One Hour Freebie!

Here's a winter ABC order freebie that will be free for an hour!  So, if you're up and blog reading... and want a copy... it's yours!

Enjoy!

:)
Christina

Our Classroom Elf, a Freebie and a Sale!

Howdy Me and the Gang Friends!

 

I wanted to share with you a super fun resource that I created for my

kiddos when we return in January!

 

 

My students loved Jingle Belle {our sweet little elf} and they are

going to love writing letters to her in our writing station! Along with several different writing pages

to accomodate all my little writers, their station will be filled with envelopes, glitter pens

and holiday stickers!

 

I created a Parts of a Letter Anchor Chart to hang in my station.

Just {click here} to download!

 

 

I also wanted to share that it's almost my birthday....YAY!

 

So I am having a sale!!

 

Have a safe and wonderful New Year!

 

 

 

 

 

 



300.000 Views and New Year Giveaway!

The day after Christmas my blog reached 300,000 views!  I think that's a cause for celebration, as well as moving into a brand new year!

With the help of several of my blogging buddies, we've put together a nice giveaway package to start of 2013!

If you'll stop by Elementary Matters, you'll see how to win this:

Plus, 20 other products kindly donated by some of my blogging buddies!

Good luck!

Merry Christmas!

I just wanted to take a minute to wish you and yours a very merry Christmas! We are off to our first dinner of the season and I had to get on here to snag up some Christmas Day tix to Les Miserables!

How NOT to Read Fluently

Today, my students spent some of our reading time practicing fluency.  Especially at this time of year, I go out of my way to make it fun.  (Brain research shows us that "fun" is a big motivator, but I think teachers knew that before the research was done!)

Click image to download freebie.

There are 4 important parts to fluency:

1. automaticity in word recognition 
2. accurate word recognition
3. rate (speed) of reading
4. prosody, or expression

I thought this activity would be perfect to put into my emergency sub plans.  It's got limited materials and is a skill that needs to be practiced frequently.  I've typed up the directions for you to download and put into your own emergency plans.  Come on over to Elementary Matters to learn more!

Enjoy!

Present *tense* Presents! A Christmas verb FREEBIE!

Looking for a fun and festive way to squeeze a little bit more learning in during the next CRAZY 7 school days?

Check out the free Christmas subject/verb agreement activity I posted yesterday!

I love doing these types of activities where students complete a recording sheet (ie. something that turns a regular worksheet on it's head!) and get a chance to walk and move around too... all while still demonstrating their learning!

Check it out by clicking the pic above!

:)
Christina
 

Singular and Plural With a Holiday Twist

This is a key Common Core Standard in Language for grades 1 - 3:
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.1:  Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.

Here are singular and plural nouns, holiday style! There are several noun pairs, some regular plurals, some irregular plurals, with several activities for the kiddos!

Come on over to Elementary Matters to see how to get this product at a reduced price in honor of my quest for Acts of Kindness during the holiday Season!

Santa Letters!

Need a letter template for writing to Santa??

Come on over and snag this freebie!

Twelve About Twelve

Did you realize this Wednesday is 12-12-12?  Did you realize this won't happen again until December 12, 2112?  We won't have triple numbers like that until January 1, 2101, and I have a feeling I won't be around by then!

When I realized 1,212 was my the number of "likes" I have on facebook, I thought I might have some fun by brainstorming 12 things we can have kids do to celebrate 12-12-12! Come on over to Elementary Matters to download this Cuisenaire Rod freebie, and see lots of other ideas to celebrate 12-12-12!

Rockin' Teacher Materials: Did You Know You Can Hear It All?

Rockin' Teacher Materials: Did You Know You Can Hear It All?: Ever wish you could be in more than one place at one time? Well, you can with the HearALL Assessment Recorder  from Learning Resources!  ... Head on over try to win one for yourself! 




You can even win my Book Clubs Made Easy pack. The HearALL will let you keep an ear on your little book clubbers! 

Freebies, Freebies, and More Freebies!

Christmas is the season of giving.  I love to share my teaching ideas, and that's my plan for the next few weeks:  sharing what I have with my wonderful readers!

If you come on over to Elementary Matters, you can download "Drawing Holiday Conclusions".  There are 20 holiday riddles for the children to use their knowledge and draw conclusions from the clues given.  I think they'll have some fun reading these cards for each other!

Don't forget to come back for more freebies!

Hanukkah Game Board Freebie

Hanukkah begins December 8th at sundown! Looking for a little something to help your kids celebrate Hanukkah?  This game can be used in many ways in the classroom!  Brain research tells us that frequent repetition helps bring information from the short term memory to the long term memory.  (Rather than "Practice Makes Perfect", I prefer "Practice Makes Permanent"!)   

I use board games like this to practice sight words, math facts, sentence fluency, or any skill that needs practicing!  The children just roll one die, but before they can move their place marker that many spaces, they have to perform a task.  I sometimes have a selection of cards the children can choose from, and sometimes I have a specific skill for them to practice.  

Come on over to Elementary Matters to download your Hanukkah Board Game Freebie!

Rockin' Teacher Materials: Win a Nook Color HD from Top Teachers!

Rockin' Teacher Materials: Win a Nook Color HD from Top Teachers!: Would you like to win a Nook Color HD right before Christmas?! You need to head on over to find out more about this awesome opportunity!

Acts of Kindness Holiday Countdown

Ever notice that wonderful feeling that comes from doing something for others?  I suspect you know it well, since that's what teaching is all about!

I decided, instead of just a "Countdown to Christmas", I wanted to do a more special countdown.

I made this Acts of Kindness Holiday Countdown Set, which is a paper chain countdown with a twist - each link of the chain is an act of kindness to be done by the child, each day between now and Christmas!

Come on over to Elementary Matters to learn more about the Acts of Kindness Holiday Countdown!

I have to admit, I'm excited about my new product, and can't wait to put them together with the kids!

Can you tell I'm getting excited about the holidays?

Rockin' Teacher Materials: Amazing Alliteration & Fun Freebies Too!

Rockin' Teacher Materials: Amazing Alliteration & Fun Freebies Too!: I love this time of the year!  Come on over and see the Amazing Alliteration in 2nd grade!

Thanks!

                                              

Illustrating to Build Reading Skills

I often have my students do some illustrating when I want to make sure they really "get" a concept.  It forces them to visualize what they're learning.  Brain research tells us that visualizing helps the memory.  Brain research also tells us that adding an element of fun helps them remember as well... and don't kids love to draw?  Add some classical music in the background, and the brain is more activated! Want to add a little more assurance that the kids are learning?  Let them talk about what they're drawing and why!

Another advantage?  These are great for the sub tub!  Just run off the set and leave it in the emergency sub folder!  Plus, they work for a variety of ages and levels.  (Fifth graders are NOT too old to draw, they love it!)

I have several items in my Teachers Pay Teachers store that involve children illustrating.  Come on over to Elementary Matters to see some of these items that will help make learning permanent!

Of course, any illustrating is enhanced by music.  May I suggest this one?  (Click image for a link to Amazon!)

My Favorite Holiday Activity

Click image to download Nutcracker freebie.

Ever have one of those activities that's a win-win?  It's something that works so well, you keep bringing it back year after year.

That's how I feel about this one, Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker.  I've done this activity with second graders for about 15 years now.

Every year, the children have loved this activity, and it practices some valuable skills:  visualizing, summarizing, and sequencing.  Plus, it gives them some exposure to classic holiday literature and classical music!

Come on over to Elementary Matters to enjoy this freebie!  It's one of my favorites!