Back to School Math Centers and a FREEBIE

Hello, Friends!

I have three weeks until I officially return to work, but I have already been busy thinking, creating, and shopping for my new classroom. I should be able to start decorating my room next week. Fingers crossed.  Since, I'm changing grade levels, I'll need all the time I can get to get prepared. 

Y'all know that I love centers, both reading and math.  So, I created my first ever product to use in my 3rd grade classroom.  I will be using this during those first few weeks of school to see just how much they remember about 2nd grade math.  

Centers included are:

So, how about a giveaway?!?! Comment below and tell me how many days you have left of summer for a chance to win.  I'll choose 2 winners sometime after Brayden takes his nap tomorrow, 12ish EST. Good luck!

Winners have been choosen.  Thanks to everyone for entering! :-)

Oh, here's a freebie from the packet. :-) Click below to download Sticky Regrouping.

Lots of love,

Jeannie

How I Manage Math Centers

Happy Saturday, Friends!

Today, I wanted to share how I teach math in my classroom. I've read different blogs, attended different workshops, and read more blogs until I was able to put the pieces together on how I wanted to teach math.

This year I finally found a routine that has worked for me. Math Centers are a wonderful way for students to learn and review math concepts while being engaged. However, I felt like I needed more than 50 minutes. I just couldn't get everything done that I wanted to in only 50 minutes. I decided to separate math throughout the day. 

From 9:20 to 9:50, I teach my math mini lesson. This has given me PLENTY of time to introduce and review concepts before breaking off into centers later in the day. My mini lessons look different depending on the day and concept. Here's what we did this week to learn about 2D and 3D shapes.

We studied shapes and their attributes using geoboards. Then, my students wrote down their findings in their little 2D and 3D Shape Booklets. If you are interested in this little booklet click here.  It's a little FREEBIE. 

We did this all while jamming to some geometry music. They LOVED listening to these songs and singing along.

I pick up with my math centers from 12:10 to 1:00. My centers last 15 minutes each and my students travel to 3 centers a day. I have this adorable little PowerPoint to help them rotate.

I have 6 centers up and running every day in my classroom.

I am a center. Students work with me every other day. This is the best way to differentiate. This week, we played Guess My Shape which comes from my Geometry packet. I differentiated by having by higher students dig deeper with the questions they had to ask. They absolutely LOVED this. 

Teachers have to have a little fun, too. Right?!?!

My other centers include a computer center, a review center, interactive math journals, and 2 centers to reinforce what I've been teaching in my mini lessons. Sometimes I use centers that I have made and sometimes I use centers that I have found from other lovely bloggers on Teachers Pay Teachers.  This week, they came from my Springing Into Math Centers packet. 

Here's what they looked like this week:

Computer Center: I always use IXL. My students LOVE it and I can go back and see how they are doing. 

Review Center: We were working on money. We spiral this skill all the time. Money is such a hard concept for little learners. 

Math Journals: Two words. Reagan Tunstall. Go look her up now if you don't know her. Love her stuff!

Geometry Themed Centers: I found a geoboard app. AMAZING! I gave them little cards telling them what shape(s) to make. The other center was a true or are shape sort. They said this was EASY. 

6 centers. Students Learning. Students Engaged. 

Happy Teacher

Thanks for stopping by!

Lots of love,

Jeannie

Are You Ready for "Sum" Football?

Happy Saturday, friends!

I had a GREAT week.  I'm still tired and my feet hurt, but I am in love with my new class.  They are talkative, but I don't have any so called "boogers" this year.  We may still be in the honeymoon stage, but they are precious! 

If you've been reading my blog, then you know how much I love football. Especially, the Clemson Tigers! ;-) I created a football themed packet to reinforce adding and subtracting to 20.  My students LOVED it.  We only played a couple games from it, but I was definitely the "coolest" teacher last week.  They love that I like football.  Even my girls were loving the little football kids  :-)

No pictures from the week.  I've been bench marking like a mad women every free moment that I get.  Then, I forget to take pictures.  I need to fix this.  

So, I'd love the give a free copy to 2 of my friends.  All you have to do is leave me comment telling me your favorite football team.  I'll pick two random winners (promise it'll be random...I won't be hating on anyone's team). ;-) I'll announce the winner's sometime tomorrow afternoon.

Click the picture below to check it out.  

I hope that y'all have a GREAT weekend.  Off to watch some football.  LOVE this time of year!

Lots of love,