Measurement Evaluation Part 1

According to state standards, 4th graders must be able to estimate and measure length, capacity, mass and weight using the metric and customary system. They must also be able to determine which units to use when given a situation. Last Friday the kiddos completed part 1 of the evaluation of part 2 of our measurement unit. We did part 2 of the evaluation today but I'll post about that tomorrow! :)

First we made a Venn diagram using three circles (something new for them): one for capacity, one for weight and one for length. The students each received a set of pictures and had to sort them into the proper category or categories. Example--one of the pictures was of a man running on a track. Some students just thought that picture would go with length because you can measure how far he is running; others thought length and weight because you could also measure how heavy the man is. The final thing they had to do was write which units they would use to measure. So those that chose length for the runner put miles and kilometers and those that chose weight put pounds. If you click on the pics to enlarge you should be able to see where the students wrote the units they chose on each picture. They enjoyed this activity and they really enjoyed part 2 of the evaluation that we did today. You'll have to come back tomorrow to see what it was!!

NOTE: I just picked a few examples to take pictures of--they may or may not be accurate! :)

Ice Erosion

I know, I know I NEVER post live action shots of my students. Well, here ya go! I whipped out my iPad and took some pics the other day during a science activity so I figured I might as well share them. :)

In science, we have been learning about some of the different agents of erosion. Our latest one was ice. My super awesome husband helped me with this one--he cut off the bottoms of a few water bottles, threw some gravel, dirt and water into them and froze them overnight. The next day I had several little glaciers to take to school!

I gave each group a piece of clay and had them flatten it to represent land. Then they took their "glacier", moved it across the land and observed what happened.

 

I know it's hard to tell the effect of the glacier on the awesomely-colored clay land but you get the idea. :) After the activity we looked at some photos of ice erosion I found from Googling. They loved this part--some pretty awesome images came up! (Don't worry, I found them ahead of time because you NEVER know what will come up on Google images!!!!)

The students also took pictures of their land with iPads. We have been collecting pictures of our weathering/erosion lab activities and examples of weathering/erosion from out in the real world (around campus) so we can make a book out of them. We are going to use the iPad StoryKit app to make it--it's free and it's really easy for kids to use. The kids will basically explain what the processes are and show pictures for each agent. We're staying pretty basic with this because this is our first real project using iPads AND because we are so behind in science--like, MONTHS. I'm sure none of you have that problem and are always on track ;)

Thanks for stopping by! :)

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!!!!

Versatile Blogger Award

I am HONORED to receive the Versatile Blogger Award from the following blogs (I think I got all of you!):

Life in Middle School

Circus of Learning

Reading Really Rocks

(I also apologize for taking soooooo long to claim the award and post this! :D I actually started this post in December!!)

Here are 7 facts about me!!

1. I now have a sweet little TWO year-old--she turned two last month!!
2. I cannot WAIT to finish grad school! 3 more months!!
3. I'm a 20-something, 5th-year teacher (several of you have asked about that!).
4. I obsessively check Pinterest whenever I have a free second! I haven't missed a pin from the people I follow yet! (This is normal, right??)
5. I get my absolute best ideas about 5-10 minutes before deadlines (like right before teaching a lesson or workshop, right before throwing a party, etc.). Drives me CRAZY because I am such an OCD planner, but it most always works out.
6. I have the most random taste in music. My iPod could play a Disney soundtrack, switch to Elton John, play Michael Jackson, hop over to Nirvana or Shinedown, over to Britney Spears, on to The Beach Boys, Adele, Whitney Houston (R.I.P.), George Strait, and Lady Gaga, and THEN back to Disney. :) Love it.
7. I should be doing homework right now............

Winner! x 5

Thanks SO much for your help on my FB page and for entering the giveaway! I am closing this giveaway with 100 page likes--awesome!! Anyway, it's announcement time! 

By the way, somewhere around the fifties the comment numbers messed up! Most of the winning numbers match the comment but some do not. Don't worry--I counted!! Here are the winners that were randomly chosen:

Congratulations to you all--email me with the item from my store that you would like! :)

Join my FACEBOOK page, get free stuff!! :)

Well, I would like to celebrate the fact that I FINALLY started a Facebook fan page, so I am having another giveaway!

To enter (leave one comment for each):
1. Comment that you follow my blog.
2. Follow my Teachers Notebook store and comment that you do.
3. "Like" my Facebook page and comment that you did.

I will randomly select 5 of you to win 1 item of your choice from my Teachers Notebook store. Easy, right??

GIVEAWAY ENDS TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14 @ 9:00 P.M. CST!

Thanks in advance for helping my FB page get some likes!!

GOOD LUCK!! :)

Tweet-Heart Board Game

Nothing like waiting until the last minute, right??!

I just added a Valentine game to my store called "Tweet-Heart".  If you are familiar with my games, it is the Valentine's version of "Turkey Trot" (from my FREE Thanksgiving package) and "Dashing Through the Snow". No matter what the theme, my students absolutely LOVE these games!

You can check it out in my store! Since it's SO late, how about the first 5 people to comment (with an email address!!!) will receive a free copy??

Enjoy! :)

Think About It!: The Next Installment

It's been a while since the last post! This has been the busiest month ever!!

Anywho, I finally decided upon the next installment in the series. I can't tell you an exact posting date right now, but I am pretty sure it will be in February! :)

The installment will include ideas for using manipulatives and, more importantly, why you should use manipulatives. I'm also thinking this will turn into a linky party (how fun!). Stay tuned for more details! :)

A Day in My Shoes

I'm joining this super fun linky party hosted by The Adventures of a Sixth Grade Teacher!

This one is based on my Tuesday!

5:40   First of my two pre-alarm alarms go off--I have to have warning before I get up!!

6:00   Second pre-alarm alarm goes off--the next one is the real one!

6:30   Alarm goes off--time to hit snooze.

6:39   Tempted to hit snooze again but I really gotta get to school! We only have one copy machine...

6:39-6:49   Get ready and head out--I'm a night shower-er so I have more time to sleep in the morning :). I also don't own make-up so that saves time too! Tell husband good-bye, but don't dare wake the baby...

6:57   Load arms and haul my weekend shopping bags into school.

7:00   Arrive at school, set all 90 bags I'm carrying down, turn on lamps, student computers and my computer.

7:05   Head to copy room to make copies for the 3rd reteach lesson I planned over the weekend.

7:08   Leave copy room and head back to classroom to grab the pages I need to copy!! Head back.

7:15   Head to another teacher's classroom--I am her official mentor (I actually mentor three new teachers which is strange because I think only 4 years under your belt like I have is still new!) and we have to meet weekly. This is a fun one :)

7:45   Leave meeting to get book I forgot to give her--see one of my kids on the way walking to the 4th grade waiting area and instruct him to get the class and head to the classroom. Head back to drop off book.

7:50   Stop in and talk to the librarian about Dr. Seuss day plans.

7:55   Wonder where my class is when I get back to the room--I don't see the kid I ran into or the others I know are in the waiting area...

8:00   Head to waiting area and find my class still waiting. Apparently the kid I ran into wasn't fully awake yet and didn't remember the conversation we just had.

8:07   Class is in, I unpack while reminding them what they are supposed to be doing....for the 6th time....Check voicemail from a teacher having printer problems.

8:10  Realize that I don't have marbles to complete the marble painting art project I planned for my awesome all-work-turned-in kids. Start calling other teachers!

8:15   NO marbles anywhere--time to improvise!! I decide upon thumbtacks.

8:20-8:35   Pass out missing work and rework, get my awesome kids started on the art project. (This is supposed to be science time--not today!)

8:35   Pack up and get ready to switch classes.

8:43   Let the sub from my next class know that we were supposed to switch 3 minutes ago.

8:45-9:15   1st math class in--work on problem solving, introduce two new fact practice games and complete daily fact drill.

9:15-10:20   Reteach equivalent fractions and mixed numbers for the 3rd time with 4 phone interruptions and 1 visitor. Good lesson though and I am fairly confident that they FINALLY get it this time!

10:20   FINALLY come to a stopping point, but not soon enough! Remind students of the fraction project they received last week that is due this Friday. Remind half of them what it looks like.

10:24   Line kids up and check all of them to make sure they have homework, rework and project papers in hand. Instruct the 6 that "lost" theirs to come get it after school.

10:25   Switch classes--2nd math class comes in.

10:25-10:50   Work on problem solving, introduce two new fact practice games and complete daily fact drill.

10:50-11:45   Reteach equivalent fractions and mixed numbers for the 3rd time. Bang head on desk a few times.

11:45-11:53   Wrap it up and breathe. This was not a very successful class period.

11:53    Line kids up and check all of them to make sure they have homework, rework and project papers in hand. None lost in this class!

11:55-12:00   Switch classes. Get my homeroom back.

12:00-12:07   Indoor recess because I need those 7 minutes to catch up!! Return phone call from this morning about printer problems. Whoops.

12:07-12:15   Take students to lunch and buy my taco salad--it's Taco Tuesday!!

12:15-12:17   I promised the kids lunch in the classroom for a week as part of an incentive last week. Enjoy 2 minutes of peace while they are still in the lunch line.

12:17-12:38   Kids come in, eat lunch.

12:40   Drop off kids at P.E./Music.

12:40-1:25   TRY to be productive but end up not getting much done during planning period due to finishing up last minute phone calls to parents about tutoring that starts today after school. This would be a much easier process if 10 of the 20 had working phone numbers...

1:25   Pick up kids and bring them back to classroom. Make them clean up the MESS they left on the floor from lunch that I didn't notice until they had left the room.

1:25-1:35   Work on problem solving, introduce two new fact practice games and complete daily fact drill.

1:35-2:45   Reteach equivalent fractions and mixed numbers for the 3rd time while finishing up tutoring business. Hand-write tutoring schedules for all of my math kids (while I'm teaching...that's how I roll) so they know exactlty where to go, when and for how long. The schedule for math is VERY complicated. Good lesson though! They got it!!

2:50-2:55   Homework time for the kids and tutoring schedule delivery time for me!

2:55-3:00   Call students to pack up and line up. Remind them and figure out who is going where for tutoring.

3:00-3:10   Send kids to where they are supposed to go. Consult one of my math group's tutors (who happen to be my two former student teachers).

3:10-3:45   Team tutor my own group with the special ed teacher while checking on the other math tutoring group I am responsible for (the one mentioned above; they are using my classroom to tutor whole I am in the special ed room). Talk to three parents and principal about the kids in attendance who do not have permission slips but parent permission. Allow two to leave early because of this.

3:45   Dismiss my group, Check on other group again. This group will from 3-4:45p.m. Mondays-Thursdays. (It is an intense intervention program to get my kids closer to where they need to be.)

3:45-4:00   Prepare for tomorrow while watching the tutors interact with the group. They are doing a fine job.

4:00-4:15   Look at the clock and wish I was leaving. Finish cleaning off my desk and preparing.

4:15   Head to get my baby from daycare.

4:30   Arrive, wait for her to finish watching her Elmo episode in her classroom. Head home.

4:45   Realize I forgot something at school right after getting home and head back! Looks like tonight's dinner for us is fast food! Run a few errands.

6:00   Back at home, feed and entertain my baby until 7:00 bedtime.

7:15   Finally convince her to go to bed. Read Hop on Pop and various other Dr. Seuss books. She's a big fan.

7:45   Leave her room, laptop out and into blog world! After a shower I spend the next three hours multitasking--grading, pinning, putting in grades, blogging, and working on grad school work.

10:45  Husband home from work, time for bed!

11:30  Finally going to sleep after checking Pinterest ONE last time.........convince self that tomorrow will be the day I go to bed early.


Congrats to you, if you made it his far!!

100th Day of School Bookmarks FREEBIE!

Click the picture to hop over to my store and download a free copy!

Also, don't forget to enter my Dr. Seuss giveaway! :D