Back to Reality!!!!

Last week was Spring Break and I decided that I was going to work on some craft things that were personal to me and leave school at school.  I was very proud of myself because I got everything I wanted to get done around my house and didn't work on school stuff once (well I did Pin a few things).  Anyway, I just wanted to show you a couple of centers that I used prior to Easter and maybe you can use them next year.  In the Math center I used an idea from Pinterest and called it "MATH CHICKS".  I found these chicks at Michael's Craft store and put dice inside.  The students were told to shake it and then place it down.  They were then to add them together on the given (reusable) worksheet.  

This is a money poem that we have been using a lot lately.  A lot of veteran teachers already know this poem but for those newbies I thought I would share.

This Jelly Bean Math worksheet was a freebie on Teachers Pay Teachers.  I only added the directions. 

This is a poem about shapes I found on Pinterest and the kids have really enjoyed it.  I made it into a rap, complete with dance moves. lol

She's Alive

After being out on Monday and Tuesday of this week sick.  I thought it was great this morning when my students came in and there eyes got big.  They were excited I was back and it never ceases to amaze me the things my children say.  One little girl said, "She's Alive!!!"  My teaching assistant (who is such a blessing), Ms. Bunch had surprised me by hanging up some of our 100th Day of School Projects.  The students were asked to make a project using 100 of anything they wanted to.  This was a family project and students were asked to present their projects in front of the class explaining how they made it, with what they made it with, and who helped them to make it.  Here is a couple of examples.  The students really got into it and I love sending home family projects because the kids love having their parents take the time with them to create something fabulous. 


One student chose to make a school using 100 toothpicks while another student did an underwater scene with 100 sea animals.



100 starts, 100 fruit loops, 100 fish

Because I wasn't there on Monday and Tuesday I am taking the time today to share with you some centers we are using this week that are Valentine's Day inspired.  The first one is called Valentine Candy Count.  This is a Math Center.  Each student is asked to bring a pencil to the center and fill out a worksheet.  The students have to sort the candy hearts by color and then count how many of each color there are and record the number on the worksheet provided. 

Another center we are working on this week was inspired by Ms. Colonna.  This is a spelling center.  The students work on blends by placing the correct pictures in the appropriate box.  The students get more excited when I add the blends to a candy box then just having to sort pictures.  They have Valentine's Day on the brain right now so anything to do with that theme gets them excited to learn. 

This was one of the spelling center ideas from the month of January.  The students practiced writing the spelling words in salt.  I must admit that this was an idea that was sparked by a pin on "Pinterest".  I think they used it in a kindergarten classroom to practice letters.  I bought acrylic picture frames from Dollar Tree and place directions for each center in them every week.  Another great idea Ms. Colonna shared with me at the beginning of the year.  Because there are only two first grade teachers at my school it is easy to bounce ideas off one another. 

This was a Math Center activity that same week.  The center's title was "Shoveling Sum"  The students were asked to get one shovel of snow (marshmallows) and then one more and add together on the worksheet provided.  In this picture you can see one of my center cones in the back ground.  Each cone is placed in the matching center.  In my classroom centers consist of Math, Writing, Spelling, Reading, and Computer.