Adding BIG numbers (FREEBIE included)

We've been working on 3-digit addition and subtraction the past weeks. My students really got the hang of addition by making models and using the algorithm as well. I love making my own work mats. I typically give them to students in a sheet protector and students take them out and use with an expo marker during lessons. I would love to share my 2 & 3-digit addition work mats with you for FREE! The 10 in the house represents the group of ten that are boxed up and moved to the next place value.

Click HERE to get the freebie.

When we reveal the sum we usually do a drum roll and shout "The sum is ___!" It helps students to remember the meaning of "sum." We make a trumpet sound for subtraction. "The difference is (trumpet sound) ___!" The subtraction mat can be found in my Subtract Like a Ninja pack.

Hope this helps your kiddos as they learn to work with "big" numbers. Enjoy your weekend!

Five for (cough) Sunday

This has been such a CUH-RAZY week. Then again, aren't they all? I’m linking with Doodle Bugs Teaching for Five for Friday. Can we just go ahead and rename it Five for Sunday? 

Oh my goodness, so let me tell you about my crazy Friday. That's right not my week, but my Friday! It began with my flash drive going out. It  just stopped working. I tried to resuscitate it, but no luck. Can I get a moment of silence please?::tear:: So much of my professional life is contained within that little piece of plastic. I back it up occasionally, but seriously the last time was a month ago. Do you know how much work I’ve saved on it since then? Well, I took it to Best Buy and they couldn’t fix it, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed that my co-worker’s husband is able to fix it.

At lunch time I rushed home for a funeral. Nope, those are never fun. However, it was nice to be able to see and spend some time with relatives. This was my husband’s family and they are all so sweet and funny. Love them!

Well, the night was just about over. We dropped off my hubby’s grandma and thought it would be quick, so I left my purse in the car. BAD IDEA! When we returned 25 minutes later his rear window had been smashed and my purse was gone. Keys, wallet, phone…all of it was gone. We immediately blocked the cards and were freaking out when my husband remembered that we had the Find My iPhone app. He was able to lock the phone and began Pinging it to find its location. Of course, it was within a mile. We called the police and they were out there almost instantly. We were able to retrieve almost everything. I would highly recommend getting one of these apps on your phone. Most smartphones have something similar and it’s free.

Well, in other news… I was able to finally wrap up my newest math pack this week, An Array of Sweet Treats. WARNING: This pack may give you a toothache just by looking at it. It’s been so fun putting together these games. I’m excited to print and share these with my kiddos. You can check it out by clicking {HERE}. It’s on sale right now too (20% off)!

Did I mention that it's Common Core aligned?

Also, did you know that Anchored in Third is having a giveaway? She is celebrating her 1,000 IG followers. That’s a lot of teacher friends. There are Jamberry wraps, Twisted Owl bracelets, and many teacher creations up for grabs. Click {HERE} to check it out. 

Now, i'm off to bed. Car repairs and a DMV are on the agenda for tomorrow. 

Arts, Crafts & a No Homework Pass

Are you looking for a Snowman Craft? Here's one that my class enjoyed from Art Projects for Kids. It didn't take to long to prepare and my students really enjoyed it. It required white paper, masking tape, and watercolor paints.

I'm so thrilled to have started an Art Club! Several of our teachers have launched Lunch Clubs at our school in order to provide new learning experiences for our students. Each teacher chose to lead a club that would interest different students and keep them occupied during the lunch hour. Yes, lunch HOUR. We have an entire hour lunch, which can be problematic for those students who desperately need the structure that comes from being in a classroom. The clubs are 1 to 2 days a week and last 30 minutes. Each teacher chose the grade levels and number of students they would allow to participate.

I have been dying to teach more art. Our kiddos just don't get enough art instruction in class. So, I decided I would focus on water coloring projects. Mrs.Brown's Art Class is usually my go-to resource for grade specific art lessons. You should check it out if you're looking for art lessons. Click {HERE} to visit her site. So far we have only done the Picasso painting, which was difficult for students to really understand. They looked at me crazy (yes, you know the faces) when I showed them the examples and said their eyes didn't have to be on their face. So, I think I'll try something a little more simple the next time I meet with my second and third graders. I'm sorry, but I don't have any pictures because our first few meetings have been a little crazy.

So, Valentine's Day is getting closer! I absolutely love all the reds, pinks, hearts, and major cuteness that comes along with Valentine's Day. You might have seen these adorable No Homework Passes that I plan to give my students (on IG).  My kiddos will attach them to their homework with a paper clip. Well, they're finally up for FREE for my Facebook Fans! All you have to do is <Like> my page.

Enjoy the rest of your week!

I "Mustache" You a Question

How do you teach students to ask questions?

Usually my students struggle to differentiate between statements and questions. So when I saw Melonheadz's cutesy mustache clip art pack I knew I had to use it for this question pack. I LOVE the latest mustache craze and so do my students. I enjoyed creating these question writing & sorting activities. 

 

At the beginning of the week I started off by identifying the reasons we ask questions. Then, as a class we generated question words. I was pleasantly surprised that many of my students were able to share some question words. We then used these questions words to write questions as a class. Once students understood how they might phrase a question, they wrote questions they might like to ask a classmate. Some of their questions included: What’s your favorite video game? How old are you? They were thrilled that they would get to ask their questions AND get a mustache. I think this was my definitely their favorite activity of the week. My kiddos walked around the room with their questions and mustaches. They approached one another and said “I mustache you a question” and proceeded to ask a question from their papers. 

 

At the end of the week we practiced asking questions about Henry and Mudge and the Starry Night. I chose two pages for students to review. We looked them over, then wrote something they we were wondering about. It didn’t have to be a question that could be answered by reading the text. 

This was a super fun way for my second graders to review and practice asking questions. If you’d like to check out the pack it’s in my TpT store. Click {HERE} to see it.

That's it for me today friends. Have a fantastic week!

January Currently- Hello 2014

Happy New Year friends! It's a new month and a new year. I had an amazing 2013 and am looking forward to making 2014 even better. I want to continue growing personally and professionally.

#rhonnadesigns

I’m linking up with Farley at Oh Boy 4^th Grade to share my January Currently. I love being about to briefly blab about what I’m up to.

 

Listening: To the Brady Bunch. I recorded a bunch of episodes to watch when there’s nothing on. There’s something about this wholesome show that I’ve loved since I was a kid.

Loving: I have 12 more days of Winter Break! I am ecstatic that there are still days to fill with family, blogging, and scrapbooking.

Thinking: 2013 was filled with many wonderful memories. I launched this little blog. My hubby and I became godparents to our friends’ adorable son, were in our best friends’ wedding, and went to Disneyland THREE times. I turned 30…What?!

Wanting: I would love to complete everything on my to-do list. This usually doesn’t happen because I make an impossible list every time. It includes random chores, projects, and lots of fun activities.

Needing: I REALLY need to write a paper for the PD course I signed up for in July. It’s only 5-7 pages. I think I can. I think I can…

Memory: I have been so fortunate to be able to spend quality time with my husband. He is truly one of my best friends. We have been very blessed and were fortunate to be able to enjoy a long Winter Break together. He’ll go back to work on Monday, but not before we enjoy one more adventure in SoCal.

Disneyland, CA- December 2013

I'm Ready to Ring in the New Year!

I have to say 2013 has been an AMAZING year. It was filled with many wonderful memories and accomplishments. This year I crossed something off my Bucket List: I launched a blog! I began selling my creations on Teachers Pay Teachers and soon-after found this community of teacher-authors. I have enjoyed every minute of creating, connecting, and sharing. I’m looking forward to making 2014 just as fabulous. So, I’d like to ring in the New Year with a TpT sale. Everything is 20% off, even the stuff that’s less than $1.00! 

That’s Not a Snowman is one of my newest packs. I started it and let it sit for too long. I finally finished it during a long drive to Southern California. My students loved completing this take-home project with their families. These activities would be fun for students to complete when they return from Winter Break. Click {HERE} to head to see the That's Not a Snowman Craftivities.

Subtract Like a Ninja provides tools for teaching 2-digit subtraction. My students had fun using the steps and learning to subtract 2-digit numbers with and without regrouping. Click {HERE} to Subtract Like a Ninja. Click {HERE} to read the original blog post. 

Is your New Year’s resolution to get organized in the classroom? Check out my Common Core Gradebook for 2^nd Grade. It allows you to track grades by standard for up to 25 students. Click {HERE} to see the Gradebook.

Well friends, enjoy your evening and Happy New Year to you and your loved ones! I'm off to New Year's Eve dinner with my hubby. 

Sparkly Smiles,

This Christmas {A Photo Linky}

I'm linking up with Teaching in the Tongass to share my holiday photos. I can't say that Christmas ever includes much rest or relaxation. This year we decided it would be too stressful to host either of our families for Christmas. So after we returned from Disneyland on the 23^rd, we went from house to house to spend time with our families.

I'm participating in Tailor-madeTeaching's New Year’s Blog Giveaway! Of course, I think the 2nd Grade pack is pretty awesome. She’s got goodies for grades K-5 though. So head over there!

I'll be back in 2014! Happy New Year friends!