Math Key Word Group Project

Posted on August 26, 2013 by Squarehead Teachers

I recently posted my addition and subtraction key words posters. Then I saw this in one upper grade teacher’s room and had an idea for a group project to review these concepts at the beginning of the year.

Pass out a large sheet of paper to groups of 2-4 students. Then have them create a poster that shows what key words are associated with each of the 4 basic math operations: addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Then post them on the wall as a reminder throughout the year. If you don’t have enough space to display them all, designate one spot for a poster and rotate through them throughout the year. When you switch posters to display a new group’s poster, have the group members review the key words with the whole class.

Kindergarten Sight Words List (Updated)

Posted on August 24, 2013 by Squarehead Teachers

Here’s my list of kindergarten sight words. They’re organized by month of the school year, and each month includes a color word to focus on. This would also be a great list of words to start working on with your preschooler if you’re looking to get a jump on literacy!

Click here for the free printable PDF: Kinder Sight Words by Month

kindergarten sight words by month

Like what you see? Tell your friends about this blog and check out my TPT store!

Top 10 Things New Teachers Should Know

Posted on August 19, 2013 by Squarehead Teachers

New teachers are often overwhelmed at the insane amount of things to balance and teach effectively. Here’s an article by Catherine Wilcoxson, Ph.D. of Northern Arizona University that helps new teachers stay focused on the important things.

Here are the main ideas:

Don’t worry so much about doing the right thing.
Relax.
Teaching is hard work.
Standards cannot be ignored and should not be feared.
Write objectives that focus on student learning, not on today’s task.
Smile, and do so frequently
Respect your students.
Believe in your students even if they don’t believe in themselves.
Don’t isolate yourself.
It is not appropriate to teach the way we were taught

The whole article is a good read. It’ll take you 10 minutes or less to read, but it’s worth the time. Dr. Wilcoxson’s conclusion is that, “Effective teachers are constantly learning from their successes and failures. To be effective, teachers must look back on their practices and assess what works well, what doesn’t, and how they might improve as teachers. Keeping a journal is an excellent means of keeping track of your performance, and it can provide valuable information for your own professional development.”

Desk Fairy Printables (Free!)

Posted on August 12, 2013 by Squarehead Teachers

I don’t know about you, but I definitely don’t have the funding for even half of what’s in those teaching materials catalogues. But I saw this idea and wanted one for my classroom, so I just made my own (and I’m sharing it with you)! First print the poster (regular size printer paper) and put it up on your wall. Then print off and copy the desk fairy notes (color or black and white) and be ready to pass them out as you catch kids with clean desks. You could assign one student to be the desk fairy as their classroom job or just have pass out notes while kids are out of the classroom. Some teachers let their students turn in a desk fairy notes for a prize, special privilege or as an entry in a classroom drawing. Let me know if you try this. I’d love to hear how it works in your classroom!

PDFs here: Desk Fairy Poster Desk fairy notes- bw Desk fairy notes- color

Basic Math Strategies (Review Packet for Parents)

Posted on August 11, 2013 by Squarehead Teachers

This is a great 4 page math handout for back to school night so parents have a quick refresher about what your students are learning. This small packet covers addition and subtraction, so it’s perfect for lower grades.

Here are the addition strategies the packet reviews: break apart, rounding, tens and ones, tens and ones with an open number line, hundreds chart and friendly number with open number line.

Here’s what it covers with regard to subtraction: break apart, tens and ones with an open number line, hundreds chart and a few strategies for missing addends.

Happy new school year!

Click here for the PDF: Landscape of Learning- Math Strategies (2)

Birthdays At School

Posted on August 10, 2013 by Squarehead Teachers

Let me just say this: I’m not really into all the frilly-dilly stuff some teachers are into. In my 6th grade class, we don’t do show and tell, student of the week posters, etc. I just have more important things to worry about. Judge me if you want, but that’s the reality here.

Birthdays fall into that frilly-dilly category for me, especially with older students. So to cut to the chase, I do pretty much bare minimum (which is more than they’ll get in junior high, that’s for sure). Before school started, I printed off a bunch of birthday cards and put them in unsealed envelopes. These cards also double as a homework pass for 1 nightly homework assignment, since that’s really what my students (and parents) would prefer to a sticker or a pencil. I leave the envelopes in my desk drawer and can pull them out at a second’s notice, write the student’s name on the card/ envelope and hand it to them. I put their birthdays into a reminder on my computer, so it pops up the morning of their birthday so I can write be prepared.

Here are my birthday cards from the teacher for you to use. One version mentions the coupon, the other doesn’t. Click here: Birthday Card Coupons or here: Birthday Cards

But what do you do to celebrate the birthday in class, you ask? They stand on their chair so we can sing them happy birthday and life goes on. For students whose birthdays are during the summer, I came up with what I think is a GENIUS plan… At the beginning of the year, I told my class that all summer birthdays would be celebrated on the day we have Halloween festivities at school. This way, we combine all distractions into one day, have a huge party (where birthday kids can pass out goodies during the party) and we sing to all of them at once while they’re standing on their chairs. The kids seemed pretty jazzed about it and didn’t even seem to notice that they were sharing a day with other kids.

Click here to read about a teacher who did something similar.

Supplies for Today’s Project (UPDATED)

Posted on August 7, 2013 by Squarehead Teachers

I recently was this in a kindergarten classroom and was blown away by this simple, but genius idea! The teacher had clip art of commonly used classroom supplies attached to the board with a magnet. When it was time for a project, she’d move the magnets of the necessary supplies to the center of the board for her students to get out. This way, she visually reinforces what she says and doesn’t have to repeat herself!

I made some for you, so just print out my Supplies for Today’s Project PRINTABLE, cut out and laminate each piece and add a magnet. Then you’ll be genius too!

First Day of School Classroom Scavenger Hunt UPDATED

Posted on August 6, 2013 by Squarehead Teachers

Classroom scavenger hunt Here’s a great first day of school activity to help kids get familiarized with your classroom. This also provides you an opportunity to talk about things you’d like students to know but might otherwise forget to talk about. Review answers at the end of the activity just in case anybody missed something. Enjoy!