Veteran's Day Friendly Letter

Thank You For

Keeping Us Safe!

This morning I was scrambling because I realized my students brought $1 per red, white and blue outfit and that money was being donated for veterans.  It was a school wide event.  I had a really neat booklet to use from Second Story Window, but needed a writing piece to use....











So, I came up with friendly letter paper.  You are free to use it!  Sorry it is late, but you may still be able to use it this week.  There are all different types with both boys' and girls'...Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force, etc!  Click on the pictures to get the Google Doc.

Thankgiving Quick Write Freebie

I know that your next couple of weeks are going to fly by!  So, I'd like to give you a few pages for quick writes!  Quick writes only take 5 minutes for students to complete, then everyone gets a chance to share!  Spelling is usually not important, however, you can do a quick brainstorm on the board before setting the timer.  I highly suggest this if you have students who won't write anything without being perfect!  When the timer goes off, the sharing part is so important, because you see students editing their wording as they are reading their writing outloud.  It's usually one of those "ah ha" moments! And, for those students who have U-G-L-Y handwriting, you get the chance to visit with them later about their inability to read their own handwriting!  I don't make students share if they don't want to read their piece aloud, but after doing several, they are usually comfortable enough to volunteer.

There are 3 writing prompts included in this freebie! They are..

1. On Thanksgiving I look forward to...

2. Once a turkey ran away from...

3. On Thanksgiving you might find me cooking...(boy and girl paper)

* Just click on the picture to get the GoogleDoc.

Shout Out!

I need to give a shout out to some very special men in our community.  These men are from Station 35.  They've been very active with the students in the school.  Lately they've put on a production titled Fire Clowns, where they left their everything on a stage to teach students about fire safety.  They've also been in the classroom working with small groups on math facts.  Last week they played a game of mine called Super Hero Subtraction Sticks. And last, but not least, the 2nd grade class visited their station to conclude our Readers Theater titled A Trip to the Fire Station.  During the fieldtrip the firemen set up an obstacle course (resembling a bedroom, window and safety area) to help students practice techniques for how to get out in an emergency.  They also showed us the manly tools on the fire truck.  Let me tell you, the jaws of life are for real! 

Thank you Station 35 for making a positive difference in the lives of children. Your support in the classroom is appreciated!  Click here for a writing page freebie my class used when they learned fire safety rules.  Maybe you can use it next year during Fire Safety Week.

Healthy Snacks Freebie

This week I had each student bring a healthy snack to school. We are currently learning about the food groups and starting to graph in math.
 So, I sent home a note and everyone brought a smorgasbord of snacks.





On Thursday, we graphed, completed a worksheet and had a small plate of treats during science. You can grab this healthy snack freebie with parent note. Just click for the GoogleDoc here!

Calling All Doctors...Help with Balancing Equations

Okay, I'm on a roll with freebies this week!  Today the 2nd grade math para and I were trying to think of a good way for students to balance equations when there were missing addends.  Students were not grasping that they would have to balance the equation by reading from left to right.  You may be able to run to the printer faster than I can.  What tricks do you have for students balancing equations?  Please share!

100 Followers Giveaway

I was ecstatic today when I rolled over to 100 followers.  So, I am sharing the love with a giveaway for everyone.  Please enjoy my newest Instant Math Lesson Instant Math Pack with Jack.  It will be a great review or introduction to any geometry unit!  There is a bingo game, flipbook, and matching game included.  Thanks for following my blog and store!  You totally made my day!

Love,
Instant Math Mama with More

Summer Activities Craft

Attached is a summer activities list for students.  You can have them cut out the boxes and glue/modge podge them to popsicle sticks and/or clothes pins.  I plan to do this as an activity this summer during the art camp that I am putting on.  We will paint a square label on our jar/vegetable can with chalk paint.  Summer Activities Printable (click here)  Thought maybe all of my followers could use this activity too!  There are several chalk paint recipes on Pinterest.  Don't go out and buy the expensive stuff!  Hope you all have a great summer full of lots of fun!

Area and Perimeter

Area and Perimeter

Do you have square tiles on the floor inside your school building?  If you do, you are in luck!  This week we had area and perimeter as one of the skills in our Everyday Math book.  Well, one day of area and perimeter will not let those two concepts stick inside the little brains.  So, I taped off shapes on the floor.  You can see the pictures below to get ideas.  I created 7 shapes and broke my class into equal teams.  The first day we did perimeter and the second day we did area.  To make it work, my class had to raise their hand when they thought they had the correct area.  I went to initial their worksheet when the team was ready to move to another shape.  Two teams could not be at the same shape at the same time.  Also, if they were loud in the hall, they got one warning, then they had a team time out.  Thankfully, they didn't get to this point.  My pictures provide a few shape examples.  Grab the free worksheet. Everyone in the building was intrigued by the shapes on the floor.  Some knew right away that we were measuring.  The kindergarten class thought they were fun shapes to walk on and jump through.  Even the secretary had couldn't help but ask what we were using the shapes for.