Happy New Year! Happy New Common Core Math Resources!

I hope everyone has had a wonderful Christmas break!  My second graders took their mid-year Measures of Academic Progress test right before break and I was thrilled to see their growth!  The expected growth was .5 of an academic year, but many of my kiddos grew 2 whole years in one semester!  I attribute their wonderful progress to my "Common Core Math Practice to Mastery!" series!  And I've just posted the newest unit, which covers THREE standards in Numbers in Base Ten.  We are trucking right along with the goal of mastering ALL of the second grade math common core by the end of this academic year!

The new unit is available on my TpT site and my Teacher's Notebook site.  Check it out! 

Wishing you much success in the coming year!

Love,

The new unit is available on my TpT site, my Teacher's Notebook site or CLICK HERE to see how to get it for FREE!

Common Core Language: New Series, New Store!

WooHoo!  I'm proud to announce a new series I've begun and the first installment is ready for download!  I decided since my "Common Core Math Practice to Mastery!" series is doing so well that I'd dive into the Common Core language standards, too.  And so, "Common Core Language Practice to Mastery!" has been birthed. :) 

I've also opened a new store on Teachers' Notebook in addition to my Teachers pay Teachers site.  I hope you'll check them out and help your students master these tricky standards!

Teachers' Notebook Link  /  Teachers pay Teachers Link / or CLICK HERE to see how to get it for FREE!

New! Common Spelling

Introducing my new Common Spelling Program:  It uses the 1,000 most commonly used words in the English language across 5 levels.  Levels 1-3 are ready to go, with 5-6 coming soon.  I've used this method for years with great success!  You'll see your students' writing confidence increase as they master the words they need to use the most!  Click the images below to check out Common Spelling. :)

Download these new units at my TpT Store, my Teacher's Notebook Site OR CLICK HERE to see how to get one for FREE!

3.NBT.2 "Math Practice to Mastery!" Unit Now Available!

I'm trucking right along with my "Math Practice to Mastery!" series and have posted my first 3rd Grade unit!  Included are practice with 11 skills, a unit test and teacher "quick scoring" answer sheets. I am using these with my very own students with great success and hope you give it a try, too!  

Download this new unit at my  TpT store, my Teacher's Notebook Site OR CLICK HERE to see how to get it for FREE!

New Unit in the "Common Core Math Practice to Mastery!" Series!

The second unit in my "Common Core Math Practice to Mastery!" 2nd grade math curriculum is ready for download!  Since it uses the "Most Difficult First" method, it's really motivating for students.  And my students get enough practice with each skill to MASTER it!  This unit includes the 13 different skills in the 2.NBT.7 standard--adding and subtracting within 1000.  If you've mastered 2.NBT.5, try it out!

Click HERE to check this unit out at my TpT Store, my Teacher's Notebook Site or CLICK HERE to see how to get this unit for FREE!

Coyote Skull Bread

Interesting recipe: 7 pounds of all purpose flour, warm water, 1coyote (I think) skull--thanks to my wonderful husband, who knew I'd use it somehow. 

Bake at 400 degrees for I don't know how long--it's still not done! 

Okay, so I never intended to bake this concoction. I only meant to put the skull in plaster of paris so my students could excavate it tomorrow, but it didn't set up.  (Can you tell we are studying fossils?) So here I am, waiting for this giant loaf of bread with a skull inside to solidify. On the bright side, it does kind of look like the Black Hills of South Dakota!

Common Core "Math Practice to Mastery" is Here!

The first installment of my Common Core "Math Practice to Mastery!" is ready for download.  I decided to develop this program because I've been so disappointed with how the math program at my school just doesn't match up well with the new standards AND doesn't give my students enough practice to master skills. Each new concept has very few practice examples and the homework is spiraling. So, I've developed a program that will utilize the "Most Difficult First" method, where students who already have the skill mastered can become tutor leaders in your class and not have to do the repetitive practice that most learners need. Did you know that one standard can have several skills involved? 2.NBT.5 (Fluently add and subtract within 100 using strategies based on place value, properties of operations, and/or the relationship between addition and subtraction.) has 11 skills that must be mastered! 

2.NBT.5.C1 (Concept 1) Addition: 2-digit + 1-digit

2.NBT.5.C2 (Concept 2) Addition: Balance 2-digit equations
2.NBT.5.C3 (Concept 3) Addition: Input/Output 2-digit tables

2.NBT.5.C4 (Concept 4) Addition: Two 2-digit numbers

2.NBT.5.C5 (Concept 5) Mixed Operations: 2-digit numbers

2.NBT.5.C6 (Concept 6) Mixed Operations: Balance 2-digit equations

2.NBT.5.C7 (Concept 7) Mixed Operations: Compare 2-digit equations

2.NBT.5.C8 (Concept 8) Subtraction: 2-digit Input/Output tables

2.NBT.5.C9 (Concept 9) Subtraction: 2-digit with 1-digit

2.NBT.5.C10 (Concept 10) Subtraction: Balance 2-digit equations

2.NBT.5.C11 (Concept 11) Subtraction: Two 2-digit numbers

My program includes significant practice and strategies to enable all students to master the skills! I'm beginning with 2nd grade--2.NBT.5 and will continue development of the rest of the standards and other grade levels soon. 

Download this awesome unit at my TpT Store, my Teacher's Notebook Site or CLICK HERE to see how to get this unit for FREE!



Project-Based Learning ROCKS!

When kids learn they'll be in my class, they are excited because we are "that class that does cool projects!"  I've been using project-based learning in my class for the last 5 years and presentation days are our most favorite!  We learn so much more from each other.  We also get great practice in speaking and active listening.  My "Project Choice Menu Packet" includes everything you need to immediately put project-based learning to work in your classroom.  The packet includes:

Choice sheet for parent approval
Project description pages
Scoring Rubric

Download this FREE resource at my TpT Store!  CLICK HERE to learn how to get ANY of my products for FREE!

Leadership Ticket Reward System

Do you love "The Leader in Me" and 7 Habits of Happy Kids? If you want to promote leadership qualities and reinforce positive behavior in the classroom, then this packet is for you! This program has been successful in elementary classrooms for 4+ years. It promotes intrinsic motivation, personal goal-setting and graphing skills! 
The set includes:
Earn Leadership Reward Tickets--poster
Leadership Reward Tickets--printable
Total Tickets Over Time--graph printable
Weekly Tickets Earned--graph printable
Personal Goal Setting--printable

Easy Implementation Instructions 

Download at my TpT Store, my Teacher's Notebook Site or CLICK HERE to see how to get it for FREE!



Daily Discipline Made Easy! (FREEBIE)

Pretty much the only thing we can hold over our students' heads as far as discipline goes is RECESS.  But kids NEED movement, right?  And the ones who need it most are the ones who seem to be in trouble most often.  I created this Daily Discipline Chart to hold students accountable while still providing movement, time to finish incomplete homework, time to think about making better choices and to easily document behavior issues.  I've been using it for years and recently showed it to first grade teachers who replaced their color card system with the Daily Discipline Chart.  My Awesome Weekly Assignment Sheet (also FREE) has space at the bottom to let parents know how their children behaved that day with this system.  They love seeing that their child had a Great Day!

Grab this FREE resource at my TpT Store or my Teacher's Notebook Site.
CLICK HERE to see how to get ANY of my paid resources for FREE!

Awesome Weekly Assignment Sheet FREEBIE

When my school could no longer afford assignment notebooks, I came up with this Awesome Assignment Sheet and now everyone uses it!  The front has spaces for Monday-Wednesday and the back has two sections for Thursday and Friday.  I simply print them front and back and one sheet lasts a whole week.  I hope you find it useful, too!

Grab this FREE resource at my TpT Store or my Teacher's Notebook Site.

CLICK HERE to see how to get any of my paid resources for FREE!