will all be up together in the shape of a puzzle.  I will write each student's name on a piece.  The final piece, the one that is not yet in place (top left corner) will have my name on it and put the whole puzzle together.  

I then made this sign to go with it. I will print it out and laminate it once I get settled!  

The idea for this bulletin board is for the students to know that they have a place in this classroom.  Each of them together make the class whole.  I hope to have an engaging discussion with them about what this means and how we will work together.  

I am very excited about all of these things, especially linking up with Tara!