download here

download here

First up on the board is "Brainstorming 4-Ever!" This was originally a printable activity I used as an anchor activity with my little Einsteins. This year, I decided to make the activity larger than life to "hook" and motivate my students in a new way.

Using the word "Jack-o-lantern" as inspiration, this Halloween-themed activity challenges students to think of as many different 4-syllable words as they can. Avocado, comprehension, impossible, articulate . . . the possibilities are endless, but it is delightfully difficult!

To add a level of difficulty, eliminate proper nouns. OR, make it a game! After brainstorming a list of words, students compare answers with other players. Students earn one point for each unique response that no other player has. The player with the most points wins. This can be timed or un-timed.

When students arrive to class early, finish assignments early, are in need of enrichment, or just want to be inspired, they grab a brainstorming sheet from the envelope. I've included a printable copy of the activity below in case you'd like to try it out with your kiddos. :-)


Next up, is Halloween math:



This too was a printable activity that I enlarged for a new twist. Each Halloween symbol represents a number. Students can "Guess and Check" or use algebra to reach the correct answer. There is something about a larger than life math problem that kids love! I'm not sure if it's the novelty of the presentation or the seasonal images, but they are in love. You can find the printable version of this activity (along with the answer :-) here.

And last, but not least, is 24 - an all-time student favorite.



In the game of 24, students use the four numbers given once and only once along with a combination of operations to reach 24. Students record their answer on the recording sheet below. You can find a free copy here. (It's nothing fancy, but it's one less thing to make :-)


24 is so easy to prep and offers meaningful, fun, differentiated math practice. If you'd like to learn more, you can check out my earlier post here.

Thanks for checking in! If you have any thoughts or questions, let me know; I'd love to hear from you!

My daughter Caitlin (5), like the rest of the female world under the age of 10, loves Elsa, Anna, Olaf, and anything else Frozen. So, of course, her Valentine's Day cards HAD to match.





I am in NO way a Martha Stewart. Not. Even. Close. :-) But, I thought I would share these cards with my fellow teacher-moms, moms, and teachers in case you had a Frozen fan(atic) at home, too! You can download the template for free here.





To make, follow these 4 easy steps:

• Step #1: Print the cards on white card stock (or the color of your choice). 
• Step #2: Cut along the dotted line. 
• Step #3: Fold card in half 
• Step #4: Attach the card to the treat bag. (I used double sided tape, but staples would work well, too!)   

On the back, is a place to record "to" and "from."

The cards are formatted to fit standard size Ziplock sandwich bags. I chose bags with Valentine's Day designs for a little extra holiday spirit.





A BIG thanks to Miss Tina and Dorky Doodles for the awesome designs used on the cards!!





In the mood for another Valentine's Day freebie? You can download my "Very Venn Enrichment Pack" here. In this 11 page download, students use Venn diagrams to make forced associations. These no-prep printables are a fun way to promote critical and creative thinking in your elementary kiddos!






Thanks for checking in! Happy Teaching!

What would you be if you had wings to fly like a bird . . .

and walked slowly like a turtle?

A BiRdLe! 

download here for free

• alligator + gorilla = gorillagator
• lion + dinosaur = linosaur
• monkey + kangaroo = monkaroo
• puppy + hippopotamus = puppyotamus

Because the goal is to develop divergent thinking skills, I frequently remind students that there is more than one correct answer. For example, if you were part alligator and part octopus, you could be an allipus, an octigator, or a gatorpus. The possibilities are endless.

Then they draw a picture to illustrate their animal soup creation. Here are a few examples from one of my first grade nurturing lessons:









Oftentimes, I compile the student pictures and make it into a class book. Most times, the kids are too eager to take them home right away to share :-)

You can download the activity sheet and animal cards for FREE here.



To learn more about fun ways to nurture creative thinking in the classroom, check out two of my earlier posts: Let's Get Creative and Creativity in the Classroom. Thanks for checking in!

After 10-15 minutes of team work, we paused to reflect. Using our Guidelines for Team Work Rubric, we evaluated our behaviors, considering areas of strength and places for growth.






At the end of the contest, we celebrated our many successes! Awards were given for the tallest, most unique, best design, and most creative use of materials. We then had a really great group discussion about what went well, what felt hard, and things we might do differently when working in a team - and on difficult tasks - in the future.

Our next challenge posed the same goal: build the tallest, free-standing tower. However, this time, the materials included dry spaghetti and mini-marshmallows. Once again, teams were randomly selected to encourage students to work with, enjoy, and appreciate the styles of different peers.



Again we used the rubric at the beginning, half way through, and at the end to set goals and reflect.




Students were intrigued that their personal goals and reflections often changed based on the team with which they worked!




We had another very thoughtful post-discussion. Again students considered what went well, what areas were challenging, and appropriate goals for the future. (We are always trying to Be More Awesome, right? :-)

Our final community building challenge of this week was based on a free set of dice from Chik-fil-A. For real! (Inspiration comes from many places! Thank you, Tara Mulvey!) Each side of the die had a theme: fame, family, best, worst, most embarrassing, etc. Under each theme was a series of questions to help us learn more about each other. Even though many of my 4th and 5th graders have been together since Kindergarten, I think it is important for students to not only know each other, but to feel "known." This helps to create a safe environment where children can try new things, take risks, make mistakes, and be themselves - all critical building blocks to success.


I typed up the questions on cardstock and, using a modified version of Kagan's Cooperative Grouping Strategy "Fan, Pick, Read, Answer," we set out to learn more about one another. (Again, with the goals of respectful listening and speaking in mind!) Students, again worked in randomly selected teams to promote understanding, friendship, and respect.



Questions/prompts included:

• Tell about a time you laughed so hard you could not stop.
• Describe the worst hair cut you've ever had.
• Have you ever had to speak or perform in front of an audience? How did it make you feel?
• Tell about something you did that made you feel proud.

Next week we will begin Math Quest, a dystopian book study, and Problem Based Learning. Stay tuned!

After watching Kid President, we examined some of the ways we are awesome. As you can imagine, many pieces of paper were needed. :-) We then looked at ways we could be "more awesome." I shared my personal goals for a more awesome year with the students and modeled how I tried to create goals that were meaningful, specific, relevant, and realistic. (Not exactly "SMART" goals, but in the same spirit.) Using a "Be More Awesome" pennant, each student brainstormed goals for the first nine weeks.












Our completed goals are on display in the classroom.








For those of you who would like to try this out with your AWESOME class, you can find a free copy of the banner here.



Thanks for checking in! I hope your first few weeks of school have been awesome!