Emergency Sub Plans - BATS!!!

Emergency Sub Plans (or last week of school plans!!!).  All about BATS!  My littles have LOVED this set!  So much fun exploring bats, learning new vocabulary, reading, writing, and practicing their math skills! 

Also included is a list of art discovery links!

There are at least 3 hours of instructional material included in this pack!  We spent all week with BATS a couple of weeks ago, just using this material to fill in the gaps between long recesses, activities, parties, assemblies, etc.

You can find this great little set HERE.

[LEFT•RIGHT•CENTER] Subtraction Edition

Here, it is, the FULL subtraction edition.  :)

Those of my followers that were kind enough to leave a comment of thanks on the multiplication freebie either here or at Latter-Day Crafters have already received their FREE set.  Thanks for taking time to comment.  

(If you did comment before this posted and have NOT received your FREE subtraction files, please e-mail me at chubbydog(at)comcast(dot)net).

The FULL subtraction edition is available at Teacher's Notebook for $3.

Image is linked.

Happy Wednesday.

My new group of littles start TOMORROW!!

Feeling the First Day Jitters already. . .

[broken bonds] now on Teacher's Notebook

2 days till Spring Break.

2 days.

2.

It's been kind of a rough week.

My littles are ex.haust.ed.

Truthfully, so am I.

We're still working on subtraction facts.

I know.

Our subtraction games are losing some of their appeal since we've been playing them for 2 months now.

We need something new.

{drumroll please. . .}

BROKEN BONDS using the stinkin' cute clip art from AI Factory!

The game format is nearly identical to Bunny Hop.

The exception is that the character cards cause you to move backwards. 

This will make it an independent practice game for my littles that understand and really just need the practice so I can reteach those that really still are struggling.

Yay for that.

The bonds are parts of ten, doubles, near doubles, and the "teens" facts (but with addends of 10 or less because that is the core).

This game is now available on Teacher's Notebook and is on sale through tomorrow for only $1.60!  If you didn't get a chance to download it free, it's still an incredibly affordable resource that your littles will LOVE!

Image is linked.

Happy Thursday!

[GOAL!] a subtraction game

Apparently, I am out of bandwidth at box.net.  This file is now linked to my Teacher's Notebook Store.  I will be updating all files to TN over the weekend.  If there is a file you see that hasn't been moved, please leave a comment WITH your e-mail, and I will send you the file.  :)  Thanks for being awesome!!

Winter came back to Utah this weekend.

Winter as in blowing snow and much colder temperatures the day after it was sunny, clear and in the 60s! Weather changes like this always throw my littles for quite the loop.

I was LOVING the vitamin D and warmth.  I know I'm not the only one ready to just be warm.  My own kids are ready for shorts and t-shirts, basketball in the driveway, riding bikes, jumping on the trampoline, being outside all day!

My littles adore this little soccer guy from Cre8tive Hands!

They also need a LOT of practice with subtraction fact fluency, so. . .why not combine something they LOVE with something they love a whole lot less?

As a bonus, soccer is a SPRING sport in Utah, so maybe, just maybe we can visualize spring?!

Goal! After teaching how to play this could easily be an independent activity for the littles that actually are understanding, with time for reteaching those who still just don't quite understand.

Image is linked.
(At least now it is, thanks, Heidi!)  :)

Leave a little love if you take this please.

Hope you're having a great week!

[Subtraction BINGO]

Bingo is always a class favorite!

This week in my classity class, my littles will play subtraction bingo.

This bingo download is super easy to use - way low maintenance.

There's only ONE bingo card!

The kids play in partners. 

Each partnership needs TWO copies of the card and ONE set of the playing cards.

I'm going to run a bingo card for each of my littles (on white), and a set of playing cards for each of them also (on a color).  That way when we have 5 "extra" (ha, is there ever "extra" time in first grade?!) they can pull out their bingo games and play a quick round.

Image is linked.

The super cute graphic is from The 3 AM Teacher.

I know it's nothing new and exciting.

Not everything can be new and exciting, lol.

Sometimes life is just not all rainbows and butterflies.  ;)

Hope you can use it anyway.

Happy Monday!

[Are ya' lion?] Are ya' a tiger? Are ya' lyin' about lyin?

I have this friend.

He's pretty hilarious.

Or thinks he is anyway, lol.

When we were in college and working graveyard shift at a local manufacturing company, he'd ask the weirdest questions.

When I'd answer, he'd always ask, "Are ya' lyin'?"

"No."

"Are ya' a tiger?"

"Ummm. . .no."

"Are ya' lyin' about lyin'? 'Cause ya' can't lie about lyin'!"

Anyway. . .that's the totally unnecessary background knowledge (which I've been reading this oh so fascinating book about how background knowledge is a necessary component into comprehension) so you can comprehend my blog post title.  And maybe understand why I chose to have the kids feed the "lying" equations to the lion. . .or maybe not.  Maybe it will just make you realize that I really am as weird as you thought.

Oh.My.

I need MORE SLEEP!!

Anyway. . .(the most common used word to transition to a totally different topic or to return a group to the topic that was supposed to be the main topic). . .

Are ya' LION?

Simply wonderfully adorably awesome clip art from Michelle at Cre8tive Hands (you MUST go check out her blog if you haven't yet!!!) will make a fun subtraction fact practice for your littles (1.OA.7 – Understand the meaning of the equal sign, and determine if equations involving addition and subtraction are true or false).

Image is linked.

Love it?  Take it, enjoy it, pin it, say thank you. ;)

Happy Thursday!



[oh.my.what.a.day] AND Bunny Hop Subtraction FREE download!

I knew this time change thingy was going to cause a few issues.

I was C.O.M.P.L.E.T.E.L.Y unaware of just how rough this day was going to be.

My littles were tired. Not just ordinary tired.  So tired we can't remember how to write our names tired.  So tired we have forgotten the class rules tired.  So tired we can't focus because we're half asleep tired.

Long story short?  It was a tough day.

Tomorrow will be better.  Right?  Please tell me it will.

We're starting our subtraction topic.

(So tired we've forgotten what subtraction is tired!).

Ummmm. . .we needed some help.

Thanks to one of my awesome QC friends (waving hi to Amelia!!), I already had this game prepped and ready to go for today because she said we were going to need more subtraction practice.  Wowie-wow-wow was she ever right!

We played Bunny Hop Subtraction today.

3 times.

It was that kind of day.

Don't worry.  We did phonics.  And spelling.  And math.

We had reading groups.

All is well.

Back to Bunny Hop Subtraction!

This is a game I've seen many different places.

Certainly NOT my original idea (I *think* the original idea came from the School Bell site).

It's always a favorite.

Always.

And when you add cute bunnies (courtesy of Nikki at MelonHeadz) and the facts you need the most help with, well, you know you have a winner.

Image is linked.

Take it. Love it. Use it. Pin it.

COMMENT on it.  ;)

The non-colored version (for those of us who aren't lucky enough/are too cheap to have/use a colored printer) is HERE!

One suggestion (which is what I'm going to do because the sheer volume of the cards was a *leetle-bit-overwhelming*) is to pull out only one "set" of cards (ie: only the cards that are subtracting 2).  Let the littles get really REALLY good at subtracting twos.  Then add in the subtracting threes.  Once they're professionals at subtracting twos and threes, add in the fours.  Or, you can be mean like me, and because we need the most work on subtracting nines, we'll start with those.  (Insert evil laugh here).

And now I'm going home to sit in my chair and stare at the wall in complete silence.

With a really big Diet Coke and a box of Girl Scout Thin Mints.

Necessary?

Absolutely.

[POOF!]

Ummmm. . .yeah, needing some practice with basic addition facts in my classroom.

Remember how I said my littles were rock stars at addition?!

I might have been confused.

So. . .there will be MUCH practice coming their way this week.

MUCH PRACTICE!

We're playing FAST FACT (an awesome game using cards - face cards removed - where the dealer places 2 cards on the table and the first student to correctly give the sum (because we're adding) gets those cards - winner is the player with the most cards when the dealer has no more cards).

We're playing MAKE TEN (using cards again - face cards and TENS removed - dealer lays ten cards on the table (face up) - players must say the parts of 10 - ie: 6+4=10 - student gets the set of 10 that they say - dealer fills the spaces created from those cards with cards from the deck - winner is the player with the most cards when the dealer has no more cards).

We're practicing our 3 addend addition strategies using the work mats I shared on Monday and Tuesday.

AND. . .we're going to play POOF!

This game board can be used for anything!

The directions are for math using dice, but you can easily use it with flashcards, playing cards, or for spelling (give the player a word - she moves one space for each letter in the correctly spelled word).

The trick to this is to move right the correct number of spaces (the sum or the difference) - if you hit the end of the path, you then have to move back to the left to complete your turn.  You stay on that path until you land on a "POOF" square.  When you land on "POOF," you get to drop down to the next path.  To make this a little more competitive, use the rule that if a player lands on a space occupied by another player, he sends that player back to start.  Oh, the horror!  Bwah-hah-hah.

Your littles won't mind practicing their math facts over and over with this game.

Truthfully, they won't even realize that they're practicing!

Enjoy.  :)

Image is linked.

If you like it, take it, pin it, use it, let me know how it works for you.

Thanks for the happy thoughts.

Happy WEDNESDAY!!!

[Pig Tac Toe] SALE!!!

I've updated the Pig Tac Toe addition and subtraction games!

(That's what happens when you're home all day for 3 days with a little sickie who alternates between please snuggle me and I want nothing to do with you because I feel so incredibly miserable! )

Addition has all facts 0-10.

Subtraction has all facts 0-10.

Multiplication has all facts0-12.

AND. . .they're on sale for one week only!

HALF PRICE ($1.50 per set) in my Teacher's Notebook Store!

(I'm saving up for a new lens for my camera - I get to be the stake girls' camp photographer in June and really really NEED a new lens, so any purchase is greatly appreciated!!)

Looking for an even better deal?  Purchase all THREE sets of Pig Tac Toe, and I'll send you any other item from my shop absolutely free!  Just leave me a comment when you check out letting me know which item you'd like!

The FIRST friend to leave a comment will get one set of their choice FREE!

Have a great weekend!

[Fast Play Math Facts Game] Addition Freebie!

Introducing Fast Play - the game that is a cross between UNO and SPEED.

So much fun!

As an added bonus, it meets CCSS - 1.OA.6 - Add and subtract within 20, demonstrating fluency for addition and subtraction within 10.

The Addition version is FREE for my faithful readers!  :)
Illustrations are from www.JWIllustrations.com .
Image is linked.

If you take this, please let me know what you think.  :)

The SUBTRACTION VERSION is available exclusively at Teacher's Notebook for only $2!

I'd love if you'd come over to the shop and check it out!

[Tuesday] and a fun little math freebie

Okay, so I remember being tagged a couple of times when I was sick and I can't remember who tagged me.  :(
If it was you, please remind me so I can do that!  Thanks!

Today's freebie is an old favorite, recycled from way back when I first started blogging.

Roll 3.  Great fun practice working with 3 numbers.

Some of your littles will ask if they can subtract instead of add.

Others will want to add AND subtract.

Perfect little activity where littles self-differentiate.

Image is linked.

I'm exhausted.

And grumpy.

My littles will get the "fair warning" talk this morning.

That might help?

Hope you're having a good day!

[Down on the Farm] CCSS 1.OA.6

Here's a fun little game to practice addition and subtraction facts within 20.

CCSS 1.OA.6 - Add and subtract within 20, demonstrating fluency for addition and subtraction within 10.

Down on the Farm - where your littles practice a math fact with each turn!

Available exclusively on Teacher's Notebook for only $3.

Clipart from JWIllustrations.

First 2 comments get Down on the Farm FREE!  :)

(Make sure to leave your e-mail with your comment, please!)

Happy Monday!

[Mixed Up Elves] subtraction review

It's almost time for our end of topic assessment.

We need a little more review.

A fun little December review.  :)

Simple subtraction equations and number bonds.

Images linked to the pdf download if this is something you'd like to use in your classroom.

Comments are awesome!

If you download this, please leave a little love.

Thanks and Happy Thursday!

[Santa's Mixed Up Reindeer] subtraction and sequencing

We did this yesterday.

Wow.

Surprising which kids were able to sequence the reindeer with no trouble and which of my littles seriously had no clue at all.

I see lots more of this type of practice in our future. . .and not just for the mathematical reasoning.  Our cutting/coloring skills are severely lacking.

Amazing what a little fun, independent activity can show about one's class.

[1 less than, 2 less than] SCOOT!

Mrs. White was wishing for a less than SCOOT game.

Since it was her birthday yesterday, I thought I'd be nice and make her one.  ;)

Of course, since we teach at the same school, this will also benefit my class, and Ms. Jones' class. 

The game pieces have a series of pictures with one or two crossed out at the end.

The recording sheet has 2 sections.

The first is:

____ less than ____ is _____.

The other is:
_____ - _____ = _____.

This gives our kiddos practice not only visualizing the less than fact, but actually writing the subtraction equation for that fact, a skill that is sometimes pretty tough for our firsties to acquire.

If you're interested in the game pieces (there are only 12, so this could be used smaller group or as a partner activity) and the recording sheet, they are HERE.

It's a PDF file containing both the game pieces and the recording sheet. 

If you download this game, please leave a comment of thanks and a Happy Birthday wish for Mrs. White.  I wonder if this means I don't have to make her favorite lemon cake?!  

[And this is why I love First Grade]

Yesterday's activity went well.

It was a really tough process and involved a LOT of think time.

A LOT of questioning.

And a LOT of proving and disproving our conjectured (is that even a word?!) rule when zero is an addend in a 2 addend equation.

Then, to take that even further. . .what is the conjecture when zero is the subtrahend in a subtraction equation?!

Ha!  Don't tell me first graders can't do stuff like this.  :)

We used Smarties and the part-part-whole workmat.

We did some mental math.

We even used calculators!!!

Gasp.  Yes.  Calculators in First Grade.

You know what?!  They totally rocked it.

And, even better, Mr. CB informed me that their conjecture WAS true when it stated, "When you add zero to any number, the sum is the first addend."  I questioned him, asking him to prove his thinking while I wrote 0+5 on the board.  His answer? 

"That's the commutative property of addition, so you'll have the same sum, but you're not adding zero.  You're adding five."

So. . .we reworded the conjecture into the proof that says, "In a 2 addend equation, when zero is one of the addends, the sum is the same number as the other addend."

They get it.

They can explain it.

They can make the connection between adding and subtracting zero.

They can prove what they know.

They can speak mathematically.  And make sense!  ;)

And this, my friends, is just one of the reasons why I love First Grade!

Today we're on to subtracting 1.

Our lesson guide uses the terminology "1 less than ___ is ____" and then asks the students to write the equation.

It's tough.

We're going to do a series of problems using that wording and the 2nd step of writing the equation while working with a number line and a little treat.

We'll be fine.

Tomorrow it's on to subtracting ALL.

Happy Thursday!

[The PROPERTY OF ZERO] Subtraction

First off, let me just say that I really, really like enVision math for First Grade.  I think it's a great mix of concrete/visual/abstract practice.  I know the kids enjoy the activities, and for the most part, I think it's a pretty sound program.

However. . .when it comes to subtraction.  Sigh.  For example.  This is our 2nd subtraction topic.  The first was taught after the first addition topic.  Then we taught another addition topic between the subtraction topics.  So. . .this is supposed to be review?

I don't know.  I just know that every year we struggle through both of the subtraction topics.

Today, for example is the first lesson in this topic.  And we're supposed to teach subtracting with 0, 1, and 2.  Seriously.

Yeah.  Not gonna happen!

I'm dividing that lesson into 3 components.  Subtracting with ZERO (today's lesson), subtracting ALL (tomorrow's lesson), and subtracting 1 (Friday's lesson).

Today we're going to talk about the property of zero within addition and subtraction.

We'll create a conjecture.  We'll show some proof.

Here's where we'll start. . .

And hopefully we'll have a deeper understanding of just exactly what happens when you subtract ZERO from a number.

(Anyone know why this is such a difficult concept in first grade?!).

Wish me luck!


[Turkey Tens] new SCOOT game!

My firsties LOVE LOVE LOVE the game SCOOT!

We play at least once a week.

Here's a fun little Turkey Tens version that will have your kiddos practicing their facts of 10 in a quick and easy way.

For those kiddos that aren't quite ready for the addition and subtraction components of ten frames, have them simply record the number of turkeys on the ten frame.

Image is linked to the PDF download.

A note of THANKS would be appreciated if you download this game for your classroom.

It's FRIDAY!!  YAY!  ;)

[welcome to SUBTRACTION STREET]

My little firsties are finally understanding subtraction.

However, for most of them, it takes a good long time to finish a subtraction equation.

Unless they're playing a game?!  (Crazy how that works, isn't it?!).

So. . .that means MORE subtraction practice using games.  :)

This little game. . .Subtraction Street. . .is one that has been simmering in my brain for a few days and finally made it into game format.

I'm pretty certain those little monsters of mine are going to love this one!

The images are linked to the pdf download if you'd like to use this in your classroom.

Please leave a comment if you download.  It's just good manners.



[Subtraction Strategies Review]

We're struggling with subtraction here in our little corner of first grade.

My kiddos aren't using the strategies we've discussed on a consistent basis.  Nor are they familiar enough with each strategy to know when it would best fit.

So. . .today we're doing a strategy review.

Hopefully this will give us the boost we need to make subtraction not quite so scary. . .

A little note of thanks if you download this document, please.

What strategies do YOU use in your classroom for subtraction?