Get kids moving during Math

The past week or so, my students have been VERY antsy. They cannot sit still. I feel so bad for them, because I do want them to move around. I try not to make my "lessons" very long, or I let them move while they are watching one of the videos in my class. But they are so excitable, I worry about losing control of the classroom.

This past week, I watched the kids wiggle and squirm as we were trying to do Math warm-ups (flashcards, counting, ten frames, etc.) I kept thinking that my kids really needed to move. They hadn't been outside due to the rain and just couldn't hold still. I remembered that the kids love playing Dance Freeze... kids dance while music is playing, and then they have to freeze when the music stops. So I came up with a quick idea. I played music and let the kids dance. When I paused the music, the kids had to look at me and respond to a "flash card." I wouldn't start the music again until the answer was correct. Now the ones that I was using were Part-Part Whole cards, which are pictured below. But I got to thinking, the game can be used for any type of card... Math, Literacy, Science or Social Studies.

Check out some pictures below:

The kids really love it and ask to play it all the time!

CGI tool kit

As the way of most teachers, you hear about/see cool things in other teacher's classrooms. Throughout my CGI training, I picked up on things that I wanted to try in my classroom. I FINALLY got my "tool kits" together for the kids. These kits are what the kids can use to solve word problems in the classroom. The kit has 20 snap cubes, 10 rods, 20 units, a 100s chart, and 20 counters.

 The problem that the kids are solving is printed out, the kids glue them in their journals, work on solving the problem, and then we come together to discuss the problem and different solutions. Yes, we read and discuss the problem as a class before we start working to make sure the kids understand the information they are being given and the information they are trying to find.

The journal is used for Counting Collections and CGI problems. It is small enough to fit inside the kit as well.

 Here are the pictures I took today.

I just realized that this is not correct. The lines coming down from the 2's should meet at the 4. The "2+2" before it is unnecessary. Oh, well. I'll do better next time.

Partners in Education craft

Every few months or so, we make crafts or write letters for the businesses in the community that support our school. This is what my class made. They are hand print turkeys.

First Grade Workstations

Well, it took me long enough... I finally got my classroom workstations exactly like I wanted them (or close enough.) Take a look! There are six workstations that stay along the outside perimeter of the classroom, and four mobile stations that the kids take to their tables to work on. As you can see in some of the pictures, each workstation is numbered. I technically have 10 workstations, but one of them is currently closed; one of the student computers needs to be repaired. Another workstation not pictured is the iPad. Apparently, it was left on over the four-day weekend and was being charged when I took the pictures today.

Listening workstation: Kids get to listen to audio books, then draw a picture and write about their favorite part of the book.

Big Books: Kids get to practice reading big books using one of my pointers.

Big Books.

Sorting Workstation: She is working on a sort and identifying which pictures contain short /a/ and which pictures contain long /a/. Those pictures are then glued to a T-Chart.

Stampers: These guys are using stampers and an ink pad to "write" their spelling words for the week. The spelling words are written on index cards and posted on the wall next to them.

Computer workstation: The kids previously used the computer to just go to kids friendly websites. Now, the kids can watch the same videos that I use to teach.

Computer Workstation

Writing Workstation: The kids are given a writing prompt and can use pen or pencil to write. Then, they have to draw a picture representing what they wrote.

Writing Workstation

Classroom Library

Audio books Workstation

Big Books

Rainbow Words and Word Search: Kids write their spelling words in rainbow colors using crayons. On the back of the sheet is a word search containing the spelling words for the week.

Classroom Library

Computer Workstation

Computer Workstation

Stampers

Writing Workstation

Verbs to get them up and moving

My students have been learning about verbs. I found a cute video that helps teach the concept of action verbs. The video is Verb Rap Song and can be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ineCCpqpZrM. Here are a few pictures of the kids learning about verbs!