Valentine's Day Games, Writing, Math, and a BUNDLE

Valentine's Day is right around the corner.  Here are some activities that you can use in and elementary or middle school classroom or at home with your family to be a bit festive!  Click on any link or picture to get yours.  There's a BUNDLE at the end that includes EVERYTHING!

Valentine's Day Games: Taboo and Scattergories

(both based on the real board games)

These both work really well in centers or as group activities.

   

Valentine's Day Letter Writing with Rubric and Writing Paper

Valentine's Day Math Activities 

(using candy or paper hearts-included)

Valentine's Day Sticker Charts

Get everything with this dicounted Valentine's Day BUNDLE:

I hope you find something your students will enjoy!  Thanks for stopping by. 

  

New Year's Resolution Mad Libs

Happy New Year!

If you're in a district like mine, you get a couple of weeks of school off around the holidays.  It's always much needed, and, well... AWESOME!  

What isn't awesome is the lack of energy on that first day back. It's usually really cold, and kids are still in that holiday/sleeping in/not going to school lull.  It makes it very tough to get back into the swing of things.  My remedy is this New Year's Resolution Mad Libs set.  

Students generate ideas for different parts of speech or subjects that will become part of a made-up New Year’s Resolution writing activity. They come up with a real New Year’s Resolution but will use a “Mad Libs”-style (fill-in-the-blank before knowing the rest of the text) theme to determine how they will accomplish their resolution. 

What’s Included: 
General Template with parts of Speech included (for the teacher)
An Original Example of Word List and Actual Story 
Student Directions/Parts of Speech Word List 
Story Templates (three versions)
Pages with Numbers under the Blanks
Pages without Numbers under the Blanks
Pages with Spaces for Illustrations and Cover Pages

This could be a fun springboard for writing a real expository piece on a New Year’s Resolution or a culminating activity after writing a real expository piece.  Click on the image to get yours!

Halloween Games, Writing, and Math Sale

Here we are again... The Back-to-School season quickly transforms into Fall and Halloween.  People start thinking about seasonal activities they can do in their classrooms. I am the same way.  I have updated all of my Halloween and Fall items, and I'd love to share them with you.

This can be a wacky time of year, especially as it gets closer to the actual day of Halloween.  So, I created some activities that encourage learning (when focusing can be a challenging), and are lots of fun.  The games have been great for my ESL (and non ESL) students.   Follow the links to read more and get your own. 

Halloween Mad Libs Complete Set

Halloween Taboo Game- based off of the board game, Taboo

Halloween Scattergories Game- based off of the board game, Scattergories

Halloween Spooky Story Starters Writing Set with Rubrics and Decorative Paper

Pumpkin Math with lots of activities

Holiday Writing Paper Set

  

Holiday Sticker Charts

 Happy Halloween!

You can find my store and follow me here.

St. Patrick's Day Activities

I.  LOVE. ST. PATRICK'S DAY!  I'm not Irish, and I don't have any traditions from when I was younger.  However, bringing St. Patrick's Day into the classroom has been such a fun time of year for me.  We have a secret leprechaun who visits and leaves treats and messages for students.  Sometimes, he's a little naughty too, which always makes the kids laugh.  Here are some new and updated St. Patrick's Day resources that I use during the week of St. Patrick's Day to keep the learning alive while having fun.

St. Patrick's Day Bundle (includes all resources)

If I Met a Leprechaun Persuasive Writing

St. Patricks' Day Taboo Game Set

St. Patrick's Day Scattergories Game

Sticker Charts

 St. Patrick's Day Fraction Math

Place Value Games...Hurry for a Flash Deal

I've just finished this little gem.  Okay, it's not so little, and it took a long time, but I love it and am excited to share it with you.  It was a hit with my class, and they even begged to play it during indoor recess this week.  BONUS!  

It's a set of three board games centered around WHOLE NUMBER PLACE VALUE.  

Here are the details:

With this set of three different board games students will practice several skills that are related to whole number place value, starting with the ones place all the way to the hundred millions place. Games are scaffolded so that they can be matched with varied ability levels. Students who are just starting to learn about place value in the ones period will benefit from Game 1, and as they work toward the thousands and millions, they will benefit from games 2 and 3. You can have multiple games going on at the same time in the same room. All boards, cards, and answer keys look and work the same way. So, when students learn how to use one, they should know how to use them all. 

Students will: 
- Identify whole numbers through hundred millions when given a specific digit in the numbers
- Name whole numbers through hundred millions and their specific digits
- Tell the values of digits through hundred millions
- Apply number sense when adding and subtracting basic whole number amounts (in terms of place value)

Each game includes an answer key so that students can check their own work if playing independently. 

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These are great activities for: 
- Whole Class
- Small Groups or Centers
- Take Home Games
- Independent or Pair Work

Included in this resource are: 
- 3 Different Games that are varied for different student readiness and mastery levels
- Answer Keys for both games
- 4 Game Boards
- Student Directions
- Many Place Markers for Students
- Teacher Notes
- Directions for Play
- Suggestions for Use

New Year's Writing Activity... Mad Libs Style

It has been a LONG time since I've posted, and it is a goal of mine in 2017.  With baby number 2, going back to work full time, and trying to have a personal life (somewhat), it's tricky, but life is good.  What a better day than today, January 1st, to add my newest post.  Here's a newer product of mine that I hope you'll love.  It's a Mad Libs-style writing activity for New Year's Resolutions.  It includes directions, templates, an example, writing paper, and more. Click the link above or directly on the image below.   Happy New Year!!!

Adding and Subtracting Fractions with Uncommon Denominators

It has been a very, very long time since I've posted anything.  I guess that's normal for a working mom of a toddler with another baby on the way (at least I hope it is).  Anyway, as I wrapped up my own school year with a new set of standards and a new math curriculum, I needed some supplemental resources for adding and subtracting fractions with uncommon denominators.  I, therefore, created some BUMP Games.  Each set has multiple games that require different skills.  There are also student directions, notes for the teacher, answer keys, and place markers included.

Feel free to check them out in my Teachers Pay Teachers store clicking on the links or images.

Adding Fractions with Unlike Denominators BUMP Games 

Subtracting Fractions with Uncommon Denominators BUMP Games

BUNDLED SET: Both Game Sets for Adding and Subtracting Fractions with Uncommon Denominators

Adding Fractions and Subtracting Fractions BUMP Games

Here are some game sets for Adding and Subtracting Fractions.  These games are best for introducing the concept of adding and subtracting fractions, but each set has 4 differentiated games.  Each game requires a different skill and the latter games build upon the knowledge from the previous games.  So,  you can really decide what stage your students are at individually.  The games are look similar and have the same directions.  This makes it easy to transition from one game to the next because students are used to the format.

Adding Fractions BUMP Games

Subtracting Fractions BUMP Games

If you haven't tried BUMP games yet, I'd recommend it!  It has transformed my math centers.  Students love to "bump" each other off their squares and claim them as their own.  They ask often to play and are excited when they get to.  You can click any of the links or pictures below to check them out.   Enjoy!

Adding Fractions BUMP Games Set

Subtracting Fractions BUMP Games Set

Adding Fractions Games

Adding Fractions BUMP Games

Click here to get your set

This is a set of 4 different BUMP games for the addition of basic fractions. Student directions, answer keys, and place markers are included for each game. Each game focuses on adding fractions, and each game requires different skills to add fractions. With these 4 different games, you can differentiate for students who are at different readiness levels. The skills increase in difficulty from Games 1-4. The game details, including specific skills and objectives are below:

Game 1- Players add basic fractions without reducing by looking at pictures of fractional parts . This game would be great for students who are just starting to learn about the meaning of fractions, how to represent them as pictures, and how to add them without reducing. The answers are also in picture form.

Game 2-Players add basic fractions without reducing, using written fractions. This game would be great for students who are just starting to learn about adding basic fractions using the number form of fractions.

Game 3-Players add basic fractions with reducing, using written fractions. This game would be great for students who are just starting to learn about adding basic fractions and reducing fractions, using the number form of fractions.

Game 4– Players find the addends that make up sums of fractions. This game requires to break down a fractions into its parts and to understand that a fraction is a smaller set of fractions that add up to make its sum. 

These games can be used the following situations: 

Whole Group Instruction
Guided Math
Math Centers
Partner Work
Home Activity

I also have BUMP Games for Subtracting Basic Fractions and Adding and Subtracting Fractions and Mixed Numbers. 

Fractured Fairy Tales

This Fractured Fairy Tale Writing Set is one of my most popular items (with students and teachers).   This creative and narrative writing activity requires students to choose a traditional fairy tale to use as a springboard to compose a new "fractured" version of the story.  They will have to focus on one character's perspective and write the story from his/her point of view.  (So, it's really a great lesson for teacher character perspective or point of view also).  You can download it by clicking here or on any of the links or pictures.

This is very versatile, and can be used across several grade levels.  The set is easy to use.  You just print and go.  It includes:

- Teacher information
- Student directions
- Brainstorming organizers
- Student-friendly rubric
- Original teacher-created examples of brainstorming organizer and story
- Writing paper for final copies
- Pages to create a student or class book

I love creating a class book after all students are done with their final copies.  It goes in the class library for everyone to read throughout the year.  At the end of the year, I auction it off during a class celebration.  It's also fun to keep a copy from year-to-year and share those with students.

Thank you for visiting!

Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving... Activities and More

I admit... I have been a terrible blogger the past 6 months or so.  Being back at work and being mom to a 20 month old takes up most of my time.  However, I have been able to update and squeeze in a few Thanksgiving products this year.  For that, I am thankful!  I am also thankful to have found a few spare minutes to share these products.  Click on any of the picture or links to get your own or visit me at my Teachers Pay Teachers store to see more!

A Turkey's Troubles- A Persuasive Letter from a Turkey

Thanksgiving Taboo- an oral language game

Thanksgiving Scattergories Game

Thanksgiving Sticker Charts

Holiday Writing Paper

Decimal Place Value Game

WOW... I teach 5th grade, and with the new Common Core State Standards, my district got a new math curriculum.  WOW.  It's a lot more rigorous than what I used previously.  I was expecting this, but I wasn't prepared. 

Anyway, the firs topic I teach is decimal place value.  Here's a set of Decimal Place Value I Have, Who Has Games that I created to use for math centers, extra practice, and to strengthen skills.  It's definitely not just skill and drill stuff.  It requires students to:

- identify decimal numbers through thousandths when given a specific digit
- name decimal numbers through thousandths
- tell the values of digits in decimal numbers
- apply number sense when adding and subtracting decimal amounts
- use mental math

These are great for whole class, small group, centers, or homework practice.  Teacher notes, directions, and answer keys are all included.  I hope your students enjoy it as much as mine have!

Back to School Game: Scattergories

If you follow this blog at all or have spent even a few minutes here,  you know that I LOVE games.  I especially love incorporating them into the classroom.  It is back to school season, and I just created a Back-to-School edition of Scattergories.  It very much resembles my holiday versions of Scattergories.  I plan on using this little gem tomorrow, even though we have been in school for a couple of weeks.  It'll be a great way to get some teamwork going, especially since we will be starting literacy centers soon.  Here's a peek.  Click here or on the photo to check it out yourself.

 

I'd love for you to visit my Teacher Pay Teachers store!  There's lots more for elementary and middle school. 

Polygon Game for Analyzing, Identifying, and Classifying Polygons

I love games, and I really love to incorporate them into my classroom.  It's tough to make them engaging and really packed with learning potential.  However, I think I have accomplished that with this newest Math Game.

Guess the Polygon PowerPoint Game

This Polygon Guessing Game is a wonderful way to get the entire class involved in math. Students take turns being Clue Givers and Guessers with each new PowerPoint slide. With students participating in two different roles, it requires them to analyze polygons (triangles, quadrilaterals, and more) in different ways. This game can flexibly be used with the whole class, in small groups, in pairs, or as a math center.

The teacher or a student can control the slides by simply clicking through the slide show. It’s very easy to use. Slides 1-9 are teacher slides (printable too), and slides 10-28 are the actual game. If you play often, you can rearrange the game slides so students don’t memorize the order.

Polygons included are:
Acute Triangle, Right Triangle, Obtuse Triangle, Isosceles Triangle, Scalene Triangle, Equilateral Triangle, Parallelogram, Trapezoid, Rectangle, Rhombus, Square, Pentagon, Hexagon, and Octagon.

Here’s what is included:
- Teacher Information with directions, suggestions for use, and more
- Student Directions
- Student Roles Explanation
- Examples for Clue Givers
- Polygon Charts to assist students
- Clue Giving Help Sheet
- One Animated Slide for each included polygon with two example of that polygon and the answer

Here are a few example slides.  Click on any of them to get your own and to see the complete product.

 

 

Thanks for stopping by!

 

Poetry Unit for Elementary and Middle School

April is National Poetry Month.  I now say that with a huge smile and a tingle of excitement.  If I'm going to be completely honest, and I am, I loathed having anything to do with poetry throughout my own education and teaching it my first few years.  That's because up until the past 6 years or so, the only experiences I had with poetry were:

1. having to memorize and recite Shakespeare in front of an entire class (as a teacher, I still don't see the educational value in that)

2. being forced to write poetry with minimal support or understanding of what I was doing

3. having to decode and analyze poetry

So, why the smile and tingle of excitement now?  Well, a wonderful friend and colleague turned me onto students writing their own poetry in fun and meaningful ways.  At first I was apprehensive because my students didn't want anything to do with poetry either.  They thought it was boring and confusing.  It was my job to prove them otherwise, and I was going to do it by allowing them to be the poets for a change.

It took me a lot of research and tons of time, but what I created I just have to share.  It's a complete unit that takes students through several stages.  First they learn about different poems, then practicing writing poems, and finally turn their poetry into an amazing book that includes an About the Author Page, a Table of Contents page, a Cover page, and much more.  There is even a rubric to keep your students on track and for you to grade student work.  My Poetry Do-It-Yourself Book does the following:

1. Introduces students to 9 different types of popular poetry
2. Provides my original examples of the 9 types of poetry
3. Provides directions for how to write these poems
4. Includes (printable) templates for students to write their own poems
5. Includes all of the materials for students to build their own book with Author, Cover, and Table of Contents Pages


Click here or on any of the images below to get yours.  I posted the product cover and some actual pages from the resource.  I'd love to hear your experience with this.  Happy Poetry Month!

St. Patrick's Day Activities: Persuasive Writing, Math, Language Games and More

I'm not Irish, but I love St. Patrick's Day!  There are so many fun traditions that I bring into the classroom each year.  The kids and I always have a blast.  Here are some of the resources that I have used.  A couple of them have just recently been updated.  Click on any of the links or pictures below to get your own or head to my TpT store.  Happy St. Patrick's Day.  (Now, I'm off to find a new corned beef and cabbage recipe...)

St. Patrick's Day Writing: A Persuasive Letter to a Leprechaun

Students try to convince a leprechaun to share his gold

Organizer, Rubric, & Stationary included

 St. Patrick's Day Scattergories Game

Students use their vocabulary knowledge to determine specific words that are related to St. Patrick's day categories

St. Patrick's Day Taboo Game

Student take turns using their oral language skills to get their team to guess the St. Patrick's Day themed Taboo words

St. Patrick's Day Math with Shamrocks

Students convert fractions, decimals, and percent using the included colored shamrocks