Even and Odd

Even and odd is a valuable skill for young students to learn.  It can be tricky, but if they have a good number sense foundation and can count by 2's, it's much easier!!!  As I reflected back to how I taught this concept in years past, it seemed so boring!  The way that I introduce it is still pretty fun, though!  I have kids come up to the front of the room, first just one child.  I ask if he has a partner and they say "no."  I tell them that 1 is odd. I continue this on through 10.  It keeps them engaged and helps them learn about this concept.  I also got a Brain Pop Jr. subscription this year and they have a great even/odd video clip on there.  This year, I added a poster from this fabulous pack I found on TpT, by "Bright Concepts 4 Teachers."

I am seriously obsessed with this set!  It has so many fun and minimal-prep activities!  We did the "If the Shoe Fits" sort, the "Odd and Even Buddies,"  several of the worksheets, and will be doing the pocket book sort as a center very soon!  This pack definitely made learning about even and odd numbers much more fun!

xo
Megan

Blends!

Hi everyone! Just poppin in before I prep for conferences, which begin tomorrow! I have been wanting to post this blends pack and finally got to do it tonight!  I hope you'll take a look! It has several fun activities to review s, l, and r beginning consonant blends.  My students just love playing Scoot!  I am super-excited to use the blender sort and blend read/stamp/write next week as we review blends in our literacy centers.  I hope you'll take a peek! It's on sale for you through Friday! Enjoy!

xo
Megan 

The Little White Owl

Hi everyone!  Today's post is all about friendship and acceptance.  I love doing activities that teach children about these things.  I don't know about you but I spend a TON of time the first few months of school on these types of lessons.  I feel it's so important to build a sense of community in the classroom early on because it makes the rest of the year run so smoothly.  It's always great seeing the children helping out and being empathetic towards one another.

One activity that I like to do at the beginning of the year is reading The Little White Owl.  It's such a cute read-aloud!  Click the cover below to see it on Barnes and Noble.  After we read the story, we do these owl directed drawings.  I have no idea where they came from because there is no name on the pictures and I've had them for several years...if they are yours, please let me know so I can give you credit!  Finally students got to watercolor their owls, which they loved!  {I had them trace their owls with a black Sharpie first}.  

xo

Megan 

Addition

Developing a strong number sense in the primary grades is so important, wouldn't you agree?  I tend to go very sloooowwww in Math the first two months of school so that I can help my students get a grasp on numbers.  Having a good grip on them makes the rest of the learning in Math so much easier for our little ones!  I am glad that the new Common Core Standards place more of an emphasis on fact fluency.  I know that many teachers in the upper grades say that their students are struggling to learn their times tables because they can't add.  Because multiplication is repeated addition, not knowing facts=problem.

We began our study of addition with making 10.  That's a big standard that the kids have to know and again, it's a good foundation for them to have.  I was surprised at the good resources I found out there for teaching making 10.  My favorite find was a FREEBIE from Just Reed called "The Queen of 10."  It was fabulous for a few days of practice!  I love the unifix cube visuals.  I am going to keep them up on my board for awhile.  The mini-book was also awesome!

We used our 10 frames "{compliments of Jen at The Teacher's Cauldron}, our 2-sided chips, and a little recording sheet that I made and practiced.  I was super-pumped because the day we did this was the first time I'd used my new document camera {compliments of my awesome principal!!!}.  Let's not notice the fact that I couldn't really figure it out so I had to color my 10-frames upside down! Ha!

The kids LOVED playing my Tricky-10 Frame game, which is a freebie in my store.

We did lots of adding/number sense activities in our Math tubs, as well.  The crayon box sort is from Cara's Ready, Set, Learn pack.  The domino adding is from Tanja's Mad for Math pack.  The part-part-total plates are mine that I made several years ago.

We talked about how everyone learns differently, and therefore can use whatever strategies work best for them.  I introduced each strategy and gave kids a chance to practice.  I hung up my anchor chart that I made a few years back.  It's an oldie but goodie!  

We'll continue to get better at our Math facts and practice them daily.  I like to play Around the World with flash cards, as well as Addition Bingo.  What fun ways do you practice Math facts?
xo
Megan