A Fraction Quickie

For the last 2 weeks, my class has been diligently working on fractions. We have been slowly working our way through this Fraction Unit that I made to reinforce all the concepts we have been working on. Click on the picture to purchase it from Teacher's Pay Teachers.

Yesterday, we played “I have, Who has” fraction version. Success!! All the students were engaged and enjoying the game. After we played the game, the students were independently working on the workbook pages from our math curriculum. As a whole, I was feeling like my students were understanding fractions. Then it happened… I was helping one of my students with one of the questions they were working on that asked them to compare fractions in a variety of ways. The student looks at me and asks “What’s a fraction?” (Insert Homer Simpson voice: Doh!) A gazillion things were running through my head but I was saved by one of my other students that said “What we have been working on all day!” (Oh the things kids say.) Thank goodness they said that because my mind was still trying to come up with the most diplomatic thing to say! Has that ever happened to you? It would appear that I have a little re-teaching to do. As soon as I got home today, I whipped up this quick BINGO game using fractions and a small assessment. I also have this in my store.

I will be doing the assessment first thing tomorrow and pull those students while the rest of the class is playing BINGO. How do you assess your students to ensure that all of them are understanding the concept you are teaching?

Half-way through the week! Yeah!

Happy Wednesday,
Krystyn

Groundhog's Day and a Giveaway

I can’t believe that I am already thinking about February! How are we already at the end of January? I have no idea where the month went.

However I digress; when I was student teaching my fabulous Cooperating Teacher used this adorable activity with our 1^st graders. We had the students draw a portrait of themselves on an 11 x 18 piece of construction paper. Then on a piece of black construction paper we traced the picture we had drawn to make the shadow.

Here is my example that I did a couple of years ago. I haven’t done this activity with my 2^nd graders this year but I am looking forward to it. I love having them free draw their portraits instead of following a pattern for this activity. Their perception of themselves is hilarious!

Around this year, I also read a book called "The Great Fuzz Frenzy" by Susan Stevens Crummel.

I think this story is about prarie dogs not groundhogs but it is so stinkin' cute that I can't resist. I also whipped up this little graphing and predicting freebie we will be doing next week for Groundhog’s Day. During my planning time today I was actually able to get the graph ready for next week. (Go me!)

Graphics by Scrappin Doodles

It is just waiting for data!

Great news! I am having my very 1^st giveaway! We are working on fractions right now. What better way to reinforce fractions than by using M&M's? This activity is a great way to continue to reinforce fractions and graphing. The first 3 people that comment get this activity for free!

I will be doing this activity with my class tomorrow. I will post pictures this weekend.

Have a great Friday!

Krystyn