Using Flashcards

I was reading Leslie's blog, Kindergarten Works, the other day and she had the best idea for using flashcards during her guided math groups. You know that time at the beginning of group when the kids need to sit down and get busy while you're trying to fix a dang computer, or at the end when you really need to write down some notes but the kids need to be busy too? Well this is perfect and s.i.m.p.l.e.

Leslie's kids quiz each other with flashcards and lie them down on colored foam pieces according to how well they know the answer.
green = fast
yellow = slow
red = didn't know the answer

Hop over to Kindergarten Works to read more on her post about organizing her guided math area.

I was so excited I wanted to make little foam mats right then! I hoard craft supplies but wouldn't you know I only had green foam! So I just made a document to print off and use at my table. Here's a copy if you want it too.

Common Core Practice Standards

I'm thrilled to be on the math committee this year (I'm a huge math nerd!). This summer we had a math common core workshop for our faculty to explain the common core standards and how our teaching will change. Turns out, we don't have much to change. We've been using the Investigations math series for years and it pushes hard for students to be able to think about their own thinking, which is what I think the gist of common core really is.
While planning for this workshop the we decided to make "I Can" statements for the 8 Practice Standards for everyone to post in their classrooms and use as discussion points when wrapping-up lessons. I finally took a picture and uploaded them to share.

Click either picture to go to the download.

Back to School Class Book

Hello blog! My goodness, it's been a month and a half since I last visited blogland. I'm so out of the loop and have lots of catching up to do. I hope everyone's been having a wonderful summer. I'm officially in back to school mode thanks to Target putting out their school stuff. Why I bought 3 more mini-pocket charts I don't know. Did everyone see the star student chair covers? I got a few! I'm in such a mood I might even run up to school this afternoon to piddle around a bit. In Alabama we're starting school 2 weeks later than usual, so I've still got 4 solid weeks to plan and prepare. Maybe this will actually be the year that I get a few weeks completely prepared before hand (but I won't hold my breath).

Anyway, I've updated a little class book I posted last year. I plan to use it during the first week to help students learn names and to proactice writing their own name. I just posted it on TPT (free). Here's the link if you want a copy.

Also, this summer I helped with a math common core workshop for my faculty and I created some I can charts for the practice standards. I'm hoping to post those tomorrow. I'll be on a roll if I post 2 days in a row!