Free Hands-On Math Station Booklet

Just a quick update from my earlier post.  I have begun uploading individual booklets to my TpT store and have put a listing on for a free 4th grade OA.5 booklet.  It has 23 pages and includes activities and skills practice that allows students to generate a number or shape pattern that follows a rule.  The Common Core standard is completely covered! 

I hope you enjoy the booklet...and that you have a great rest of the week-end!

Click on the image for the free OA.5 booklet:

4th Grade Hands-On Math Booklets

I am happy to say I have finished my hands-on math station booklets!  I am so excited to have yet another resource in my classroom where my kids get to have fun and engage themselves without realizing they are learning. :)

Learning, in my opinion at least, is all about being about to retain the material that has been presented and practiced, and applying it the next school year and the next school year... 
Building blocks are the foundation of learning.  

So far, I have listed only the bundle of math station booklets.  I have created 28 booklets.  That's a booklet for EVERY Common Core Performance Standard!  I not only used the common core standards, my personal knowledge and experience with the standards, but, I used an in-depth overview of the standards while preparing the booklets.

There 900 pages with the math station booklet bundle.  There are pages for the booklets, as well as resources to use along with the stations.  I have also included many pictures, (I'm a visual learner and love pictures), and reference cards. (I also have included pictures on several of the reference cards.) Of course, answer keys, where applicable are included, along with resource dividers, (I'm OCD...everything has to be organized.)  Many of the resources come with an option of a black/white or color version. 

The booklets are consumable each year, since students will be writing in them.  However, most of the resource materials will not need to be copied again.  The booklets use resources, which I have included in the bundle, along with simple classroom manipulatives, such as color tiles, pattern blocks, and Unifix cubes.  There are other items needed that are not generally found in a classroom, such as pretzels, M & M's, icing, toothpicks, play dough, paper plates, and Q-tips, to name a few.  These items are inexpensive and easy to find. 

Each math booklet has hands-on activities, along with a few skills practice pages.  I believe in both!  

Even though the hands-on math booklets were created as math station booklets, there are a variety of uses for them.  

Suggested Uses:

- Rotating math stations for reviewing each standard

- Math centers

- Several of the papers can be used for class work or   

  homework.

- Students who finish an assignment early

- Partner and group activities – One activity a day could 

  be used.

- Workshop Activities

- Guided Math Groups

- Extra Practice

- Standardized Test Prep

Just click on any image below to visit my store and find out more!  I have the yearlong booklet bundle listed at a more than reasonable price right now!

  

Here are a few of the cover pages from the 28 individual booklets in the bundle.  (I will be putting the individual booklets on over the next few weeks...beginning today.)

A few more examples of what are included in the booklets and of the manipulatives/resources that are used. With the math stations, the standard classroom manipulatives you use do not need to be a classroom set.  You will only need the amount of items for 4-6 students at a station.  Some stations do not require any manipulatives at all.

I would like to give credit to Ashleigh of Ashleigh's Education Journey for the idea and the support she has given me!  She always has such great ideas!  Thanks Ashleigh!

TpT Conference / Las Vegas

I am so glad I had a chance to go to the TpT conference in Las Vegas.  It was only an one day event, but it was so inspiring to be a part of what was going on!  

There were all types and sorts of teachers there...teachers who had started with TpT in the early years to teachers who had just signed up for a premium membership and haven't even decided on a name for their stores.  

I was so sad there wasn't enough time to listen to all presenters.  However, I was told by a member of Paul's team that all sessions were recorded and would available for viewing shortly.  :)  

My good friend and partner and I arrived in Las Vegas Wednesday evening before the conference on Thursday.  We stayed through Sunday night so we could get the whole Vegas experience.  It was totally awesome!  I had never been to Las Vegas and let me just say, I was NOT disappointed!

From the time I first stepped off the airplane, I knew I was in Vegas!  There were slot machines everywhere, even at the airport.

The conference was at the Palazzo/Venetian Hotel.  The hotel was beautiful and gi-normous!  I never did see it all...and I tried!  

This is just the Palazzo building.

Even the ceilings in the hotel were magnificent. 

The rooms were beautiful and large!

When we checked in at the conference Thursday morning, we received a packet of TpT items. :)

I finally got to see Paul!  (The founder of TpT.)  I was so impressed with him.  He came in with blue jeans and a plaid shirt on.  He seemed really down to earth and sincere.  One of his staff members sat down and ate breakfast with us that morning.  She was so nice!  We didn't know she worked for Paul at first.  We just assumed she was a teacher like us.  Again, I was impressed.  Paul and his staff seem to be just good people.

This is an awful picture of Paul but, 

I only had my cell phone with me.  

Here we are, enjoying ourselves...waiting for the conference to kick off!  It was a good day!

(I'm the one in the middle.)

After the sessions were over, we all got to wind down and enjoy talking and socializing with other teachers.  I really enjoyed getting to meet other people who I had so much in common with!  Hey, contrary to popular belief, teachers know how to wind down. :)

After the conference ended, I got to explore Las Vegas for a few days.  It was absolutely wonderful!  I didn't want to leave!  

The water fountains at the Bellagio Hotel!

Why yes, Oprah, we are so excited

 to be at the TpT conference!

What happens in Vegas...

Look at that beautiful sky!

New York, New York...Awesome!

I can now mark this one off my bucket list.  It was a great conference and mini-vacation.  I can't wait until next year!  One thing I wish I had done was to have business cards with me though.  Lots of teachers did!  So, next year, instead of having to write my web address, email address, etc...I will simply hand people my card.  I'm excited to find out where the conference will be next year!

TpT on My Mind

I have always loved summer break but, with TpT I really enjoy the summer.  It gives me time to work on units and other items.  It has become a passion for me.  I have always made my own units, worksheets, and tests.  I never cared much for a textbook, except as a resource, or generic worksheets from large companies who didn't really know what teaching was all about.  I love TpT.  I love buying things and selling things on that website. I love the fact that teachers are finally appreciated for all the hard work they put into their lessons and their classrooms.  

I do take small breaks away from creating material, although it is always on my mind.  I went to Florida last week and took a break. (I have worked on resources in the past).  However, ideas and projects were still on my mind even when I was having fun.

Now, I am so excited to be heading for Las Vegas tomorrow to attend the TpT convention. I wanted to sign up for every session but, that was impossible.  I hope to come away with some excellent information!  Plus, it's Vegas!!!! 

Color Counter Organizing Tidbit

My math class usually ends up in partners or groups before the period is over.  I absolutely believe in kids learning by "doing."  

Since I teach 4 classes of math each day, the "doing" part can become a headache on some days, as far as getting the manipulatives put up for the next class. (We also spend every free second to the end of class working.)  This means that if I am not organized, picking up materials can mean a loss of several nerves each class period, not to mention team teachers who do not want to wait on my class to change! :)  I've gotten my act together over the years and one little tidbit that I have come to love is magnetic color counters! 

Anyone who has used color counters know that they are flat little suckers and hard to pick up.  Well...here is a great product that makes it quick and easy to get those darn color counters up and in a container in no time flat!  This product consists of a magnetic wand and color counters edged with a magnet.  Pretty neat!  Very simple!

The wand is magnetic and the color counters have a small magnetic strip around them.  The wand just swoops down and picks the counters up!  

I like the colors of the counters too!

The wand is magnetic on both sides, which means it is able to pick up many counters at one time. 

 Your kids will be begging to use it!

Here is the information, if you are interested in ordering the magnetic color counters.  EAI Education sells them, at this time, for $19.49.  This price includes 4 wands and 300 counters.  You can also purchase individual packs of color counters or a larger set with 10 wands.

EAI Education

Angle Measurement Ideas

I have been teaching math for the last 21 years, and I realize how important it is for students not only to see something, but, to actually try it.  I can spend 2 weeks standing in front of my classroom teaching how angle measurements are the same no matter the size of the arrays or the area but, until these youngins' try it for themselves, I simply sound like Charlie Brown's teacher...blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.  :)  
I have included a couple of pictures in this post to show how easy it is for kids to practice measuring  angles by turns and also that the size of the rays of the angles are not important.  These examples are some of those, "Ah, the light bulb just went off" moments that teachers live for...that make us want to come back in the next day and do it again!  

The first hands-on picture helps my students see the 4 main rotations or turns of angles on a circle and what these turns look like.  (90, 180, 270, and 360 degrees)  This inexpensive manipulative consists of 2 styrofoam plates.  I used a red marker on one plate.  Students simply make a mid-point on both plates and cut one slit from the edge of the plate to the center.  The plates can then be attached and rotated to make any degree of angles.

Styrofoam Plates and a Marker

The next two pictures are real eye-opening experiences.  Besides the styrofoam plates, I make copies of smaller circles.  I make white and yellow circles but the color doesn't matter at all.  The procedures for prepping the  paper circles are the same as for the styrofoam plates.  When the kids measure angles with both set of circles they sometimes have a hard time believing that the angles measure the same even though the circles are such different sizes.  My kids measure other items such as pattern blocks to reinforce the fact that, for example, a 90 degree angle is a 90 degree no matter how large or small the object.

Once the manipulatives are made, why not store them for future years?  Saving the circles for future years saves precious time, copy paper, and $ for the plates.

As you can probably tell, my red styrofoam plates have been around for several years!

Now add a Smaller Set of Circles:  Copy Paper

Paper Strips

Another great way to reinforce this lesson is to take two strips of paper and fasten these with a brad.  Let your students measure angles such as the corners of the walls and a pattern block square.  It is exciting to watch as the kids realize that the size of the items doesn't make a difference in the angles!

Organization - File Cabinets

Some people call me OCD...for a very good reason.  I like everything to be in a place and I want it to be there when I need it.  My husband has never fully understood that.  He doesn't seem to get that if you borrow my scissors, you must return them to their rightful place.  My children don't understand me either.  They don't see why I get so bent out of shape when I get to the store and someone has borrowed my debit card and "forgotten" to return it.

I try to operate my classroom in an organized manner  too. Everything has a place.  My last post was about my lesson plan notebooks.  Everything is laid out day by day with no surprises.  My copies are always in the front of the notebook and all materials I will need for the day are listed in my lesson plan.  With my lesson plan notebooks, I know I'm not going to forget anything or not be able to find what I need.

I feel the same way about my file cabinets.  What can't fit into my lesson plan notebooks either goes in a plastic container if it is large or bulky, or it goes into my file cabinet.  

I have my math file drawer organized by the standards that I teach, starting with the beginning of the school year until the last unit at the end of the school year. 

This was the first full year of Common Core Performance Standards in my county.  By the end of next year I will have to add at least one more math drawer.  I am quickly running out of room as I prepare new material.

Laminated papers that I use for each  

standard are stored in the file cabinet.

Work Mats

I never have to worry about finding my standards.  There are nicely tucked away in my file cabinet.

Any activities with small pieces go in the file cabinet.  

Another example of work mats.  I label the folder with the standard and day that coordinates with my lesson plan.  It makes it easier to quickly find something and easier to put it back in order.

The file cabinet is a great place to keep up with my "homemade" boardgames. As I mentioned before, I keep the larger materials in another section of my room.  I will be posting about that section on another day. 

The only problem you could possibly have setting up your file cabinets like this is forgetting to put the items back in the file cabinet.  I have been guilty of that too. However, it is still a breeze getting the materials back to their place. 

I hope everyone has a great summer.  Last Friday was my last day.  I am truly looking forward to relaxing and working on TPT items!