Because You Are A Hero...... It's Time For A Sale!

It's the end of February and that means TEACHERS PAY TEACHERS IS HAVING A SALE!  Don't forget to shop tomorrow, February 25.  You can get up to 28% off!  Go through your wish list and start loading your cart!  Don't forget to enter the code HEROES when you check out!

Happy Shopping!!!

Sharon

2.NBT.1 and 2- Counting Within 1000 and "Sweet" Math Games!

I have made several versions of this number sorting game and I always love watching my students "get into" sorting the numbers.  The look on their faces is priceless.  It's like they have an important job to do and they are hard at work.  In second grade,  I think that most students need practice using, sorting, manipulating and ordering numbers.  All of these skills help students continue to build a strong background in number sense and using place value. I have a Halloween themed number sort that only uses numbers 1-500.  I have a generic popcorn themed game that uses numbers 1-1000.  The one that I put in centers this week is Valentine's Day themed and the numbers go to 1000.  Once the students sort the cards into the correct stack, there is a question sheet that asks students, for example, to choose 6 cards from any of the stacks and put them in order from greatest to least, from least to greatest, etc.  As the year progresses, the numbers stay from 1-1000 but the question sheets become more difficult, like choose two cards and add or subtract, etc.  The variations on this game are endless and I believe that the practice is very valuable!  Here is a look at the Valentine's Day "Nice Number Sort. "

We have math centers after lunch near the end of the day. My students love to get their activity and spread out.  I love that they love math centers!!  Here is a look at the question sheet that goes with the sorting activity.

 

 

Another game that I pull out occasionally is a skip counting game.  This one is called "Sugary Skip Counting."  First they sort the cards by picture.  Each set has a rule card to tell them what to skip count by.  This game asks students to skip count backwards. 

 

 

Both of these center games are part of my February ELA and Math Centers Unit.  You can see the entire unit in my Teachers Pay Teachers store by clicking HERE! AND even though these centers are Valentine's Day themed, I use them even after. 

So, there you go.  Lots of practice manipulating numbers.  I know that all of this practice builds confidence and continues to build a strong foundation because goodness gracious....multiplication, division and fractions are in their future!!!  Happy Counting!

 

 

 

 

2.OA.1- Math Word Problems

We work hard all year learning strategies for addition, subtraction, measuring, counting money, telling time, and on and on.  The culmination of all of this at my school/in my county/in my state is the end of the year summative assessment.  There are LOTS of word problems on this assessment.  We started working on word problems back in September.  I wanted my students to live with these all year so that in May, the summative would be easy for them.  I've tried to teach word problems a lot of different ways.  I think that one of the hard things about second grade aged kids is that they are still kind of hands on from first grade and trying to get into the concrete of second grade.  So they may move from using counters and drawing number pictures to solving the problem using "boxes" to show the problem.  Look at this example: 

By teaching your kids that word problems are part/part/whole, you can use these boxes to all kinds of word problems.  These methods are shown in my word problem unit.  Click HERE to see the entire unit.  This unit has been so valuable in helping my kids understand what word problems are asking for and what they should solve for.  I've also taught them to solve using a number line.  By now, they are all pretty much on target with solving word problems.  We do practice solving at least one word problem each day.  I wrote another unit that has lots of word problems to practice.  The problems are separated by type and there are 5 or 6 on a page.  I cut them apart and pass them out.  Students glue them into their math journal and we solve away! There are 10 practice problems for each problem type and then a quiz for each problem type.   Here is a look at this practice unit.

To see it in my store, you can click HERE to see the preview.  I've included a freebie for you HERE!

There are about 15 different kinds of word problems that second graders are responsible for in 2nd Grade Common Core Math, including the ones that they learned in Kindergarten and First Grade.  My kids need lots of practice!  I hope you and your kids like these.  Let me know what you think!

Sharon

 

TRC Question Stem Printables and A Freebie for You!

We have not had school all week so far because of sleet/ice and 0 degree temperatures!  It's a good time to catch up and to try and get ahead!  My school uses DIBELS and TRC so we are always looking for ways to help kids improve their written comprehension answers.  I decided to make some TRC Question Stem practice pages to use with our Shared Reading selection and also to use in my small guided reading group.  I made a unit with levels F-U.  I've attached one of each of the levels for you for free!  Here is what they look like.

There are 93 pages for levels F-U.  The good thing is that these can be used for ANY book.  Take a look at the entire unit in my Teachers Pay Teachers Store by clicking HERE!

 

If you want to try the free downloads, click HERE!

I hope you find these helpful.  Even if your school does not use TRC, these are still great for reading comprehension.  I would love to hear what you think!  Please leave some comments!  Oh, and how many days until Spring?????  Stay warm!

Sharon

 

2.MD. 1-6 Measurement

We finally finished our unit on counting money so it was time to begin our unit on measurement.  This is such a hands on unit.  The kids love, love, love measurement.  We began our first lesson by making our own ruler.  We talked about the need to have a "standard" way to measure things so that everyone would get the same measurement when something was measured.  We used our "rulers" to go around the classroom and measure different things.  We learned that there are 12 inches in a foot and there are three feet in a yard.  Next we made yardsticks.  We talked about why we may need something longer than a ruler to measure some things.  Again, we measured things in our classroom.

 

After inches, feet and yards we learned to measure using centimeters and meters.  Next we leaned to estimate and then measure.  For one activity, I put 4 different lengths of masking tape on the carpet.  Students went into groups and estimated each strip and then used their yard stick to measure the length of the tape. 

 

They did very well with this activity and loved being up and about so then I became REALLY brave.  I gave them real yardsticks and we went on a measuring adventure!  We went into the hallway.  The students were to find things to measure on the walls, measure the doors, windows, rugs, etc. 

 

They had a great time and immediately asked if we could do it again later!  What a fun way to take a "brain break"!  I'll have to keep the yard sticks handy! You can find all of these ruler and yardstick patterns and the entire math unit in my Teachers Pay Teachers store by clicking HERE!  Next week we will practice using measuring tapes and we will measure a buddy! 

What do you all do for measurement?  I would love to hear your ideas! 

Sharon

 

President's Day and Biographies Unit Plus A Freebie!

Earlier this week, I started my American Heroes Unit.  It is an integrated social studies and reading unit.  This unit focuses on nine different people, beginning with George Washington and ending with Ruby Bridges.  Since one of our social studies objectives is to be able to use a timeline to sequence events, I arranged the people according to their birth year.  For each person, there is a reading comprehension passage, comprehension questions, a time line to fill in using the reading passage and a craft.  So far this week, we have learned about George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and Harriet Tubman.  Here are the cute Georges and Abes that we have made so far.

 

Next up we will study Susan B. Anthony, Alexander Graham Bell, Helen Keller, Amelia Earhart, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Ruby Bridges.  The entire unit looks like this:

This unit has lesson plans for you, a student book, a craft for each person, a study guide and a unit test.  If you want to look at the preview, click HERE.

Plus, I'm having an I "Love" My Followers sale until Monday so get on over there if you need anything! 

I've included a free download here of the George Washington reading passage and comprehension questions.  Click HERE to get this freebie.  Here is a look at it:

 

 

Even if you don't need an entire biographies unit, you can use this easy activity on George Washington to celebrate President's Day!  Please leave me some feedback.  I would love to know what you think!

Sharon

 

 

 

Money 2.MD.8- Showing A Money Amount Two Ways- Free Money Counting Mat

The last coin that we added to our counting collection was the quarter.  Here is our bubble map.

We practiced counting quarters, dimes, nickels and pennies on our 100's board.  One of the favorite math centers last week was the Race To $1.00 game.  Partners take turns using the spinner and collecting coins.  They used a 100's board to keep a running total.  The first one to $1.00 is the winner.  I use this game a lot during math centers because the kids like it and it is wonderful practice!

So after we added the quarter to our collection, we moved on to showing the same money amount two different ways.  I reviewed place value with them.  Back in the fall, we practiced using base 10 blocks to show numbers two different ways.  So we reviewed this.  First, we show the number one way.  Then we circled the base 10 block that we wanted to change.  I had them circle it so they wouldn't forget what they were changing.  Then we changed it!  Simple. 

First we showed 54 on the top.  Then we decided that we would trade a 10 stick for 10 ones cubes.  Next we looked at what was staying the same....4 ten sticks and 4 ones...and we went ahead and put those on the bottom.  Then we got 10 ones for the 10 stick and put those on the bottom.  Now we have shown 54 two different ways.  I also teach my kids to put their 1's cubes in rows of five...like a 10 frame. 

Next, we turned to money.  I told them that we would show money two different ways just like we did with base 10 blocks. 

 

First we put 54¢ top of our counting mat.  Then we decided that we could trade a quarter for 2 dimes and a nickel so we circled our quarter.  Then we put the coins on the bottom that weren't going to change...one quarter and 4 pennies.  Then we put 2 dimes and a nickel for the quarter that we circled.  Tadaaa!  Showing 54¢ two different ways.   This counting mat is in my Teachers Pay Teachers store for free!  Click HERE to get yours.  All of these money activities are included in my Candy and Coins Money Unit.  You can look at it HERE . 

So now that money is finished, we started our measurement unit.  I'll write about that next. 

 

We also started our American Heroes Unit this week, just in time for President's Day.  It is an integrated Reading and Social Studies unit. 

 

 

 

 

Let me know what you think!

Have a great week!

Sharon

 

Money 2.MD.8-Using Base 10 Blocks and a 100's Board

We are continuing our math unit on counting money.  After we practiced counting dimes and pennies, we added the nickel.  Here is a look at our nickel bubble map.

 

Now the real work started.  Counting dimes, nickels and pennies was more difficult than just dimes and pennies.  It really made sense to the kids to start with dimes and pennies.  So, after we practiced counting different money amounts using dimes, nickels and pennies for a few days, it was time to introduce a new "tool" to my students.  We were going to use a 100's board to count money!  They were beyond excited because it was new and because I was excited about it.  So I reviewed a little bit with them and reminded them of all of the place value work that we have done this year.  We talked how we used base 10 blocks to show a number and how we can compare base 10 blocks to a 100's board. 

 

I showed students that a ones cube gets one box, a ten stick gets a row of 10 and a hundreds flat gets the whole 100's board. 

Next I showed them that dimes are like 10 sticks and pennies are like ones cubes.

Next we moved to the 100's board.  I show students how a dime gets 10 boxes because a dime is worth 10¢ and a penny gets 1 box because the penny is worth 1 ¢. 

Next we added nickels.  The nickel will get 5 boxes because it is worth 5 ¢.

This board show 94¢.  So we used this tool for a few days.  The students loved it.  We even played a SCOOT game using money amounts and the 100's board.  I copied an extra 100's board and put it in their homework folder so they could use it at home.  Oh the joys!  So now, along with all of the other many "tools" we have learned to use in math this year, we can add using the 100's board to our "tool box" because we can use it to count money.  How cool is that???? Next up?  We are adding quarters to the mix!!  Stay tuned and Happy Counting!
Sharon