Monday, May 28, 2012

Multiplication Fluency Test FREEBIE


Like me, I am sure many of you are already planning for the beginning of the next school year. 

Learning the basic multiplication facts takes time for many students, so I start this process in August/September.


I have my students begin learning their facts using flash cards. Many purchase these, but they are easy to make with index cards as well. I offer an attractive class set in my product, “Clowning Around with Multiplication” at my stores on either TPT or TN. 



  This year, in my classroom, we will be concentrating on the new Common Core standards of developing the concept of multiplication and number sense.  However, in addition, at home I will have my students practice learning their basic facts as part of their daily homework assignments. 


PROBLEM: In past years, I found it a bit difficult to keep all of my students on the same set of facts at the same time.  There are always some students that learn their facts very quickly and some need a bit more time.  However keeping track of individual levels and testing those can be challenging. 



SOLUTION:  I have found a solution that works for me and I hope it will work for you too.  Each student has an individual assessment sheet.  Each week I assess their mastery of a fact set.  If they show mastery, they move on to the next set (next week).  If not, then they practice that same set for another week, and test on that same set a second time.  Since these assessments are all on one sheet, it is easy to keep up with what was tested on last time, without any additional recording of data. 



Once 8 assessments are completed, a new sheet is required, so I staple both together.  I keep the class set of assessments in one folder, and they are easy to pass out each Friday.



In addition to giving weekly assessments, I communicate student progress with parents weekly, with “Oops! notes” and “Congratulations! notes”.  These assessments as well as parent communication notes are included in my Multiplication Fluency Assessment Pack.  I have decided to offer it here for FREE.  I hope this will help you keep organized and keep your kiddos on track as they learn their multiplication facts. 





Feel free to come and visit my blog or Facebook fan page for more freebies, teaching tips and more.



 

Classroom Freebies Manic Monday

Monday, May 21, 2012

Manic Monday FREEBIE #3


My kiddos have a blast exploring with magnets!  Yours will too with this
FREE Magnet Sorting Experiment!


Here is an experiment we use to learn which items
are attracted to magnets and which items are not.
It is always interesting to see what items the students predict will be attracted to magnets. I am always surprised at the misconceptions. One item they often incorrectly predict as one that WILL be attracted to a magnet is the copper penny. They seem to assume that ALL metals are attracted to magnets. We even get out one of each coin and take the investigation that much farther. 

This is one of 5 experiments in my newest product
just recently uploaded to TPTand TN. 

You may also want to download the FREE preview of my new complete 31-page product called, Magnets:A Complete Unit”.

Classroom Freebies Manic Monday

Monday, May 14, 2012

Manic Monday FREEBIE #2







A Beginning of the Year Activity


Here is a great activity to use on the

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!

Start planning this now and you’ll be that much ahead of the game! 



  This activity will get even your shy sweethearts up and talking.  What else do they know more to talk about than themselves?   



I print these notes and attach one to a paper bag.  I assign each student a folder, with this bag and all those beginning-of-the-year papers inside, and put them out on the student desks.  We have a “Meet and Greet” night, just before the start of school, and the folders go home with all students and parents that attend. They return on the first day with the My "Me Bag" ready to share. 



The folders that are left provide a quick glance to see who was not able to attend.  Send those home on the first day, and students can bring their bags the second or third day.  I stretch this activity out for at least three days.  Whenever we need a change in the typical “rules / procedures discussion”, I call on someone to share, and they love it.



If you like this FREE product, please be sure to rate it. 

You may want to check out the full product,
that this activity is a part of.  



Feel free to come and visit my blog or Facebook fan page for more freebies, teaching tips and more.







Sunday, May 6, 2012

Big Teacher Appreciation Sale on TPT=28%OFF

 I am having a SALE !!
To show my appreciation for all my teacher customers, I have joined the big sale at Teachers Pay Teachers.  I have selected the largest discount allowed on TPT, 20% OFF.  In addition, TPT itself is including another 10% off that discounted price.  That means that everything in my store is a whopping 28% OFF! 

So if you've had your eye on a certain product, this would be a great opportunity to get it at a deep discount.  

These sales don't happen often, so click on the link below and start grabbing those deals!
 TPT-Luvs-u
Don't forget to use the PROMO code listed above to get that additional 10% OFF!

Saturday, May 5, 2012

Win $100 in Free Products!

Go to Teachers Notebook and register to win in their $100 Sweepsteaks! There is a winner drawn every day from May 5th through May 11th, and you can go and register each day to win! It only took me about 15 seconds, so go and register now! 



While you are they, you may want to check out my page, search "3rd Grade Grapevine" or come back and click on the link below.


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