Five for Friday

I am going to sound like a broken record, but I am once again apologizing for not posting more this school year.  I have this obsession of creating every extension lesson I do and that has taken a lot of my extra time. 

Well, it is Friday and another cold one at that.  I am going to start with my 5 for Friday from Kasey over at  Doodle Bugs Teaching

 

1.  I cannot believe this weather here in Wisconsin!!  We have been freezing all month.  Only 3 days of school called off this month, but only because we need the wind chill temp to be below -30 before school is called off.  I can honestly tell you that we have had about 10 days where the temp at the start of the day was between -25 and -29.  The other day it got up to 18 above zero and it seriously felt like a beautiful day.  I can only hope that the groundhog does not see his shadow this weekend :). 

2.  I mentioned my obsession with creating products to fit the needs of my current students.  Most of my efforts are towards math since many of my students struggle to get excited about math at the beginning of the school year.  My goal is to make learning and understanding our first grade learning concepts both fun and interactive. 

Pretzels used as sticks of ten and Fruit Loops used as ones to practice adding groups of ten and ones. 

My students loved this game working on a variety of different way to practice fluency in numbers to ten.  I saw this game in from Sandy Atkins and made my own dominos and recording sheets.  I am currently working on a new TpT product that has a variety of interactive games to practice this important concept.  I always send these activities home for parents to play with their child as well. 

3.  My daughter Madisyn has started competing in swim meets this season as a 7 year old.  I have to tell you that I think watching those 8 and under swimmers swim is one of the cutest things ever!  She has a great stroke for a first year swimmer, but will not listen to a word of coaching I have to say, despite the 15 years of coaching I have.......

Game Face!

So nervous for her first race!

Top swimmer

4.  I am piloting a new math program this school year before rolling out this program to the whole district next year.  Has anyone used the newest version of Math Expressions?  This math program is so impressive and best of all covers all the standards of the Common Core.  Our last math program lacked the fact fluency piece and Expressions hits it right where students need it. 

5.  I have posted two new products this past month.  The first product contains 11 ELA activities:

Link to my TpT Winter ELA Centers

The second product contains 11 Math Centers/Activities all aligned to the common core. 

Link to my TpT Math Center Product

I am going to continue to post a free product I have created.  This product is a sample of my new Emergent reader product.  This product will help your students practice most of the pre-primer Dolch sight words in a fun and interactive way.  Click on the link below the picture for a sample of this product.   



Free Preview HERE

Happy Friday and find time to enjoy the weekend :).

Hello? Remember Me?? :)

Hello once again!  I cannot believe it has been 4 months since my last posting.  I have been coaching high school girls swimming and believe it or not, I was a bit busy.  Now that the season is over I am going to list my top five for this last week!

1.  I am going to list all the preps (as in lessons I prep) I do each week.  I am feeling a bit rushed and that there is even less time in a day than usual and cannot figure out why.  I know I have three small children, coach swimming, and my husband is now coaching hockey an hour away, but I have been busy for a while so I decided to list all the activities I prep for each week.  I need your help and feedback!!!  How do you do it all and am I doing too much?  Keep in mind this is only the number of preps and does not include the copying, cutting, or organizing supplies.  I have not added up the minutes I spend prepping activities.  To be honest, I am a bit afraid to see the total number of hours.

-Morning meeting activity (5 preps/week) 
Math (5 preps/week)
Guided Reading ( 15 preps/ week ; 3 groups each day)
Daily 5 word work (2 preps/week)
Daily 5 Work on Writing (2 preps/week)
Daily 5 Listening response sheet (1 prep/week)
Writing (5 preps/week)
Shared Reading (5 preps/week)
Words Their Way (5 preps/week)
Handwriting (5 preps/week??  Not a lot of prep, but.....)
Social Studies/Science (5 preps/week)
Target Time (intervention block) (4 preps plus 2 preps on Mondays for math intervention during that time)
Interactive Read aloud ( I wish I had time to formally prep every day, but usually I have to try to combine with Shared Reading time.

I total 59 preps/week.  How many preps do you have to get ready for your week?  I am in the school building at least an hour before I need to as well as come in for at least three hours on the weekend.  I am not even going to include the time spent creating activities that I feel my students need........

2.  My oldest daughter started swim team this week.  I have to admit, I am so proud of her and so excited she is loving swimming.  My husband has now given up on her playing hockey and has moved on to Easton. 


3.  My swim team girls qualified for the Wisconsin State Swimming Meet (WIAA) last weekend.  This season was my first season returning to coach girls after coaching boys for the past 9 years.  These girls have never been to state or even believed they were good enough to get there.  Well, they got there and they shocked so many people in our conference and sectional!  I feel like a proud mama!!

4.  Check out what my husband bought.  It is hard to see, but it is in the back part of the yard.

He asked me if I would mind if he set up a batting cage in the back yard.  I agreed, only to find out that the cage is 16' x 72' feet!!!  It is huge and the pitching machine that came with it weighs almost 500 lbs and holds hundreds of baseballs and softballs.   I now know to ask specific details before saying yes to anything :)  He better hope at least one of our three children will play baseball or softball!!

5.  I finally finished two new products for TpT!!  I have a few struggling students in my first grade classroom so I created an Early Emergent phonics-based packet and also an Early Emergent sight word mini book packet.  I used both of these products with my students and both products have progress monitoring tools included.  Click on the link under each title page to see a preview.

 

 

Early Emergent Program # 1

 

 

Early Emergent # 2 Sight Word Mini Books

Liebster Award Recipient!!

After checking my email the other day I found out I was nominated for the Liebster award by Sara from Polka Dot Kinders.  I actually had to look up the award to see how I was nominated! 

Ok, so there are some rules to follow when you receive the Liebster award.  They are:

1. Link back to the blog that nominated me
2. Nominate 5-11 blogs with fewer than 200 followers
3. Answer the questions by the blogger that nominated you
4. Share 11 random facts about yourself
5. Create 11 questions for the bloggers whom you nominate
6. Contact the bloggers you nominate and let them know how to proceed

Here are 11 Random things about me.  I really am not that interesting so I hope I can come up with 11!!!! :).

1.  My husband and I were married in Vegas because I wanted to spend money on our mortgage rather than a wedding.
2.  I have three very active children, Madisyn-7 yrs., Easton- 4 yrs., and Addalyn- 2 yrs.
3.  I have been teaching for 13 years, 12 which have been in first grade. 
4.  I have been a high school swimming coach for 13+ years and after a year off I am going back to coach girl's high school this fall.
5.  I am a complete workaholic!  I get very little sleep and do not know how to relax!
6.  I have Celiac Disease and have been eating gluten free for almost 10 years now.  My oldest daughter is also gluten free.
7.  I am a very picky eater and could live on chicken and mashed potatoes. 
8.  I a state finalist for the Presidential Award of Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.  I should find out if I am a national recipient soon!  Winners get to meet the president in Washington, DC. 
9.  We got our first pet last night- A hedgehog!!  It was not my first choice, but I have to tell you it is pretty cute :). 
10.   I have only been on Facebook since April 2013.
11.  Even though I do not cook well, my favorite reality show is Top Chef! 

Now, I get to ask 11 questions:
1.  How long have you been teaching and what do you teach?
-This coming year will be my 14th teaching.  I teach first grade and could not see myself teaching any other grade!!

 2.  What is your favorite thing about teaching?
-I absolutely love seeing the growth students make from the beginning of first grade to the end of each school year.

 3.  What is your favorite dessert?
-I usually pass up desert due to my gluten free diet, but just a simple piece of dark chocolate is good enough for me.  I usually prefer salty snacks over sweet ones.

 4.  What technology do you use in your classroom?
-I have a personal ipad that I will bring in the classroom, but other than that we have a document camera and data projector in our classrooms.  NO smartboard :(

 5.  How long have you been blogging?
-I have been blogging for almost two years now. 

 6.  Do you have a classroom theme?  What is it?
-I have had bright primary colors the last few years, but this year I am going with neon checker patterns.  I created new calendar pieces, word wall set, and table decorations.  I am excited to start something new.

 7.  What is the last good non-kids book you read?
-I have read a lot of professional development books this summer, but I am sad to say I have not read anything else.

 8.  What is your favorite children's book?  Why?
-I love all the Jan Brett books.  Her illustrations are amazing and extension activities and very engaging for my students. 

 9.  What is your must-have school supply?  Why?
-Mr. Sketch markers!!  They just make me happy when making anchor charts :)

10.  If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?
-I would love to see Europe, especially Paris.  I visited Switzerland when I was in high school, but did not get to see any other countries.

11.  Where is your favorite place to shop?
-TpT!!  Sad to say, but true.  Between products and clip art TpT is hands down my favorite place to shop. 

Here are my 11 questions for the bloggers I nominate:
1.  If you could teach any other grade what grade would you teach?
2.  If you could choose any other profession what would you choose?
3.  If you have a blog design who was the designer?
4.  Do you spend the most time blogging, on Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram?
5.  Do you think it is easier to have more boys in your classroom or more girls?
6.  What is your guilty pleasure?
7.  What is your favorite season and why?
8.  Has your district implemented The Common Core State Standards?
9.  Do you prefer to teach reading or mathematics?
10.  What is your favorite hobby?
11.  What TV show do you watch that you are a little embarrassed to admit?


And now to the blogs I am choosing to nominate!
1.  

Mrs. Cranfill's Class

2.



Teaching Little Miracles

 



3.





 

Mrs. Poultney's Ponderings

 

4.

 



 

Rebuilding A Teacher

 

5.



Common Core Connection

Well that is all for today.  I will be back in a couple days to update all of you on my trip to Door County, WI and our new addition to our family :).

July Currently Post and A NEW BLOG DESIGN!!!

I know I have been MIA for the last couple weeks, but today I am linking up for the first time with Farley over at Oh Boy Fourth Grade for the Currently linky.  A fun way to get to know more about me :).

LISTENING- My oldest child is 7 and can complain like a pro!!  She does not like anything she has in her closet, her dresser, or anything she has stuffed under her bed!!  Believe me,  her grandma buys her more clothes than any other child I know!

LOVING- I am overjoyed that I FINALLY have a colorful blog design.  The credit all goes to Christi Fultz from Designs by Christi.  Please let me know what you think!

THINKING- We have been working every night for the last two weeks on our rental house so it can be ready for our new tenant July 1st.  My poor kids have been great sports being stuck there with us each night so I thought we would take them to the park today.  We have a wonderful park/zoo about 15-20 minutes away and a great way to spend a Sunday!

WANTING- I seriously need a day to just pamper myself!!!  I know it sounds selfish, but I have not had a day to myself in over seven years!!  I am not even kidding :).  Between three kids ages 7, 4, and 2, coaching, teaching, and trying to keep my house clean there is little time in the day to take for myself.  Don't I sound like a complete blast! :).

NEEDING- We are going on our first family vacation tomorrow.....  We are going to Door County, Wisconsin for the first time.  I have heard from others it is beautiful there and the kids are excited to be watching the fireworks there on Thursday.  Since the rental has been taking so much of our time I have not had time to pack yet. 


TIP- My word of advice is to always believe in yourself!  I struggle with this myself since there are so many other strong opinions out there.  Once we start second guessing our own beliefs and decisions is when we steer away from who we really are. 

Now it is time for my freebie.  I posted my Calendar All Year packet to TpT a month or so ago so this week's freebie is a sample of that packet.  I made two different calendar piece designs for each month.  Get your sample of this packet HERE!!!!

Well of to the park for me and the kids!

My LAST Friday Until Summer!

Hello Everyone! 
My Friday ends once again with the Five for Friday Linky with Kacey over at Doodle Bugs Teaching!

First of all I am anxiously awaiting my new blog by Christi Fultz of Design by Christi. I have always been a primary color kind of gal, but since I have grown so much this last school year I feel I just need a change.  If you are interested (although I think I am the last person to actually get a professional blog makeover).  Ms. Fultz's Corner is where you can find more information.
 I am going with a polka dot theme that has neon blue, pink, and a bit of black and white.  I am also planning on having these colors as my classroom colors next school year.  The only problem is that our district has a VERY strict fire code policy so I am so jealous of all of your unbelievably cute classrooms and what you can put in there!!  I have some fire code creative ideas that go along with my classroom theme that I am going to try out.  Stay tuned for pictures in August.  Anyone else have fire code rules?  I would love to hear how you decorate and still follow the rules.

   I am also using Christi's red polka dot numbers.  You really have to check out her creations! 

I am having mixed feelings as my last full week of school comes to a close.  I know I have said this before in earlier postings, but even though this was my most challenging teaching years in so many ways with this group of students, but I will tell you that they made me a much better teacher!  I had to change things up in my classroom just to get all the academics in so many times, but they prepared me for ANYTHING!!  I will miss all of them as they move upstairs to second grade.  I think I am more emotional with this group since my own daughter is a first grader and a few of my students have gone to school with her in preschool and 4K.  Two more days of school........

Can you say Giveaways!!  I am currently involved in three different giveaways!  I cannot believe all the wonderful products that each host got together!  The first giveaway will be ending on Sunday and it is from Kelsea over at Teacher Gems.  She is celebrating her 30th birthday and will be announcing the winner on Monday.  My product I donated is a winner's choice.  This means you can choose ANY one product in my TpT store here. 

The second giveaway is hosted by Christina from A Tale of Two K Teachers.  She is celebrating her 200 followers.  I know this thumbnail is not too clear, I chose the Kindergarten-Common-Core-Learning-Targets-for-Mathematics for my product donation.  This giveaway starts June 9 so head on over!!

My third giveaway I am involved with is from Nick over at Sweet Rhyme - Pure Reason.   The number of products K-12 is truly unbelievable!!  You will definitely be missing out if you do not enter this one!  The product I chose to donate is my Math Intervention Activities and Lesson Plans.  This product is one of my newest and what I created for my math intervention (Target Time) block this past school year.  After going through these FUN and ENGAGING lessons our struggling first graders ALL improved on their AIMS web testing.  Nick's giveaway will be end June 11 so click on his blog name to enter!

ALL OF MY TPT PRODUCTS ARE ON SALE JUNE 8-11!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  CHECK IT OUT!

I got some wonderful news!  I entered my Adding 9 Bump FREEBIE in Martha's Top 5 Freebies of the week from Primary Paradise.  I got the notice today, but it will not be posted until tomorrow (June 8). 

Tonight was my son's preschool graduation.  My mamma's boy is really growing up!  He has come such a long way in his first four years of life!  As you can see the playground before the ceremony was a big hit : )

Finally I wanted to post this absolutely wonderful freebie, but this week has been so busy with report cards that I did not have time to put one together.  I do have a Freebie created by Megan over at Mrs. Wheeler's First Grade .  She created a wonderful Mustachy Measurement from her TpT store.  My students absolutely loved this quick and easy measurement activity! 

Have a great weekend!

Tina Parker

A Giveaways From Teacher Gems ! Enter June 5-9!!

  Free Products!  Free Products!  Free Products!  Free Products!  Free Products!  Free Products!

Happy Birthday to Kelsea from Teacher Gems!  I really do remember being thirty, but it seems so long ago..... actually 3 children ago!!  To help celebrate she is hosting a giveaway and I am proud to be a part of it.  You can win a product of your choice from my Teachers pay Teachers store!  My product is a part of the TpT seller's pack #2, but sign up for all of the categories!!

Click on this link to enter!  You will be able to enter starting June 5 until June 9.  Winners will be chosen on June 10. 



Thanks and do not forget to check back on Friday for my weekly post and of course a Friday Freebie!!

Tina

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Summer Vacation in 7 days and A Freebie!

Linking up again with Kacey from Doodle Bugs Teaching! 

This week I had to try a different approach to my teaching once again with my class.  They are VERY restless and have unbelievable amounts of energy so my goal this week was to find and/or create activities that would keep them engaged and still learning with the end of the year so close.  Here are four activities I tried with my class with great success.

1.  My students have been so interested in researching animals the last few months I decided to pull out Deanna Jump's Zoo Animal Unit .  We conducted a class vote to research two animals and the Giraffe and Zebra won!  This unit along with a great website called Pebble Go is all I used and my students are becoming pros at hunting for important information, writing details in a web, and then writing the actual research paper.  I used this opportunity to have them try this independently and then helped my struggling students with their writing.  I ended up helping 5 students and the other 18 did everything else all on their own!  I am soooooo proud!!

Deanna Jump's Blog

2.  Calendar FINISHED!!  I finally finished my new calendar all year product.  I printed it out to see what it looks like and I am ready to use it next year.  Here is a picture of my May calendar:

 

 

My computer is acting up so I am sorry for the May heading being cut off.  I made two different calendar designs for each month and added two bonus designs.  I always post all the numbers each month so my students know how many days are in each month.  To distinguish what day it is for each month they will flip over that date and see a break in the pattern.  I staged this calendar to show May 16.  Here is the preview file on my TpT Store HERE  So far this product is 162 pages.  Here is the preview file:

 

 

And the two bonus patterns: 

 

 

3.  Adding 9 bump game. Another teacher showed me a doubles Bump game a couple weeks ago.  My students absolutely LOVED the game so I created an adding 9 bump game to go with our math fact focus these last couple weeks.  I cannot believe how well my students are actually understanding the adding 9 fact strategy.  Here is an example of their thinking for the number sentence 9 + 5 = , " I know that if I take one away from the 5 and make the nine a 10 then 10 + 4=14."  I swear my students will tell you this!! 

To get your copy of this game click HERE
 I am planning on posting a large bulk of Bump games such has time, money, subtraction strategies, 3 addends, and more!!  Please follow My TpT Store HERE to find out when my newest products are posted! 

4.  Math Fact Assessment-  I was so impressed with their math thinking I finally put them to the test.  I gave my class the second grade 3 minute math facts test in both addition and subtraction.  The goal is to get 40/50 or at least 80% on both tests by the end of SECOND grade.  When I corrected the addition tests 6/23 (26%) got 80% or better and  another 5 were within 2-4 points or 1-2 problems.  Since I collect the math data for our school I compared the current second graders scores at the beginning of the school year and then again in November and my class scores were comparable with the second grade scores in November. 

The subtraction fact test was a lot lower, which always seems to be the case, but my first graders performed comparable again with the November second grader scores again.  The highest score in my class was 68%, but that is still very impressive for a first grader.  I know the second grade teachers will be pleased because we are focusing on the math strategies rather than the memorizing and forgetting method. 

With the subtraction scores so much lower even though we focused strongly on skip counting backwards, -0, -1, -2, -5, -10 on decade, and -10 off decade my student were still missing critical strategies to be successful at subtraction in testing terms.  I decided to focus on the subtraction "halves" (2 - 1, 4 - 2, 6 - 3, 8 - 4, 10 - 5, and so on up to 18 - 9).  Since the game Bump was such a big hit I created a subtraction halves bump game.  I also will focus on the subtraction tens pairs (10 - 2, 10 -3, 10 - 4, and so on) and create another Bump game for this strategy.  When introducing these strategies we gather whole group and as I write the number sentences (in order of least to greatest sum) I ask them to look for a number pattern.  I have them think, pair, share and then come up with the next number sentence in the pattern.  From there we talk further about anything else they notice and then try to make a strategy rule for this group of number sentences.  Once we come up with a strategy rule then we put it to the test to see if we are correct. 

5.  It was my youngest daughter's 2nd birthday yesterday.  I can't believe she is already 2!  She started the day with a 102 degree temp and CRABBY, but still ended the day with a cupcake and just beamed at all the attention that was being placed on her that day. 

Well that is all I have for today.  As the severe weather rolls through tonight I hope to work late trying to catch up on my to do list for the last 7 days of school!!