1 Freebie, 2 Weeks, 3 Link-Ups

Well who knew this Sunday would be so busy for blogging town. Well really it's busy for me because I'm late to a bunch of link-ups. So without further ado, here I go:

1)


Here I go again linking up with the craziness that is Manic Monday at Classroom Freebies. So this week I decided to go seasonal and created a St. Patrick's Day freebie.

So this freebie contains Lucky Number cards (8 primary, 8 intermediate), 1 recording sheet and of course an answer key. Students follow the directions to answer the multi-step questions that require basic operation skills (addition & subtraction for primary, addition, subtraction, multiplication & division for intermediate) then record. Seasonal, fun & common-core aligned, what else could you ask for?? (Was that a bit of an over sell?)Click {HERE} to check out the freebie on TPT and {HERE} for non-TPT users and go check out Classroom Freebies for more fantastic freebies.2) Next up, another linky. I am linking up with Sharing Kindergarten for her St. Patrick's Day Products Linky Party.

So I shared a St. Patty's freebie above but I also blogged about my St. Patty's unit and some other ideas {HERE}.

3) And finally, I have heard of the Currently linky forever and finally I've decided to join. So let's hope this works.

So I guess I need to explain:Listening: Umm I think this is self-explanatory. I am a reality TV junkie and I will tune into any franchise of the Real Housewives, but really, isn't is always fighting?Loving: Again, self-explanatory. As soon as it is Spring, it will basically be a blink of the eye until Summer. Ahhh.Thinking: The weekend does seem to go awfully fast.
Wanting: Who wouldn't want a pot of gold?Needing: I should really do those dishes sitting in the sink, but there are so many other things I'd rather be doing.Like: Sweets. I eat way too much chocolate (or maybe, not enough!).Love: Well I did say I love Spring Break, but now that I think about it, my school district only gets one week. I would love to have two weeks!Hate: I always seem to be sick around Spring Break. Since I had strep throat last week, hopefully I'll be good to go on Spring Break.Well there I think I did it, my first Currently link-up with Farley at Oh' Boy 4th Grade!Ok, I think that's all the freebies, link-ups, posts, recaps, wind-ups, etc. for today. Phew!

The Importance of D.E.A.R.

Do you think D.E.A.R. is important? Do you know what D.E.A.R. is? Although it may be called by other names, I think every school, most classrooms have something similar. Drop Everything And Read. I've called it D.E.A.R. for awhile no, although I do remember a time in elementary school (maybe just in a single class) where it was referred to as S.S.R. - Sustained Silent Reading- and every time I saw it on the board I always thought of the U.S.S.R. (even though I was probably 8 and had no idea about the actual details of the U.S.S.R.).  Anyway, every time I saw it on the board (which was everyday) I was happy. I was happy because I loved to read AND because the classroom had books that I didn't have available to me at home. As a teacher, I still see the importance of D.E.A.R. but I wonder what other teachers think.

via Pinterest

A reading professor at University said that when she was in the classroom, she ALWAYS read at D.E.A.R. time along with the students. She said that it set a good example for the students and she loved the chance to set other work aside and read uninterrupted and I 100% agree.

I think that by seeing the teacher read, it sets a good example for students and shows them that we practice what we preach. We can tell students over and over again to do something (ie. read everyday) but I think it is much more powerful for students to see us doing it too.

via Pinterest

I know teachers are busy all the time, but I really feel that it is beneficial to take those few minutes during the day, and relax with a good book.

So I would love to hear what others do in there classrooms. Do you have a set D.E.A.R. time everyday? Is this a catch-up time for you or do you spend it reading as well?

Manic Monday Round 2

Well it's Monday again (or Sunday night) so I guess it is time for another freebie. Once again I am linking up with Classroom Freebies for the Manic Monday at Classroom Freebies link-up.

So my freebie today was created as I was thinking of a fun way to practice place value. I think place value is one of those basics in math that really has to be understood in order to move onto higher order concepts, but I didn't want it to get boring. So what's more fun than adding a little mystery? So my Place Value Mystery Number Cards were born.

My first set (found {HERE}) included only 3- & 4-digit numbers, but I now have sets for 2-digit numbers (found {HERE}) and 5-, 6-, & 7-digit numbers (found {HERE}).

Let me know if you enjoy the freebies, and make sure to link-up with Classroom Freebies if you have fun freebies to share!

Hall Pass Linky

Well I had planned to join this linky a few days ago and now am finally able to join up. I am linking up with Reagan over at Tunstall's Teaching Tidbits (how's that for alliteration) for her Hall Pass link-up.

So without further ado, I will begin:

P is for Product - Well I noticed that some of the other bloggers that already linked up have the same thinking as me. I always finish a product and it is my absolute favorite . . . until I start the next one that is. So I guess at the moment my favorite product is actually an old product that I recently completely updated and re-did - my St. Patrick's Day Pot o' Gold Unit that I blogged about {HERE}.

A is for Area - So since I don't show pictures from the classroom I will just talk about my favorite area in the classroom. I love a good classroom library. Enough said.

S is for Signal - Well usually I use a clapping pattern to get attention but frankly, I'm getting bored of it and am always on the lookout for new attention getting ideas, so I am excited to read through all the other link-ups to hopefully find some new ideas to incorporate into the classroom. To be honest, I've heard of a bunch of other great signal ideas, I just have to take the time to add them into the daily routine, rather than just fall back on the old faithful clapping.

S is for Sanity - Hmmm. This one I really had to think about and I'm not sure I like my answer. I think something that keeps me sane is quiet. So anytime where I get a few quiet minutes to gather my thoughts and prepare me for the next activity is key for my sanity. Quiet doesn't necessarily mean absolute silence, just a bit more of a controlled chaos.

Well there are the answers for my HALL Pass, I'm excited to go read everyone else's answers. 

St. Patrick's Day . . . and all things green

Well this may be a little early but I think I'll talk about St. Patrick's Day. This has been on my mind because I have spent awhile updating my St. Patrick's Day unit and my updating I mean completely redoing. I don't think there was anything from the old packet that is still in the new one, and I couldn't be happier.

I've said it before and I will say it again and again. I love the fun and excitement that holidays bring into the classroom and even more than that, I like to take curriculum and make it more fun by adding the holiday element.

My St. Patrick's Day Pot o' Gold unit does have some fun activities,

but, I've also tried to incorporate some curriculum:

I'm so excited about my new (old/revised) unit and I hope students are too! Click {HERE} if you'd like to check it out. 

I had other pictures I wanted to post from the unit, but I have no idea to rotate pictures in blogger and I guess I'm too lazy to google it right now. Maybe I'll have figured it out by my next post.

To finish off, I think I'll add some more St. Patrick's Day stuff by including a few pins:

Via A Night Owl

 100 St. Patrick's Ideas - I will have to look through these soon.

Via Patties Classroom

Such a good idea for primary students.

Via Lil' Luna

I think I'll stop there. Something sweet on a holiday is practically a necessity!

Circles & Book Bin Labels

So the other day I was helping another teacher cut out book bin labels. CIRCLE book bins labels. Two sets of CIRCLE book bin labels. As my hand was cramping and I was realizing that I need to work on my cutting abilities, a fantastic thought struck me. A Circle Paper Cutter! As soon as the thought entered my head, it was quickly followed by three options:

A) It is a ludicrous idea - A circle paper cutter?! That is a crazy idea.
B) It has already been invented and every crafter knows about it.
C) It hasn't been invented, it is a fantastic idea and I will become a billionaire by inventing it!

So obviously I had to find out which of the three it was so I turned to trusty old Google to see what I could find.

Via Amazon

Umm, yeah. So apparently it is a thing. I guess I won't become a billionaire by inventing the first circle paper cutter. I don't know if I just live in a hole or it's because I am not an avid crafter, but I have never before heard of a circle paper cutter. Is it worth it? Would love to hear from anyone who has tried/owns one.

Getting Back to Basics & a FREEBIE!

Well that certainly was a long hiatus from blogging, but now I'm back . . . well we'll see for how long.

I wasn't completely idle during the last few (was it two?) months. I finally completed some units I have been working on for far too long.

First up, Daily Math Bundle packs:

I have been working on these for far too long, but I am so glad I finally have the full year finished. I don't know about you but I feel like having a daily review of basic math concepts is essential for some students. I'm so happy with these packs because I have sprialled them so that they start with a review of the previous grades standards and slowly introduce the grade level standards throughout the year.

I've also added the first in a series of 2nd Grade Daily Math (any bets on how long it will take me to complete the bundle pack?):

I am working on Daily Language reviews but that is definitely a work in progress.

These units all follow along the same theme - practicing and reviewing the basics. That is what my Daily Math works on and that is also what I plan to do with my Daily Language - because students need to be able to write with proper capitalization, punctuation, and grammar.

Now for the freebie. How many times have you been trucking along in math class and ask a student to read/write/expand a number and are blown away that they don't know how to do it? I know sometimes this happens to me, and I feel awful that I have been lacking in teaching some of the basics. My Write it Out freebie will hopefully give students practice writing numbers and give teachers a quick assessment.

Click HERE to get this on TPT and non-TPT users click HERE.

I am so excited to link up with Classroom Freebies for the link-up "Manic Monday at Classroom Freebies." Make sure to go check out the link-up to find other fantastic freebies.

Let me know if you enjoy the freebie, I'm off to enjoy the rest of my weekend!