Back to School Newsletter

I have only one more day before I go back for preplanning, so I am already in planning mode, working on items for the start of school.  I want to share this newsletter template with you. 

If you can use it...

  1. follow my blog,

  2. like my facebook page and then click on the picture below to get your free copy.

This is one of several newletters in my Back to School packet.

Cool Books for teaching Math

As I am "spiffing up" my classroom library this summer I thought I'd share some of my favorite for books for teaching different subject areas.  Today I will focus on books that I use for various math lessons. 

One of my favorites is The Greedy Triangle by Marilyn Burns when I introduce our geometry unit.  The kids love the "shape shifter" character, so it really holds their interest. 

 

A great book I have found for supporting number sense is the book,

The Grapes of Math by Gregory Tang. 

Your kiddos will have a ball listening to you read Measureing Penny by Loreen Leedy.  This story is about a little girl trying to do her math homework assignment and gets the help of her dog, Penny, for all sorts of measuring fun.

A book we will be using this year as we introduce the idea of elapsed time is called The Long Wait  by Anne Cobb.  It's set at an amusement park where the main characters Josh and Zach are evaluating the length of the ride they want to take.  They make estimations and judgements related to how long they may wait in line.  Sounds like a great book...can't wait to read it.  I just ordered it from Amazon.

Of course, if I can find a way to involve chocolate I will... so I must mention an old favorite to introduce fractions (which I really do bring chocolate in)...I call it The Hershey Bar Fraction Book, but the true name is The Hershey's Milk Chocolate Bar Fraction Book
by Jerry Pallotta and Robert Bolster.

Recently, they've added to the Hershey Bar book series with Hershey's Milk Chocolate Weights and Measures.  Now, I don't have this one yet, so I can't give my opinion, but I plan to pick it up and check it out. 

Go enjoy a great math book!



Donna Boucher at the Math's Coaches Corner is sponsoring a great blog hop
to go along with this blog topic called...
 

I'd love to hear your favorites too...
The book you link up can be a book about teaching math, a children's literature book that you like to use for math instruction, or one of both if you'd like. Use a link directly to the book for the URL, the book title for the description, and the book cover for the picture. You can go to  Amazon to grab a URL and picture.

C'mon, don't be shy! Add a link now. This is also a blog hop, so grab the code and share it with a post to your readers. It should be fun to see everyone's favorites!!

Free Welcome Back to School Bookmarks

We just got back from one of the greatest "end-of-summer"
vacations at the beach! 

 We love Fernandina Beach, Florida, home of the best and biggest waves on the Atlantic side of Florida. (At least that's we've found.)  You can actually ride a real surfboard out there! 

After relaxing and clearing my head listening to those great ocean waves,
before plowing full speed ahead in preplanning meetings next week, I have been preparing and making items for the start of school.

You can get this new "Welcome Back" school bookmark set here for free.

I plan to include these in my welcome back pack that students find on their desk on the first day of school.  There are two color versions and one black and white.  I hope you can use these.  

Stop by again soon as

I increase my postings regarding my plans for preparing for

that first day of school.

Common Core for Language Resources

Have you begun thinking about what materials you plan to use

next year in order to meet the new Common Core State Standards? 

Here in Georgia, and in our school district, we are implementing the new standards in both Reading and Math, so my head is definately spinning. 

As I've been planning and looking at our new standards to get ready for next year, I thought it would be helpful to list the CCSS for products I have on TPT.  I decided to start with my products that meet  CCSS Language Standards.

Click on these pictures for Common Core lessons or products...
The CCSS is listed with each one.

All There is to Know About Verbs

3.L.1. Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard english grammar and usage when writing or speaking.

a. Explain the function of nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs in general and their functions in particular sentences. 

d. Form and use regular and irregular verbs. *

e. Form and use the simple verb tenses. 

f. Ensure subject-verb and pronoun-antecedent agreement.

Verbs!  Grammar Games 

3.L.1. Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard english grammar and usage when writing or speaking. 

d. Form and use regular and irregular verbs.

e. Form and use the simple verb tenses. *

f. Ensure subject-verb and pronoun-antecedent agreement.

Snowy Adjectives

3.L.1. Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard english grammar and usage when writing or speaking.

a. Explain the function of nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs in general and their functions in particular sentences. *  

d. Form and use comparative and superlative adjectives and adverbs, and choose between them depending on what is to be modified.

How and When to Use Commas

3.L.2 Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.

b. Use commas in addresses.

c. Use commas and quotation marks in dialogue.

Idioms Pirate Treasure Hunt

3.L.5. Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in wrod meanings.

a. Distinguish the literal and nonliteral meanings of words and phrases in context.

Multiplie Meaning Words

3.L.4. Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple meaning word and phrases based on grade 3 reading and content, choosing flexibility from a range of strategies.

a. Use sentence-level context as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase. 

I'll list more products aligned with their new Common Core State Standards soon.

Freebie: Idiom Response Activity

Here is a great freebie to help you meet the following new Common Core standards in your literacy classes.

CCSS RL4 Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, distinguishing literal from nonliteral language.
CCSS L5 Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships and nuances in word meanings.

• a. Distinguish the literal and nonliteral meanings of words and phrases in contex.

Use this in a literacy center, in a response journal, or by itself after a lesson on idioms.