AWESOME Math Station Resource, Anyone?

Do you use math stations in your classroom?

With the trend of incorporating differentiated instruction and more small group time, my class has enjoyed "math stations" at the end of the day while I work with individual students or small groups (i.e., intervention).

I have LOVED Daily 5 for reading stations, but sometimes struggle to find just the right math resources for workstations during this instructional block.
Even when we practice, and I take time to reteach math tubs, my students always seem to occasionally get off task because they suddenly just don't remember the directions for the activities.

Thank goodness for Casey Williamson, aka Second Grade Math Maniac!
She has an AMAZING product called "Take Home Math Kits".

click on the photo to check it out in Casey's TpT store! 

Seriously folks: LOVE this product!

I have only used it a short while, but the activities are very kid-friendly, and my students have stayed engaged the whole time during station choices.
Yesterday, there were actual GROANS when it was time to pick up and get ready to go home!
Gotta love that:)

Here are some photos of my students using just a sampling of what this packet has to offer:

Casey designed this product as a resource to help students at HOME (hence, the "take home" part in the name) to help them retain math knowledge, in addition to other homework.

These activities cover all sorts of standards from first to second grades.

Because I received the packet a little later into the school year, I decided not to go the "parent route" in implementation…YET.
However, I fully intend to use this packet as a take-home resource during the next school year.
Casey makes the use of this resource completely fool-proof, as she is passionate about improving the Home/School Connection (everyone needs that!)
She's included check-out sheets, tips for teachers, parent letters explaining the resource, and even answer keys you can include (for the parents, of course!).

BUT I plan on offering the games as a resource to choose during daily math stations, as well.
I figure I will get the most 'bang for my buck' this way:)

Students can use the activities at home with their parents, and parents can have a taste of what their children are doing during math stations.
I don't know about you, but many of my parents think we "play" during that time.
Well, obviously we do!
But it's relevant practice, people. Come on.
Wasted instructional time?
Ain't nobody got time for that:)

And no more excuses for not remembering those pesky directions for games and activities.
If students have practice at home with the activities, it is even more likely they'll be confident in playing or teaching others how to play the games that should be familiar to them.

Casey has stated that the goal for using this product should be for familiar practice, not for teaching new skills (as any good homework SHOULD).
Since we are getting ready to wrap-up our geometry unit, these games are getting ready to come into rotation:

We are just getting ready to start the measurement review from this chapter, so my students will have the pleasure of using THESE games, tested and approved by my very own "guinea pigs" (thanks, boys!):

 ---side note on this measurement game: The directions & recording sheet say to use the inches side of a ruler for the objects, but we have only used nonstandard measurement, so my students will use paperclips & "inchworms". I won't worry about offering the recording sheet for now:)

There are also a few activities that I am going to incorporate whole group, rather than for stations.

Check these out!

And this activity will have to be adapted slightly. 

We are gearing up for our zoo field trip, so I just KNEW I had to include these skip-counting puzzles!

BUT they are definitely geared towards 2nd graders (or very high firsties) as they use numbers in the high hundreds, so I will make a "CHALLENGE" set (printed as is) and a "GOOD PRACTICE" set, that will be 'white-out-ed' (I'm sure that's a word) over the hundreds value of the number.

Finally, my enrichment group will enjoy this resource with my paras and aides while I work with students needing intervention:

Never too early to introduce & reinforce repeated addition (aka, multiplication) concepts, right?

As you can see, this packet is extremely versatile.

If you want a great resource for parent involvement/home practice, this will do the job (that's the primary intention for the product, anyway)!

If you need additional resources for math stations in your first or second grade classroom, this works wonders!

If you want some fabulous enrichment activities for your primary students or fun intervention games for your intermediate kiddos, this will fit the bill.

Most teachers are looking for a product that will do a little more than expected…and this certainly does!

I am very grateful to have been chosen by Casey to receive and review this amazing product!

I only wish I had found it at the start of the year:)

If you're unfamiliar with Casey's blog, you should head over there now for  some really fabulous math (and other) ideas!

*caveat: I received no financial compensation for my thoughts…just this packet.

Telling "Secrets"…& a FREEBIE!

Has anyone else out there in bloggy-land checked out Deanna Jump's blog when Katie Garner has guest blogged?

Mrs. Garner has been presenting precious pearls of wisdom that relate to phonics instruction and reaching kids who may not 'get it' from implemented core or supplemental resources, through what she calls a "back door approach" to phonics and spelling patterns.

I have used most of what I learned from Mrs. Garner's blog posts and videos.
My Tier (Intervention) group has really latched onto, and recalled, the "Secrets" I've taught them.

If you are not familiar with her ideas, I strongly recommend you go to her first (of many life-changing) post here:

My post can wait.
Go.
NOW!

K…did you read it?
In its entirety??
Or did you do the teacher thing and skim through...
I'll wait while you go re-read:)

Seriously, her system is mind-blowing!
I have since become subscribed to her vlogs on YouTube, and her own blog, as well.
I am obsessed! #slightlystalker-ish

I had already planned to purchase her book this summer, just to check it out and see what I thought.
I was super curious about her background (i.e., how credible she is a researcher/instructor).
I wanted to know more about where/when this idea of revealing spelling patterns as "Secret Stories" to her students was created.
I desperately needed to learn all her other "Secrets", since the few she has told worked so well!

The price seemed a little steep (when you're talking about out-of-pocket purchases for school-use items), but I was more than willing to fork it over if I felt it would really help my students! (which I do)

Little did I know (until this post) that if you comment on her posts (at Mrs. Jump's blog or Mrs. Garner's own blog) or vlogs, you are automatically entered in a monthly drawing to win an entire set of her resources!!!

Should your lucky name be drawn, you get the whole enchilada:
her book, a CD with all sorts of fun phonics songs, & BEAUTIFUL, LARGE posters of her "Secret Stories" patterns.
Just look:

click on the pic to be taken directly to the SECRET STORIES website/store/blog!

Don't you know I was tickled pink---okay, more like completely psyched out of mind!---when Katie emailed me letting me know that MY NAME HAD BEEN DRAWN AS THE FEBRUARY WINNER!!!

Whaaat??!

I know!

That lovely box came in the mail this morning.
It must really be a 'lucky' day:)

I have spent all morning perusing her book, listening to the CD, and admiring the posters.
I thought I would wait until next fall to fully implement her ideas…I just can't wait that long!
Now, I'm planning on "telling secrets" to my whole class as soon as we get back from Spring Break.

I'll preface the secrets by telling them:
"Now that you are almost 2nd Graders, and getting to be so grown-up, I can let you in on some actual grown-up reading & writing secrets! Most adults don't remember these secrets, because they've just been reading and writing for so long…but teachers are special and get to remember the secrets of the alphabet!
If you all are working hard like almost 2nd Graders, and doing your very best every day, I will let you in on a grown-up secret at the start of the next day.
But, if I feel like you aren't doing your best work, I will know that you aren't quite grown up enough to hear a "secret", and I'll have to wait until a better day to tell you."

Here is me crossing my fingers, toes, eyes and whatever that this will keep our behavior in check as we zoom towards the end of the school year!

I'll start with the secret that goes with our spelling pattern for that week (ai-ay), and release other secrets when the need arises.
THAT is the true beauty of Katie Garner's system: it really does work best on a "need-to-know" basis!
You teach your students based on the necessity of classroom content---when the students notice a "secret" or it comes up context.
ANY CONTEXT!
Not just the reading block, but anytime they encounter a word that just doesn't seem to read like it should.

For those of you who need a clear-cut "scope and sequence" to anything you implement, you may want to set that kind of control aside.
Even developmental readiness shouldn't get in the way of teaching your students these secrets…they will use them when they are ready, but you should present them whenever it is appropriate.

Okay, I'll let Mrs. Garner herself fill you in on the rest!
I hope you are intrigued if you haven't already heard about/from her.
Check out one of her coolest vlogs by clicking the button below, and COMMENT, COMMENT, COMMENT!

Best of luck to you that your name comes up as the winnah next month:)

Oh yeah…I promised a freebie:)
In one of Mrs. Garner's routines to build automaticity, she uses a vertical alphabet chart.
This chart helps with the ease and flow of her "Better Alphabet" song and "letter runs".
Already thinking about implementing these routines into my day, I created one for me to use.
Click on the image below if you want to download it for free to use in your classroom:)
Enjoy!

Spring Cleaning:)

So, spring is nearly here...
and, being on Spring Break, I have some time on my hands.

My good friend, Mrs. B, decided to give her blog a facelift…and it's adorable!
If you've never checked her out, click on her cute little button below:

She inspired me to do a little "clean up" myself…and I'm pretty happy with the change.
I am, by no means, a professional 'tech-nerd' (I just pretend to be one), so it's taken me all day!

I also changed my blog name to reflect my actual URL…
but I kept my adorable "synonym roll", as a little homage to the old look:)
Maybe the updates will help me be a little more consistent in my blogging habits;/...here's hoping.

Thank you SO MUCH to "The Cutest Blog on the Block" for their premade templates and banners!

LOVE THEM! <3

Enjoy the rest of your weekend, friends!
Happy St. Patty's day on Monday!