Potential!

I found this message by Rick Godwin when I was looking for something to motivate me.  His message is about untapped potential.  Potential that is hidden, unrealized, buried, or untapped.  This message was for ME where I am at right now.  But, I think it is for everyone who is a teacher. In our classrooms there lies tons of potential that has been overlooked, undervalued or has been quashed by a students daily life.  It is our job to see them for the unique, amazing, valuable individuals God made them to be.  We need to overlook behaviours.  Do not misunderstand, we need to deal with behaviours but those behaviours should not change how we value them or encourage and empower them.  We need to see through the shy child and find the leader.  Hear the voice of natural leaders and allow them to lead in a  right way with strategies that we equip them with.  We should VALUE our students and VALUE their potential as the next generation of world changers!!  Enjoy!

Homework song for Bible

http://youtu.be/rzPkRrfD_fw. 

This is a working URL of the song we are to listen to as homework.  

Tales of an awesome Mom...

Was sitting on the car a few days ago in the dark, in the quiet,  and decided to blow my coaches whistle really loud as Chey was getting ready to drive. 

Scared the bejesus out of Cheyenne who jumps and yells,  "Save it for the gym coach!" 

I reply  very matter of factly, "I don't use it in the gym".

She says " Then where so use it?" 

I replied "In the car."

Ha.

The importance of sleep and other stuff...

This post is about stuff, stuff and things.  If you ask any of my students those are my favorite words when all else fails me.  Which happens often. I most likely owe this to my lack of sleep since I have a rather staggering vocabulary from years of reading and university.

I have been working on report cards for a few days now.  It has been insanity trying to fit in correcting, report cards, three kids in volleyball, coaching, parenting, me time, devotion time - TIME!  Yet, in that chaos there is a stillness that can only come from God.  I should be at wit's end, but I am not.  I should be very tired, but I am not. I should be overwhelmed, but I am not.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:6-7

It is amazing what God can carry you through and you don't even realize the chaos that has been going on around you because he has so well protected you.  It like coming out of a storm shelter after a tornado.  You know it's passing, you know it's going to be crazy, you can hear the wind and feel the pressure but it is only when you climb out from that shelter that you truly realize what you have lived through.  

I do not know how people who do not have faith cope.  I know I am not strong enough, good enough, or wise enough to be who I was created to be.  It was Him that me made more than enough.  

I challenge you to think about the hardest times in your life and consider how you felt - tossed and thrown or a stillness that to the natural mind is unnatural?  If you were tossed and thrown maybe it's time to pray for some protection from life's storms from the only source of strength that delivers on His promises.

Mural!

Working on our ecosystem mural!  

Teamwork? Yes please!

 Here is my class doing a group work exercise.... The Lego challenge from my Growing strong leaders pack ( but with a few alterations to really challenge them!)  God made us relational!  We need to live and work well with others! 

Last week was Springs (my church) Conference and it AMAZING! Leon Fontaine, Steve Kelly, Dave Martin and Sam Chand ROCKED!  Three nights and two days of some of the most spirit filled and view changing teaching you can get!  I am so thankful to my school and church for the amazing opportunity!

Here is snapshot of our learning:

This week we are back the swing of things and wrapping up our first term in school.  I am trying to stay on top of marking so I can get their reports done early again.  This was helped by one of my amazing students who brought me Tim's this morning.  Naturally he got bonus marks ;).



To celebrate the first "frost on my windshield day" I am offering  12 hour freebie in my store! It is one of my bestselling Friday Fun Series lessons - Playing with Polymers.  It was one of our all time favorite lessons to do.  I used it in Grade 1 but I have heard from other teachers who have used it in Grade 3 to 5 and even Grade 7.  I will be using it with my Grade 7s this springs when we get to the Mixtures and Solutions Unit.  You can download it for free in the next 12 hours here: Playing with Polymers FREEBIE!

Enjoy!

Having a plan!

Our class has been super busy, we are doing so many amazing things! In science we are working to wrap up ecosystems in the next few weeks.  As our "big project" we are working on a class mural and the kids are excited! This is a 16 foot long poster each class is completing that depicts Mount St. Helens before, during, and after its eruption.  We are chronicling the stages of succession, population formation, and interactions in the ecosystems as time goes on.  This is also a great way to underscore the idea of succession being a patterned return to life - Mount St. Helens will look very similar in the future to the way it did in the past. Here is the rubric for our mural so you can see what is going on - RUBRIC

In bible we have been learning about creating good habits and about taking small simple steps to create a future that pleases us and pleases God.  We learned that we need to be proactive and begin with the end in mind. We have developed well thought out mission statements for our lives.  In this picture you can see a group of students working on a puzzle together.  As an example of real life truth I gave two groups each one puzzle to finish and only one group got a copy of the final product to start with.  It was a simple but powerful demonstration of how having then end in mind can make you work more effectively and more purposefully.  I have really enjoyed this bible unit - you can see it here.  I am using three amazing books for teens - Success for Teens, Do Hard Things, and 7 Habits to a Highly Effective Teen.  They share some similar themes and ideas and work great together.  The unit is a work in progress, there is everything you need to teach it {questions, graphic organizers, role plays, exit slips, quizzes etc} but I am constantly updating the teaching guide and answer key as I go to make the final product better. 

BTW - my TPT store is having a 20% off sale this coming weekend - to celebrate the arrival of snow to Manitoba.  It may be a few flakes - but where there is there will be many!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I really feel like time just flies!  I am usually pretty good about updating my blog every few days – 3 or 4 at the most.  Now I am finding that I am popping on with great intentions, but then it’s time to fly off somewhere else and move onto the next activity.  Don’t get me wrong, I love being a busy Mom…but sometimes things fall through the cracks.  Like my personal blogging!

I have been enjoying the long weekend and Thanksgiving.  Today I took the day off of everything and spent it with the kids.  All too often they get put to the side while I focus on teaching, grading or coaching.  Am I too hard on myself?  Probably, but I only get one chance to raise these kiddos and I want to enjoy every minute of it! We went to church {wouldn’t miss it for the world}, went to get some special things for dinner {the oven decided not to work so my turkey is still in the fridge} and settled on ricotta stuffed cannelloni, spicy crispy wings, Caesar salad, stuffing, baked mini potatoes, brussel sprouts in butter, and pumpkin pie and ice cream {non-conventional but yummy!}, played volley ball, had a leaf fight, played charades, watched Courageous {laughed so hard at the Snake King scene}, and made thankful for you cards that we all read at supper. It was a GREAT day.  I am so lucky God blessed me with five wonderful kids and a great husband.  God is so good!

I also recently tweaked an old product that is one of my best sellers.  Fixed a few minor issues.  If you have read my blog since I started teaching you know this was HANDS DOWN my favorite grade one project.  They loved these Spider Lapbooks so much and took such pride in their learning because they all knew that it was “big kid” knowledge.  Not only do you get instructions, suggestions and printables, but you also get a list of resources {books, articles, videos, etc} to accompany and support your learning.  If you choose to use the lapbook on its own it can be a standalone project.  We did along with Charlotte’s Web and other spider and animal related learning.  It was a blast.   It went great with my freebie Spider Research Project.  I used TinyGrads Addition Worksheets with a farm theme too.

Anyways, off to get my kiddos to bed.  It is getting late and I have a TON of marking to do yet!

-Mrs. Hildebrand

It's been crazy!

I swear that sometimes I am not sure if I am coming or going.  My week looks like this:

Monday: Meetings in the morning. Volleyball Practice after school. Pick up Chey from her practice. Home by 8:30. Help Abby/Asher with homework and get kids ready for tomorrow. Read and pray with them.

Tuesday: Girls need to be early for band/choir/student council. Volleyball practice after school. Pick up Chey. Home by 8:30. Help Abby/Asher with homework and get kids ready for tomorrow. Read and pray with them.

Wednesday: Devotions in the morning. Freedoms volleyball practice to 5. Volunteer at church in the evening. Home by 9.

Thursday: Girls need to be early for band/choir/student council. Freedoms practice to 5, then my team has volleyball practice after school. Pick up Chey. Home by 8:30. Help Abby/Asher with homework and get kids ready for tomorrow. Read and pray with them.

Friday: At least one of my kids or my grade 8 girls team has a tournament. Freedom has dance right after school.Girls have NURV at church.

Saturday: At least one of my kids or my grade 8 girls team has a tournament.  This is get homework done in the evening day too. All shopping for classroom/groceries/projects needs to get done.

Sunday: Someone will volunteer at church - it depends on which weekend it is. 

Somewhere in there we must get housework done, prepping, marking, spend time with Mr. Spouse and the little ones who miss me a lot. But, don't get me wrong - I love being busy.  I think one of the best things you can do for your kids is keep them busy as well.  My kids are in choir, vocal jazz, volunteer at least once a week somewhere, are on student council, play sports, Chey is even doing a distance ed chemistry. Are they busy - yes.  Do they complain - sometimes.  Do they enjoy being busy - yes.  Is it good for their self esteem, intrinsic motivation, and keeping them in the mindset that they are here to be servant leaders - absolutely!

I just wanted to mention that I have added some more pages to my Place Values, Arrays, and Long Multiplication Unit.  Some of my students needed some extra guidance so I made the pages and added them to the pack. I also added a few extra pages of questions so you can do a few more walkthroughs with the class. You can check it out in my TPT store here Place Value, Arrays, and Long Multiplication.

Volleyball season is upon us.  In my household that equates with chaos. I coach the Grade 8 girls, my daughter Freedom is on the Grade 7 team and Cheyenne is varsity. We have a practice or tournament pretty much every day from now until the end of November.  Sometimes more than one at a time.  This weekend Grandma Nancy is taking Chey to her tournament because my team has their first tournament in Steinbach. I am excited! This is my first year coaching and the team of girls I have is making it a great year.  On top of that I get to coach my daughter Zoe.
 
We have been super busy in 7A.  We are learning all about ecosystems and populations right now.  We are making ecosystems in a jar and watching the wetland ecosystem turn into a grasslands ecosystem throughout the unit.  We have a such a wide variety of aquatic plants and soil types that we are able to observe several different speeds of succession taking place.  It is very cool! The kids are working on their population projects - a poster or story that tells me all about the life of their population and how they interact with their living and non living environment.  I have some amazing writers in my class, as well as some great writers.  So far the work has been exceptional. 

In math we are working on place value - this seems like an easy concept but few of the students have actually mastered it. If you do not understand the value of a number you cannot use it properly in addition, subtraction, division or multiplication.  We are still making some very basic mistakes like forgetting to carry or ignoring a 0 where there should be one.

To work towards getting rid of this learning gap we are working with Arrays, Extended and compact versions of numbers before heading into long multiplication.  We are also using our interactive math journals  {inspired by Runde!}to explore place value. We used the Place Value Flippable by 4mulaFun and did our mathematical thinking on the adjacent page.  We will be making numbers today and practicing saying them out loud and then writing them down. We are working in this book { to the left}and so far I can see some improvement in their conceptual understanding. 

Running a Monthly Homework Club

I have taught a range of grades and ages.  There are some thing that have worked well across the range, and some that do not translate up or down very well.  One of the few things that I have carried with me in my teaching journey is a Monthly Homework Club.  Like any other system you integrate into your classrooms it has its ups and downs.  It is all related directly to how you run it and how you tailor it to each year’s new batch of students.

The basics of my homework club include

·         A number system that is simple to use, understand and utilize

·         Anchor poster

·         A monthly menu that tells the students how they will celebrate being successful

·         A homework hand in system that supports personal responsibility

·         A Personal Contract

·         A Reward System

In my class I have a board that I created to hold my monthly homework club.  It includes the anchor chart, the monthly menu and my numbering system.  Each student has a number with velcro on the back.  If homework is handed in on time then they keep it on the cookie sheet, if not they put it at the bottom of the number assignment envelope and they are out of that months homework club. Practice work is available on the desk and in the folder that will help them work on whatever skills we are working on in class right now. Often this is where I put problem solving practice sheets or reviews of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division problems. These are basic skills all students need to master. This work being made available as bell ringers, study hall work, or Homework Morning work underscores the idea that homework club is not just about doing homework to get a reward, but that the club is about our students challenging themselves to grow as learners.

My homework handing in system involves me not accepting homework from a student.  I have heard one too many “But I gave it to you last class,” to think that having one large hand in pile is an effective way to store work that needs to be marked.  I teach two Grade 7 classes so each class gets a colored zipper envelope labeled with each class’s number that hangs beneath my white board.  They hand the work into the labelled envelope and initial and date beside their name on the check list on the back of the envelope.  The check list would have an assignment name and due date on it so they can find it easily and if their work should go missing there would be a record of it. I still do daily homework checks to make sure that students are not just signing and dating beside their names.

 

I use this homework club to not only track homework but also to motivate students to complete and hand in homework on time. As part of the homework club I always attach two dates to homework – the date the homework is due as a class, and then the date that I want the homework back if there are corrections or edits that need to be done, which is of course handed out individually. I always give students a chance to get a better grade and complete things to the best of their ability.  I never want to leave a student with the impression that mediocre is okay.  Later in life that will translate to a “c’s get degrees attitude.” I want to teach them to expect exceptional things themselves if they are willing to set goals and work towards them. We all get to choose between what is easy and what is right.

I also like to offer a day a week called “Homework Morning” when the students can come 30 to 40 minutes before school and ask me any questions they need to about the homework due that week.  We understand as educators that our students won’t get it all, and that their parents may not be able to help.  This extra 30 or 40 minutes can be grade changing for some students.  They go home, do what they can and know that there is no pressure to finish what they do not know before asking questions.  Some of my better students have come early to help their peers, and this tells me that I am on the right track.  Support and encouragement from peers is important the successful running of the club. This is also important because we know that a student’s zone of proximal development expands during group work.  Sometimes a student can explain something differently than I would think to and that is what creates a breakthrough in learning for a peer.  I let all the students know ahead of time that anyone not working effectively will be asked to leave homework morning because it is important that we create a community that supports each other’s efforts to succeed.

 This morning time is also important for those students who need time to get organized or struggle with time management.  Messy binders, sloppy notes, pages that need to be recopied before being handed in can be tackled, or a little extra studying time before a quiz for the busy kids can lower the level of anxiety of those students who do not cope well with many tasks.  I make clear at the beginning of the year that I am here to help them in any way I can. Homework Club is not for a teacher who is not dedicated to being available. It may be an open door time during a prep, a lunch hour, or a half hour after school – whatever works best for you will work best for them. 

With this club comes a lot of in class teaching that focuses on intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation – doing well in order to feel good about ourselves rather than simply for a reward. Being part of the homework club means encouraging each other to do our best and understanding that homework is not a competition.  Faster does not mean better. Getting things in on time and done correctly is important and that means asking for help when we need it. We need to know when we need help, when we have come to a concept that we do not get, an idea we cannot compute, or a task that we don’t understand.  It happens to us all! Homework Club is a community. A community cannot exist without a group of people working together towards a common goal.  I have each student sign a contract at the beginning of the year that holds each one of them responsible for their role as a support and encouragement in the classroom community.

My role as a teacher in the above mentioned area, in my eyes, is to make sure dates are communicated clearly, written down, and accessible to parents as well as students.  On my blog I have a tab that says “In class”.  For each group I teach I have those students update the homework they have due daily and a summary of what we are learning.  It would look like this

7A- September 16^th 2013

We did a base ten review of place value. In bible we talked about paradigms and how we see others. 

Math Review Due Tomorrow. 

ELA – work on your Heart Map, it is due Monday September 21

On top of these reminders I would write them on the board so they can record them in their agendas. Students who master organizing their time and their work are much better students. 

           A few things I have learned the hard way when trying to implement this program; do not only offer rewards that can be eaten.  We do not want to equate success and rewarding for hard work with eating – this can lead to problems with eating habits later in life.  Second, be strict.  Do not give an inch when it comes to the work being handed in on time AND the way you want it handed in.  You are not doing yourself a favor – if you give an inch they will try to take a mile.  In trying to instill self-responsibility into our students we do not want to undermine our own teaching or look like you are playing favorites. Third, kids love lights, sounds, and excitement.  If you want the kids to care about homework club – you have to care about homework club. You are the defining element in whether the homework club is attractive and motivating or just one more thing you are asking your students to get through.  Hype it up!

To get started with your own homework club download this freebie or check out the full product.

Erica Hildebrand is currently a grade 7 teachers at Springs Christian Academy in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.  She has previous experience in Grades 1 through 5. She is also a teacher author on Teachers Pay Teachers and creates purposeful and hands on resources for grade 1 through 8! She has 5 kids - four girls and a boy - and has been happily married for almost 15 years.

 

 

It's my birthday so let us celebrate with a very simple contest...

Today I am the ripe old age of 33. I have a touch of the flu so I feel 65!! 

I am feeling rather generous so I will give away three products from my store to three lucky winners.

How do you win?  Simple.

Visit my TPT store http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Mrshildebrand

Find something you would like to have.

Pin it.

Comment below with the URL of your pin.

A random generator will choose 3 lucky winners. 

You can get a second entry by sharing the news about this birthday giveaway on any social media and also posting that URL in a separate comment below.

Good luck!

Guest of honor..Who.. me??

This week I am the guest of honor over at the blog Always a Teacher and Forever a Mom. Catia has a great blog - if you are looking for a place to learn about hobbies and crafts {she is an amazing cross-stitcher}  want to read about the game of stretch, see some amazing baked creations, take in some great organization tips or just read all about me and why I am a teacher check it out!!  Leave some feedback!

It's going....

This week was our first full week back at school.  Teaching grade 7 is a lot of fun!  I have a great class.  The only complaint I have is that my feet hurt!  I am not sure if the floor is different or my shoes are bad – but they hurt!

We have started teaching the curriculum now, which means ice breakers and All About Me are winding down.  It is a lot of fun to get to know the students in the first few weeks of school.  This year I am extra lucky – my middle daughter is in my classroom and I know most of the kids quite well since they are all friends.  I also got luck and teach older sibling of few of my Grade 1s last year so a few of the families are familiar.  To top that off they were my classes reading buddies last year!

I am ACTUALLY enjoying math.  Anyone who knows me knows that this is what scared me the most.  Not that I could not do the math, but that I would not be able to teach to a room of eager young minds.  When I grew up we just memorized the algorithm and were done with it.  If you did not get the algorithm you were in TROUBLE.  I am glad that is not the case anymore.  It also helps that I know that our principal used to teach Grade 7 Math and is only around the corner from me most of the time if I need a witty idea or strategy.  Thank God for Professional Development and Mrs.

Bayne. 

Struggling with math in school means that I can relate to the kids in my class who don’t get it and I think this makes me a better teacher. I have to find several ways to teach in order to do a good job of covering the material and in the process am able to teach to a room of diverse learners.  We both win. I also find that putting the outcomes up at the front of that class an explaining WHY we are doing something makes them a little more willing to input themselves into what we are doing.

I adore teaching science.  This was the part of my teaching that my Grade 1s loved most last year.  Grade 7 is not very different. They are all excited about the experiments.  I am trying to make learning very accessible and interactive so that even the “mundane” book work becomes exciting and looked forward to.  Right now we are studying Ecosystems.  We have only begun to scratch the surface of learning – we have just started looking at what we already know about ecosystems; what defines an ecosystem, what biotic and abiotic are and how things in an ecosystem interact with eachother.  

This is the song we used as part of our lesson today.  Mr. Parr has tons of great science songs that I cannot wait to use!

We are supplementing our learning with the Ecosystems unit by Classroom Complete Press.  You can preview it here { http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Ecosystems-Gr-5-8-447083 } if you are interested.  It covers all the major topics we cover in the curriculum. I am supplementing it with activities and worksheets I am making myself.  We will working on a small group project soon so they are excited about that.   I will post some pictures of what we are doing.  If all goes well we will be trying to make a short stop motion film about our project.  Pray we are blessed!

In Bible we are learning about becoming effective teens who do not accept the low expectations that society places on them.  We are learning to do hard things and know that with God we can do anything.  We talked about habits today and how simple habits can set us up for failure or success.  This lead to some pretty heavy discussions and I was surprised that we were already talking about some of those hard topics that we know they will face out in the world.  I am very pumped about this unit – we are going to be doing some very challenging things an I am glad that they are also excited about pushing themselves. 

Anyways, I should go and prep for Friday.  I have a sub since I am going to a volleyball coaching clinic.  I am coaching Grade 8 girls this year.  It is going to be AWESOME!

Just a quick note that I have uploaded part of the review unit I am doing with my Grade 7s.  You can view it here { http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Place-Value-Arrays-and-Long-Multiplication-865049 } It is called Place Value, Arrays and Long Multiplication. 

 

Yesterday was the first day back at school with the kids. I got great bunch of Grade 7's, including my

middle daughter :o). Seriously, am I the only one who feels like first day always flies by? We barely had time to do lockers, cubbies, binders and play a few games.

Both of my grade 7 classes LOVED the icebreakers. We played Who am I? Guess Who and did the fishbowl activity! You can take a peek at them here in my TPT store. It is one of my best sellers right now. Everyone commented on my classroom - I guess you can take the primary teacher out of the school but not out of the teacher. I moved up to the Grade 7's from a Grade 1 last year. I think - well, I know that mine is the only one with an owl clock and zebra print borders on everything. I even made a "bench" out of the bin storage shelf. I had *fun* decorating this year. The decorating was not only pretty - but functional. I believe in everything having a place. Organization is a teachers best friend! Personally I cannot wait until next year to add more!

Each class has a portion of the board for homework, the bags at the bottom of the board are for homework.  The assignment goes in a page protector on the front and when the kids put it into the bag they sign and date a sheet on the back so it is on record.  I never take homework from them.    My bellringers board is Sudoku right now, something simple they can do when they come in to get them working and not visiting. The pictures on the board behind my desk are all part of our bible units.  I am excite to get my bulletin boards up next week!  Ecosystems, base ten place value review, Back to the Basics {love God, love others} and ALL About ME {yearly goals}. The blue and green cavases at the front are for the outcomes in math and science that we are focusing on.  I printed and laminated them!


I also completed another one of my {Friday Fun Series} activities - layering liquids. My Grade Ones last year loved it. It focuses on observation, predication, and conclusions. It also teaches about density and how density affects liquids. It includes two experiments - lava lamps and the layered liquids rainbow activity. Check it out here.

Another giveaway..yes please!

You can grab up some great goodies in this 50 follower giveaway over at Looney's Lit Blog !  {Including winners choice from my TPT store!}  Check it out here !

Organizing, wrapping up summer, and MATH!

This week seems to have FLOWN by!  I have been in my class a few times and it seems like every time I go back I feel the need to re-arrange the furniture and decorate something new.  It is a much larger classroom than I had last year and I am moving from Grade One to Grade Seven so I keep second guessing what Grade Seven should look like.  But {knock on wood} I think I got it yesterday.  I even settled down and photocopied a bunch of work.  I am proud of me.

Although last night I did go buy some new bulletin board borders {chevron and zebra - how could I not??} I also bought some black butcher paper so I can make some scrunched borders and cover the ugly purple one I have going on right now.

I went to a really good math in-service offered by the province of Manitoba. I learned a lot of things but the two that stuck with me the most are using base ten blocks {extended to makes a base 100) as a basis for making a dot chart or array model.  Dyslexic students benefit from this type of manipulative but so will any visual learner, myself included. Using the base ten dot model you can work with any math algorithm.  We practiced with long division and multiplication and it worked like a charm because it works with place value in a way that kids can understand.

You start with array model, move to vertical extended and then finally to vertical compact when you start working with them on, let’s say, long multiplication.  First you draw the array for 37 by 68.  There are 30x60 ten by tens {1800 or 18 one hundred blocks}, there are 60x7 ten rods, 30 by 8 ten rods {420 and 240} and then 8x7 ones {56 ones}. Adding them together you get 1800, plus 420, plus 240, plus 56 which equals 2516.

When they understand this – the visual of groups of hundreds, tens, and ones and what they each represent you move on to extended model.

      37

  X 68

     56 {8 times 7}

   240 {8 times 30}

   420 {60 times 7}

 1800 {30 times 60}

2516

 

When our students finally master this we can move them up to compact model.

      37

  X 68

   296

 2220

 2516

 Even though we should be doing this throughout elementary school as we move into more difficult symbolic ideas we need to keep that visual with them so they can “see” what it means to use an algorithm instead of just know how to utilize it!

 That being said I also worked on part of my classroom Math Survivor.  I completed a few sets of challenges that I am excited about!

 Face Off is a dice game played in a group. Students work as a team to follow a series of steps to find the final answer as they follow instructions to double, multiply, half, switch place value digits and so on. It can be individual or against other teams. I suggest only giving each group one sheet at a time and have them challenge each other. This is how I am doing it.

Beat the clock is a series of problem solving challenges that asks students to use logic, prior knowledge, deduction, and collaboration to find answers to logic problems. The challenges include looking at one and two variable questions, probability, place value, as well as number patterns and more. I was excited to make my own logic problems!

There are three scavenger hunts. Groups are prompted to decipher the numbers using 5 to 7 clues. The third set of clues includes decimals.

The last portion of this download is the integer relay. Teams are challenged to match equations with right answers as they race to get their group across the finish line.

 These challenges are meant to be fun – so some of the challenges you will find a review of early grade seven or late grade six curriculum.

 Anyways, check it out here ---- > http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Fun-Math-Challenges-849801 .

As part of this post I am giving away three of the individual challenges from the Beat the Clock challenge for you to use and check out. 

 You can grab it here ----- > https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B67NPFRFcB3tcDRJcDN6dEg0SWc/edit?usp=sharing

 So, now that the sun is up and my kidlets are moving around I should go and get my school shopping wrapped up!  Later!

LAST Giveaway! Teacher Goodies for ALL!

Today is the third and last giveaway {although there are still a few days to enter all the giveaways below}.  In this giveaway you may win a bunch of teacher goodies - things for you or your classroom!

Teachers Goodies Bundle

 

{Foxes are the new owl Classroom Design Kit} plus winner’s choice}Peacocks and Penguins at http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Peacocks-And-Penguins

{winners choice} Amber Carlson at http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Amber-Carlson

{Back to School Bee Banner} Mama Pearson at http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Mama-Pearson

{Where are we? Door Display Printable} Okinawa Girl at http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Okinawangirl

{winners choice} Ricks Resources at http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Ricks-Resources

{Classroom Management Smartboard Incentives} ECU Pirate Teacher at http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Ecu-Pirate-Teacher

{winners choice} Melissa Dailey at http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Melissa-Dailey

{Back to School Teacher Binder} Presto Plans at http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Presto-Plans

{Chevron and Owl Sub Binder, Chevron Number Line 1 to 100 and to -10, 2013-14 Chevron Teacher Binder, Full Page Polka Dot Number Line, Winners Choice} Mrs. Hildebrand at http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Mrshildebrand

Good luck!
 

 

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First day in my new room....

I went in to day to start organizing my room {Okay, lets me honest I went to make it purty}.  I realize a lot of classrooms in middle/high school become "just classrooms" - not the like colorful wonderlands of posters, and word walls, and print everywhere.  That.  is.  not.  my.  room.

COLOR!  As much of it as I could get without getting any of my UI this summer.  I taped the boards, rearranged, put up bulletin boards and pictures.  Tomorrow I am going back to finish organizing {decorating}.

I am stoked.

I also just want to shamelessly plug my FREE homework passes.  I have made a few new ones - Sweet Deal {cupcakes}, Christmas, Christian Christmas, Halloween, Monster, Science, Math,  Snow Pals...


They can be used as an incentive all on their own, but I made them to go with my Monthly Homework Club. 

Check 'em out! 

While you are at it also peek at my FREE chevron birthday balloons.  I like to stick them to the end of curly straw.  Grade Ones loved them, Grade Fives loved them, and Grade Sevens too!

If you love chevron..

And I do.  All things chevron.  So naturally I went to Teaching Fourth and entered to win a bunch f AMAZING chevron goodies.  Teacher tote, scarf, lanyard and MORE - oh my! Pop over and check it out - you wont be sorry!

Let's face it, most of us are back to school or heading back very soon.  Chevron is a great pick me up - just sayin".

Tis the season....

I always believe in keeping myself in good company. Over at Learning in Wonderland { http://www.learninginwonderland.com/2013/08/bts-giveaway-linky.html?showComment=1377148767036#c8453428302332703120 } she is having a GREAT giveaway.  Check it out.

In conjunction with her giveaway I will be giving away $20 in things from my TPT store - the more the merrier.  All you have to do is follow my blog and comment below with your full name and tell me the FIRST thing you bought for back to school.  The comments will be numbered 1 and so on and I will use a random number generator to pick a winner. 

Good luck!

Day 3 of the HUGE BACK TO SCHOOL GIVEAWAY {4 to 6 and Secondary Bundles}

Well, here are the second parts of this amazing giveaway - even though the TPT Back to School sale is over doesn't mean we mean we need to partying!.  This is for all you 4 to 6 and Secondary Teachers. Good luck! {the K to 3 giveaways are still open a few more days too!}

4 to 6 Bundle

{ 6.NS.A.1 Math Animation} Prep Toon at http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Preptoon-Common-Core-Math-Animations

{ September Calendar Cards with Number Phrase Quizzes } Learning in the Little Apple at http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Learning-In-The-Little-Apple

{ I Have..Who Has..Back to School}  Miss S’s Sixers at http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Miss-Ss-Sixers

{100 vocabulary words for the wise mini posters}  Stephanie Rye at http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Stephanie-Rye

{Common Core Reading Strategy Posters}Jenifer Stewart at http://TeachersPayTeachers.com/Store/Jenifer-Stewart

{Common Core Graphic Organizers for Informative Writing (Grades K-6)} Wise Words at http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Wise-Words

{Back to School Journal With Writing Prompts} Janette Wilcken at http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Janette-Wilcken

{Back to School Writing Pack} Christi Lambert at http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Christi-Lambert

{Math Word Wall with pictures} Mme. Sara at http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Mme-Sara

{winners choice} Digital Divide and Conquer at http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Digital-Divide-And-Conquer

{winners choice} Mrs.D’s Corner at www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/mrs-ds-corner

{coordinated grid riddles} Simone at http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Simone

{Division Scoot: Iphones} Rachel Hildebrand at http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Rachel-Hildebrand

{winners choice} Laura Santos at http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Laura-Santos

{Comprehension Mats} Comprehension Connection at http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Comprehension-Connection

{winners choice} Mrs. Payton at http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Mrspayton

{ fun spelling activities} Jennifer Wiggins at http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Jennifer-Wiggins-285

{Back to School Scavenger Hunt} Sara Oberheide at http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Sara-Oberheide

{winners choice} Juliana Suarez at http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Kinder-Bilingue-By-Juliana-Suarez

{winners choice} Vickie Fanning http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Vickie-Fanning

{winners choice} Krista Mahan at http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Krista-Mahan

{winners choice} Shari Beck at http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Shari-Beck

Enter Below {and good luck}

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Secondary Bundle

{ Force and Work QR Sort} Texas Science Gal at http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Texas-Science-Gal

{Ice Breakers For Small Groups} Educators Toolbox at http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/An-Educators-Toolbox

{winners choice} 4 The Love of Math at http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/4-The-Love-Of-Math

{Connotations: The Hidden Power of Words} Dianne Mason at http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Dianne-Mason

{Five Week Bell Ringers} Teachers Craft at http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Teachers-Craft

{Winners Choice} Katie Orr at http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Katie-Orr-1

{winners choice} Music in the Middle with Mr. D at http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Music-In-The-Middle-With-Mr-D

{winners choice} 2 peas and a Dog at http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/2peasandadog

{Beginning of the Year Math Review} Mrs. Hildebrand at http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Mrshildebrand

{Monthly Homework Club} Mrs. Hildebrand at http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Mrshildebrand

{Moon Phases and Eclipse Lesson Plan} Mrs. Hildebrand at http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Mrshildebrand



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