Differentiated Instruction Math Game: Superhero Flash Freebie

Last night before bed, my daughter asked me to play a game her teacher sent home.  At first I thought it is way to late to start a game tonight, but then I changed my mind.  She pulled out a baggie with a set of index cards.  Each card had a math fact on it that my daughter was going to have a test on.  Also in the stack were cards labeled BANG! The game was to put all the cards face up in a pile on the table.  On our turn, we had to say the answer to the fact on the top card.  If we answered correctly, we kept the card. If we answered incorrectly, we put the card on the bottom of the pile.  If the card up on our turn was a BANG card we had to put all of our collected cards back in the pile and start over collecting cards.  I thought this was a great idea of a game!! It has so many possibilities.  I created a Superhero version of this game.  Instead of BANG cards, there are WHAM and POW cards.  The instructions work the same though.  I also thought this game could be used to practice any skill the child needed to work on.  Every child's game would be set up for his/her skill needs.  Included in this freebie is the set of WHAM and POW cards as well as one sheet of blank cards that can be copied for use as needed.  Thank you Mrs. Carey for the great inspiration! (As usual!)  Click on the first picture to grab your freebie!

Improving Word Choice in Writing

This is an activity I created to help my students focus on improving Word Choice in their writing.  I tried to look for words that students use often in their writing like good, little, fun, and so on.  This activity focuses on  helping students find dazzling words to replace them.  Click here to download this sample activity.  Be sure to check out the full version as well which also includes verbs and adverbs.  

Happy Writing!!

Christmas Descriptive Writing

I was so excited to start my Christmas descriptive writing project today at school.  To my dismay though I found out when I got there that the color printer is broken and we do not know when we will be getting it fixed.  I had to think of something quick to replace my idea.   I decided to switch my unit up a little.  I gave each student a blackline copy of either an ugly Christmas sweater, an ornament, or a stocking.  I told them to color the picture and/or add designs to it anyway they wish.  We did something similar to this for Halloween only I didn't give them a pattern.  They had to draw a monster from scratch.  Tomorrow my students will have to write a description of their picture.  I am going to mix up the descriptions and have the students try to guess from the description what picture their friend colored.  I will have a stack of blacklines for them to choose from.  Once they find the blackline that they believe matches the description, I will have them recreate the picture from the description only.  Originally, I was just going to have my students use the colored copy only and then write a description.  KPMdoodles has some of the most wonderful clipart.  I used her Ugly Christmas Sweater Set and her Holiday Trimmings Set to make a descriptive writing unit.

Here is an example of a sweater and a stocking for the kids to describe.  I can't wait for tomorrow to see how the students write their descriptions.

If you would like to know more about this unit please visit my Teacher's Pay Teachers store or click on the picture.  Here is a freebie from that unit that can be used in multiple ways aside from descriptive writing.

Christmas Freebie Craft

Manic Monday or Friday Freebie!!

Ok this may seem like a tedious craft but the kids love it and they look so pretty.  So here we go,

We are making Christmas wreaths.  It is made very similar to the Halloween Lanterns that I posted about in October.  The only difference is the way we fold the paper after it has been cut.

Use the large sized construction paper and fold it in half length wise.

Draw a light pencil line along the open edge of the paper about 1 inch from the edge.

Using decorative or straight scissors cut strips in the folded edge down to the  line.  Cut exactly to the line.

Fold the edge of the paper up along the pencil line.

Open the paper up so there is a mountain peak in the middle and fold the opposite edges up.  Both edges need to be pointing up.

Push the mountain peaks down and bring the folded edges together to form rings.  Staple the edges together. 

I staple on both ends and once in the middle. This is what it looks like when it is stapled.

Now bring both stapled ends together to form a circle and staple them together.  

If it doesn't seem round enough, make sure the cuts are made down to  the fold.  

Students can decorate a bow and add holly berries.  

I love comments!  Leave me a comment and let me know what you think.  I'm sure this is an old craft but I love it and use it every year!!  

Check out my TpT  and Teacher's Notebook stores!

Manic Monday: Free Subtraction Situation Christmas Style

First of all, I just want to say how excited I am!  The Teacher in Me has been awarded the Liebster Award not once but twice! Thank you Fabulous Fifth Grade Fun and  Cruz'n In First!! I will definitely post more about that tomorrow!!

I am in the midst of teaching my students subtraction situations.  I decided that I am ready to switch into Christmas mode so I made a subtraction situation freebie complete with example story problems that match each type of situation for subtraction.  I then made a mix of problems so students can work through subtracting.  This is probably more for older students because they have three digits and involve regrouping.

Manic Monday Classroom Freebies: Subtraction Freebie

Oh my goodness!! It has been forever since I have posted a Classroom Freebie! I am so sorry!  I found a great site that I am sure many of you have heard of: Teaching Resources by Laura Candler.  She has an entire load of freebies!!  I made a freebie based off of her Buddy Check Subtraction.  I wanted to change the directions a little bit.  Definitely go check out her site and gather all of her goodies.  She has some phenomenal items on her TpT store as well.  I just downloaded a math centers book from there!  Click here for my freebie and then check out all of her freebies as well.

Manic Monday!!! Open House Freebie

I saw this cute idea on a Pinterest board and thought I would make my own version of it! My parents thought it was very cute and the kids enjoyed it as well.  I placed one of these on each child's desk along with a bag of microwave popcorn.  It was a definite hit!