Place Value Tubs!

Sending home report cards tomorrow to end our first nine weeks of school! Can't believe it is October already!   It has been an awesome start to a school year I must say.  I have a dream class of 25 sweeties and to top it off I was surprised to have been chosen as teacher of the year for my school several weeks ago!  What an honor!!!  All I can say is...God is good!  Just when you least expect it...blessings come your way.  My philosophy has been and always will be that WE ALL deserve to be called teachers of the year because of the dedication, time,  and love we all give our students!!!

We've spent these first nine weeks working diligently on place value and sense of number.   Most students continue to work on place value throughout the year so I wanted to share with you all two new tiered tubs for differentiation.  I always start the first week of school introducing different ways to write number forms.  My students start with smaller values and work their way up to greater values by writing standard, expanded, and written forms of numbers.  We also begin to build numbers immediately using base ten blocks and tens frames.  This math tub helped me to see who had mastered number sense and different number forms.  I used this as an assessment to prepare for report cards.  I'd love for you to look at my Number Form Puzzles geared towards K-2 levels.

The other tiered tub I'd love for you to check out is my Base Ten Mystery Match!  I just posted this and think you will LOVE it!  This tub told me SOOO much about my students and their sense of number. Students match two different sets of base ten blocks in value.  I was able to see who really understood that 10 tens is the same a 100 and 10 hundreds equals a 1,000 block.  A little more advanced and a great tub for the end of our place value unit.  Here you go!

Again, these tubs are tiered based on how your students do on the pretest included.  There are 3 levels in each tub.   I love being able to meet my students on their own levels, yet challenge them to move up in levels.  For me, tiered tubs make differentiation SOOO much easier in Math and they give me the evidence I need to show parents how their children are doing in conferences.  I've had so many requests for more tubs, especially on the 3rd grade level.  I'd love for you to check them out.  Let me know if you have any questions.  Thanks so much and have a great week!-Yvonne

Common Core Resources!

Just got home from taking my son to our local pool and it is now pouring rain!  Whew...we sure need it!  We have been breaking some serious heat records here in Georgia.  Everything is so dry.

Tonight I want to share with you all a terrific link that was emailed to me a couple of weeks ago.  I really think this article has some cool resources that you all could save/use for Common Core instruction.  Click on the picture for the link.  There really are some great sites!

Also...I am so excited to share with you all my "Shiver Me Timbers Measurement" Tiered Math Tub. This tub is designed around Common Core Standards for 1st-3rd grades. 

I have had lots of requests for this one!  Students will estimate the best units of measurement for various items.  I feel my kiddos will benefit from this activity because it will tell me exactly how much they know about nonstandard and standard units!  I hope you will check it out and watch for more tiered tubs to come!  My next tub will have a fairy tale theme to it.

 Have a great night friends.-

Yvonne :)

New! Bundled Tiered Math Tub Sets!

Hi bloggy friends!  Wow...just one more day of school!  Here I am sitting on Thursday night excited that tomorrow is the last day of school.  Kind of hard to believe!  I've had an amazing school year with my second graders!!!  They are sweeties and I hate to see them move on.  If there ever was group I wanted to loop with...this is the one!  

On another note...I am excited to share with you my bundled sets of tiered math tubs! In an earlier post I mentioned that I've had several emails and requests for bundled sets.  You now will have the option of buying sets of THREE tiered math tubs at a discounted price!  Just click on the pictures below to see each set!  I plan to make several new tiered tubs this summer.  I'd love to know which Common Core skills you would like for me to focus on.  Leave me a note/comment below if you have a request!  I've already been asked to make one for fractions and measurement!  Thanks so much and have a wonderful Friday tomorrow! -Yvonne

Google Eye Fun!

Okay teachers...you know you enjoy playing around with graphics when you get excited about google eyes!  I just downloaded my Silly Face Shape Riddles Tiered Math Tub that I created from some silly graphics I designed!  I really do enjoy making my own pics and hope to have time this summer to just "play" around with some things!  We reviewed shapes this last week before our benchmark testing and I realized my students needed a little extra with shape vocabulary so I plan to use this in the next week.  This really does challenge them as the terms and language gets more advanced!  Hope you'll check it out!   Enjoy the rest of your afternoon friends! Thanks!-Yvonne

Bundle Packs!

I've had several emails and requests for "bundle packs" or downloads of my tiered math tubs.   Now you can get FIVE leveled/tiered activities for the price of THREE in my... Sports Fun Tiered Math Tubs!  I've wondered which would be best for most folks-selling my tubs individually or in packets.  For me personally, I like to get a good deal...and that usually happens when you buy in bulk. :)  These tubs will remain on my TPT store individually or you have the option of getting all five at a discounted price!  Having this option should work for everyone!  On another note...I am FINALLY on spring break!  Whoo-Hoo!!!  It seems that everyone else has already had theirs.  Love my children but I need a break!  So looking forward to some R&R with my family and getting away!  We plan to go to Savannah and try out Paula Dean's restaurant and hit the beach a day or two!!!  Hope you all have had an amazing break as well.  Have a wonderful week friends!-Yvonne

Freebie Valentine's Math Tub and Valentine's Day Center Giveaway!

I wanted to thank all of my Sassy in Second followers and my Teacherspayteachers followers by having a "Sweet Valentine's Day...Giveaway!"  I have posted my Valentine's Day Digit Values Tiered Math Tub as my Primary Freebie on my TPT store for you all to enjoy in February!  I am also giving away to one lucky follower my 2 week pack of "Valentine's Day Centers and Activities!"  To enter your name in the drawing for my 121 paged skills packed center packet...all you have to do is follow me here on Sassy in Second AND follow me on Teacherspayteachers!  Download my Valentine's Day Digit Values Tiered Math Tub from Teacherspayteachers and leave me a note with your name and rate my math tub!  I will pull the winner from the feedback list of names of folks that have rated and commented on my Valentine's day Tiered Math Tub on TPT!  I love making these tubs and wanted to share one with you all!  They have worked so well for differentiation in my classroom!  I am excited to share my center packet with you as well!  It has 16 math and literacy activities your kiddos will LOVE!  Good luck and please spread the word!  I will choose a winner for my center packet on January 31st!  Thank you for participating and have a "SWEET"... Valentine's Day!-Yvonne

Counting them down!

We have TWO more days this week before we get out of school for Christmas break!  UGH!  I have been overwhelmed with getting ready for the holidays, end of quarter assessments for my students and Christmas fun at school!  I do love this time of the year but for some reason it seems a little crazier this year than usual!  I am proud that my shopping is finished(woo-hoo!) but...usually by now I have several batches of cookies and candy ready for teacher gifts, neighbors, and friends.  I am getting a late start...but I LOVE the baking of Christmas!  Making goodies and giving them away is what it is all about to me!  As I was making my list of what to make this year...I thought about making a teaching packet around the "baking" theme.  I didn't have time to make a center packet but here is a math tub I made this weekend.  It really could be used in your classroom anytime you do sweet treat activities (Valentines, Christmas, Easter, etc...)  Anyway...I haven't been on here in a week or so because of shopping each night and all!  I hope each of you have a wonderful holiday with your families and will get lots of rest over the break!  Count your blessings for the loved ones you have here on this Earth and enjoy your time with your little ones!  Merry Christmas!-Yvonne

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

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

New! Basketball Number Order Tiered Math Tub!

I just posted my second tiered math tub "Basketball Number Order" on TPT and would love for you all to check it out!  This is a differentiated math tub activity designed around the common core standards for grades K-2.  I am having so much fun making these "Sports Fun Tiered Math Tubs" for my classroom and to share with you.  Let me know what you think.  I love to hear from other teachers!  It is so much fun to learn from each other.  I've had a couple of emails asking how I do my math tubs and centers.  I know we all do things our own way and we know what works best for us.  I'd love to hear from you all and know how you do math centers.  For me, I began math tubs several years ago when I learned about the "Math Their Way" program which I feel is wonderful!  "Tub Time" begins in the morning in my classroom (from 7:30-8:15 or so) and allows for kids to come in, unpack, and settle into their assigned math activity.  The activities I use involve lots of hands-on manipulation of base ten blocks, counters, game pieces, shapes, etc...   What is the difference between a "center" and a "tub"?  I use math tubs as a time to focus solely on hands-on math activities and assessment.  I have five rotations and walk around the room assisting when needed and taking notes for assessment.  My centers are a little different.  I use the "Tic-Tac-Toe" rubric for all of my centers.  Center time in my room not only focuses on math, but all subjects.  These are activities that my kiddos can do independently while I am working with my reading groups or pulling kids one-on-one.  I explain the center pack activities (and Tic-Tac-Toe) rubric each Monday and the kids work on their own.  If they have questions they ask me when they come to my reading table.  This has always worked well for me.  I grade the centers on Fridays and my students set goals for the next week.  I pull three reading groups each day.  During this time my students work on seat work and centers.  If you have questions, let me know.  I'd love to hear how you all do math tubs and math centers!  Thanks!!!-Yvonne

Hooray! I've Posted My First Differentiated (Tiered) Math Tub!

Alright blogging buddies, here it is!  The reason I decided to begin making teaching materials to post on TPT!!!  I have been using "math tubs" for several years now.  I LOVE THEM!  Tub time, as we call it,  is an exciting time each morning when the kids get to go to a hands-on learning activity independently for 30 minutes or so.  I have five rotations and it works beautifully for me.  My main goal this school year is to "tier or differentiate" these tubs.  I am proud to post my first "Sports Fun"  Tiered Math Tub Packet.  It is called...Football Number Bonds and I can't wait to use it.  I've tried similar ideas for leveling in the past for reading and had great success!!!  Check it out and let me know what you think!!!  Thank you!!!-Yvonne