Stellaluna and Owl Moon

Two GREAT BOOKS!  One Fantastic Unit!  Here is a unit- a little bit Literary Elements, a little bit Science to accompany your study of nocturnal animals!  Using these two great books, your students get lessons in creature habits, anatomy, as well as figurative language, story mapping, sequencing, all with an extensive vocabulary study!  I hope this is a great addition to your classroom and helps to integrate language arts into your science time!  Click the picture below to get yours today!

LITERACY STATIONS

I AM SOOOOOO EXCITED!  I am rolling out 6 sets of weekly literacy stations- with these 6 sets, you have your literacy stations, ALONG WITH TONS of graphic organizers to use with small groups and literacy circles!  This is a great all inclusive collection that is the foundation of my literacy block in my classroom.  Click on the picture below for Rotation 1.

Another great Math Scoot

I've posted about my love for scoots here, so I've made another.  This one assesses place value, missing number, and 10-frames.  I adore this scoot and you will too!  Click on the picture below to grab it now!

Quick & Easy Math Stations

STOP reinventing the wheel.  STOP!
Preparing for and running Math Workshop does NOT have to be a full time job in itself!  I've just published my first of 4 Q&E (quick and easy) Math Stations that require VERY LITTLE effort, using things you already have!  Best of all, the kids love the activities and you are freed up for small group instruction!  Too good to be true?  NOPE!  I use them every day and the kids are growing!  I've got proof!  Check them out here!

Click below for a Number of the Day Freebie!!!

FREE- math station task cards

This year, I am mentoring a 'new' teacher (she's not new, just back after being out of the classroom for 10 years).  We are having so much fun creating and making thing for out classrooms and I thought I'd share these cute little math station cards we made.  We are using them in math tubs- we printed them in color, 2 to a page, then laminated them- we are writing the activities with an overhead marker and changing them as needed.  It's working out great!  Hope you enjoy!

Word Sort- Short i

My students LOVE word sorts.  I love things like this because I first use it whole group, when I introduce the new sounds.  Then, I take it to my small group table and use it in guided reading.  After that, I can put it in learning stations... after that, I can use it for assessment for kids who may need a more hands on assessment technique and there you have it- valuable skills being practiced in a variety of ways using the same materials!  Versatile and meaningful learning!  Click the picture to download!

Place Value Assessment Scoot

I LOVE LOVE LOVE using scoots in my first grade classroom!  They are such a great way to get kids moving and keep some excitement in learning and assessing.  I use scoots as TESTS and find kids asking me several times a week BEGGING me to do a scoot.... oh, if they only knew..... HA!  Here is a place value scoot appropriate for first and second grade.  Enjoy!

I pledge allegiance...

   Kids say the pledge every weekday, but do they know what it really means?  I created this book to teach the meaning of the pledge, in kid terms.  (click the picture to download)

    Your students will enjoy saying the 'new pledge' written in the back, as well as learning to highlight key words and use the glossary in the back as a fun cloze activity.  This is pretty tough subject matter for kids to comprehend, but this will make it MUCH easier!  Thanks!

VENN Sorting Mats- FREEBIE!

In our district, we are really pushing to reduce paper.  I know that, for me, this isn't a big deal- I prefer the hands-on approach.  There are many ways to accomplish teaching a first grade math curriculum without worksheets.

I use sorting mats like these to teach attributes, then use them again in math stations, and yet again in assessment.

 I hope these sorting mats are as useful to you as they are for me- click the image below to download a collection of 5 each for FREE!

Hello and Welcome!

We are Charly & Lauren, two first grade teachers in College Station, Texas.  We hope to share some of our energetic and creative ideas with you through our new blog!  Please follow us to keep up with our classrooms!  Thanks!