The Magical Product Swap - Round 4!

I am so excited to be participating in Jessica Stanford's 4th Magical Product Swap.  I always look forward to participating in this blogging event because it gives me the chance to peek into someone else's store, and try out some great, new teaching materials with my students.

So, happily enough, I was paired again with my "Swap Friends" Katie and Lisen from Second Grade Smartypants.  You might remember that last time,  I had the pleasure of reviewing their Fourteen Common Core Math Games for Second Grade. (Loved it!) Well, these ladies could not be any sweeter, and every time I go back to their store, they have even more wonderful items, especially if you are looking for things aligned to the Common Core.  They also have a great blog for you to follow. 

This time, I chose to review their Common Core Second Grade Language Arts and Math Homework-4th Quarter Bundle, and I have to say that I love this bundle! Here's why:

First of all, this set contains 10 weeks of Common Core Language Arts and Math work that can be used for homework or morning work. (I choose to use this as daily classwork because our homework routine is pretty much set.)  Each week contains 4 days of work. There is a half sheet of math, and a half sheet of Language Arts work for each day.  But, get this, my kids loved it so much that they demanded a full sheet after Day 1!  So, to please them, and to make sure we got the full flavor of the activities within this bundle, I copied a full sheet of math on one side,and a full side of Language Arts on other. 

We normally did the Language Arts in the morning after our SIPPS Rotations.  Some of the activities included editing sentences, looking at spelling patterns, alphabetical order, synonyms, antonyms, author's purpose...and my favorite, and the most timely, inferring practice!  This really could not have worked out better if I had created this product myself.  Katie and Lisen included some short, scenarios/stories with lots of great text clues. The stories were designed carefully, so that they included common/familiar topics, allowing kids to really use their schema to make their inference.  You can see that my students highlighted the text clues in each story, as well.  My students felt super successful with this new skill using Katie and Lisen's product.  Yay!

After lunch, the kids and I would work on the math side of the sheet.  Math topics for this bundle included fractions, graphing, multiplication, measurement, and division.  Once again, impeccable timing as we prepare for our state assessment in about a week!  EEK!  

I loved that the graphing sheets used phrasing that my students will see on the test like, "How many more..."  Oh, that one can get so tricky!  I also appreciated that not only do the sheets provide great practice, but especially in the case of the multiplication and division sheets, really focused on revealing students' conceptual understanding.  LOVE!

I know you will appreciate their attention to detail, as they have provided a list of the Common Core Standards addressed for each day, Answer Keys for each sheet, and covers for a common core language arts homework book or morning work book. I already have my next week's packets ready to go for Monday!

This is a very practical and easy to use product.  Better yet, Katie and Lisen have the same bundle available for the other three quarters, too.  You can find them in their TPT store, HERE.  

If you are a new visitor to my blog, I hope you will consider following me.  You can also stay connected by liking my Facebook page, HERE!

Ok, I am stepping down now.  Don't forget to stop by their blog, and check out their review of my Multiplication - Circles and "Spring Things" Practice Book. You can click on the product cover below to check it out!

Click on the button below to check out some other great product reviews.

Happy Saturday!

Magical Product Swap Part 3

Hi Everyone,  I am still enjoying my Christmas break for a few more days, and actually feeling antsy to get back to work this Tuesday.  

I have been staying pretty busy though, and I am so excited to be participating in Jessica Stanford's 3rd Magical Product Swap.  I had so much fun the first two times, that I jumped at the chance to play along again.

This time around I had the pleasure of reviewing Fourteen Common Core Math Games for Second Grade made by Katie and Lisen from Second Grade Smartypants.  These ladies are so sweet, and their store is packed full of wonderful items, especially if you are looking for things aligned to the Common Core.  Take a look for yourself by clicking the images below.  Psst:  It is 20% off right now in their store! (1/12/13-1/13/13)

So, as seems to happen every time there is a Magical Product Swap, I have not been in the classroom.   Before we went on break, I did have a chance to play all of the "I Have, Who Has" games included in this packet, and my students absolutely loved them!  They are well organized and provide meaningful, yet fun, practice.  If you have not tried this game, I recommend you give it a shot.  Just remember,  it takes practice for it to go smoothly.  In this packet, you will get five 24-card game sets to practice easy addition, mixed addition and subtraction, and reading number words up to 1,000.

The only other game that we had time to practice (darn those end of the term benchmark tests) was a game called "Mind Reader".  This game was sooooo much fun, and perfect for my kids the last week before Christmas Vacation (read: kids bouncing off the walls, here).  My kids asked for it over and over again.  We ended up using it as a warm-up for our math block.  This game really gets into developing students' number fluency and number sense.  In this game, two students hold a number card 1-12 (they have a really cute little popcorn bucket graphic in the packet) to their forehead.  They stand together  in the front of the class, and the other students  tell them what the sum or difference of their two numbers is.  The students with the numbers then use this information to try to surmise what their mystery number is.

I am excited to continue introducing my students to the other games included in this great packet. However, it would not be a Magical Product Swap if I did not enlist the help of my own favorite second grader.  My son!  So, I let him pick which game he wanted to play at home.  He chose "Batter Up," which provides practice with adding with regrouping and place value.  For this game, all you need is a deck of cards and a recording sheet (found in the packet).

Now, this was supposed to be a mommy and son production.  But, big sis saw us having so much fun that she decided she wanted to play, too.  This was great because it allowed me to be the "photojournalist".


First, each player picks cards from the pile.

Then, each players make the two largest numbers they can with their four cards. 

They add their numbers together.  My son used the back of his recording sheet for scratch paper since he had to regroup.  The player with the largest sum scores a point.

 Whoever has the most points by the end of the ninth inning wins!

This game is worth its weight in gold as far as I am concerned.  My kids actually played this for a whole 20 minutes without fighting. Yeah!

Even our dog, Jack, got in on the fun.

This packet is absolutely wonderful.  There are so many fun games to play that will deepen your students' understanding of place value, number sense, and addition and subtraction.  They are aligned with Common Core standards, and if you visit Second Grade Smartypants right now, I hear they are using Rafflecopter to give one away to one lucky person!

If you go to their blog at Second Grade Smartypants you can also check out their review of my Place Value Around the Room packet.

Also, make sure you check out all the other fabulous educators who are participating in "the Swap" by visiting Jessica's Blog (link below).

Have a great weekend,

The Magical Product Swap II and a Giveaway!

I had so much fun during the last Product Swap, that when I heard that Jessica at Mrs. Stanford's Class was holding another one, I jumped at the chance to participate.

This time, I was partnered up with Patricia from 2nd in Line.  Funny enough, we both chose math items from each other's store.  Great minds think alike. I love teaching math!

I chose Patricia's "Place Value Cups" packet.  Click on the image below to learn more about this fun, and adorable item that uses Digi-Web clip art.

Now, I have been on Fall Break for the last two weeks, so I was not able to use this in my classroom.  However, I have my very own second grader at home.  My son!  We'll just call him "Maximilian" for this post.  This is the name my husband originally wanted to give our son.  So, he will finally get his wish. So, I put this product to the test with my very own, special "student," Max.

In this activity, students are asked to look at a number.  One of the digits in the number has been underlined.  The student has to write the value of that number based on its place value.  Patty has provided some support for students by providing a multiple-choice format.  I love differentiated materials!

Some of the things I liked about Patty's product were that it can be used as a center or "Scoot" game.  Max used it as a center.  At first, I have to admit, I was afraid he would be turned off by the pretty colors.  But, I was wrong.  Max is obviously very secure with his masculinity, and had no qualms about diving right into this fun center.

This activity has 24 cards and covers the ones, tens, hundreds, and thousands place.  This makes it most appropriate for students in 2nd-4th grade.  Like I said before, Max is currently in second grade, and is a very good math student, if I may say (read "proud mama" here). He liked the challenge of the larger numbers.  

Better yet, it is self-checking!  Yes!  That means 27 less papers for me to have to correct.

Max was proud to achieve 100% on this activity.  He checked each one!

This "Place Value Cups" Place Value Identification activity was a hit.  I bet your students will love it as well.  

The best news yet is that Patty just informed me today that this packet is now on sale!  So, hurry over right now to purchase your own copy!  HERE!

Patricia is reviewing my popular 3-D Shapes Flip Book.  If you are interested, you can learn more about Patricia and my flip book by going to her blog at 2nd in Line.  I am also happy to announce my very first Giveaway!  I am giving away a copy of the "3-D Shape Flip Book" to three lucky winners.  The Giveaway runs until this Wednesday.  Enter using the Rafflecopter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Ciao,

Nicole

A Freebie, a Giveaway, and I am not Apologizing!

So do you have friends where you can go weeks or months without seeing or even talking to them?  But, when you come back together, it is like no time has passed at all.  No one needs to say "sorry," or feel bad for not having picked up the phone.  Each of you understands the other, and you're just so happy to reunite, that it doesn't even matter. 

This scenario describes my current relationship status with my blog.  I don't have to apologize.  I know she understands that I have been through "Back-to-School Hell  Week" TIMES SIX.  She welcomes me with open arms, as I begin to write for the first time in almost a month.  Maybe we will get mani-pedis after...hee, hee.

I hope everyone is having a great 2012-2013 school year. I can finally say, I am loving my class, and am hopeful that we will have a very productive year.  (Can I just say, I love where this post is going.  It sounds so positive, and upbeat.  Maybe I am becoming less cynical with age.  Or, maybe it's the fact that yesterday was the last day of school, and I am looking straight into the eyes of two weeks of Fall Break heaven.  Woo, hoo!)

Nonetheless, without making any false promises to my blog or my fabulous followers.  I am hopeful that I will be able to share a little bit about my BTS journey with you, and what I have been up to.

But for today,  a small celebration.  

First, I have a small freebie to share with you.  Mel over at Graphics From the Pond was generous enough to offer some cute ghost clip art to myself and others.  In class, we were working on place value up until yesterday.  I anticipate that we will continue on with that after we return from the break, and through the end of October.  So, I made a couple of Comparing Numbers worksheets using those adorable little ghosts.  

Click on the images below to download your copy, and then click Mel's Linky Party button to check out some other "ghostly" ideas and freebies.

If you are working on place value, like myself.  I just posted a brand new, fun activity to my store.  It's called "Place Value Around the Room".  This activity is great for those kids who can't stay in one place!  It covers ones, tens, and hundreds and features a cute transportation theme. It can be used several times throughout the year as I have broken it up by tens and ones, hundreds/tens/ones, and complete review.  It also includes directions for making the activity a center in your classroom.  This product is aligned to Common Core Standard 2NBT.3.  Click on one of the images below to purchase your own copy.

Finally,  Olivia over at Liv to Teach is celebrating 500 followers at her Tpt store with a fantastically fun Giveaway!  She has over 42 products up for grabs for one lucky winner.  I have donated my "I Have, Who Has? - Segmenting and Blending Short Vowels Bundle".  

Click on her button below to enter, and see what other amazing products are being offered.

Well, it's been just like old times. 

Nicole

Magical Product Swap- Presenting Aimee Salazar

Today, I am so excited to be participating in Jessica Stanford's Magical Product Swap.

  

Through the Swap, I was lucky enough to meet the wonderful mother, blogger, and teacher, Aimee Salazar.  Aimee is a die-hard crafter, and mom to a beautiful 3 year old daughter.  She is married to her high school sweetheart (so cool), and loves teaching second grade.  This will be her 8th year at second grade and she loves teaching this age group because they are eager to learn, and independent, but still sweet.

Aimee was kind enough to let me pick anything I wanted in her store.  Talk about a kid in a candy store.  In the end, I chose her Fun with Ten Frames! workbook, available in her TPT store.  This workbook is aligned with the Common Core Standards for Operations and Algebraic Thinking 2.0a.1 (Represent and solve problems involving addition and subtraction) and 2.0a.2 (Add and Subtract within 20).   

I chose this workbook because every year, I am always astonished at how many of my students have such a poor sense of numbers.  I could just pull my hair out when I see a 7 year old child who still has to count all five fingers on their hand (using their chin, mind you) to count to five!  Aaaaghhh!  Five!  Five!  You have five fingers on each hand!.....whew....sorry about that....

Anyway, I thought I could really improve my students' number sense with the materials that are included in this workbook.  Here is a pic of how I used the materials available in this download.

The workbook consists of three parts: 

Part One has students identifying numbers represented as ten frames.  Aimee also included a set of large ten frame cards for whole/small group practice!  She is so clever.

First, we used the large ten frame cards (#1-10) and our two-sided counters.  We placed a counter on each circle, and counted out loud and then wrote the number next to the frame.  

I also made flashcards out of the large ten frame cards.  I will use them to strengthen their sense of numbers/quantities and reinforce the strategy of "counting on".

I also cut up some of the larger quantity ten-frames to make flashcards for # 11-20.  We will practice these once the kids have mastered #1-10.

The workbook includes a place for students to write the number next to each ten frame from 0-20.

Part Two asks students to use ten frames to solve number sentences.

Here the students are given one addend in the frame, and the students draw in the remaining addend, to find the sum.  I love this part because it, once again, can be used to reinforce "counting on" and I can send it home for homework (no manipulatives needed!) or assign it as classwork.  

Finally, Part Three asks students to write number sentences based on ten frame models. 

This part is great as an intro into fact families which is another biggie for us in second grade.  Here, students are asked to write both an addition and subtraction number sentence for the ten-frame that is shown.

I am really excited to be using this packet with my new 2nd graders.  I really feel that these materials will help me develop stronger thinkers who have a firm grasp on numbers.  Once again, you can find this wonderful product, Fun with Ten Frames! workbook by clicking on the link.

Make sure you check out Aimee's great blog, Primarily Speaking, for some great ideas and tips! 

 

To find more great products created by Aimee, visit her Tpt store HERE.

Thanks again to Jessica Stanford and Aimee Salazar for all their creativity and generosity.  Don't forget to check out other product reviews by clicking on the Magical Product Swap button at the beginning of this post.

Until next time.