Spelling with Pipe Cleaners

Okay, I am always trying to find different ways for my kids to practice their spelling words.  Spelling practice can be repetitive and boring. So I try to switch things up and add new activities each week. I decided to buy some pipe cleaners, and I cut them into 3 parts. I gave each student a pile of piper cleaners to spell their words. We went through every word on the list and the students really enjoyed it. They got really creative with how they used the piper cleaners to form letters. They wanted to keep on going and practice some of their old words. So I may add this as a center activity in the future. 

Sensory Numbers

I have a Kg student this year that is really struggling with naming and writing her numbers.  So I have been trying to add more sensory activities to her lessons. This week I made some numbers with fuzzy balls from Dollar Tree. It was super easy. I bought two bags, and it was enough to make numbers 0-9. We practiced naming, touching, and tracing the numbers. She also counted out manipulatives to match the numbers. Any thoughts? Comment if you have any other ideas that work with some of your struggling students.

Fine Motor Activity with Sand and Salt Trays

  Do you have any students struggling with letter/number formation? I have a Kindergarten student this year that really struggles with fine motor skills.
  I decided to make a salt tray for her to practice writing her numbers.  So I went to our local Dollar Tree and picked up the supplies. As I was walking through the craft section, I noticed they had bags of colored sand! OMG! I got every color that they had left.
  So I made a tray with sand and a tray with salt.  She loved it! We practiced our numbers 1-20. She struggles with the numbers 2, 3, 4, 5, and 8. She could write them perfectly in the salt/sand tray. I was so proud of her! It definitely helps to switch things up in the classroom and get away from the paper and pencil.

Equivalent Names and Pumpkins!

We do center activities after our weekly assessments on Friday.  Since my 2nd and 3rd graders had worked on equivalent names that week, we made equivalent names on pumpkins.  I gave each student a number and they were able to do the rest on their own. I monitored and made sure that they were using a variety of ways for making the names. Here is one below:

The leaves were done by my upper grade students (5th and 6th). I put review problems on the leaves (number sense, probability, data analysis, etc) and they had to solve the problems. Simple, I know, but the kids enjoyed it over another pencil and paper worksheet.

(Side note: I am in the Kindergarten hallway this year. They are constantly rubbing up against my door. So please excuse the curled leaves and pumpkins!)

Great Math Website for Students

     It's hard to believe that summer is almost over. We have been in school for 4 weeks (yes, that's what I said) and it's definitely time for a break!
    Anyways, back on topic, I found an awesome website for students to work on math skills. It was recommended by spellingcity.com, and I jumped at the chance for a free license for the whole school year! The website is splashmath.com. Check it out and tell me what you think!

Teaching with Task Cards

I have been on a task card frenzy this quarter.  My SPED kids need constant review and these cards are perfect for centers, warm-ups, closing activities, or whole group instruction with a smartboard and document camera.  The kids love working with them! This picture shows some of my students working with my place value task cards.

Task Cards for Place Value Concepts

I love Dry Erase Pockets!!!!

This year I have cut down on a lot of copying due to dry erase pockets. I love using them in my centers.  I usually have 3-4 students per center. I have a checklist with the names of my students and the skill they are working on in the center. I go around to the different groups and will check 4-5 problems to count towards a grade. It has been a time saver and the students enjoy doing their work this way. I bought my pockets at Lakeshore Learning. Here is a pic of my students using the pockets. In this pic we are working on input/output tables.