Super Teacher Worksheets!

Just wanted to send a shout out to one of my favorite websites! I LOVE www.superteacherworksheets.com! I've used them twice recently for special projects.

Project #1 - I'm getting ready to do my 1st math test of the year on place value. I went to this website looking for some extra worksheets to use for practice and review. I downloaded 8 different worksheets on place value and decimals. Then, I used the copy machine to do a pamphlet copy (I shrunk each page down to 64%). It comes out in an nice little program-looking book . It only takes 2 sheets of paper per students instead of 8, and my students don't feel as overwhelmed, because it doesn't look like too much work.

Here's how to do the pamphlet copy on the machines at our school.

 1st select special modes.

Then select pamphlet copy.

Project #2 - I had a student who I noticed was struggling with subtraction with regrouping. I sent a note home to her mom to let her know that we were working on it and wondered if mom could also help out at home. The next day her mom asked for some extra practice pages so they can work on it. I quickly found a couple pages on Super Teacher Worksheets, printed them for her, and stapled them together. The best part is that each worksheet comes with an answer key! I folded the key in half and sent it home with her as well. Now she will be able to check her work after she's done. No waiting until the next day to see if she got them right or wrong.

Anyways, that's all. Just wanted to share this website with you all. Hope you find it as helpful as I do. :)

Management Monday: Teacher, what do I do now?

How many times a day do your students ask you what they should do when they're finished? A MILLION. :) You gotta love em' for not just sitting there doing nothing while they wait, but sometimes I just kinda REALLY don't want to hear "what can I do now?".

  I made these fast finisher cards to hang on my board after I explain each independent activity.



Click {HERE} to download these

When they finish the independent activity, I have them look at the board and see what I've posted. Then, they can grab that fast finisher and work on a meaningful activity while the rest of the students finish up. I always go through each activity separately at the beginning of the year and throughout the year. I GO OVER MY EXPECTATIONS. This part of it is super important.

Explanation for each fast finisher:

Read a book:  I have books in a bin right next to each table {so I don't have wandering kiddos} and they can choose a book from there {these are separate from their book boxes for Daily 5}.

Marker boards: I have marker boards {shower board bought and cut at Lowes}, erasers {wash cloths}, and markers on a shelf. They can also grab a bag of flash cards and write the words from their flash cards {or even spelling or sight words}.

Puzzles:  I bought tons of puzzles from the Dollar Store and my kiddos love doing them {I hardly ever let them do this one...only if the are REALLY good ;) }. I cut the top of the box off {with the picture}, stick them in a ziploc and call it GOOD! :)

File Folder Games:  Over the years I have made lots of file folder games. They aren't my favorite, but the kids love them.  You can find some {here} for free at Kindergarten, Kindergarten and {here} for sale at DJ Inkers.

ABC Games:  Our team has OODLES of Lakeshore ABC games. They are great...minus all of the dang.tiny.pieces I find ALL OVER! :)

100's chart: I have a class set of 100's charts that are in page protectors so the kiddos can write with dry-erase markers on them.  You can grab my free 100's chart {here}.

Fast Finisher Folder:  I haven't quite made these, but I'm going to for sure!  Teacher Tipster is the one who introduced me to them and you can see that video {here}.

Math Game:  You know ALL of those fun math games you've been laminating, cutting, and putting in a million ziplocs?  You know....the ones you got from all of the fabulous blogs out there? USE THEM! :)

What else do you have your kiddos do for fast finishers {I'd love to get more ideas!!!!!}?

Clipart &/or fonts copyright DJ INKERS

Images copyright Thistle Girl Designs

Constitution Day!

I hope everyone is already planning on celebrating Constitution Day this Friday! I've been making plans of my own and I thought I'd share some of these plans with you.

My first BIG plan....

My friend's husband is currently serving overseas and is organizing some service projects for the troops. This includes sending care packages and such, but it also includes making quilts and sending them to soldiers in need. She is going to come in on Friday and bring a quilt that someone else has sewn and my class is going to tie it! I thought, what better way to show respect for our Constitution than to do service for those who are defending it!

Other plans include:

• Using one of the graphic organizers from my tpt store to teach about the different parts of the Constitution. 

(Here's a free copy of this page for you!!)

• Showing one of my favorite School House Rock music videos: The Preamble!

(Along with this, I always have my students memorize the Preamble as well!)

• I've already made copies of this Constitution crossword puzzle:

(Source: http://www.constitutionday.cc/)

This does look like a challenging puzzle. I'm thinking I'll let my students use our social studies textbook (that also has a copy of the entire Constitution in the back) to help them look for answers. That way it will make it more of an information scavenger hunt.

• And, if I have time, I thought it would be fun to do an art project. The website above, (http://www.constitutionday.cc/) is also hosting a Constitution Day poster contest. It might be fun to let students use their creativity and come up with some fun patriotic designs for the contest.

What are your plans for Constitution Day?

Management Monday: Handwriting

I don't really know if handwriting is a topic to be talked about on Management Monday, 

but I can make it a stretch, right?

At the beginning of the year, I like to practice handwriting lots and lots {and all year long!}. They have to know my expectations. I make sure that they know how to properly form each and every letter. After they've got that down, I give them some independent practice as fast finishers.


This is how I teach letter formation using handwriting lines {click here to download}:

I laminate this one and have them practice letters while using dry erase markers:

{Click the picture to download}

I copy this one and have it on hand as a fast finisher. They can practice memorizing their color words and handwriting {I have them color the pictures too}.

{Click the picture to download}

I teach them this "b and d song" from Mrs. Stamp for FREE on TpT. :)

{click the picture to go to Mrs. Stamp's TpT}

You might have seen this from a post wayyy back:

I have a little sneaky motivator in my classroom that I use to help the students with their handwriting.  If I notice that they do a great job and they are really working on forming the letters correctly and taking their time, I will give one student a "Neat Treat"--Well, I actually don't give it to them, I leave it on their desk and the note says that it is from the Handwriting Fairy.  The Handwriting Fairy leaves the neat treat on their desk and the student finds it when they come to school the next day. And the crazy thing is...Mrs. Smith didn't even see a thing! They love getting a treat, especially when it's from a fairy! It's an automatic motivator!

I put the treat on their desk along with some "fairy dust".

You can get the handwriting fairy tags and MORE in this packet....