Guided Math Resources from Oriental Trading

I am excited about this post for two big reasons: 

One, I had no idea that Oriental Trading had so many resources specifically for teachers and they are priced for a teacher budget. And two, I get to give away a set of everything I show you so that you have the chance to use it in your own classroom!! #winning

You can check out the video above to see these resources in action!

When choosing the things I wanted to try out I thought about all of you. Many of us are just getting started with guided math and others have been at it for a couple of years and are still trying out what works best. Guided math is by far my favorite time of day. My kids love it and I have an opportunity to help them explore new concepts and ideas in small group settings where we can really dig deep and challenge our thinking. 

I wanted to try out resrouces that would help us all do that in our own classrooms. I am new to first grade this year so if I'm being honest, I am still yet to discover all the ways I will be able to use these resources to help students build number sense. Here are some of the ideas I've come up with so far. 

These dry erase math skills boards were a favorite in our house. The dry erase marker wipes off so easily. They are perfect for encouraging kids to show their thinking in multiple ways. On the front side there is a 120's chart and on the back ten frames and numberlines. 

Kids could add, subtract, count, or make ten using dominoes, flashcards, dice, counting bears, or a number spinner. My son loved racing forward and backward to and from 120. This is a game that you could play with a partner using two different colored dry erase markers. Each partner rolls a die and each time moves forward on the number line. The first partner to 120 wins. 

These come in a package of 30 and if you have more than 30 kids in your class, I'm sorry. Been there a million times and it stinks to have to buy a second package of something for a few kids. 

The weiner dog number line sliders are a lot of fun. The slider moves smoothly and easily. They would be a great way for kids to get hands on practice using a number line.  These come in a pack of 12 so though there may not be enough for your whole class, they are perfect for a guided math group or to have out for kids to access during math time. 

These bead slides are perfect for helping students develop one to one correspondence. As they are counting, adding or subtracting they touch and slide each bead. They are sturdy and won't break. I also love that they come with 48 slides and in all of these colors to help kids visualize number relationships. 

Last are these number bond cards. They came with a huge stack of cards to provide tons of practice. I plan on having them out on my group table after kids are familiar with them. While I am helping the rest of the class get settled during math centers the kids in my group can work on these while they're waiting those couple of minutes. I am so impressed with all of the dry erase products. I've bought many other things where the marker still shows, even if it is just slightly. This is not the case with Oriental Trading products. After wiping off the marker they still look brand new. 

Oriental trading now has a teacher wish list. I love that I can add things I need for my classroom and share with parents and friends. You can check out my teacher wish list and create your own HERE. 

Now on to the good stuff! Do you want to win everything you see here for your classroom? Just enter using the Rafflecopter! 

SaveSave a Rafflecopter giveaway

Win a $25 Teachers Pay Teacher Gift Card!

I am so excited to be joining up with these amazing teachers for bring you this giveaway!

Entering is easy... 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Enormous... and I mean EeeeeeNORMOUS Giveaway! Back to School Rally is almost here!

The countdown has started. There are just 6 days until the Back to School Fab but under 500 Giveaway! Along with over 100 other TpT and Etsy sellers we wanted to showcase our stores and talents. There are so many incredible products out there so we thought we would show some love and give a ton away to get back to school off right for you!

Here is a peek at the prize packs you could win:

Prize Pack #1 includes 18 products from TpT sellers, a handmade banner for your classroom from MPaper Designs and a personalized teacher cup from Sugar Stitches Designs!

Prize Pack #2 includes 19 products from TpT sellers, a teacher planner from The Nifty Planner, and a  personalized teacher sign from Blended Creations Inc.

Prize Pack #3 includes 17 products from TpT sellers, a handmade classroom garland from MPaper Designs and a pencil door sign from Details in the Deisgn.

Prize Pack #4 includes 18 products from TpT sellers, a handmade classroom garland from MPaper Designs, and a personalized pencil door sign from Bows and Bells Hangers.

Prize Pack #5 includes 15 products from TpT sellers a personalized sign from MACInspired Crafts plus a personalized teacher block sign from Blended Creations Inc!

Prize Pack #6 includes products from 16 TpT sellers a personalized door sign from Cara's Southern Designs, and a personalized teacher cup from Mommy's Latte Fund!

Prize Pack #7 includes 16 products from TpT sellers, a teacher planner of your choice from Little Drop Designs, a personalized door sign from MACInspired Creations plus a personalized teacher cup from Mommy's Latte Fund!

I am so thankful for all of the creative sellers who made this giveaway happen! These products are incredible and I am so excited that we get to give away 7 different prize packs to 7 winners filled with so many incredible products! Now I am just wishing that I could enter too. 

Don't forget to come back Friday to enter!

Coming Soon: A Giveaway from Fabulous TPT stores with under 500 followers!

There are some incredible TPT stores out there!

I thought I had an idea, but about an hour after putting this not so little 

giveaway together I realized that I really have no idea. 

So to bring some of these stores your way and showcase these incredibly talented teachers I have decided to throw a massive giveaway. So far we have 78 teachers participating! Products vary from preschool through high school and cover it all. Participators have donated anything from reading and math to back to school, art and classroom management. 

I am already having so much fun collaborating and learning from everyone. 

If you want to join up we would love to have you! 

The only requirement is that your store has to have under 500 followers. 

Think about what you would like to contribute and be as creative as you would like.

 I am harassing working with some teacher resource creators too and hopefully we will get some awesome goods to give away! 

Just click the link HERE and complete the form. 

I will be emailing everyone with all of the deets soon. 

Also, if you're participating make sure to pin and Facebook our image and get the word out there

Here's a sneak peak: 

                

        

         

             

                  

B2S Gigantipack FREEBIE and giveaway!!

I feel so sorry for all you poor friends who have to go back in 

August or who are already back as I write this post!!

 It makes me glad that we get out in the middle of June. 

We have always returned the day after Labor Day. 

This year we go back even later with a return the following week. Very strange to me. 

I love seeing all of the back to school units out there!

You can never have enough to keep em' busy those first weeks.

And there are always, without fail plenty of moments you just can't plan for. 

My Back to School Gigantipack is my fave...

Click the picture above to grab your FREEBIE B2S word search!

Includes a set of making words for each grade level...

Leader feed is one of my favorite activities! Kids learn about important healthy ingredients in various foods that help them perform well at school and demonstrate leadership all year long. Based on the qualities of each ingredient they design their own recipe. This incorporates teamwork wonderfully!!

This is a Get to Know Your Teacher activity. Kids use a code system to discover new information about their teacher!

Another fave. All you need is a container of colored toothpicks or straws from the dollar tree. Sit in a circle and pass the container around. Everyone has an opportunity to talk all about themselves and learn about their classmates. 

There's tons more too... including a bead glyph and pages to keep em' busy busy... 

Now... go check it out! But before you do make sure to enter the rafflecopter giveaway below. I am giving this Gigantipack away to 2 lucky followers! Good luck!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Fave Pins Friday!!

Gotta make is supa dupa quick here people....

The battery on this computer is at 4%... yes 4 and baby is lookin cute as can be ready for cuddles...


I just HAD to share some of my favorite pins from this past week though :)

Battleship vocabulary with question prompts! Love it! The beach ball game will get a little too hectic with all 38 of em' next year. This will be a nice compromise- to say the least!

I am always looking for a new delish grilling recipe! Summer veggies and chicken sausage... helps me stick to my weight goal and is incredible YUM!

My sweet boy just started preschool! I am so excited about being able to spoil his teachers and making her feel appreciated! There are so many cutesy pie gifts out there. 

Low fat frosted banana muffins-- nuf said!

And my last pick. When I was in fifth grade my favorite part of Fridays was the drawing lesson. We watched these videos of this artist and learned how to draw these awesome pictures step by step. The steps were so simple and made me feel so successful at something I normally felt frustrated with... drawing. This site has online drawing lessons. Again it will be the perfect "special" activity for all 30 something of my little darlings next year!

Okay my battery officially says 0%... 

Not sure how that's possible. 

Go check out Farleys giveaway!

$100 bucks at School Outiftters.... SAY WHAT!!!

Click here to head over to Oh Boy! 4th grade

Giveaway Winner!!

Went to the pumpkin patch yesterday! We got super lucky with the weather.

It seems every year I say "Next year Conner will want to take pictures" and every year he DOES NOT want to to take pictures. Of course I managed to snap a few anyway. However, there was not a single one with his genuine smile. Exciting enough I did get lots of nose picking.

We picked out a couple of pumpkins, took a hay ride, rode a pony and snacked on some caramel corn. A wonderful day!

We had a 3 day week with kids so there isn't too much to Style me Sunday this week but here ya go!

#1 Yellow sweater (my absolute favorite sweaters) $16.95 at Nordstrom Rack and they fit like a dream. I have several colors. Dark jeans and brown riding boots. I should have taken a close up of my accessories too. I think I will have the hubby start doing so because they really make all the difference. 

#2 This outfit was inspired by my sweet friend Julie Frediani. She really needs to start a blog of her own!! She has a funny story about helping her husband dress and black and brown being a no no together. Well, you can certainly make it happen but only in the right way with the right accessories. The brown top has black stripes which just makes it easy to incorporate with black. The shoes are my favorite wedges and I got them at Ross for $16. They are so comfy. 

Now on to what you have all been waiting for!!! My laminator giveaway had ended and I have a winner!

Beth Shavelson

Congratulations!!! I will be sending you an email shortly to collect all of your information. 

Thank you to all who entered. Thank you for following and sharing with me. Teaching just wouldn't be as fun without all of you!

I am getting pretty close to 100 followers. I am hoping to have a big giveaway so if you are interested in helping support let me know. 

My idea is lots of winners... my favorite things... my most prized products!! 

Halloween Art... and don't forget to enter the Label Maker Giveaway!

Does anyone else feel like the worst part about blogging is using the time that you would normally be stalking everyone else's blog to post to your own. These quick reads are not cutting it!

I am one happy girl right about now! We have a 3 day kid week this week, a 4 day work week annnnnnd my sweet niece turns two tomorrow and I am celebrating with a chocolate cupcake and a fat slice of pizza.... mmmmhmmm

Sure love this sweet girl!

We are painting tomorrow! Yes, painting... the first time. Had to rethink my original plan for Style Me Sunday. Never fails- we paint- I get painted on. 

I did a similar project last year but with a blue night sky. Decided we would Halloweeny it up a bit

Here is the final product

And this is how it's done!

Give kids orange (just a tiny bit- enough to fill bottom of dixie cup. This is way too much)

Also give them white. 

Step 1: Paint a white circle near the top of your paper. There is a white circle there at the top right but it's hard to see. 

Step 2: Dip your brush in orange (1 or 2 dips) mix it with the white. 

Step 3: Paint a circle around your white circle

Step 4: Repeat steps 2 and 3 again and again. Dip in orange, mix with white, paint circle around circle. 

Each time the orange gets darker and darker. 

Step 5: While the paint is drying give students black pieces. 

4- 3X3 squares, A 2 1/2 X 1 1/2 X 8 1/2 and a 3X6 inch piece

Tear the long skinny black piece to make it look like the ground. 

Using the 3X6 inch piece have the kids draw and cut a tree

Finally let them use the squares to make any halloween shapes they would like (cats, pumpkins, a gate, a witch, etc. )

Last: Once the painting is dry glue the pieces onto the painting!

Voila! 

Now don't forget to enter the giveaway for a Label Maker!! 

Just click here!

Good luck!

P to the S sorry about all the stupid + signs on my pictures.... so annoyed but also too lazy to go back and fix em