Friday, July 12, 2013

Whole Numbers & Decimal Operations {5th Grade}

This summer has been busy!  I have been overseas on a mission trip, Denver for a wedding, and then parked on my couch working on new units.  My newest unit covers the second half of the Common Core Standards Grade 5 Number and Operations in Base Ten!

{5.NBT.B.5}     {5.NBT.B.6}     {5.NBT.B.7}

In the midst of working on this unit, I have been studying the CCSS in depth and with great detail.  A few things to note:

  • The key element in 5.NBT.B.5 and 5.NMBT.B.6 is that students must be able to multiply and divide fluently.  Fluently requires students to move off of the model and be able to use the algorithm.    
  • In 5.NBT.B.7 students must fluently use the algorithm with addition and subtraction, however with multiplication and division it specifically mentions models and explaining the thought process.  


I also tried to include my most favorite tip when teaching operations with decimals...grid paper!  


Check out my unit, its in my TPT store and on sale until Sunday night!


Sunday, May 5, 2013

Teacher Appreciation SALE

Today marks the beginning of Teacher Appreciation week!  I hope that everyone enjoys the freebies (Chick-fil-a and Chipotle) and feels loved by their campus, parents, and students!

To show my appreciation and thanks for all that you do, I am offering 20% off my store and TPT is adding 10%.  This sale begins Tuesday morning and lasts through Wednesday evening.


{Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah Designs made this awesome banner, be sure to check her out}

While you are there be sure to check out my latest products:

{7th and 8th grade are a work in progress}

You can also check out my most popular unit: Fraction Frenzy!  Here is an example of some of the feedback it has received:


Hope you all have a great week!  Comment below and share what purchases you made during the sale...I know I have a full TpT cart!


Friday, May 3, 2013

Five for Friday Linky

TGIF!  It is Five for Friday again and I am linking up for my first time with Doodle Bugs.  This is going to be a quick one!

1.  We started a book study at school today!  We are reading The Energy Bus by Jon Gordon.  So far, I really like it!  It tells the story of increasing your positive energy and its benefits.  It think its going to be great!


2.  My husband and brother in law attend the International Justice Mission banquet in Dallas.  IJM is a human rights agency that brings rescue to victims of slavery, sex trafficking  and other types of oppression.  I was sad to not be able to go, but heard great things and feel passionate about this organization.  

3.   My husband and I went on a fun date to a new local restaurant, Brewed.  It has a phenomenal atmosphere with big tables and couches, like a Parenthood table.  


4.  Today with my intervention kiddos we worked on proportional reasoning and then moved to graphing.  Oh boy!

5.  I FINALLY finished my newest Grade 6 Common Core Warm Ups!  So check them out at my store!  


Have a great weekend and enjoy the nice weather!

Thursday, May 2, 2013

May Currently

Good morning!  It is a bright and early Thursday morning here, and I am ready for the weekend!

It is hard to believe that May has already arrived, where has the year gone?  I am linking up with Farley at Oh' Boy Third Grade for the May Currently Post!


It is crazy to think that summer is upon us...I know I am counting down.  April was absolutely insane busy around our household.  My husband spoke once on his own, we spoke at our home church together, we were leaders at a youth event, I hosted a wedding shower for my sister and a baby shower for a friend, we celebrated hubby's birthday, we traveled to visit family.  All in all, we have been looking forward to May!  May brings a little more rest, one more semester of grad school down for my husband, and hopefully a well deserved summer...

When do you finish up the school year?  We go until June 7th and then I work til the 13th...

Monday, March 18, 2013

Giveaway at 1...2...3 Teach with Me

As we enter this super busy time of year, with testing around the corner, we are always looking for ways to review and focus on small group instruction.  

One lucky winner in the 1...2...3 Teach with Me Giveaway, will receive my Investigating Fractions {Small Group & RTI Intervention Activities}, plus 32 ADDITIONAL items.

Here is how the giveaway works: "TpT Store Hop"
2.  Click on the different product links and follow the stores
3.  Leave a comment at 123 Teach with Me with your email address 
Winners will be announced on Saturday evening!  Good luck!


  

Saturday, March 2, 2013

March Currently

This evening, I am linking up with Farley and her March Currently.  I love reading what everyone is working on, needing to do, etc.  It always makes me feel better to know that I am not the only one who needs to do laundry and clean their house :)


Tonight, my husband and I are staying in and listening to Matt Carter, the pastor of Austin Stone in Austin, TX.  He is speaking at a conference called Verge.  My husband loves to listen to podcasts and learn from other pastors.  I love when the Lord reminds me of who He is and how He loves me.  

I can't help but get excited about how Spring Break is upon us.  We have school next week, but I will leave Thursday to attend the TAP National Conference in Washington DC.  Super pumped!!!  TAP always puts on excellent professional development, I typically leave slightly overwhelmed, but with more tools in my toolbox.  This year with my new role, I am always looking for great wisdom and insight to better support our campus.

But, traveling brings with it the need for laundry and packing, two of my least favorite things!  

Also, I am working on my newest product...a 120 daily warm ups for 5th grade Common Core.  

Goal:  end of Spring Break!



Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Intervention/RTI Galore & a Giveaway


I remember the first time I was introduced to RTI...it was a brief training with a checklist, with the main point being that we did this for about 15% of our students.  I was confused!!!  As a math teacher, after school tutoring was a norm, kids really couldn't move on without mastering the previous concept.  Then, there was test corrections, homework help, etc.  I am sure all you math teachers can relate.

However, the idea of tracking what I was doing, how often, what materials, what skill, the progress...that was all new to me.  Later, I was asked to teach a remediation class for students who struggled or did not meet state standards.  Talk about a whirlwind.  These kids needed extra support, but they had gaps, wide gaps, different gaps, and I was entrusted with the task of filling them in.  Whew, I get tired just typing about it!  

I will say it was one of my favorite classes.  We set lots of goals and worked for incentives.  We celebrated every small success and really aimed to build confidence in our math skills.  At the end of the year, it felt as though I had different students, more confident, higher skill base, better problem solvers, and in general, they may not yet LOVE math, like me...but they liked it a bit more.  I remember how excited they were when we got our state assessment scores back.  It was awesome!

Now, I tell you all that to share one of the ways I did it.  By trial and error, I found two incredibly helpful methods.  

1.  Previewing upcoming skills

About two days before we started something new in our regular math class, I would introduce it to my remediation class.  We would break it down, work a few problems, and focus on the process.  I think this gave them a great deal of confidence.  

2.  Small groups, centers, stations, whatever you like to call it.  

Each week students were given a schedule for stations.  I divided them into groups and each group visited a different station.  Much like an elementary classroom, one of the stations was a small group with me.  I focused on correcting misconceptions and catching their errors right away.  

*This is my newest unit that is aimed at tutoring, small groups, and RTI intervention...check it out!  As a special thank you, I would like to GIVE IT AWAY to a blog follower, so please enter below.*