Diggin' Into Summer Linky: Math Workshop

Happy Monday!  Once again, I get to talk about one of my favorite things...MATH, and more specifically Math Workshop.

 ...do math workshop!  This past winter I led a professional development session on Guided Math/Math Workshop (They are not interchangeable, but I'll refer to this structure as Guided Math from here on out) for my district.  I'm going to share some of the things I shared with them.  First, a resource I use a lot to reference for tips and structures is Laney Sammons, Guided Math book.

Sammons' describes Guided Math:
Guided Math is a flexible instructional framework that enables teachers to promote the deep mathematical understanding and computational fluency of their students by determining their unique needs and prescriptively addressing those needs through a combination of whole group instruction, small group instruction, math workshop, and conferences within a classroom environment that promotes numeracy.

Okay, so I highlighted the two phrases that make Guided Math so remarkable.  First of all,  I think teachers focus a lot on the structure of their math block to make it more engaging for their students.  However, I think the biggest part comes down to students' "unique needs and prescriptively addressing those needs".  After all, the whole point in creating a rotation-type structure is to allow yourself to have small groups to teach.   So....you HAVE to differentiated and meet the specific needs of your students in each of your small groups.  If you teach the same lesson 3 or 4 times in a row to small groups, then you might as well teach it whole group and save yourself from being a broken record.  Get my drift?  The purpose is for differentiation!  So....here is the schedule I use in order to maximize the time with my small groups.  And...we're really fortunate to have 75 minutes for math built into each grade level's schedule.

I think the closing and reflection is HUGE!!  Students need an opportunity to reflect on what they have just learned and how it is applicable to a larger concept or the real world.  At the beginning of the year, this time might be spent reviewing and reflecting on procedures.  As the procedures become more routine, this time becomes more academic.  We really encourage our teachers to circle back to their learning targets or essential questions.  By setting this time aside, it allows for some meaningful time in discussion, reflection, or journaling.

Since I am no longer in the classroom, the changes I might put in place would revolve around the independent work students are doing.  This needs to be meaningful and relevant, NOT busy work. 

I have LOTS and LOTS of math related products, so I won't bore you with all of them, but here are a few of the highlights and most loved products for you to check out.

Alrighty, well I gotta run.  I can't wait to read about math from all of these great bloggers below!  Join in on the fun - and the learning with this great linky!

Five for Friday!

It's Friday!  It's Friday!  I'm joining Doodle Bugs Teaching for Five for Friday.  Here are a few of the things I've been up to this week.

I've been working on some new math games to add to my 1st grade bundle...this has taken me a lot longer than I thought!  There are a lot of 1st grade math standards to work through, but I can't wait to bundle them all together.  For now, they are all available individually, and this week I've added my measurement game!

I'm participating in Project Neon's June Challenge...30 burpees for 30 days!  30 for 30.  What is it?  Well, every day I do 30 burpees.  Katie, from Project Neon, has a great video to show you what it is, if you aren't sure!  They are a lot harder than you might think, especially when you are way out of shape!

Did I mention that Katie is a friend of mine that I played soccer with in college? She is awesome and super motivating!  Click on the image above to see how you can win new sunglasses, tennis shoes, and nutrition items (I feel like by sharing this, it will decrease my chances, but I'd rather everyone enjoy the fun!) by joining in on the June Fitness Challenge.  

 

This week I got my first big pay out from EBATES and my $10 gift card from Target in the mail!!!

I'm sure a ton of you are already on this EBATES train, but I just signed on, and it's SOOOOO easy!  With all of the wedding gifts and things I'm buying this time of year, I get cash back just for going through their site.  I don't even want to think about how much money I could have gotten back if I'd started this a long time ago!  

For those of you who don't know, if you start at the EBATES website, then go to Kohl's, LOFT, MACYs, etc. you get a percentage back.  Mine was paid to me through PayPal.  I started with a $7.00 payout - I'm happy with that! :)  Oh, and a $10 gift card just for joining!  You can click here to see for yourself how easy it is!  

I wish I had a greener thumb because I really enjoy piddling in my yard, watering my flowers, and planting new plants.  It's so rewarding when color starts to pop all over!  My roses came to life this week!

And tomorrow is one of my great friend's wedding!  I met her at my old school where we had classrooms across the hall from each other.  The baby is going to Mammaw and Pappaw's house for the afternoon/evening, and the hubby and I get a night out to celebrate the lovely couple!  Did I mention earlier that it was wedding season?  This will be 2 of 6 for us!  

Two for Tuesday!

I'm joining a bunch of other great bloggers for Two for Tuesday with The Teaching Tribune!

They have a "Summer Bloggin'" series, and it makes me want to sing it to the tune of "Summer Lovin' Had me a Blast!" Maybe I should add Grease to my summer bucket list...it's been a while!

Image: dressedtoa.blogpress.com

Okay, so back to Two for Tuesday...bloggers will put 2 products ON SALE for at least one day!  I'm choosing my NEWEST and my MOST WISH LISTED products!

Newest product: I'm going to offer up my brand.spankin.new product that I just uploaded yesterday for just $0.75!  It's a Measurement game for reading rulers to the inch and half inch.  It'll be on sale for Tuesday and Wednesday.  Leave me some TpT lovin' too if you download it.

Most Wish Listed Product: Looking to get started with something new next year?  Student Led Conferences and Data Binders could be the thing.  This is originally $6 and will be on sale for $3 for today and tomorrow!  Enjoy! Enjoy! Enjoy!

78 pages for $3.00!

Okay, don't forget to go back to the Summer Lovin' link to see other bloggers and their discounted products!

Gotta run!

June Currently!!

And it's June!  Every month I ask myself, "how did that happen?!"  I'm joining up with FarleyFarleyFarley for her June Currently!  And by the way, peeps, this is probably the longest lasting (and most successful) linky EVER!  I don't even know when she started, but talk about building up a reputation for a linky.  Farley totally deserves it, too!

1. This is my trashy outlet for a sometimes stressful life.  I admit, it's total trash, but I can't deny my enjoyment of it!

2. LOVING - so I left my old school two years, and I hate that I don't get to see those kiddos anymore. This past week, though, some of them wrote letters to me as they were "graduating" from elementary school.  Although I'm sure this was an assignment, it was still awesome!  The things they remember about my class are hysterical.

**Yes, I cried on the last day because I was leaving this class and a great school! Oh, and we did a dance to Dynamite every time the class did Dynamite on something.  

 3. THINKING...I don't know what it is about being able to lay out the towel and swimsuit from my baby's first swim, but it makes me feel American in some way.  I love looking out there and thinking of his smiles in the pool.

4. We love sitting on our back porch.  I wish there was a TV out there so we could watch our favorite shows and still enjoy being outdoors.

5. Maybe it's the maternity clothes that I'm packing up that make me want a new wardrobe, but my summer clothes are lacking big time!  Wish I could go buy some clothes, but I think I might go overboard.

6. Summer Bucket List - mostly self explanatory, but I have some books I want to read for school.
 • Teaching with Tablets - school book study and easy, short read!

 • Essential Questions - follow up to our study of Understanding by Design

 •  My NCTM magazines...they have great articles, I just never have time during the school year.

Alrighty, I gotta run!  Have a wonderful week!

Diggin' into Next Year: Classroom Organization

Well, our school year ends on Wednesday, and as we all reflect on this school year, we get ready to ramp up and revise for next year.  Well, really, I've been thinking about this since March when I went on maternity leave!  So to help everyone in bloggy world, I'm participating in a Linky party all summer long to reflect on different parts of the school day!

...organize different items!  Now, my role has changed a bit in the last few years, but I'm going to share some organizing things I did when I was teaching and then what I plan to do now that I have an office rather than a classroom.  

A couple of years ago, I realized that my math supplies needed a MAJOR overhaul!  We were changing math programs, so I was able to keep my old supplies, but I had received a lot of new manipulatives and materials to use with our new series.  So what did I do?  I took EVERYTHING out of my cabinets and began organizing by topic. It did not make any sense for me to have globes next to my place value mats.  I know this sounds pretty obvious, but I had just started putting things in my cabinets when I started teaching because I didn't have much.  After five years, I had really ramped up how much I had (as well as accumulating some supplies from a teacher who retired).  It was time for some organizing.  I took a day, went into school in workout clothes, turned up the tunes, grabbed a large Dr. Pepper on the way in, and got to work.  

    *Freak out mode started here...when I realized just how much stuff I had and it was all over my room!

 **But I didn't give up.  I was surprised at how many bins I already had after cleaning everything out.  Although I really wanted to buy matchy matchy bins, I figured it was probably a waste of money.  But, oh my, it was SO much easier to find everything and to remember what I actually had for each topic.  It was all in one place, and if other people needed things, I felt MUCH better about opening my doors and being able to find it right away.

So now that I've been in my admin. position for a couple of years, I feel like I actually know what I need to access on a daily basis and how things should be organized for efficiency purposes.  So, I'm starting with my files this summer!  When I first started I would realize the need for a new file folder, make it, and shove it in front of the rest of my files.  This summer, things will go from manilla to color coded, and from scrambled to alphabetized!  I. can't. wait.  This will make things so much easier, and will also help when I need to add files because I'll know where to put it.  

** This is going to be an empty space, because my office needs a total makeover this summer!  I'm not committing to anything staying the same other than the furniture. :)

*Here's a picture of all of the blogs participating in the Diggin' Into Next Year Linky!  Head over to join in on the fun and see how everyone else is organizing, or reorganizing, next year!

Mayhem! It's Currently Time then...

Happy Friday to all!  Although it's a bit gloomy here in Indy, it's still Friday!  Can you believe it's May already?  May is always a great month...dad's birthday, Mother's Day (my 1st!), flowers blooming, and the Indy 500!  The month of May is jam packed with great things, and I love it!  To get the month started off right, here is my May Currently from Farley's Linky.

Listening: One of the many perks of staying home with my baby is getting to watch The Today Show! I just love it!

Loving:  Our weather has been pretty hit or miss, but 80 degrees is coming our way!  Can't. Wait!

Thinking: I'm not going to lie...I really enjoy staying in my PJs while at home with my baby!  It is so much fun to stare at him, play with him, and know that I can do it all in my pajamas!

Wanting: I hate cleaning the bathrooms in my house!  I don't know why, because I just love it when I actually do get around to it, but there is minimal motivation to actually do it on a regular basis.  A magic wand would be awesome!

Needing: I haven't had a Frap from Starbucks in over a year and for some reason it's calling my name today!  Friday treat?  I think so!

Surprise: I've had two good friends who have been blogging and TpT motivators for me, and I'm so lucky to call them both friends!  

Krista now lives in California with her family and is Super Mom, Super Blogger, Super everything!  Check her out at Teaching Momster!

Amanda is a dear friend of mine who lives in the Chicagoland area and is a sorority sister of mine.  She writes Learning to the 

On a separate note, I've been working on some 1st grade common core math games this week!  Check out these two at my TpT store.  More to come next week too!  Any specific games you would like to see as you review/wrap up your year? Any grade, any topic.

 

 

Alrighty, well I gotta run!  Have a great weekend!