NEW and IMPROVED Data Notebook

I'm very proud to announce a NEW feature added to my #1 best seller "My Data Notebook".  You will now be able to edit the pages in order to personalize them for your individual student needs.  This feature was inspired by a special education teacher who needed space to write her students' goals.  You will love all of the possibilities that come with personalizing this product.  

Download this data notebook for K-2 students, as well as students with specific goals.  

Check it out here:

Keeping your students accountable just got BETTER!!

HOT Summer SALE and a Pizza Party

I'm beyond thrilled to be home for the summer!  In the 2 weeks that I've been home, I've been able to accomplish so much!  As a teacher, I find it difficult to do "spring cleaning" because that one week we have off in the spring is usually devoted to actually breathing and taking a mental break.  

So far this summer, I've completed 95% of my spring cleaning, had several trips to our community pools (been trying to find out which one we like best), spent some quality time with my boys and husband, I actually got to lay outside to try to get some color on my white skin, AND I was able to finalize this product that I completed at the end of the school year.  

I hope that you might be able to use this super cool pizza unit, "Pizza Party," sometime during the upcoming school year!!  It's definitely a good one!!  There are 13 literacy activities that include a variety of different skills to practice.  Your students will enjoy sorting pizza themed nouns, writing about how to make a pizza, and building words using the letters in the words "pepperoni pizza".  There are 12 math activities ranging from addition/subtraction games, measuring pizza themed pictures, and counting using base ten cubes.  I was able to use these activities with my students and they LOVED learning with pizza.  We had a pizza party at the end of the week to celebrate the end of the school year.  Click on the photo below to check it out:

I am running a sale on all of my products to celebrate summer relaxation.  There are 2 sales running between my Teachers Notebook store and my TPT store.  

Enjoy 50% off all products from my Teachers Notebook store from June 23-July 23.  

Enjoy 20% off all products from my TPT sale from June 27-June 30.  

My new unit "Pizza Party" has been posted at both stores...check it out now for a GREAT price!!

Have a wonderful summer and don't forget to take some time for yourself.

Alligator Research Bundle {with Math and Literacy}

I'm starting to get a little stir crazy after this long 5 day weekend due to the massive snow storm we got in North Carolina.  We had early dismissal on Tuesday and school was cancelled on Wednesday, Thursday, AND Friday!!  Plus the weekend...it's now Sunday and I'm ready to go back to school!  (Wait...did I just say I wanted to go back to work!?! lol)  Anyway, I'm glad to say that all this time off allowed me to finish my new product that I've been working on!  YAY!! (I know, right!!) 

GET 5 FREEBIES FROM THIS UNIT----click the picture below and download the preview!!

READ MORE to find out how to get the entire unit for FREE!!

I've been creating products for over 2 years now and I've learned so much in the process.  My first products contained a TON of color and I never realized how costly it was to print.  I guess it's the little things that I took for granted.  Now that I'm at a new school (without a color printer), I've been printing my own color copies either at home or I send them to the UPS store.  Now that I understand how impractical colored units are, I have jumped on the print n' go trend and created a triple threat product for you!  I introduce you to the PRACTICAL, all black and white, printable unit that contains Alligator Research, Alligator Themed Math Activities, and Alligator Literacy Activities!! 

Your students will be so excited to take learning into their own hands when they are able to visit various websites to learn about such a cool topic (the boys especially!).  

 They will also be able to listen to alligator themed fictional read alouds using the literacy connection links.

Your students will continue to be engaged throughout their math and literacy practice because it all follows the same theme!  There are over 40 activities included in this unit.

 I just love doing research projects with my students!!  

We have researched penguins, polar bears, pants, and famous African-Americans.

What research topics have you talked about or done with your students??

SHARE your favorite topic by commenting on this post.  

Catching Up and Cupcake Fractions

I hope you all had a restful winter break and spent some quality time with your family.  I'm one of the lucky ones that doesn't have to go back until Monday.  We spent a week visiting our family in Pennsylvania and got to enjoy some snow on Christmas morning.  Santa treated my boys well this year and it was awesome to have them both understand the whole present thing. It makes me sad that they are growing so fast!  Gavin is 6 now and is in kindergarten!  I'm fortunate enough to be able to teach at the same school that he now attends.  Being only 4 doors down from him makes me much less worried about him (even though he was blessed with an amazing teacher).  My other little boy, Landen, is now 3 and has been keeping our new nanny on her toes. 

This past year has been quite a treat for my family.  We have had quite a few fortunate events and a couple of unfortunate ones.  I think the best one was getting a new job that's only a mile from my house...saves on gas AND I get to be with my baby boy!  I know that everyone has a plan in life and it's amazing to see everything fall into place.  As we enter 2014, I'm hoping for even more good things to come!!

Now to the good stuff!!  I've been working on some cool products over break and with all the organizing I've been getting done around the house it's taking me a little longer than expected.  Here's a little teaser to keep you downloading and YES it's another FREEBIE for you to enjoy.  Click on the picture below to download this QR code math center game.

Enjoy your weekend!

Phil, Polar Bear's, and a SUPER SALE

Growing up in Pennsylvania, Groundhog Day was an extra special celebration because the famous groundhog, Phil, was just a few hours away.  When I was in high school, some people would even head to Gobbler's Knob for the day to catch Phil's prediction first hand.  We have been working on missing number word problems in math, so I decided to create a groundhog craftivity that incorporates missing subtrahend word problems.  I actually used it as an assessment tool to see what my students knew and what they needed to work on.  You can click HERE to download Phil's Blackberries.

  Even though Phil saw his shadow this year, which means that Spring is right around the corner, you can still get in one last winter animal activity.  Polar Bear's Missing Numbers is a math game containing  missing number and simple addition/subtraction word problems with matching fact cards. Click HERE to download.

 

We used "Polar Bear's Missing Numbers" as a cooperative learning team game and I helped my students create their own learning teams.  I had students volunteer to be the group leaders:  First, I chose 4 "readers" (they read the story problem)...they chose a table for their team.  Next, I chose 4 "writers" (they record the work for the problem)...they chose reader to sit with.  Then, I chose 4 "walkers" (they walk the answers to me to be checked)...they chose which team they wanted to join.  The readers from each group then chose the team "helpers" from the remaining students in the class to join their table.  Everyone had a role on each of the learning teams and they worked together to solve the problem.  The reader read the word problem to the group:  they worked together to find the answer, the writer recorded the work, and then the walker walked to the back table to find the matching fact card.  We had a race to see which team could answer the most problems correctly.  This activity was both fun AND eye opening because it really let me see what true team work looks like.  It helped me learn more about how to help my students be better team players as well.

You can be a team player this weekend!  Check out my TPT store for some amazing deals and get up to 28% off everything on Sunday.  All of my products have a reputation for being very reasonably priced, so you're getting a HUGE deal when you shop during this SUPER SALE.  

A big thank you to Ashley Hughes of "The School Supply Addict" for creating this SUPER cute sale button for us to use.  Check out her graphics on TPT...they're so cute!!  Have a safe and fun Super Bowl Sunday!  

Happy Shopping!!

Secret Valentine, Super Numbers, and a FREEBIE

It's been quite a crazy last couple of weeks with all the snow days that we've had.  I'm enjoying it though because it's given me time to finish some projects that I've been working on.  

My valentine literacy pack, "Secret Valentine," is now available at my TPT store.  Click on any of the pictures below to preview the 10 literacy activities that are included. 

We will be starting a new math unit on 2-digit numbers, place value to 120, 10 more/10 less, and comparing numbers.  My first grade team worked together to develop a unit sequence that we think is developmentally appropriate for our students.  The units that we create contain essential questions, unit sequence, and tons of resources.  You can click HERE to see what our unit looks like.  

My boys LOVE batman, so they inspired me to do a Super Hero themed MEGA PACK to go our next math unit.  This math pack contains 18 math games ranging from place value, hundreds chart, addition/subtraction, word problems, and comparing numbers.  You will find everything you need to teach 2-digit numbers.  Click HERE to preview the entire 107 page download of Super Numbers.  It contains games geared toward both boys AND girls!  

 You can download the Super Stories mini book from this unit for FREE by clicking HERE.  You students will enjoy these super hero themed story problems while practicing hopping on the number line to add by 10's.

Enjoy your weekend everyone!  I know I will...dinner date with my hubby tonight!! :-)

"WINNERS!!" and "Math and Reading Unit Plans"

It's Sunday night and my "Characters in Action Giveaway" has come to a close.  Congratulations to our winners Lori and Rachel.

As stated in a post over the summer, I was part of a unit design team that helped create our county's first math unit: "Number Sense and Place Value".  We recently concluded the unit and the foundation in numbers that we created over the past 8-9 weeks is absolutely amazing! We have noticed that our first graders are so much more prepared for addition since they know numbers inside and out.  

Since then, my first grade team has worked diligently in completing the next math unit ("Addition, Subtraction, and Word Problems").  We have also completed the "Characters" and "Nonfiction" units for reading.  Click on the links below to access each of the units that we created for FREE.  

MATH PLANS/RESOURCES

Unit 1: Numbers and Place Value - UbD Plans

Unit 1: Numbers and Place Value - TEST

Unit 2: Addition, Subtraction, and Word Problems - UbD Plans

Unit 2: Addition, Subtraction, and Word Problems - TEST

READING PLANS/RESOURCES

Unit 3: Characters: Paying Close Attention to Actions - UbD Plans

Unit 4: Information Text Features and Strategies (Nonfiction) - UbD Plans

If you have any questions about any of the units or resources above, please ask.  I enjoy creating these  documents and it has been very helpful when lesson planning each week.

Have a great week everyone!!

Ultimate Number Sense Game Pack GIVEAWAY

I hope you all have had a great start to your school year and are ready to dive into the Common Core.  I have just uploaded a huge resource pack to help you teach number sense to your first graders.  This game pack contains 169 pages of full color games including numbers in sets, number words, tallies, base ten blocks, and more.  Click on the pictures below to check it out! 

The first person to guess the name of my favorite candy will win this Ultimate Number Sense Game Pack for FREE!!  Good Luck!!  Be sure to leave your email address in your comment.

Have a great week everyone!