inside recess

Winter time in Louisiana can be pretty messy.  Going outside would mean either tracking mud in or being too cold to play.  We're not used to the cold temps. So.....

i drag out our Rainy Day Recess toys .

It's a treat because it's things they don't usually get anywhere.  I get them from retiring teachers, thrift store, yard sales .... They're all manipulative so it keeps them busy in new ways.  they have to think of different things to do with them.  Blocks are just self explanatory.

I spread them all around the room and nobody has a problem with rules of how many people can be there and sharing is seldom a problem.  they know if they don't play "nice" I may not take them out the next day and that means a boring recess of just coloring or nothingness.  I don't know what that is because we've never had to do it.

And of course, Dr. Jean and Jack Hartman, along with any other cd's or dvd's that involve lots of moving.  We always end with Tooty Ta.  They never get tired of it since this isn't an everyday occurance.

Roll and count Gingerbread man

We've been doing a Gingerbread man unit this week and I made a quick counting page.  I hope this loads.  If it doesn't let me know and I'll try again.
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B_B7MhGB0krfOTRhZTM2MTEtMDllOS00MGZiLTg2ODYtYmNjOTVhNmNmMTAx
I didn't realize there was a second page, but I don't use it.

more Math fun

So many blogs have such great downloadables that we always have something fun and new to do.  This pumpkin roll and color sheet came from one of them.  I still cannot figure out how to upload sheets that i create and then connect them to my blog so if any of you could explain this in simple form i might get it.  I've tried googledocs and scribd.

Before i found the ghost erasers they only had to put the ghosts, the came from a notepad, in order; now they get to count out the right number of ghosts with each one.

They love using the erasers for counters.

The geoboards have come back out .

halloween and drug awareness week

As we do drug awareness week during the Halloween season I have combined the 2 to try to win our door decorating contest.  The kids traced and cut out their hands to make the ghosts that are on the doorframe.  They didn't want to put them "on" the door itself. I let them put them where they wanted to.  I think this week I'll try harder to get them on the door.  What do you think?

math tub time

We work on patterns all year and snap cubes are perfect for this.

I believe a teacher can never have enough manipulatives.  I have collected so many over the years.  No matter how old they are the kids love being able to complete the activites independently.  

And That's What's It's All About!!

I have a ton of folder games and the kids love them.

Thanx to so many good blogs I drug out the play-doh to use for teaching, not just playing.

Dollar Tree erasers are great for sorting and patterns.

First things first

  

From the beginning we start working on our names.  I made this cut and paste page for them to draw themselves, then cut and paste the letters in order before writing their name.  It gives me a chance to see where they are with fine motor skills and so much more.

We use tiles and letter cubes to make our names.  It gives them an introduction to some of the manipulatives they will be using throughout the year and their proper use.

Since everyone loves to stamp we do some simple sheets to see what they know.  

Math is as much fun as center time. We introduce the simplest first to give them a sense of independence while working.  Routines and procedures are constantly being reinforced so everyone knows what's expected of them.