Number and ABC strips

It's Teacher Tip Tuesday! 

So here's an item I have made extremely reusable and usable for my students. While my kiddos have number lines and ABCs on their name plates that are on their desks, when we are at our tables doing work as a group they don't have access to what's on their desks. So, I bought a roll of ABC stickers and a roll of number lines at my favorite teacher supply store (CM School Supply). The rolls of these stickers come with quite a few but all you need is 3-5 or each one. 

The point of these is to use them during work at the tables, games, practicing counting, ABC order, distinguishing between b, d, p, and q, and anytime the kids can't remember certain letter formation! The ABC strips also really come in handy during spelling tests! 

Step 1: Stick the stickers on to construction paper and make sure you leave enough space between the stickers to be able to have an edge once they are laminated. 

Step 2: Laminate the entire poster and cut out individual strips for individual use. 

Step 3: Place these in a handy place to pull out whenever needed. 

These can be used at home as well. Students often struggle with homework and need some of the same supports they are offered in the classroom to be able to complete their work. Students tend to be very visual and these little tools can help them complete homework independently! 

Here's what mine look like: 

Keep in mind - it helps to teach the little ones how to use these! There are many strategies to help the kiddos figure out how to do their addition and subtraction using these strips. However, ABC strips really are pretty straight forward in their use.  

Hope everyone had a great Tuesday back at work! As my aide says: "Happy Tuesday!" 

Pinterest: the new TEACHER's HELPER

I spent the day having my blood drawn, lunch and a walk with a good friend and her 1 y/o, running a couple of errands, playing on Pinterest (one of my big time suckers), meal planning and trying to get ahead in the blogging world! This is all stuff that has had nothing to do with teaching on this random day off! (We had a staff appreciation thing scheduled for staff that got canceled but the kids already had the day off... hence no work today! 

So, since I have spent the day relaxing and doing as I please on my favorite site (Pinterest)... I thought I would share some of the additions i have added to my classroom just because of Pinterest. While so many people say Pinterest is a huge waste of time, I think it really can be an inspiration to many. In particular for teachers, it can take a lot of time, but it truly has made learning fun and also made certain things more accessible to my students. So here are a couple additions in photo form... I will let you know where I got them from if I can find all my pins on Pinterest! :) Oh and BTW... if you wanna follow me on Pinterest click below!  

 So here is one of the math games that i have added to the mix. You can find these all at Tunstall's Teaching Tidbits. These games have been a great addition to the math games. I also use the "Making 10" version. Thanks to yet another great blogger who has helped me add to my toolbox! 

 Here are my clocks with certain times that we need to be certain places. This has really helped some of my students to be able to grasp time a little bit better. It always seems that time is truly confusing and abstract and then you throw in all the special needs my kiddos have and it is complete discombobulation! (Is that a word?). Anyway I got these from a pin on interest linked to a GREAT BLOG called Step into 2nd Grade with Mrs. Lemons. Click the link to her blog to find the printables. 

 Also, just a hint... laminate the blank clock faces and then use wet erase markers to draw on the hands in different colors. This way i can at least reuse the clock faces next year if the times all change! 

Thanks so much Mrs. Lemons for the great printable! It made making this easy and I have really seen kids learn from this. 

So after these few shots, I realize how much more I don't even have photos of. I have been inspired by Pinterest and it has made teaching the same thing MUCH more fun! This students have really enjoyed it too. The math game you saw above is part of my "Ready to Use Math Games" folder. Also, I am working on a HOLIDAY version of a "Ready to Use Math Games" folder. Its still in the beginning stages, but i hope to have it done soon! (Yeah, I know it will probably take me a year to fill it, but i can at least have the folder ready to go!) 

Off to eat a quick bite before heading to kickboxing! 

Math Magazine File

Just a quick post tonight geared towards teachers... 


Thought I would begin sharing some of my classroom ideas. So here is my magazine file with laminated pages that the students use to demonstrate different math concepts.

WE use these pages all the time and I have many ready at a moments notice. Some are rarely used and some are used on a daily basis. For example, when it comes to counting, a hundred chart could not be more useful. Also, it can be used to help with number recognition and when the students are practicing 1 more, 1 less, 10 more and 10 less concepts. 

These can be made out of any math aid and really for any grade. For my special education students this stuff provides a visual aid for me to demonstrate math concepts. There are endless possibilities for any grade and any level. Students can use these during seat work or even for group work or math games. 

Here are a few more detailed shots of what is inside my math magazine file! 

Have a great day!