Bright Math Ideas Blog Hop

Hey everyone!  I'm so excited to be part of this blog hop!  I'm always looking for fresh ways to boost achievement and instill a love of math in my students.  In my classroom, games are always a GREAT way to accomplish both of those goals!  

The cool thing about kindergarten is that, you can call just about any activity a "game" - and they believe you!!  :)  Hook, line, and sinker.  Especially if dice, mini erasers, or spinners are involved!!

I discovered last year how much my students absolutely ADORE spinner games!  

I think just about every teacher knows the pencil & paperclip spinner trick.

However, I found awesome transparent spinners online that my students LOVE!!

You can get a set of 10 spinners for just $7.95...that's cheaper than the Dollar Spot!!  ;)

We use our spinners all - the - time.  Seriously.  Like, I'm always afraid we're going to wear out the poor spinners, but they are really durable!!  We use them a lot with our math curriculum, but my students started requesting more spinner "games" to play during centers.  So, I happily obliged.  :)
You can pick up a FREE sample of my new Love Bunny Addition & Subtraction Spinner Games below - this game has been a huge hit with my kids!  If you're anything like me, we had so many snow days and days off school that I'm still getting some mileage out of my Valentine centers!  Hope you can, too!! 

Note:  This link is to a paid product -- the FREEBIE is included in the product preview!   It will only be a available for this weekend, so don't miss out!!
I'd love for you to leave me a comment letting me know how you make math more fun!! Thanks for stopping by!!  
Click the picture below to hop on over to the next stop on the Blog Hop!

Five for Friday!

Wahoooo...it's Friday!!

I'm linking up for 

I'm not sure where this week went!!  It flew by!
If you follow me on Instagram, a lot of this will look familiar!

This was my week to kick it with my kiddo in Sunday School!  I teach in his Sunday School class every other week and it's my favorite thing to do!!  

I loved having Monday off for MLK Jr. Day!  Several of my best blogging friends and I teamed up for an EPIC Snowball Fight facebook hop.  It was SO much fun!!  :)  I gave away a sampler of my newest {adorable} product - Penguin Pals DIFFERENTIATED Addition & Subtraction Spinner Stations.  

I was SO excited about all my new and faithful followers, that I created this
Groundhog Differentiated Number Order BONUS FREEBIE!!

Some of you know that I'm sharing a classroom this year.  I teach 1/2 day PM kindergarten and share a room with the {awesome} AM teacher.  It has been a much easier experience that I anticipated, but there are definitely downsides.  One -- I cannot seem to get organized!  Things just keep piling up!! 

We've been having lots of fun with Elmer this week!  

Here's a sneak peek of an idea that I found on Pinterest...it turned out SO cute!!

Helllllo Data Binder!!  

I've been working away on my 3-year Evaluation Portfolio all week.

I'm putting on the finishing details this weekend...I'll be SO glad to be done!!

 

I'm also linking up with...

Thanks for stopping by!!  :)

Freebies, Giveaways & More!!

I'm so excited to welcome all of my new facebook followers to Happy Teacher Heaven!
Be sure to read all the way through this post to register for an awesome GIVEAWAY and scoop up a BONUS FREEBIE!

Don't miss the Snowball Fight Facebook Frenzy

Bundle up and HURRY over...  

the FREEBIE SNOWBALLS will melt away forever at 10 pm CST today!!
(Click the picture below to get started!)

You can scoop up an adorable sampler of my newest Math Pack!

I will be listing the FULL VERSION of this product for just $1 for ONE DAY ONLY on Jan. 21st!

Your kids will love this adorable DIFFERENTIATED pack of Addition & Subtraction Spinner Math Stations!!  The full version is 38 pages...an incredible value for $1!  So, don't miss the FLASH SALE!!

Also,

My ENTIRE TPT Store is on sale TODAY ONLY 20% off!!

This is a great time to scoop up some great products at FAB prices!!

I'd love to GIVEAWAY a Penguin Pals Addition & Subtraction pack to a lucky subscriber!

I'd also love to GIVEAWAY a Camera Words Sight Word Folder pack (choose your own level) to a lucky subscriber!

And, one lucky subscriber will be able to choose ANY item (under $5) from my TPT Store!

ENTER TO WIN on the Rafflecopter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

And, to celebrate all my new followers, here is a BONUS FREEBIE!

Click the picture below to grab this Groundhog Number Ordering Freebie on TPT.

If you like the freebie, please take a second and leave me some love (feedback)!

Your comments make my heart smile and I look forward to reading each one!!  

I hope you like it!!

"FLASH" Freebie!

"FLASH" FREEBIE!!

I've noticed that there are some tricky sight words that many of my students still trip over while reading.  I created this "FLASH!" Mixed-Up Sight Word game for my students to use when we return from winter break.  I love how interactive it is and I think my students will love the novelty of unscrambling the mixed up letters!  (And, word building activities are always a favorite!) 

Those first few days back to school after winter break are always the toughest!

I created this activity to get my students up and moving while reviewing their sight words.

Click here to grab your "FLASH" FREEBIE on TPT!

I  attached each camera to a solo cup.  (I just used scotch tape on the back).  I put the corresponding word strips inside the cup - enough for each student in my class.  I will provide a recording sheet for each child.  Students will move around the room, stopping at each camera to build the word using the word strips.  Then, they can color the camera to match the card and either write the word or paste the letter cards next to the camera.  Easy, fun, and interactive!  :)

I hope you enjoy these last few days of winter break and look forward to getting back into the classroom!  

Just a reminder that my Camera Words Sight Word Folder System BUNDLE is 50% OFF! 

Click the picture below to read more about how this system can help you
BOOST student learning, ENGAGE parents, and SAVE TIME!!  

But, the sale ends today!!  So HURRY..you won't want to miss this deal!!  :)  

Click the picture below to head over to TPT and check it out!

I hope you have a fabulous weekend and a great first week back at school!

Thank you!!  

The Magical Product Swap!

I'm so excited to participate in the Magical Product Swap for the first time!
And then I found out that I had been paired with the talented and creative
Kimberly Ann of Live, Laugh, I Love Kindergarten!
EEEEK....SUPER EXCITING!!  :)

I was lucky to be able to go shopping in her store to pick out one of her FAB products to review for you.  We were just getting started on our insect theme, so I picked Kimberly Ann's "Buggy for Addition" math pack.  It has been such a fun way to review addition!  I always love it when my station activities all tie together with the same theme.  Sweet!!

Click the picture to find it on TPT!

This pack includes:

The cards are so bright and colorful!  

I love that there isn't "too much going on"...the kids can focus on what's important!

I got out some little plastic bug counters for my kinders who needed them.

But, Kimberly Ann also included some printable bug counters.

Isn't she the sweetest?!  

This adorable spring math center had everything I was looking for and more!!

If your kinders love bugs (and whose don't?!) 

and need to practice addition (and whose don't?!) -

then you should grab this product for your centers this week.

  

Thank you SO much, Kimberly Ann!  

Click on Kimberly Ann's button below to head over to her cutie-patootie blog!!
You can check out her review of my "Find Sprout" - a differentiated word sorting activity.
Just in time for Earth Day/Week!!  :)

Click the picture below to find it on TPT.
FLASH SALE!!
Grab both of my Earth Day literacy products ON SALE for 2 hours only!!
SALE ends at 10 pm (central time)!!

Be sure to check out Kimberly's awesome giveaway.

Ummmm...survival mode??  YEP!!  :)

Thanks for reading along!

Happy Earth Day!!  

Five for Friday and a FREEBIE!

It's time for...

1. You never realize how much you depend on something until it's gone.  Like my cell phone.  It's gone KAPUT...but I'm not eligible for a phone upgrade until June 1st.  {sigh} My phone did an automatic "update" about a month ago and it hasn't worked right ever since.  It only works when it's plugged into a charger...which basically renders it a landline.  I sure hope June 1st comes quick!!

2. Yesterday was a our District's annual "Spring Symposium" Professional Development day.  Teachers and instructional coaches from the district present sessions on various topics and you can pick which sessions to attend!  :)  I love "Choose your own Adventure" PD!!  I was able to attend sessions on Writing Workshop in Kinder, the "Language Experience Approach" for emergent readers, Poetry in Kindergarten, and "Coring Up" kindergarten curriculum.  Lots of new ideas!!  LOVE!!

3. I found out this week that I won't have my own classroom next year.  :(  We are adding another full-day kindergarten, so the AM teacher and I will share a room.  I'm trying to have a super-positive attitude about it.  She is AMAZING...I call her classroom "Kindergarten Wonderland".  I know I will learn soooo much from her!  So, we're putting our heads together and trying to figure out how to make it work.  Any of you ever had to share a room before?

I'm hoping we feel like this...

not this...

LOL!!

4.  I learned about the Book Creator app at our Symposium yesterday.  It makes me *wish* I had an iPad!!  If you have one, you should check it out!  

5.  Earth Day is Monday!  :)  Here's a fun little FREEBIE for you.  

Be sure to check out these fun Earth Day literacy stations, too!!

...a  little late!
If you teach kindergarten, you don't want to miss this giveaway! Hillary, over at Rockin' Teacher Materials, is giving away a free pass to attend the I Teach K! kindergarten conference is VEGAS this summer!!  And, you get to bring a friend if you win!  :) (click the picture to head over to her blog and get yourself entered)