Google Reader Replacement???

Have you found a replacement for your Google Reader yet?

I'm looking....and looking...and looking....

Here's some I've found...

Blog Lovin' ~ It has the ability to import your google reader subscriptions, but doesn't have the one line view like reader...On the upside, it does have an app so you can still check out your blog updates from your devices...

FlipBoard ~ Can also import your google reader subscriptions, however, you can only read on a device...The upside is you can access more than just your reader from the app....you can link twitter, instagram, google reader, and more to the app and have them all accessible from one area...  You can also "Flip It" from your computer, so if you're reading something interesting, you can "Flip It" and read it on your device later...You can also create your own "magazine" to save articles and blogposts to go back and read or share later.

The Old Reader ~ Can also import your google reader subscriptions and you can access on your computer...you can organize blogs into groups and it also gives you the ability to view in a headline format or picture format....however, I haven't found an app for my devices YET!  I do think it's very much like google reader...but not sure it's my new favorite...just yet.

Want to read more about replacements....

Check out this article ...

Got any other suggestions?  

Please comment and let me know what you're looking at or deciding to go with 

to replace your google reader :)

Enjoy your day!

Facebook Hop for Freebies

Check out Primary Paradise for a link to a cool "Facebook Hop of Freebies"...
She's also got a cool "guess how much I spent at the yard sale" game going on for a free
five dollar or less product from her store.

Enjoy the day!

Say Hello to Bloglovin'

I'm trying out the "Blogger" App for this post from my iPad...crossing my fingers and hoping this works!

If you're a Google Reader Addict.... Like me... You know it's going bye-bye at the end of June.  I've been looking at several of the replacement programs that are available...

Feebly

The Old Reader

Flipboard

And the one I THINK I'm going to work with.....Bloglovin'

Check out the post from The Littlest Scholar to see a quick tutorial on how to set up your account.  It was really easy to export the blog list I have right now on Google Reader....but I think whichever service you switch to, it's better to do it BEFORE Goggle Reader goes away ;)

https://www.bloglovin.com/link/post?post=1148920993&blog=3946561&link=aHR0cDovL2xpdHRsZXN0c2Nob2xhcnMuYmxvZ3Nwb3QuY29tLzIwMTMvMDYvZ29vZGJ5ZS1nb29nbGUtcmVhZGVyLWhlbGxvLWJsb2dsb3Zpbi5odG1s&group=0&frame=1&frame_type=

http://littlestscholars.blogspot.com/

Hmmmm... Couldn't figure out how to add the link to the picture on this post from the iPad... If none of the links show up... try googling   "Littlest Scholars". Or going to littlest scholars.blogspot.com.  

Lots of great ideas at this blog!  Hop over and take a look!

Enjoy your day!

Heidi

I Wish I Had Combinations for 10 using ten-frames

I am having a great time creating 

some new stations to use with the book study on 

mastering the basic math facts for addition and subtraction!

LOVE Ten-Frames and found them sooooooo useful this year with my firsties.

If you want some resources, check out my post about math tools

  {HERE}.

So I created this game to go along with a game I heard about through

mathmaticallyminded.com

Hope you'll hop over and check out this cutie patootie!

I put it on my Teachers Notebook store for now.

I even included a card game to use with small groups ...

works like "Go Fish" with a twist...

LOVE using my iPad to create some graphics to go along with the new stations...

If you've ever used the app "Good Notes", you know how easy it is to draw and create and share on it! This cute little fairy godmother is one of my favorites so far!

You should be able to grab it by right clicking and saving to your downloads (on a PC) or holding your cursor over the graphic, and click while holding down the control button at the same time.

Just please give me some credit if you use her...

Enjoy your day!

K2 Math Fact Fluency Book Study-More Math Tools

Math Tools Continuing our discussion with the book "Mastering the Basic Math Facts in Addition and Subtraction"  by Susan O'Connell and Joh SanGiovanni
Chapter One talks about what I like to call ... Math Tools...  number lines, PPW boards, Ten-Frame Mats, and Number Charts to help children represent addition and subtraction concepts...
I worked on an anchor chart this year with my kiddos and added a math tool each time we introduced the tool and used it in the classroom.  It was a great resource for the kids to refer to throughout the year. I think the anchor chart was more meaningful to them because we added the tools together and as we used them in class.

You can download a copy to add to your resources {HERE}

~~ NUMBER LINES ~~

LOVE number lines...especially Open Number Lines...(see information later in this post)... There are a ton of ways to create and use number lines in the classroom... Here's some resources I've come across in my search for the "perfect number line"...

Number Lines freebie from TpT "Boy Mama Teacher Mama"

Number Lines to 10, 20, or 30 from Sparkle Box.

You can print off on card stock, laminate, add a pipe cleaner and a pony bead to make the number line more interactive.

Create a number line on the floor for more movement and physical concept review.

~~ PART - PART - WHOLE MATS ~~

PPW mats are very useful and great working spaces for the manipulatives we use.

The book provides a great download for PPW mats.

Here are some other resources I've found with "cutesy boards"

I printed my mats on cardstock and put them in clear plastic page protectors.  That way I can store then in a binder for safe keeping and easy access.  

Use the Part-Part-Whole mat to laminate and cut apart so that each child has their own part-part-whole mat in their toolbox....or enlarge and  use during the calendar time.

Download a Part-Part Whole template from Rowdy in Room 300 to laminate and create a number sentence as well.

Aimee's blog is full of great resources for math and more. Her PPW mats are adorable and a free download.

source

TEN FRAMES

This handy dandy math tool was a favorite of my students this year.  

Leslie at 

source

Has this GREAT post about showing kids how to draw this math tool!  VERY  VERY useful for me this year!  It's a simple lesson that helped tremendously when showing the kids how to record their information for the Math Tasks in preparation for the CRAs they will take in the upper grades...uh....well...maybe in our grade 2013-2014!  YIKES!

Head back over to...

source

to see her wonderful unit on Ten Frames 

source

AND pick up a freebie 

source

Here's some more resources I've found for Ten Frames...

Ten-Frame Cards from K-5 Math Teaching Resources

Download and use the blank 3 ten-frames for calendar time or laminate and cut apart for kids to keep in their toolboxes. 

and be sure to search out Donna's Blog "Math Coach's Corner" for all the useful ideas she's got on there for Ten Frames...(really...too many to add here!)

Follow the link {HERE} to the posts labeled with Ten Frames on her blog.

There's an idea about using the ten frames to manipulate bigger numbers and showing the kids that no matter how I break the number apart...I still have the same number...LOVE it and totally using it for calendar time next year!

You can read about my Ten Frame Dominoes {HERE}

Chapter one talks about Number Charts too...have to admit that I haven't used these or the addition table with my firsties...although I have used Hundred's Charts...

Check out some of the resources for hundred's charts ...

...I LOVE ~~~ LOVE ~~~ LOVE the Math Coach's Corner Blog... She's got a great post about 120 charts at the link above

source

Donna also writes about the OPEN NUMBER LINE

which is later in the year, but still a VERY useful math tool!

source

I'm LOVING this book and feel like I'm gaining more and more information about addition and subtraction strategies that would have made math so much easier for me as a student!

Still working on some math tasks and craftivities to go with literature books...so be sure to hop back and check out the Swamp from time to time...

If you're reading along with us, what are your thoughts on the number charts (I like to think of them as limited number charts as they don't show the whole chart) and addition charts with the younger grades?

K2 Math Fact Fluency Book Study-Think Math Poster

Remember way back when they used to say ... 

"Here's What I Pinned"  and "This is What I Made"?

So here's what I saw on the Mailbox blog...

source

And with the awesome book we're studying right now and all the talk about 

UNDERSTANDING before MEMORIZATION....

I think this idea board is a fabulous addition for my room...

So....Here's what I made...

{Graphic Resources Here}

Just took it to the local teachers' store to have it laminated...just couldn't wait until school starts...

The idea I have for my room is (that once we're up and running with the idea of math stories)

I'll add this into our weekly routine.  

I'll put an answer up on Monday and the kids will have the week to write a story problem to go with the answer.  They can use post it notes to stick it right onto their class number.  On Friday's Number Talk Time, I'll do a random choose of 3-5 stories to read and see if we agree that we can get the answer that is on the poster.

If you'd like to create your own boards, you can download the file {HERE}

Any thoughts on how you might use in your room?

Here's the blog that Suzy Q is talking about

Talk about a blog that is chalk full of ideas...Be sure to hop over...gotta run and check out more of the cute things on this blog!  Click HERE for all the math posts including the 

"What's the Problem?" pages Suzy refers too!

Thanks so sharing!!!

K2 Math Fact Fluency Book Study Begins: Chapter 1 and 2 Discussions

“Mastering the Basic Math Facts in Addition and Subtraction:  Strategies, Activities, and Interventions to Move Students Beyond Memorization”  by Susan O’Connell and John SanGiovanni

K2 Math Fact Fluency Online Summer Book Study 2013

Introduction Chapter:

*Goal:  To master basic math facts (facts with addends of 0-10) to build a strong foundation for more complex math skills and procedures. (pg.1)

Master = by exploring numerous strategies and activities to develop an

 UNDERSTANDING and AUTOMATICITY.

KEY IDEA

Students must UNDERSTAND the concept BEFORE they can commit to memory.

Since it looks like we’re moving into CRA Math Tasks for the younger grades this year, I think it’s VERY important that we work to help our students UNDERSTAND the math so that they can focus on the tasks and not just regurgitate a formula.

*How can we help students master basic math facts?  ONGOING practice and ENGAGEMENT with math facts tasks….NOT traditional drill and practice…

         *~although I think there is a place for written fluency checks in this idea of ongoing practice…not that they’re necessarily every day…but that once in awhile …I’m going to check to see if you really are developing a fluency with these facts.

I LOVE….

 Automaticity/Fluency Practice:

Scattered practice- 5-10 minutes a day, spread throughout the year.  Brief, FREQUENT, interactive activities that provide repeated exposure to math facts!

Pg.9 starts discussing …  Suggested Teaching Sequence of Math Facts

                  good chart on pg. 12

FOUNDATION FACTS:      

         +1/+2

         +0

         +10

         Doubles

         Making Ten

BUILDING on the FOUNDATION:

         using tens

         using doubles

Chapter ONE:

KEY IDEA

Build understanding of the addition and subtraction concepts

BEFORE beginning on memorization.

“Without the “BIG IDEAS” to hold them together, math facts are just isolated bits of knowledge.” pg16

Build MEANING before focusing on Fluency…

EXPLORE symbolic Representations

Write equations helps solidify symbolic representation! pg18

What this means to me:  

As we practice our math fact games, kids need to write down equations and symbols to help instill the facts in their memory.  Kids need to engage in meaningful talk…we need to do more “Number Talks” to give kids a way to discuss their thinking about math concepts.

Download some Math Talk Cards

More thoughts to come :)