Five for Friday!

I'm so HAPPY that it's Friday!  We went on a field trip today and it was so stankin' cold!  There were flurries!  And we were in the FOREST!!  But now I'm home, I got the fire going and I have a glass of red wine...it's all good.

So I'm linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for Five for Friday.

And what would Five for Friday be without FREEBIES!  I just LOVE them...

 I searched high and low for canvas bags to hold my Thanksgiving/Fall books and CD players for Listen to Reading.  I couldn't find ANYTHING.  So, I decided to make them!

 They turned out SO cute!  And the bags were only $3 from Wal-Mart!

 And they hold everything so perfectly!  My friends just grab a bag and go!

Hmmm...Now what about Christmas???

I started to introduce a few activities here and there from my Feasting on Fonics pack for Daily 5.  For my Word Work station, students have a choice between doing an activity from the "drawer" or a word work app from the i-Pad.  My students love the i-Pads but surprisingly, many of them wanted to do the "drawer" activities. 

This group was so cute.  They were all taking turns using the spinner and then they would discuss the word.

 #weloveanythingwithaspinner

Place value is so much fun for me to teach for some reason.  I quickly made this game on index cards one day and then my friends asked me if I could make it "pretty."  "Hide the Leaf" was born.

 I printed a set of cards from 40 to 50 and placed them in the pocket chart in order.

All of the matching ones and tens cards stay in MY hand.

I look at the first card I have in my hand...

 Then hide the leaf behind that number.

(I make everyone close their eyes so they don't see where I'm hiding it.)

 Then I hand that card to a student and they have to count...

 And see if they're correct!

It's so funny because if the student gets it right, they cheer.  And then if the student gets it wrong, they all go, "Awwww.." I dunno.

You can get this game for FREE HERE!

Place value word problems were KILLING my firsties!  And they were required by the county but my students REALLY needed some hands on.

 I made 2 sets of word problems with the totals up to I think 28.

 Then my friends used pumpkins to help them see how many baskets they could fill up and how many were leftover.

These are also FREE with the place value game above.

I will not cause pain without allowing something new to be born, says the Lord.  Isaiah 66:9

One of my best friends of 13 years is having a pretty tough time right now.  I saw this and knew it was for her but then I thought, someone out there reading this blog might be having a hard time too.  So read this and know that there is calm in the storm, a light in the grey sky, and a plan for you.

Have a fabulous weekend friends!