Sunday, October 30, 2011

Using Counters!

Here are some of my students using clear counters (chips) to help with counting sets of coins!  This really helps them to keep track of the coins they have already counted and the values climbing up the 100's chart!  As they counted the mixed sets of coins on the cards (these are from my Sassy Cat Spending Spree Math Tub) they used the 100's chart to count up!!! Money is always so tricky for my students each year and I try to provide lots of tools (100's charts, number lines, counters) to help my students when needed! My students know they can get whatever "tools" they need.  The key is knowing when students are ready to transition from these "conceptual hands on tools" to mentally doing math on their own.  For example, many students still need the 100's chart to see adding ten/taking ten away from larger numbers (numbers and their neighbors) but my goal is to help students eventually transition to doing these skills on their own with no tools.  It takes the student showing me through conversation and class observation before I feel they are "developmentally ready" for this!  Would love your input on this.   Let me know what you think.  Thanks!-Yvonne


Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Feasting on Subtraction Facts!

Here is a freebie I modified from my "Thanksgiving Math and Literacy Centers" Packet!  It should fit the needs/levels of earlier grades (K-1).  Just a little something to kick off the month of November!!!  -Yvonne Dixon (Sassy in Second)


Trick-or-Treat Giveaway!

I am happy to announce the winner of my Trick-or-Treat Giveaway!  I reached my 400th follower today!  Thanks to all of you who participated!  The winner is...  Shelia Davis!!!  Congratulations Shelia!  You will receive my Trick-or-Treat Tic-Tac-Toe Center Packet along with my Greater Than/Less Than Fall Bear Fun Math Tub!  Thank you to everyone who helped with this giveaway!  I hope you will keep posted for future giveaways coming soon!!!  Have a Happy Halloween!-Yvonne


Tuesday, October 25, 2011

And The Winner Is...

CONGRATULATIONS Michelle!!!
Michelle Proper is the teacher from this cool blog...Room 5 Rocks!
Thank you everyone for participating in this giveaway!
Watch for more goodies to come in the future.
Happy Halloween!!!

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Spooktacular Trick-or-Treat Giveaway!



Halloween is here and you don’t want to miss out on this Spooktacular Trick-or-Treat Giveaway!  This giveaway is a chance for you to check out some familiar blogging buddies and meet some new friends as well! Seven spooky surprises to win in all!  All you have to do is follow each blog and TPT store and leave a comment that you have done so.  You get a bonus entry if you post this giveaway on your own blog, Facebook page, or Pinterest boards!

There are 7 chances to win!
Write a comment for each blog/store you follow and EXTRA BONUS entry if you blog about this giveaway on your blog, Facebook, or Pinterest page!
Check out all the great blogs and “treats” you could win below!

Giveaway ends Monday night at 9:00 eastern standard time.
The winner will be announced on Tuesday Morning!
Good Luck!



































HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE!!!

Monday, October 17, 2011

Candy Corn Teeth Math Facts!

Here is a cute math fact idea I do each year!  I made these a few years ago and my students love them!  Once you laminate your pumpkins you can use them over and over again.  All you need is a bag of candy corn and the worksheet below!   I have my students use the top teeth for the first addend and the bottom teeth for the second addend. (ex:  this pumpkin's equation was 10 + 5 = 15).  This is a really good activity for my struggling math students who still need to use counters.  For the higher students they must show equations in small group AND explain the strategy they used for each.

Monday, October 10, 2011

Shoot For the Stars Math Facts Bar Graph!

Here is a great way for your students to track their progress each nine week period with math facts!  I created a bar graph for my students to keep in the front of their math journals that allows them to "color in their scores" on a bar graph.  This will help my kiddos with goal setting for timed tests!  Right now I have several students on multiplication, some on subtraction, and a handful still on addition.  My goal is to have all of my second graders on subtraction or multiplication by Thanksgiving!  This is actually a sneak preview from my Solar System unit that is coming out next week.  Thanks!-Yvonne

Sunday, October 9, 2011

The Blogging Mom!

One of the reasons I LOVE blogging is checking out other people's blogs and all the amazing ideas they have!  I've learned so much since I started blogging this past summer!  One blog I have enjoyed checking out is... The Blogging Mom by Molly Phillips!  You have to check it out!  Molly has games and lesson activities for all elementary levels!  Her games are precious (darling graphics) and perfect for my second graders!
Let me introduce you to Molly.  She has been married for 18 years.  She and her husband are both educators  and have 3 kids, ages 14, 12, and 17 months.  Needless to say...they stay very busy, but still find the time to make creative lessons!!! Molly started making items for Teachers Pay Teachers when she found out she was moving to fourth grade.  In her search to find fun and creative game ideas, she was finding that there simply wasn't a whole lot out there for the upper elementary grades.  In her words..."It's sort of like everyone thinks the fun is supposed to go away when you hit fourth".  Well thankfully Molly does not have that frame of mind in her classroom... she is all about fun and cooperative learning, and because of that, her TpT store has lots of fun math games, which make wonderful center activities.  As a matter of fact, some have even dubbed her "The Game Girl" because she can turn just about anything into a game. In addition to games, she has some reader's and writer's workshop materials, as well as lesson ideas for other subjects. 
Make sure you check out my friend Molly's blog at The Blogging Mom and look for a teacher's corner where you will see links to all of her lesson/game ideas!!!  Have a great week at school!!!  -Yvonne

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Freebie Friday! Frankenstein Fact or Opinion Center!

Happy Friday everyone!  Whoa...I mean what a week!!!  I've been busy planning my Solar System unit for me to teach the next two weeks (can't wait to share it with you) and we've been busy winding down our first nine weeks of school.  I have another Halloween center I want to share with you.  My kiddos are struggling with distinguishing facts and opinions so I decided to make another practice center to help them with this skill.  Here it is! I hope you all enjoy it.  Happy Teaching!-Yvonne


Monday, October 3, 2011

Freebie..."I Wonder???... Box"

I wanted to share this cool resource with you all to keep in your room for your gifted kids or those students who are inquisitive.  The "I Wonder???...Box"!!!  I have used this idea for years and I LOVE IT!  Check it out and give it a try!!!  I bet your kiddos will like it!!! Thank you for following me here on Sassy in Second and on TPT!!!--Yvonne
https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B4URf8TulVevOGNiNDNkNjUtMjVmMC00NzM4LTkyNTItZjU1M2Y1NGFkZjE3&hl=en_US

Halloween Center Giveaway!

I just love the season of Fall and Halloween!  It is a fun time of the year for us all.  We are so blessed to be able to work with children and enjoy their excitement in some Halloween and pumpkin fun!  I am having a giveaway!!!  I would like to give my Trick-or-Treat Tic-Tac-Toe Halloween Centers to one lucky follower!!!  In addition, I will throw in my Greater Than/Less Than Fun Fall Bears Tiered Math Tub as well!!!  So you will not get one packet...you will get two!!!  Please spread the word by copying and pasting the link below so all can get a chance to win.  All I ask is that you please do the following below:
1.  Become a follower of my blog (http://sassyinsecond.blogspot.com/)
2.  Become a follower of my TPT store (http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Yvonne-Dixon)
3.  Follow me on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/SassyinSecond)
4.  Copy and paste the link to this giveaway on your blog if you have one.



Thanks and good luck!!!  I plan to draw a winner when I reach my 400th follower so please help me out if you can!!!  Happy Halloween!!!-Yvonne
http://sassyinsecond.blogspot.com/

Sunday, October 2, 2011

My kiddos at their Autumn Centers!

Hi sweet friends.  I just got finished cackling at my favorite show (Desperate Housewives) and thought I would download some of my center pictures/math tubs from the past couple of weeks!!!
This is my Greater Than/Less Than Fun Fall Bear Tiered Math Tub!  I made three copies of the sorting mat (one for each level) You can see cards that were sorted were leveled by three tiers.  I gave the pretest the week before so the kids were able to do this tub on their own from a basket on the floor.  They knew which leveled bag to pull their cards from based on the pretest.  Loved it!  It really showed me who had a good sense of number value and who still needed extra support.




Here is my Autumn Words ABC order center from my Autumn Math and Literacy Centers!  The kids loved doing these this past week!  I just love Fall!!!

Here is one of my students comparing/contrasting my "Bob" and "Charlie" Scarecrows on the Venn Diagram from my Autumn Math and Literacy Center Packet.  I hope to find more graphics in the future that allow me to compare like this one did!  I thought the bears were cute!

Just a note...check back this Friday!!!  I will have a Freebie Friday item that I hope you will enjoy!!!  Have a great week at school and with your families!!!-Yvonne