Addition and Subtraction on a Number Line

While picking up a few items at CVS the other day, I saw these funny little rabbits....
If you show a teacher a package of rabbits with big feet...
She'll probably think of a way to use them in her classroom....

Wouldn't they be perfect for the kids to hop back and forth on a number line when we are working on addition and subtraction?!

The result is now available at my Teachers Pay Teachers Shop:

The printable includes a "Hopper" to make with a binder clip (if you don't have these funny plastic rabbits).

There are two types of number lines to print for your students.  One is a traditional number line.  The other has squares to make it a little easier to count "hops."

There are also large word problem cards to read to your students:

And loads of worksheets for practice:

Click  HERE to see it at my Teachers Pay Teachers Shop.


Thanks for stopping by!

Eilis

Sight Word Game

I recently purchased a KiddoCube for sight word practice.  I made this free printable game to use with it.

I cut up the six sight words (there are three different sets in this printable), put them in the clear pockets, and then I show the words (directly from the pdf file)  on the Smart Board. Of course you could also write the words on a dry erase board for the students to see.  The students copy the words as many times as they wish to to fill in their own game boards.  Once everyone has filled up the fifteen blank spaces with sight words from the list, I start rolling the cube.  Students cross out one sight word each time it is rolled.  I like the fact that students practice both writing and reading the words.  I may try putting the sheets in write and wipe pockets to save paper.





I'd love to hear about any sight word games that are working in your classroom.

Eilis

Working on Rhyming Words

Today we cooked green eggs and ham in honor of Dr. Seuss.  Yes, I know his birthday was March 2nd.  We had a surprise day off yesterday due to the severe cold temperature and ice.  So, today ended up being Fat Tuesday and Green Eggs and Ham day all rolled in one.  We used this free printable from A to Z Teacher Stuff for our before and after pocket chart graphs.  The kids also enjoyed a word search that I printed from Seussville.  We watched Green Eggs and Ham on dvd.  The classic cartoon is available at this Amazon affiliate link:



Before the green egg activities, the kids took an assessment from our reading series.  I thought my students had a good understanding of rhyming words, but the format of this assessment confused a few of them.  So, I have created a printable in a similar format for practice.  You can print it HERE.

My students are also really enjoying Dr. Jean's Rime Time at the moment.  How can you go wrong with any song to the tune of the Addams Family?!  I "typed out" the lyrics so we know the words to say along with the CD.  Here's the Amazon affiliate link to the CD:



The lyrics are available at http://www.drjean.org, but they are condensed.  If you want to have words for your students to follow along, you will need to expand them.

Hugs,
Eilis

Whole, Half, and Quarter in Kindergarten

This is a little booklet I had my students make this week.  We are working on equal/unequal parts, whole, halves, and quarters.  I did something similar years ago when the curriculum called for "fair shares."  In that case the wording was "One kid can eat a whole cookie., Two kids can share a cookie..."  with the appropriate number of faces drawn in.  In either case, the kids love adding "chocolate chips" to manila di-cut circles.

I drew lines in pencil for the cookie on the last page to make cutting easier.  This page could also say "4 fourths."

These are two free printables that I made to give my students more practice in coloring a half or a fourth of a shape.  Click on the images to print them.

Of course we also read Give Me Half!



This led to a discussion of how greedy the kids in the book were....

And the pizza restaurant is set up in dramatic play.  I use a set like this one



with pizza pans from the dollar store.  It gives the kids some hands-on experience with fractions.  (We don't actually play the game with the pieces.)

I'd love to hear how you teach these concepts.

Hugs,
Eilis

Valentine Exchange Wrap Up

Thanks to everyone who participated in this year's Valentine Exchange.  The winter storms added a few challenges....  I may move the mailing deadline closer to February 1st next year to allow for bad weather.
Here's a photo of the valentines my class received:

We got a recycled one, a penguin one, a butterfly one, and many more more beautiful creations.  My students loved to hear about other classes and especially the first names of the students.
We have cork strips instead of a bulletin board, so I wasn't able to place the valentines by geography. We did find each place on the map though.  I really like to display them out in the hall because I see other classes enjoying them too.

This year I plan to borrow an idea that other teachers have shared and put them all in a scrapbook for the kids to read in the class library.

Here's a photo shared by Cindy from Northside Elementary School:

Just received another photo.  This one is from Mrs. Dye at the SAE PreK.

Hugs,

Eilis

Valentine Exchange Update

I have emailed out the rough draft of the mailing list for the Valentine Exchange.  If you signed up by January 31st and didn't receive your mailing list, please email me at ValentineMail2014@gmail.com.

Come Along on my Search for Free Math Centers and Activities

I have a large block of time for math each day and I am on the look out for new activities to add that will help my students develop number basics.  Here are some great freebies:

I found this colorful printable  1-20 Number Train at Kidsparkz.com

These Woodland Animal trains start at different numbers.  There are several sets free at  Karen Hill's TeachersPayTeachers shop.

This free I Have, Who Has Numbers 1-30  game can be found at  Thinking Out Loud on TPT.  I love that the kids have to figure out the number they have by looking at ten rods and units.

There is also a free printable 1-30 Number Bingo at Allison Covington's TPT shop.

I love Kinder-craze's free printable interactive number line.  I have it in my classroom twice.  Once as a reference on the wall for the kids to look at, and again on my metal desk as an interactive center.  (I don't have a white board in this classroom to use it on the way Maria does...).  Here's the link to her free printable,  but be sure to visit her blog to see it in use!

And finally, here's an almost-free Pinterest inspired manipulative I made.  I used a 39 cent 5 gallon paint stick from Wal-mart, 25 clothespins, and a Sharpie marker.

 I'd love to hear about your math center finds!

Eilis