Sight Word SWAT Part 2 and SUPER SUPER GIVEAWAY! :)

I posted about playing Sight Word SWAT with my students the other day. We played again today and I made it a point to get some more pictures to share with you!

Check out my collection (including the new swatters from Wal-Mart).

Some of our sight words. They are a tad worn away.

Eager beavers ready to play!!! 

Action shot!

Also, have you seen my latest giveaway?!? The prize is HUUUUUGE (literally--it's 353 pages)!!

You can win a free copy of this pack by completing a few very simple steps! Click here to head over to the post to enter! Good luck! :)

Sight Word SWAT!

I'm stopping by this evening to show you a super fun game we played yesterday--Sight Word SWAT!! I apologize in advance for the lack of more detailed pictures but I was caught up in all of the excitement going on!

I found myself with a small group of hard workers (half of my class was at computer lab), 20 minutes, and warm weather yesterday, so we headed out to our porch for a little springtime game that I have been wanting to play. We use Saxon Phonics and with it comes sight word cards. I distributed several cards to each student and had them read the words and write them on the sidewalk (which was fun enough for them). They were instructed to write them big enough to be seen and in their neatest handwriting.

At this point, they had no idea what would happen next and didn't even question why I was holding a small tub full of flyswatters (shows how normal it is for me to be holding something odd, haha). The game was simple--I called up 2 students at a time and called out a sight word. They had to race to find the word and then SWAT it!

 The first one to swat the word won the round and got to stay in while the other student had to sit back down. A new student took his place and we did it again! To say they had a blast would be an UNDERSTATEMENT! I couldn't even take many pictures because I was so involved in how involved they were!

When we finally went back inside they had SO many questions!:

"Did you make up that game???!"

"Did you play that game with your 4th graders???!"

"Are we going to play that again???!"

"When are we going to play that again???!"

Love it. Walmart has super cute swatters out for $1 right now! I bought 10 new ones last weekend. Pics to come.

This game can be used for sight words, math facts, number recognition, shapes, etc. Give it a try!

Diffy Box Fun!

So--do YOU know what a diffy box is?? I posted a Diffy Box FUN! pack (pictured below) a few days ago and talked a little about them yesterday. Allow me to explain a little more now--

The only thing your kids (or YOU) will have to know before using a diffy box is basic subtraction--that's it! (Diffy as in difference!) In fact, these can be fun for math nerds like me any adult too! You may find yourself doing these at a restaurant while you wait for your order (if you're cool enough to be a math nerd like me). Ready to try it??? Grab some paper and a pencil--it won't take long!

1. To start, just draw a box. Make sure it's big enough for you to be able to write inside of it.

2. Pick 4 numbers (let's just stick with 1-digit numbers for now) and write one per vertex.

3. Find the difference of two adjacent vertices and record it at the midpoint of their common side.

4. Now, connect those numbers to form a new box.

What numbers do you see? Are they all zeroes? If they are, skip ahead to step 7. If not, continue on to step 5. 

5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 until all numbers are zero. When you have all zeroes, continue on to step 7.

6. Thank me for giving you your brain exercise for the day.

7. All zeroes means you are FINISHED.

And that's basically how to do a diffy box--simple, huh?? I think these boxes are the coolest! The kids have a blast with them! These can be fun for multiple grade levels, from 1st to middle school.

Have you ever used diffy boxes?? Please share!

In my pack, you will find a step-by-step whole group lesson (with more than what I just explained to you), diffy box templates in various sizes, several extension activities and ideas, and a math station diffy box game. Click on the picture to check it out! And until Tuesday night you can enter to win a free copy of this--click to head over to the giveaway! :)

On an unrelated note--tomorrow I am throwing a linky party!! :)

I'm curious to know--what's your teacher story?? We all got to the classroom somehow, most of us not taking the same path. Now is your chance to share your story with me and others! The party starts Monday morning, so start reminiscing and get your posts ready!! :) 

Geometry in Bloom!

I'm on a roll--I've got another pack available! The pack includes four spring-themed geometry activities that have to do with lines and angles. I'm giving away THREE of them to you night owls out there that are still awake. The first three people to CORRECTLY answer this question will win a free copy. Don't forget to leave an email! So here it is:

What are the antennae-like things on a giraffe's head called?

Also, don't forget about my 25% off sale going on in my store RIGHT NOW!!!!

Number Sense Pack!!

AAAAHHHH!! I was struck with inspiration to create some number sense activities Wednesday evening and I haven't stopped thinking about it since!! I just finished it last night and have already added it to my store.

ANYWHO, here it is--whole number and decimal number sense activities appropriate for multiple grade levels. The activities are available as one big pack, whole number only pack or decimal number only pack. I am very excited about these and can't wait to use some of the activities in my own classroom (especially to review for the state tests!!). Click on each picture to view the item in my store!!

Thanks, and enjoy!! :)

Numbers, Numbers Everywhere! Games

Looking for place value practice games?? Check out my newest games, "Numbers, Numbers Everywhere!" These games are available individually OR in a bundle (at a discounted price). Each game follows the same format--students practice reading and writing numbers in standard form. The first 3 people to comment (with an email address) will receive a FREE copy of the game bundle!

You can check the games out in my Teachers Notebook store. :)

Thanks, and ENJOY!! :)

New Multiplication Game!

I've just added a new game to my store! Multiplication Madness can be used to practice multiplying 1-digit and 2-digit numbers. Click on the picture to view it in my store.

My students absolutely LOVE this game! They don't even realize I'm making them practice how to multiply. :)

I would love to give away 3 free copies to the first 3 people to comment with an email address. :D

Leap Frog Number Line Game

I've got a new game for ya!! :)

There are several upper-level concepts that seems to have little to no FUN resources--number lines included! I have used a few things here and there, but needed something different for review. Since I prefer hands-on activities to worksheets I decided that I needed to create a fractions and decimals number line game; this is what I came up with today. The game includes 6 sets of fraction/decimal cards, 6 number lines, and a recording sheet. It can be used individually, in a small group or whole group. It also includes a little equivalent fraction review (which is something you can never do enough of!). You can check it out in my Teachers Notebook store.

I hope this is something that at least some of you are able to use! The first 3 people to leave an email address will receive a free copy of it!! I hope you enjoy!!!!