Fraction Action and Some FREE Love

Today we were wrapping up our fraction unit in class. I am shocked at how well the kids picked up on the concept of fractions! I tried to incorporate more hands on activities for the kids so they could have more ownership of their understanding. The kids were so excited to have fraction centers today.

This center, Order Up, really helped my students grasp the concept of ordering fractions from least to greatest and then greatest to least. They always want to put the fraction with the largest number denominator as the greatest fraction!! NO! NO! NO!  I think I did the crazy dance (pulling my hair and jumping up and down) when this happened while I was teaching. Today I was happy because my crazy outburst must have left an impression on them (good or bad) because they ROCKED this center. Totally and completely GOT IT! 

At this center, students created fractions based on the number of vowels in a word, compared to the total number of letters in the word. Then, they came up with their other foods and made fractions with them as well.

These were the fraction pizzas the kids created at the very beginning of the week to get them Eating Up the idea of learning fractions! These center ideas are in my TpT store: Fraction Frenzy: What's On Your Plate?

We also were able to get our Valentine bags decorated today! Oh boy, are the kids excited about Valentine's Day. I think the THOUGHT of Valentine's Day is just enough to start their sugar high craziness! 

I bought red lunch bags from Target and wrote their names on them. Then I gave them a bunch of foamy hearts and shapes and they went to town. I think I might add handles with ribbons tomorrow for extra leverage, but this is a great start! 

If you are still looking for a last minute filler idea for this week of fun. Check out my There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Rose Freebie.

It includes sequencing of the story events and a tally and graphing activity. If  you grab a copy I would love for you to let me know what you think of it. 

We all need LOVE, right? Well, my friend Aimee from Pencils, Books and Dirty Looks is having a 400 follower giveaway!! 

Some amazing bloggers have helped her out and there are a TON of free things to win! If you enter, you may get to choose anything from my little TpT store of your choice! Head on over and check it out. While you are there, make sure to give some love back and follow some of these wonderful bloggers and their stores if you don't already! Good luck!

Five for Friday Linky

I can't wait to say it.... Yep, it is that time of week again... FRIDAY!!!! Hip, Hip, Hurray for Friday!!! I am linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for this week's Five for Friday.

I can't say that I had a snow day like many others of you out there. However, we have had a wack-a-doodle week of weather. It started off sunny and in the high 70's and low 80's. I sent my boys to school is shorts. Today it is "freezing," in the 50's with scattered showers and a moment of hail!!! Talk about extreme weather! OK, enough with the weather report. Here is my week in review:

1. We continued celebrating football season and the Big Game with this little craftivity and writing assignment. 

2. We sequenced the story of There Was An Old Lady That Swallowed A Rose. The kids cut out the story elements and put them in order.

3. We worked on getting our room festive for Valentine's Day. We made a friendship letter mailbox area in our room. The kids each made a envelope and then all the kids wrote letters to one another throughout the week. They will read them on Valentine's Day. We also worked on reviewing compound words and contractions. Each student made a heart banner showcasing their word.

4. I finished up a little writing craftivity for St. Patty's day that is aligned to the common core standards. I can't wait to make these with my class. They are going to squeal with delight. You can find this little guy in my store: St. Patrick's Day Craftivity and Writing Prompts.

5. AND, I just ordered a bunch of new Dodger apparel for the hubs and I because my oldest just found out his Little League team will be the Dodgers this season. My husband is the manager, so we need to represent. Now I need to get a Marlins shirt to support my little guys team. When is Old Navy coming out with there MLB shirts??? I need me some baseball shirts....

Have a great weekend! Happy Friday!

Valentine Lovin'

We have kicked off this week with lots of LOVE! I just love the month of February!!! Between Groundhog Day, Valentine's Day, Presidents' Day and more, we have so much to celebrate. Yesterday we read the story There was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Rose. Then we practiced our sequencing skills. The kids were given the items the old lady swallowed in the story and needed to glue them in the correct order.

Then they chose there favorite item she swallowed and highlighted it by writing about the item and attaching it to the Old Lady. Don't ask me why, but I forgot to take pictures of they kids final products today. Here is the sample I used to model it for them, so you can get the idea.

You can grab this idea and more in my Old Lady Who Swallowed A Rose-Supplemental Literacy and Math ideas as well as my FREEBIE that goes with it!

Today, we worked on getting our room a bit more festive for Valentine's Day. We created a Friendship Letter mailbox center. Each student made an adorable envelope and wrote their name on it. Then throughout the week, they are going to write a short note to each classmate and put them in the envelopes. On Valentine's Day, we will take down the envelopes so each student can read the thoughtful words from their friends. 

We also worked on contractions and compound words today. We made heart banners to show our work. First, each student wrote one compound word and one contraction on their whiteboards. Then they needed to choose one contraction or compound word to showcase on their heart banner. 

We used plus signs and equal signs to show how the words were put together to make a new word.

Here are some of the finished products:

I have to give a big shout out to Aimee from Primarily Speaking for her amazing Valentine Fun Packet that had this idea in it, as well as our Valentine friendship letters.She also was kind enough to offer the heart patterns and plus and equal signs as a FREEBIE on her blog. Make sure to stop by her blog and TpT shop to grab your copies. Her ideas are wonderful!

February Currently

I am linking up with Farley for this month's Currently! Seriously??? We are already in month 2 of 2013??? That's just crazy talk.... Where did the month go? Since it is officially February, here is my Currently.

1. Today was the only day the whole family could sleep in this weekend and we were all up at 6:45!! What??? Why??? No answer. So the hubs was my hero and went into the kitchen to fire up the espresso maker. And now I am a happy wifey with my liquid jolt!

2. Tonight the hubs and I get a night out with some dear friends of ours. Grandma is coming over to watch the kids and the parents are going out to play!! 

3.This weekend is PACKED! Between errands, birthday parties, baseball practice and the Super Bowl, I am not sure how we are going to fit it all in.

4. The weather has been so beautiful and warm the last couple of days. I woke up today and there are clouds. Grey, overcast clouds. Yuck! Bring on more sun.

5. I FINALLY have an appointment to get my hair done. Don't ask me why, but I always put off my hair appointment. It just seems so hard to set aside 2-3 hours on the weekend, so I always put it off as long as possible. I can't wait to get beautifide today.

6. People that aren't honest drive me c-r-a-z-y! Whether it is my own kids, my students or peers-just tell the truth PEOPLE! 

I am also having a SUPER sale in my TpT store Saturday and Sunday. Everything is 20% off. Myself along with many other amazing bloggers are joining this sale. So empty those wishlists into your shopping carts and save! 

Five for Friday {Linky Party}

                           I am linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for this week's Five for Friday!
                                       

I must say-WOW, what a week! We were busy, busy busy and accomplished a ton!

1. We continued learning about Lincoln and Washington. The kids made Washington and then wrote about what they would do if they were President. Believe it or not, many of them wanted to extend the school day so kids would be smarter!!Ha!

2. We had a little challenge of I SPY Presidential style in our class. The kids answered math  problems to help them review for our district test this week. You can grab your copy HERE.

3. We started our unit on fractions. The kids "made" pizzas. Then they wrote fractions to describe the fraction of each topping that was on their pizzas. This was a hit and "hooked" them into this unit. They are loving it. I taught them "third grade words" to describe fractions-numerator and denominator. Those kids think they are unstoppable now that they can use those words correctly!!! They crack me up!

4. I finished my Football Fanatics: Game Day Centers and Craftivity. We got started on these today in class and will continue using them next week.

5. This Sunday TpT is having a HUGE sale with a ton amazing bloggers participating! I will have everything in my store on sale for 20% off Saturday and Sunday! I am stocking up my cart with my wishlist items tonight so I am ready to go this weekend. 

Happy shopping! Have a great weekend!