5 FREE Math Websites

I do math rotations in my classroom. (Hands down the best way to reach all the needs of my students) I do four rotations, Teacher Time, Lesson Work, Tech Time and Game Time. I teach 1:1 and one of top tips I would suggest is MIX THINGS UP! My third graders can get "bored" quickly... so I keep rotating my Tech Time websites. So these are approved and tested in my classroom daily!

The first website I would like to showcase is FRONTROW. This website is common core aligned and you can assign a math concept to your students as well as they work on their independent levels.  It differentiates without us, the teacher, having to do ANYTHING!!!

 Ms. Idealistic insisted that Prodigy is the hottest thing in the wizard-math game realm. I was very skeptical about signing my kiddos up to battling math wizards with graphics circa 1986 Zelda. BUT MY KIDS BEG...I MEAN....LITERALLY BEG TO PLAY! As a teacher, you can set "battles" aka math challenges.  I also suggest setting up a profile for yourself because my students love to "battle" me.

MANGA HIGH is my hands-down my favorite and the kids love it too! It is aligned with the common core state standards and it is very user friendly. It has fun math games and my kids enjoy it. They do have a Premium version but FREE option is what I use in my classroom.

Sometimes you need your students to step away from the "gamified" websites and kids need simple. XtraMath is a great website where kids can build their fact fluency.

TenMarks is a site for teachers and students. TenMarks allows teachers to differentiated with a click of a button. And they have a huge database of test questions, so making that last minute quiz/assessment is easy to do!

Teacher Hack #2

I don't know about you but I love my $14.99 IKEA rug in my library.... but I have the dreaded case of extreme rug curl.  Does this happen to your rugs in your classroom??? My third graders are constantly tripping over it.... (Uh-oh... #teacherfail)

I have a huge chevron (white and navy) rug that I love as well... but I have taken the blue painters tape and taped it down to my carpet.  Have you ever done that??? The problem with that is it is ugly and the tape comes up as the kids walk on it.

So I decided I was going to fix this horrible rug curl.  Of course, I went right to Pinterest and found all these expensive options.  YouTube came to the rescue!!

I went to Home Depot and bought these peel and stick flooring tiles for .25 cents each and put them on each corner of the rug. 

Instantly no more rug curl for the low, low, low price of $1.08! If that is not a teacher hack... I do not know what is! 

Holiday Time in the Classroom: Frosty Frenzy

Polar Express parties are THE HOTTEST THING... right now on IG and Pinterest.  I of course wanted to do one in my classroom because we are use The Polar Express as a mentor text for mentor sentences this week.

But I realized.... A) Polar Express is not on Netflix or Amazon Prime (boooo!) B) It was close to a two hour movie and C) I usually like to put a spin on things.

So I figured that Frosty the Snowman is a classic, one hour and a few minutes in length and FREE on Netflix.  So my students still get to enjoy some hot chocolate, snuggle with their favorite teddy bear, wear comfy pajamas and watch a fun movie.

I made this flyer up... to add extra hype to the special Frosty Frenzy.

Enjoy the holidays with your kiddos!

Author's Purpose

My students were having a tough time understanding Author's Purpose. I decided I needed a hands-on way that my students could sort persuade, inform and entertain.

Let's be honest.... there's always old Scholastic Book Orders left over. So my students first sorted the mini-passages into the PIE categories.  Then they had a blast in cutting, sorting and gluing the clippings from the book orders.

I also do a STOP! GRAB YOUR BOOK! My students quickly grab their book and I have them tell me the Author's Purpose of their book. Using the sentence frame... The author's purpose of my book is to________. I know this because ( and they give a few reasons why!) This is a quick win-win as a teacher... I get to assess for speaking and listening standards, the other kids get good ideas of what book to read next and it is a perfect way to effectively use those 5 minutes before recess.

Teacher HACKS: #1

When ALL love TOMS as teachers!

My teacher HACKS consist of buying youth TOMS. For example, (I do not have dainty, petite feet) I wear a size 9 in women TOMS and I wear a youth size 6.  The reason, I like buying youth is because they are CHEAPER, have more CUSHION and there are so many PATTERNS you can choose from!!

If my wide, solid caveman feet can fit into a youth TOMS... consider trying them on!!!

#Teachers Take Sacramento 2016

 

So Erin, Laura, Brianne and I have come together to plan an EPIC meetup in February.

The weekend we have planned is filled with fun and collaboration opportunities!!  We have AMAZING (I mean AH-MAZING) GIVEAWAYS and an awesome SWAG bag for all of those in attendance!  Space is limited!

When:  February 19-20, 2016 (Friday is a causal meet&greet and Saturday is the EPIC-NESS!)

Where:  Sacramento, Ca

Cost:  $45  (Includes full dinner, t-shirt, and Swag bag!)

How do I sign up?

1.  Complete the form!  COMPLETE THE FORM HERE!

2.  Pay your $45 using PayPal.  Send money as FRIENDS/FAMILY to BWalterhouse@gmail.com

3.  Book your hotel!  :)  We recommend somewhere in Downtown or Old Town Sacramento!  All of our activities will held around the capital and old town. Laura lived in Old Sac... so if you have any questions. Contact her and she will help you out!

Once you are all signed up, you will receive an e-mail closer to the event with even more information and a few surprises!!!  :)  We can't wait to meet you!!!

Teach Happy Master Class

I was so honored to be interviewed by SHEILA from Sheila Jane Teaching!

Our First BLAB with the Fab 4

Check out our first BLAB about using math manipulatives in a variety of grade levels. My BLAB buddies consist of Erin from Very Perry Classroom, Laura from Teaching from Beyond the Desk, and Brianne from Hooo-ray for Teaching.

Random Facts for my Classroom Chalkboard

This year I decided to add something last minute to my classroom!! Okay... let's be real.... I brought my chalkboard sign from home for my Back-to-School Night, and the magical-ness continued! I use this website, Completely Useless Facts, to find fun but random facts.  Whimsical Teacher also gave me the idea to use Checkiday to find the different daily holidays.

Einstein, Lincoln and John... John Wayne that is.... also add a great comment or great hashtags.   I have teachers or older students stop by my classroom and make a comment about my latest random fact.

Sprinkle in a bit of randomness in your day!

Five for Friday

This is my VERY first five for Friday! (woot! woot!)

I have chosen five items from my classroom that I love but is very CHEAP!!! oh...yeah... let's be real... TEACHERS LOVE CHEAP!

 I found this at the Dollar Tree and use it as a whiteboard eraser. (It works really well!) I just take it home...every few months and wash it! A total win-win!

 I bought this last school year and literally just screwed it to the wall.  It is very visual and my kids know to come in and move the magnet for their attendance. I think I spent $9 bucks at Walmart.

 Last year, I used sheet protectors for my math rotations and for small groups.  They got banged up so quickly.  I found these job ticket holders on Amazon for less then a buck a piece. They are so durable!!

 You are probably seeing a theme with my color scheme. I love teal/ turquoise!! I found these solo cups at Target for 3 bucks and I think there were 50 in pack.  I use them for everything in my classroom. Easy and cheap! SCORE! 

  

Ikea spice rack works prefect as Ms. Cole's read-aloud book shelf. I think it cost $3 at IKEA. I planned to plant it but school started... so that did not happen! 

Here are 5 random things in my classroom that I love and only spent a few bucks on.