Skip Counting with Pictures

Posted on August 15, 2019 by Squarehead Teachers

Check out this awesome idea for practicing skip counting or number sequencing. Put the picture together by putting the sequence in the right order. You can do this with any picture, but the ones we used were from a calendar. Here are the steps (steps 1 and 2 can be done in either order, but this is probably the best):

Step 1: Put numbers on the bottom of your picture. We put them on dot stickers first so we could easily tell which belonged to each set (example – yellow dots all belong to the same set). You could just write them on the bottom with a permanent marker if you wanted to be faster. Just make sure they’re easy to see against your picture.

Step 2: Laminate your picture. This step is sometimes so annoying, but it will definitely help your project will last longer!

Step 3: Cut your picture into strips, making sure there’s only one number on each strip.

Step 4: Enjoy! This makes a good “fast-finisher” activity, since it is still kind of fun. Depending on the size of your finished picture, you can store them in baggies or envelopes. I recommend writing the number of pieces on the outside of your container.

Here are some skip counting ones we made:

Then we got tricky and did a few with fractions. Here’s one of them:

Click here to check out some other number sequencing stuff:
Before, Between, After – Numbers Worksheet
Holiday Number Sequences Worksheet

Summary Graphic Organizer

Posted on August 10, 2019 by Squarehead Teachers

Welcome back, teachers! How is it the 2019-2020 school year already?! Mind. Blown.

Anyway, here’s your first freebie of the year: a summarizing graphic organizer! This is often referred to as the “somebody wanted but so then” style of summarizing a story. Enjoy!

Click here to download the PDF: Summary graphic organizer PDF

Connor the Cutter – Character Building (Book Discussion Guide)

Posted on May 24, 2019 by Squarehead Teachers

This post contains affiliate links.

I’ve been working on this for a while and I’m SUPER excited to share it with you!

I’ve discovered a new book series that is focused on character building. It’s called, Connor the Courageous Cutter. So far, there are 3 books in the series, but I’m hoping they’ll make more!

The first book is called Saving Sarah. I’ve recently become friends with one of the authors. Here’s his summary of the book:

Join Connor the Courageous Cutter in his first adventure in beautiful Serendipity Sound. When Sarah the Schooner gets caught in a storm, panic riddles the sound. Who will heed the Harbor Master’s call and save her?

This book is just exploding with character building/morality topics! I just HAD to make a discussion guide for you. Here are some of the topics I found in the story:

courage (DUH!)
pride
acceptance of others/diversity
obeying the rules
what makes someone valuable

…and the list goes on (I even found ideas for a more inspirational discussion if you want!)

Click here to download the discussion guide: Connor the Courageous Cutter – Book 1 Discussion Guide

Grab a copy of the books for yourself by clicking the pictures below:

There’s also a free coloring page (CLICK HERE!) you can grab from the author’s website. I’ve also started following the Courageous Crew on Facebook and Twitter.

P.S. If you’re wondering what a “cutter” is, here’s your answer: United States Coast Guard Cutter is the term used by the U.S. Coast Guard for its commissioned vessels that are longer than 65 feet and have a permanently assigned crew with accommodations aboard. For more kid-friendly info about the Coast Guard, check out this free downloadable coloring book I found a few months ago!

Best Vocab-Building Book: Fancy Nancy

Posted on May 14, 2019 by Squarehead Teachers

I’m obsessed with kids books… especially picture books. I have heard about Fancy Nancy (by Jane O’Connor) for a few years now, but I recently “tested them out” and read through a few of them.

OH. MY. WORD.

They’re awesome! Not only are the illustrations adorable, but the voice in them is full of fun personality, AAAAAND she uses awesome vocabulary! So, now my toddler has been going around calling purple “fuchsia” and cupcakes “delectable”. (Yeah, what kid under 3 has THAT kind of vocabulary?! Thank you, Fancy Nancy!) Here’s an example:

Most of the beginning reader books have a page of “fancy words” in them. My toddler insists on reading this page too (because it has a cute illustration?) so we get a vocab review at the end of the story and I don’t even have to ask for it! WIN WIN!

Click here to grab a copy for your classroom (and get started expanding your students’ vocabulary without even trying!):

(This is the one I took pictures of above!)

(This is the original Fancy Nancy book.)

Google Voice Typing Tool

Posted on March 4, 2019 by Squarehead Teachers

Google has a tool that will turn your spoken dialogue into written text on Google tools. This can help ALL grade levels.

Ways to Use this Tool:

– ESL Students who can speak English (not write) can communicate in a written way

– Anecdotal note-taking for behavior tracking

– Record student’s spoken explanations

How it Works:

Open a document in Google Docs.

Click the “Tools” button: Voice typing. …

When you’re ready to speak, click the microphone that pops up on the left side of the page. Speak clearly, at a normal volume and pace.

To end the voice typing, simply click on the red microphone again.

Here’s an article explaining more (and image source).

Don’t Eat Pete Board – St. Patrick’s Day

Posted on March 1, 2019 by Squarehead Teachers

I’m pretty fond of this new Don’t Eat Pete board (updating my collection here!). I think it turned out nicely, so I wanted to share with you! Perfect for any St. Patrick’s Day party, this would work perfect with Lucky Charm cereal or rainbow Skittles for the treats!

Click here to download the PDF: Dont Eat Pete Board – St Patricks Day

Here’s how to play Don’t Eat Pete:

3 – 10 kids sit around the game board. The adult or moderator puts a small treat (M & M, chocolate chip, Cheerio, or whatever) on each number. The “guesser” leaves the area so they can’t see or hear what’s going on. Another person points to a number to choose “Pete”. The “guesser” comes back and starts taking the M & M’s (or whatever) off the board and gets to eat them. When the guesser touches “Pete”, everyone yells, “Don’t Eat Pete!!” and the guesser’s turn is over. The guesser eats the last one he got called out on to keep it sanitary!

Click here to see my other Don’t Eat Pete posts!

Adjectives Review (3rd Grade)

Posted on February 27, 2019 by Squarehead Teachers

This is a quick worksheet I have used with my third graders for a review of adjectives. I use this as one of my quick reviews when my kids come in from lunch or special area classes to help them quickly focus and be ready for our next activity. I put it on their desk before they come back in the classroom, so they know to quickly get to work. I’ve put two copies on a page so you can use half the paper.

Click here to download the free PDF: Adjective review – Little Red Riding Hood

Click here to view more grammar freebies!

Don’t Eat Pete – Most-Requested Kid Game in My Classroom!

Posted on February 16, 2019 by Squarehead Teachers

This game has been a classic in my classroom, so it’s worth talking about again. I have used Don’t Eat Pete for holiday parties for years. I change the “game board” to fit the holiday with stickers or cutouts. It takes about 5 minutes to make. Get a colored piece of paper. Mentally divide the paper in 9 squares – 3 rows and 3 columns. Put a sticker or cutout in each “square”. Number the stickers or cutouts 1 to 9. Laminate it if you want it to last, or put it in a sheet protector. Now you are ready to play. 3 – 10 kids sit around the game board. The adult or moderator puts an M & M, chocolate chip, Cheerio, or whatever on each sticker. the “guesser” leaves the area. Another person points to a number. That number is “Pete”. The “guesser” comes back and starts taking the M & M’s (or Cheerios, or whatever) off the board and gets to eat them. When the guesser touches “Pete”, everyone yells, “Don’t Eat Pete” and the guesser’s turn is over. The guesser eats the last one he got called out on to keep it sanitary! My kids request this activity every party! My own kids at home have loved this too!

Here’s a photo of the Valentine’s Day one I have. As you can see, it doesn’t have to be crazy fancy or “Pinterest worthy” to be super fun.