iPads in the Classroom-QR Codes

We have been an iPad school for a little over 2 years.  The first year was a learning curve for me in how I would use iPads with 6 year olds.  Little did I know they would teach me!  One of our favorite iPad activities are QR codes.  They just love to scan stuff!  Whenever we see a QR code whether on a snack bag, in a book, or magazine we HAVE to scan it.  It's an easy activity to reinforce skills and keep engagement.  My students each have an iPad buddy!   Their picture is the wallpaper on their iPad so it is easy to keep track of who's iPad is whose.   To prep for the QR lesson I print and laminate the cards.  I then tape the cards all over the room.  That is the fun part!  The kids are moving the whole time!  The rule being only one set of partners at a code, at a time.  They do so well with it!  They are too engaged to be silly!  As they are moving around the room I am walking around helping where needed.  The students read the card and solve the problem.  They write their answer on the recording sheet with a marker.  The marker is key!  They then scan to see if they answered correctly.  If the answer is not correct they X it out and write the correct in.  When I collect the sheets I can easily see what questions the students need more assistance on.  After today's lesson I noticed most students need additional support with expanded form.  Here is a look at a review math lesson using QR codes.  

We used the recording sheets, iPads, clipboards, and markers.

 iPad buddies worked together to solve the problem, record it, and check by scanning. 

I love being able to check their work without them erasing!  If it was crossed out I know they answered incorrectly and need additional support on the skill! Alternative assessment ;)

Happy Teaching! 

Super Bowl Sunday Freebie

Good news! Some friends and I have come up with some football freebies for you! I want to thank you for following my blog and also celebrate how many times I have blogged so far in 2015!

Thank you!

Whether or not you are watching the big game today, and no matter who  you are cheering for, your students will love these FOOTBALL THEMED FREEBIES!

Please just do me a huge favor.

I know that you follow my Teachers Pay Teachers store (at least I hope you do, so you don't miss any of my goodies!) I also have a feeling that you might follow Allison Stuckey's TPT page since I mention her work a lot! 

Please be sure to FOLLOW everyone who has left freebies for you on my post today. They are all my personal friends and have just started out posting their amazing work on TPT. Please help them out by following their TPT stores and watching for all of the future products! After you download their freebies, just click FOLLOW on TPT. :) Thank you so much!

From Stuckey in Second:

From Tales From the First Grade by Abbie Jinnings:

From Fables from the Kitchen Table:

From Michelle Meyer:

From Hostler's Third Grade Thinkers: 

Math Performance Task

Part of our math curriculum is focusing on performance task as a testing option. My kids really struggle with these. They are very broad and the children are essentially creating their own math problem. My kids are definitely not use to this!  We are working weekly on a practice math performance task to help prepare for the topic test!  Take a look and keep scrolling for a freebie sample! 

Happy Teaching! 

Little Red Riding Hood

Over Christmas break my mom and I made a trip to Ikea. While there I found folktale stuffed dolls!  One of those dolls was Little Red Riding Hood, the Big Bad Wolf, and a little old grandma. The wolf actually eats the grandma and Little Red.  The belly then opens where they come out. It follows the Grimm's Tale. Finding a Little Red version that they both are ate and saved by the hunter is really hard!  I bought a Grimm's Little Red Riding Hood book on Amazon and read the story with the dolls to the kids. They LOVED it. From there I ordered 7 different versions of the tale!  Our favorite was the Grimm's tale and second favorite was Ninja Red Riding Hood!  Keep scrolling for a tonight only freebie! (1/25/15)

Free Tonight Only!

Click Cover Picture!

A little bubble fun!

We are focusing on writing how to books for the month of January. To excite the students on our new writing focus we did some bubble writing. I found a 24 pack of bubbles for $3.00 at the Target dollar spot!  I first modeled how to blow bubbles and we created an anchor chart to track the steps. Then the fun began with our steps written out the kids went wild with some bubble blowing!  Here is a look at our lesson.  Keep scrolling for a bubble writing template freebie! 

New Year New You

Over half of January is already over!  Wow time flies!  How are your resolutions going?  As a first grade class we took a lot of time to talk about a new year, a new you. We focused on how we could become better people this year!  Together we made an anchor chart of our ideas. I was so proud of the things they thought of both broad ideas and personal ones. Here are some that made the list!  Be kind, work hard, turn in homework, read every night, be on time, smile, and do not take things from others. Wow what great ideas!  Take a look at our New Year's resolution bulletin board! 

I hope this year brings many blessings to you!  Happy teaching! 

Tuesday Tip- Safe Place

We are working through the book Conscious Discipline as a staff. I absolutely love it!! I have been teaching the breathing techniques daily. My next step is to add the Safe Place. I am planning on teaching the expectations throughout the week before opening the space for visitors. Take a look at the space!  Also keep scrolling for a poster freebie!