Image Map

Weaving MATH into your day!

Looking for some simple ways to weave math into your daily life at school and really make it PERSONAL and meaningful for kids?!  Read on!  I even threw in a FREEBIE for ya!

Wonderful Ways to Make ___ !

Check out this white board... if you have something like this or even just a corner of a larger board, you can make this happen!  Each day, we change the focus number in the box to match the date. So for example, this picture was snapped on February 17 and we focused on 17. Throughout the day as kids have spare time they are free to go to the board (which they love, right?!) and jot down a way to make the number!  They're supposed to sign their name by it.  At the end of the day, we take a moment to discuss these ideas. If any are wrong I gently fix them up so they work. They learn from each other and feel proud! This takes literally 2 minutes or less per day. 
And it's worth noting that this picture was taken on only the second day we did this. Now, 2 weeks later, they're already coming up with much more complicated ideas already. It's exciting!!

I have done this other years too and parents would start freaking out to me about how their children are coming up with all these amazing ways to make numbers! Like, "How do they KNOW these things?!"  I always just agreed with them about how talented their kids are, but smiled to myself because I know their thinking was probably inspired by this awesome activity! Way to go, kiddos!

The 123 Challenge!

This is one I always kick off the first few weeks of school with.  EVERY DAY we sing Dr. Jean's "Numeral Writing Song" (find it @ the top of this page here) and EVERY DAY we follow it up with the "123 Challenge."  Before you know it, EVERYONE knows how to write and name their numbers!  And I know it's mid-year right now, but if you haven't done this yet-- try it out!  

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/The-123-Challenge-a-FREE-engaging-number-identification-game-2419121

Here is how you play:  
  • Use your screen to project (or just print and flip through the pages like a book) the pages of this file.  It's just big numbers between 1 and 31, all mixed up and out of order.  
  • Choose one lucky student and ask them if they're ready to accept the "123 Challenge."  They can say yes or no.  I usually begin purposely with students I know will do awesome to give those who need more time to learn and study time to soak it in.  But if anyone says they want more time, that's perfectly fine and you pick someone else and come back to the other student some other day.
  • The student stands at the front by the screen and names the numbers as you show them.
  • EVERYONE is watching quietly and naming the numbers in their heads.  They need to pay attention because they never know when the person will need to "phone a friend!"
  • If the student in the spotlight gets tripped up or needs a hint they can ask the audience/phone a friend and have someone help them out.  No big deal.  I make the kid repeat it for themselves and it "counts" as correct!  Yay!
  • Once they complete the challenge, they earn a big round of applause and get to sign their name on a big paper on the door of our classroom so the WHOLE SCHOOL can see what hard workers we are in Kindergarten!  I also give them a sticker (just an address label) that says, "I'm a hard worker!  I completed the 123 Challenge!"
  • Keep playing everyday until every student has had a turn. 

Dream Team Table Labels!

One more simple idea. I noticed my kids were having trouble with a few tricky shapes. My tables used to be labeled 1-4, but then I remembered about my Dream Team Table Labels!! I whipped them out and it was instant success! You need to grab this! It's like magic how fast it helps kids learn stuff!  See the Team Hexagon and Team Trapezoid signs?


And here we have Team Octagon and Team Rhombus!

I refer to their tables often... like, "Look out how neat and clean everything is over at Team Hexagon!" Or " Team Rhombus, you may line up first!"

So they immediately identify with THEIR table and they look up to see the shape (these are just hanging with paper clips and fishing line in a page protector... easy cheesy!).

Next week I'm going to switch out the team names to focus on a new skill like teen numbers, coins, vowel sounds, or more! I have a handful of kids who are so confused about how to write the #12... so guess who's gonna be sitting at "Team 12" soon?!  :)  The set includes 80 different skill-building options that can be mixed and matched or coordinated... whatever you like and whatever your kids need!
Dream Team Table Labels!  80 skill-building team names for

If you're allowed to hang stuff from your ceiling and have kids sitting in groups, your class would LOVE THIS!!

Well... hope you snagged a few great ideas on how to weave MATH into your day!  Thanks for reading!

Hip, Hip Hooray for the 100th Day!

The 100th Day of school in Kindergarten is a BIG DEAL and a great reason to CELEBRATE!  In today's post I want to share some awesome ideas and videos that you could use on your 100th day!  Even if your 100th day has already passed, it's still not too late to use any of these.  :)


DRESSING UP!

Here are what I declare THE TOP 3 ideas for dressing up on the 100th day!  :)

3.  Create a shirt or hat with 100 items on it and wear it to school!  Craft stores have cheap blank shirts and hats (as well as lots of things you could use to decorate with!) or kids can even use a shirt or hat they already have at home!  One of my favorites is a shirt covered with 100 band-aids (which is cute as it is, but it gets better...) and then write on it: "I survived 100 days of Kindergarten!"
I wish I had great pictures for you, but if you Google the shirt idea, there are a TON of great pics and ideas on "the net!"

2.  Just dress up!  My daughter's class is doing this.  Kids are allowed to just wear a costume from home.  Almost like Halloween (nothing scary is allowed) in the middle of Winter.  She's SO excited!

1.  The classic and awesome: dress up like you're 100 years old!  You can wear your pajamas and robe to school!  Or find a fun flowery dress and some pearls... oh my... so great!  Do you have access to a walker or white hair paint?  I've done this one before too and the BEST was when I had a little guy who ACTUALLY shaved the top of his head and left hair all around the sides.  Oh, man... wish I had a picture of that for you!!

VIDEOS!

Counting to 100 (and beyond) is an important skill we want our kiddos to learn.  Movement and music can help get this to "click!"  So here are a few of my FAVORITE tried and true videos for practicing counting to 100.





My FAVORITE Project!

100th Day of School : When I am 100 Years Old!
LOVE these!
This project is so adorable and PERFECT for the 100th day of school! I’ve been doing it every year for 20 years and it is always a HIT! Parents and other teachers will freak out about how cute it is!  It includes a tree map to brainstorm ideas as a class, writing paper options, and all the directions to make these adorable 100 year old people...
I'm doing it with my class today and will post some pics once they're done.


I hope you have a very HAPPY 100th Day of School! 

 It's definitely an accomplishment worth celebrating!