Winter Roll Dice Activities Freebie

Hey everyone!

If you're one of those ones still in school or maybe just want something to keep your kids amused at home, I have a fun little freebie for you.





Click here to grab it.


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A Calculator License!

Hi friends!  It's Amanda from Teaching Maddeness.

We're nearing the end of our regrouping unit and I always have a love/hate relationship with it.  I LOVE the fact that my students are so stinkin' excited about solving equations with such big numbers.  I HATE the careless mistakes that come along with it.

Enter.....my CALCULATOR LICENSE.


I wanted a way to encourage my students to go back and check their work - to use the strategies I've taught them.  They KNOW how to solve these equations, but those darn careless mistakes were killing them!  How could I get them to slow down and really apply the strategies?  How could I get them to really care about checking their work for perfection?

The answer was simple - a calculator.


I told my students that once they were EXPERTS at these types of problems, they would be able to use calculators in class.  I mean, I use a calculator when I do my work to speed up the process so why shouldn't they?  Of course, I don't give these to them in the beginning.  But after they've learned the concepts and mastered the skills, they are rewarded.....with a calculator license!


How does this work?  I give students 5 math problems per day.  These math problems include 2-digit and 3-digit problems.  The problems are written horizontally on the paper I pass out.  This requires students to rewrite the problems vertically (stacking the ones on top of the ones, tens on top of the tens, etc) to solve.  These problems are also mixed addition and subtraction problems.  Yep, earning that cursive license is tricky and only the experts will succeed!  If students solve all 5 math problems correctly for 3 days in a row, I declare them experts and give them a license to create.


Once a student's license is created, I laminate it and tape it to his/her desk.  The entire class instantly knows that this person is a math expert and has permission to use a calculator for future math problems.  They eat it up, I tell ya!  Those careless errors suddenly start to disappear as students are so motivated to become a license holder!

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Calculator-License-2261110

You can grab my calculator license freebie from my shop!  It includes the license I use, along with the problems I use to certify them as experts!  Enjoy! :)


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Great Teammate & Teacher Gifts!


Are you in the market for teammate/teacher gifts?  There are 
lots of great ideas out there that won't break your bank!


FLAIR PENS

HAND SOAP

MOVIE & POPCORN

LIP BALM

NAIL POLISH

Your teammates or teachers will love
any of these thoughtful gifts!

Happy holidays to all of our Owl friends!


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Classroom Traditions

Aloha! It's Nicole from Teaching With Style!

If you are like me, this week was devoted to pulling out Christmas decorations and setting some things up around the house.  We put up lights outside, displayed the Nutcracker and nesting doll collections, and even got some visits from our Elf on the Shelf!

In the past couple of years I've opted not to decorate my classroom in Christmas/winter decor.  The main reason is because I don't want to distract my students, another being I'm tired at the end of the day and I'd rather be at home with my family or at the beach!  But there is still one important and fun tradition I hold on to: Polar Express Day.

When I taught in Oregon, Polar Express Day was HUGE at my school.  There was even a Polar Express committee! I taught at that school for 5 years and have brought the tradition to each school I have taught at in Hawaii, now.  The kids LOVE it! 

Here's what we do: 

1. I like to do this on the last day before break.  They are already so excited about Christmas and break that doing academics is hard and you should be mostly wrapped up with all your units by then anyway.  I make this day Pajama Day.  I even dress up!  

2. Find a special person to come read the book The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg to your class.  I've had my mother-in-law come, the Superintendent, the principal, a parent.  Be creative! The class doesn't even need to know who the special reader is, it just makes it fun and exciting to have someone else read to them.  

3. After the story, I pass out bells! So all the students get the first gift of Christmas! It gets loud with all the jingling, but they seriously love it! I have put them on long strings to be necklaces, on short strings so they hold them, and have put out beads so they can decorate them.  This year I got 3 packs of bells at The Dollar Tree and will put them on long strands of gift-tying ribbon.  

4. While your reader is reading, get the hot cocoa ready! I cook it in my crock pot all day, so the room smells delicious! I bring a ladle, cups, mini marshmallows, and mini candy canes.  After the story, each student gets a cup of cocoa.  I play Christmas music while we sip!  My son's teacher gave all the kids coffee mugs for Christmas one year.  That would be a fun gift for Polar Express Day! 

These activities just make this day really special! I look forward to it and so do the kids! If you are allowed to celebrate holidays at your school, I suggest looking into creating traditions around the Polar Express! 

What other holiday traditions do you have in your classroom? 

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Happy December! Desktop Calendar Freebie

Hey there! It’s Megan from I Teach. What’s Your Superpower?  I’m here with another desktop calendar for you.  It’s December which means three weeks of insanity followed by two weeks off!  Here’s hoping everyone makes it to their holiday in good mental health.

This Christmas tree is by Pink Pueblo and is completely GORGEOUS.  As crazy as this time of year can get, it is such a wonderful, magical time.  Happy holidays to you!


Enjoy!
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