Place Value

We are knee-deep in learning place value.  It's been difficult this year due to our hybrid schedule.  I see each of my classes every other day, so solid retention of some of the more challenging skills takes longer.  Today's post is showing what we've been doing in class.  Hopefully you can snag a few new ideas to add to your instruction!  

To begin, we ensure that our kids can count aloud to 120, as well as count by 10's to 120, starting at any number.  We practice this with Jack Hartmann videos and activities that I have created, which are shown below.

This counting forward by 10's "Write the Room" activity is great for practice.  I've used it a few different ways.  One way is to sprinkle the cards on desks around the room.  Give kids a recording sheet and let them walk around at their own pace and stop at desks, solving the cards.  An additional idea is to print multiple sets of the cards and place students into groups.  Put a set of the cards in the middle of a group and have students grab a card, solve it, and return it to the pile.  *Giving kids a clipboard is always a fun addition!  

"Number Grid Puzzles" are SO MUCH FUN!  They can be challenging but they are so great!  To make these, simply copy 120 charts onto different colors of paper.  Cut the charts into "puzzles" and place each set into a baggie.  The kids can grab a bag to work on.  

Another fun activity is called "What's Missing?"  For this activity, print and laminate 120 charts.  Provide partners with a chart and a set of 10 or so mini-erasers.  One person looks away while the other person covers some of the numbers on the chart with mini-erasers.  Once finished, the person turns around and guesses the covered numbers.  So simple but so much fun!  Jennifer has a freebie of this activity, which you can grab by clicking HERE.

Once kids are pretty secure with the above mentioned skills, it's time to move into place value.  I love the video by Brain Pop Jr.  It's a good introductory video.  Blocks are a MUST to start with.  Kids need concrete experiences when it comes to Math!  I know a lot of you will ask about the containers I store my place value blocks in...these are from the Dollar Tree and I have had them for a LONG LONG time.  They were 2 for $1.00.  They have two sections, and hold 10's and 1's blocks perfectly.  I am shocked with how well these have held up.  I believe I have 25 containers and my second one cracked this year.  Unbelievable how long they last!  I found probably the same of similar containers online through Dollar Tree, but they are backordered.  However, you can click HERE to grab a close match of the containers from Amazon (affiliate link).  Anyway, back to the subject of place value!  I always begin with letting kids explore and play with their blocks.  Giving them time for this prior to starting a lesson allows them to get their curiosity out so they won't be tempted to play during instruction.     

We use my place value mats to practice showing numbers.  I love the simplicity of these and they help kids keep their desks organized while also having their Math workbooks or worksheets out.  I also have "Giant Magnetic Place Value Blocks" by Learning Resources (affiliate link).  Perfect for demonstrations on the board.

We practice place value with lots of games, including the "Base 10 Trading Game" and "Place Value Wander and Write."  Wander and Write is differentiated!  

As time goes on, we progress into a deeper understanding of place value, where we compare numbers and add and subtract two-digit numbers.  I use my stuffed alligator (affiliate link) as an introduction to comparing numbers, along with a Jack Hartmann video and a Brain Pop Jr. video.  A Cupcake for the Teacher has this cute alligator craft that my kids made this year.  So fun!

I hope you found a few new ideas to add to your current place value instruction!

xo

Megan 

Sunday 6 March 1

Hello and happy March!  We are in the home stretch now!  How exciting!  I am, however getting sad that the year is getting close to the end.  I love my class so much this year.  They are the kindest, sweetest, and most empathetic kids I have ever had.  Nonetheless, all good things must come to an end.  I am going to cherish the last few months we have together.

Welcome back to another edition of "Sunday 6."  This is a series where I post 6 random happenings about my week, both personal and professional.  Enjoy!!

Last week, I posted a new place value game to my TPT shop.  It's the "Base 10 Trading Game."  Students play with partners and work on getting 10 one blocks to trade for 1 ten block.  First player to 120 wins!  It's a lot of fun and really gives kids the concrete experience of seeing how tens and ones are related.  Click the cover below to snag this game.

I got my March Kindergarten Crate box last weekend!  It's a rainbow theme, which is perfection for March!  I love the teacher gift (t-shirt and Skittles) that came in it.  I also love the picture book and fun rainbow activities.  

If you aren't familiar, the Kindergarten Crate is a monthly subscription box available for grades pre-k, kindergarten, and first.  Each box features a picture book with corresponding activities and supplies and a couple teacher gifts.  You can get one box or you can subscribe monthly/yearly.  The KC makes a great gift for a student teacher or teacher friend!  Click HERE to check it out.  Use code "WHEELER" for 10% off your crate order!!  

Here's a sneak-peak of the upcoming box!  Looks amazing!

Kindergarten Crate's newest box is all about Reduce, Reuse and Recycle!  The theme really shines through with an electronic center (reduce paper), game board with reusable pieces, and classroom supplies made from recycled material! As always your crate comes with a book, teacher gift, classroom supplies and ready to use activities for your students!  Don't forget to use code WHEELER to get 10% off your order.

I went to Columbus yesterday to see my best friend.  We were roommates for 4 years and actually from the same hometown, but didn't know one another growing up!  We went to The Candle Lab and made candles and room mist.  We began by smelling lots of pre-made candles on the wall and jotting down scents that we liked.  Then we chose containers and added our fragrance oils to the hot wax.  We went to lunch and did some shopping and returned an hour or so later to pick up our goodies!  It was a fun day! 

I recently discovered these "Smart Sweets" candies.  They are naturally sweetened with Stevia and have just 3g of sugar.  They are just right for when you need something sweet but don't want to go crazy with sugar.  My favorite candy is Sour Patch Kids, so these are a great substitute.  

Last week, my kids made these "Lucky Dogs" and wrote about why they are lucky.  You can grab the craft patterns and writing papers by clicking the cover below.  The craft is quick and easy and makes a cute display for March!

Now that my kids are accurate with their addition and subtraction facts, we are working on fluency. We practice several times a week in class with a game of some kind.  This "Race to the Farm" game is perfect practice for addition within 20 and the kids really love playing!  Check it out by clicking the cover below.  Looking for a subtraction game?  Click HERE for "Race to the Snacks."

Have a great week!
xo
Megan 

Sunday 6 February 10

Hi!  Welcome back to another Sunday 6!  Well that was a quick week, wasn't it?  I'm a little late to my Sunday 6 party tonight because I have been running around cleaning and doing errands all day today.   I am still sick.  Can you believe it?  It's been going on for about 4 weeks.  Ridic. 

 I added a "Marking Words" poster into my Fundations Level 1 Phonics Posters set.  This set is a freebie in my store.  It's not completely finished yet, as the posters go with my Fundations games and I still have a few packs of those to complete in my bundle.  The two posters shown below are mini...I just printed them two to a page.  These will be great for my guided reading table and/or for student desks as reminders.  Click the cover below to grab the posters for FREE! 

Here are some of the full page posters that I have up in my room.  Each time I introduce a new chapter, I put up a poster that reminds students of the Phonics rules we are learning. 

We introduced - and + 10 last week and this Scoot activity was a great little review!  Click the cover below to check it out.

Apparently pens are allowed to be used in Mrs. Wheeler's room...

Mr. Wheeler and I spent the day in Cincinnati on Saturday and ate at Montgomery Inn.  It's so yummy!  I had ribs.  I don't usually eat red meat, but I hadn't had any of it in months and was craving it! 

We have the Valentine's Day books ready for read-aloud this week!  Each morning after Morning Meeting, I read the students a story.  There are no comprehension questions....it's purely for enjoyment and for them to hear a fluent reader.  To check out some of my favorite picture books, click HERE!! 

Speaking of Morning Meeting, I made a new "greetings" poster.  This can be used outside of your door as a tool to great students as they come in or it can be used during Morning Meeting when your kids greet one another.  I simply added Velcro to my poster and the greeting cards.  That way I can quickly change the greeting card each day.  Click the cover below to check this out!! 

Today I had to re-stock my vitamin pill holders...I take so many vitamins to help alleviate the pain I have with my Rheumatoid Arthritis.  I do two pill holders so I don't have to refill them as often.  *Many of you may have seen my post about living with RA.  If you haven't, please take a moment to check it out.  You can read about it HERE.  

Have a wonderful week!
xo
Megan