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Missing Addends with Frames and Arrows!

Today we took a break from Math Workshop to get in a fun Frames and Arrows lesson! Frames and arrows teach students about missing addends in a more 'complicated' way in my opinion. This way really encourages those critical thinking skills. So, I do love teaching this first because it makes missing addends a piece of cake! It is a part of Everyday Math.

 I didn't quite do the lesson the way they said to do it because...last year when I taught this it was pretty boring (because I did teach it the Everyday Math way)... dun, dun, dun... first year teacher troubles right there... not realizing I can change it up to teach the same concept!
 
This year with some serious brainstorming I came up with this lesson... and when I say I brainstormed... I meant I didn't have this idea until my planning period today right before math! This is what I whipped up and OMG I had one loud, active, math talking' classroom! I LOVED it! Sometimes I think these kind of  lessons are the best ones!
--Great ideas always happen that way don't they!?!--

First, I introduced what frames and arrows were using this anchor chart.
 
We went over our question, "How can I find the rule?"
Yesterday, students learned how to solve their frames and today they had to figure out what they had to add or subtract to get from one box (frame) to the next.
 
 
Then I went over two questions that we always need to ask before we try to find the rule.
1. What would the number sentence be?
2. Is it addition or subtraction? 
 
To begin this lesson the sticky in the "Rule" box would be blank.
I only had 16 and 13 on the board and the last 3 yellow sticky notes were blank.
 
We used the number sentence sticky noes below to help us find the missing addend AKA rule! After we found the rule then we could solve the rest of the frames (boxes) with the missing numbers.
 
 
We did a few of these together. I had about four sticky notes on each part of this anchor chart so when we were ready for a new one I didn't have to re-stick the sticky notes = *Time Saver.*
 
After we practiced how to do this about four times and students felt comfortable trying one on their own they were broken up into partners - based on ability.
 
I passed out large pieces of paper to partners and they had to find the rule and solve the missing frames in their frames and arrows problems.
 
This activity was very easy to differentiation. I ordered these frames and arrows problems by abilities and passed them out in that order. It was perfect because then all students finished around the same time because it wasn't oober easy for my high students or super hard for my lower students.
 
When students finished with their partner I had them sit in a line behind their frames and arrows problem. They had to flip their paper upside down so no one could 'see.'
 
Then they each went and got a marker and they were to be the teachers and grade one another's work!
Let me tell you... they LOVED this!
I love it too because.. guess what!!--- in order to grade they have to figure out the rule and the answers to the frames!! ;)


 
That's all for today folks!!
Hope this helps you out if you also do frames and arrows or even just maybe to help students think critically about missing addend problems!!
 
 
 
 

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Proper Noun Fun & New Winter Stations!!!

I have decided that each Monday in my class we are going to focus on a language strand. The past two weeks this has been successful! Here is our simple dimple proper noun lesson from today! I LOVED it & the kids learned and talked about those proper nouns (with Patty) all day long!

 
To begin the lesson we made sure we could identify nouns in a sentence. We completed a quick activity here. Students just read a simple sentence and circled the nouns.
 


They did pretty well with this so then I gathered all the students on the rug and introduced their learning target to them.
 
Then, I game each student a sentence strip...
 


 
Their sentence strips had 'their' name in a sentence that related to them. They were laughing so hard at their sentences!! *Engagement?...Check!!
 
Anyway, I send students off with their reading buddies and they had to go read their sentences three times (fluency practice) and then find the nouns in their sentence and circle them. About 90% of them got it!
 
Then we came back and discussed proper nouns and decided which were common nouns and proper nouns in our sentence strips.
 
 
By this point they understood that Names were proper nouns.
 
Next up... I introduced, "Proper Noun Patty," in poem form!
 
We read the poem a few times, discussed the proper nouns in the poems and circle them.
We came up with common nouns so then students realized the different between the proper nouns and the common nouns in the poem. We just wrote these on the smart board.
 
 

 
 
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B363v8CATobycnVkc0FVc2laTWM/edit?usp=sharing
 

After all this jazzy stuff it was time for stations. For their independent work students completed Mrs. Wheelers Common and Proper noun sort.
 
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Common-and-Proper-Noun-Sort-965505
 
You can grab her freebie HERE. -- or just click on the picture above.
 
Tomorrow for word work students will be putting together puzzles from my Thanksgiving Literacy and Math Stations unit!
 
One more thing!!! I just posted my winter literacy stations and they are all about those language strands! I hope you will check it out!
 
This is on sale for the next 24 hours!
Grab them while you can!! :)
 
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Winter-Literacy-Stations-10-Stations-984208
 
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Winter-Literacy-Stations-10-Stations-984208
 
These are the concepts covered in this packet!
I can't wait to print and make these!!
 
--Antonyms

--Synonyms

--Syllables (1, 2, 3)

--Noun, Verb, Adjective (2 sets)

--Past, present and future verb sort

--Conjunction sentences (or, so, because)

--Asking, Telling, Exciting sentences

--Compound Words

-Contractions (is, not, will, are)

--ABC Order

--Story response forms included (story elements, beginning, middle, end (interactive journal), problem and solution (interactive).

--2 inference writing mini-activities

--1 opened ended writing station activity
 
 
Have a Fannntabulous night!!
 
 
 
 

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Fun New Stations & A Freebie Peek!!!

Before I get to rambling this week and sharing some station fun I will give you the visual plans right away!!
 
Here are my plans for the week and as you will notice I am not going in tomorrow because I am sicker than a darn dog right now! I was out Friday and I am a little better but no where near ready to be in a classroom with 21 little kiddos!
 
Tomorrow I have the sub using a lot of my "Introducing Action Verbs" packet to review and introduce how to use action verbs with my kiddos. I am upset that I don't get to use it. But, it is very user friendly and it'll really make the day go smoothly tomorrow!
 
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Introducing-Action-Verbs-433785
 
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B363v8CATobyQ25CTmFKb2JPaE0/edit?usp=sharing
 
Check out other plans at Mrs. Will's K!
 
http://www.mrswillskindergarten.com/
 
On Tuesday we are starting my FAVORITE unit of all time! I came up with the idea while student teaching and I have tweaked it since and taught each year to my kids! (you know... my whole 1 other year of teaching ha ha)
 
It is a great way to get some social studies standards in as well as hit a lot of the CCSS! It is all about how those Native Americans used to use the Buffalo to survive! This is a unit that encourages lots and lots of discussion! The kids ooo and ahhh throughout the whole unit! I can't wait to post photos for you!
 
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/How-Native-Americans-used-Buffalo-868168
 
This week when I return I am also going to try the whole Guided Math and Math Workshop thing again. I tried it at the beginning of the year but my kids weren't able to be independent enough to complete activities on their own (no matter how easy I made them)
So, I read up on  Tunstall's Teaching Tidbits to figure out how to make this work in first grade.
 
Reading up on all that inspired me to really use the kids Math Journals even more than I already am. So, that inspired this weeks freebie for you!
I wanted to make journal activities that didn't take a lot of reading in order for the kids to figure out what they're supposed to do. Each day before rotations I am going to pass out their activity to them and have them slip it in their notebook so its already there when they go to their rotation.
 
I plan to make a great big math journal packet but for now.... these are free for you!
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B363v8CATobyVmZNS3dwUVJqZTA/edit?usp=sharing
I'd love a comment or a follow for the freebie!!
 
Next up!.............NEW STATIONS!!!
 
These thanksgiving stations that I just created are literally the cutest ones I've created thus far!! They were so cute that I even had to print them out in color and take pictures of some of them for you!
 
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Thanksgiving-Stations-10-Literacy-and-Math-Stations-963532
Here are some of the literacy stations that my kids are doing this week!
 
Making CVC or four letter words!
 
Using word families to make words with beginning blends.
This one is a great one for differentiation! There are a ton of different word families!
 Sorting words based on their beginning digraphs.
 Sorting asking and telling sentences here.
My kids are really getting good at these!!
 
Here are my kids Math Tubs for the week! :)
 
They will be sorting addition problems and identifying if they are less than, equal to more or more than 10!
 They will be sorting even and odd numbers this week! They still need some support for this so I made a mat with cute little manipulatives for them to use.
 In small group on Tuesday we will be sorting these cards and filling out a recording sheet.
 Sorting addition problems again--this one will be a challenge but a little challenge is always good. They will have their number grid, manipulatives and number line to use here.
 Students will use nickels and pennies here to make the amount on the card and they will record their answers. I know this is not a first grade standard but our curriculum asks us to teach it and my kids are actually doing really well this year with money!
 
There are a few more things in the Thanksgiving station pack but that's all I have printed for now!
 
Have a great week and I hope to feel better soon!
Remember if you grabbed my freebie I would love a comment or for a follow! ;)
 
 
 

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Introducing...Main Idea!!

Teaching main idea to students can be one of the most challenging things to teach in my opinion... when it comes to teaching it with fiction text anyway! Last year, I taught Main Idea in a very unorganized way to be completely honest (joys of a first year, inexperienced teacher).
 
When deciding how to teach it this year I decided to break it down a bit more and really focus on HOW we get the main idea. My students and I completed a mini-lesson on it today to prepare us for the rest of our Main Idea activities for the week!
 
 
 
First, we read this main idea poem and glued it into our readers notebook.
 
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Reading-and-Writing-Printable-Activities-Ready-Set-GO-718536
 
We discussed what "Main Idea" actually meant and they did pretty well with it! I got one little sweetie who said, "It's the character in the story." :) That's why we talk about it before I teach it so I can fix any misconceptions while were discussing the topic!
 
Then, we read this 'paragraph' that I whipped up real quick this morning.
The kids went trick-or-treating last night.
 (Yes, late--their first Halloween was canceled because of yucky weather=Joys of Ohio)
 
 
We talked about comprehending the paragraph first and how when we understand what we read we make pictures & movies in our minds. We read each sentence, closed our eyes and told a partner what our picture looked like in our heads.
 
Then, I sent the students back to their seats, I read them the paragraph one more time, shut off the lights and asked them to draw the movie that they made in their head!
 
Here is what one little kiddo came up with!
 
 
I love how she included all of the details from the paragraph!
Love it when we get to visualize!
 
 
Then, the kids came back to the rug with their pictures and we pulled details from the paragraph and their 'movies' that they made in their heads. We wrote down all of the details in this little bubble and then I asked the students what we were talking about and referring to the entire time!
 
Do you know what they said----TRICK-OR-TREAT!
Then I said, "So, what is the main idea of the paragraph?!"
And they said......"The main idea is trick-or-treating!"
 
 
I love this intro to main idea because it was so simple but yet so purposeful at the same time.
--Yes, I use Cara's people on my anchor charts--I Luuhhhvee Them!
 
Tomorrow we are reading 'Biscuit' and determining the main idea of the story & then retelling the events--many activities are inspired by Amy Lemons here!
 
Stay tuned because I also have a fun writing lesson we are in the middle of too with no one other than...BISCUIT!
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
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Peek At My Week!

It's a short one tonight! Just dropping by to let you in on our week and show you some odd and even fun from last week!!
 
This week is all about Biscuit and learning to recall the main idea & details.
I'm excited to finally combine all we've learned about characters and sequencing stories in order to write about some wonderful Biscuit summaries!
 
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B363v8CATobyN2ZYQUFlVG12ZkE/edit?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B363v8CATobyN2ZYQUFlVG12ZkE/edit?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B363v8CATobyN2ZYQUFlVG12ZkE/edit?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B363v8CATobyN2ZYQUFlVG12ZkE/edit?usp=sharing
 
Make sure you check out my plans because inside there are...
 
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B363v8CATobyN2ZYQUFlVG12ZkE/edit?usp=sharing
I'd love a comment to see what you think about the freebies?!
 
Check out other plans at Mrs. Will's K!
 
http://www.mrswillskindergarten.com/
 
Last week in math we spent two days on odd and even fun and of course it was all inspired by non other than Cara Carroll (this lady just needs to be in my room)!!
 
First, we watched this adorable video a few times and sang along!
Seriously, this is so cute!
 
 
Then, I introduced them to my version of Even Steven and Odd Todd.
We shared candy corn between Steven and Todd and began understanding the differences between even and odd numbers. In the process I wrote numbers on their shirts (notice: the very crooked 8)
 
 
Then, I sent the kids off to sort their candy corn and identify if their amount was even or odd. Then they wrote their name on a paper plate, and placed it by Steven or Todd!
 

 
Then, we went over if all of the numbers to determine if they were even and odd!
After that the kids got a short brain break/snack until we moved onto our craft!

 
After our candy corn fun the kids completed an odd and even pumpkin sort. To add some flair to the paper they added their pumpkins! I gave them pretty much all the freedom in the world with this and I love how all of their personalities shine through in their little pumpkins! :) 

 
The next day the students completed the odd and even sort from Cara!
 

http://thefirstgradeparade.blogspot.com/search/label/odd%20and%20even
 
This lesson was such a blast! I highly recommend doing this with your littles!!
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