Fly Swatter...What?!

One of my favorite household supplies turned teaching tools are FLY SWATTERS!  Yup- regular, old, cheapy flyswatters!  They are the best and my kids get beyond excited to use them!  They automatically sit still, wait patiently, and pay close attention...they are magic! :)

You can get these anywhere.  Most local stores including I bet Dollar Tree have some flyswatters! :)  Mine are old..I have no clue where I got them.  Here are some ways that I use them in my classroom.

1.  Review vocabulary- I put all the vocab words from the week (sometimes the last few weeks) on the interactive white board.  We give glues and the students need to swat the words.  I make a very simple powerpoint and use word art!

2.  Grammar skills-  Be creative- you can use them for almost anything.  I put up a bunch of words on the board, and then I gave a synonym.  Students had to swat the synonym.  They just giggle like crazy and have a blast!

3.  Math facts-   Put answers on the board.  Call out different math problems and students swat the answer.

If you have enough flyswatters (I am in the process of getting more)  students can do this at their desk for the same practice or even review for a test.  You can have each student cut out squares with vocab words or math answers on their desks and then as you call something out, they swat the answer on their desks!  FANTASTIC!

Do you use flyswatters in your classroom?  Do you have any other ideas?  I'd love to try some new activities!  Hope you had a great Monday Tuesday!  (It felt like Monday all day today... at least that means tomorrow is already Wednesday! )

Making Addition and Subtraction Facts Fun!!

The CCSS state that all second graders should be fluent in addition and subtraction facts to twenty.  We are having a hard time getting our students to master all these facts.  Very few students are practicing at home despite sending notes home and giving students and parents a plethora of activities to make practicing math facts fun.  We are also noticing that students really think they do know their facts fluently.  Here are some fun ways to help your students practice their facts:

Addition and Subtraction Rap and Rock DVDs.  (We got these from our local library!)

I've also seen some video clips I found on youtube:

Here's the add and subtract body part dance:

Flash cards!  Student get with a partner and quiz each other.  They make piles of ones they know and ones they don't know.  I go around and see if I can say them faster than them so show them how fast they need to know them.  Flashcards are their supply list and they can be found at that the dollar store.

Time Tests

We give out time tests each week.  Students have to pass mixed test of easy addition, easy subtraction, hard addition, hard subtraction and mixed tests.  At this point in the year I don't have anyone who has passed all the tests.  Once they pass all the tests they get their picture taken and have it hung on the Math Master Hall of Fame!

Games! Games!  Games!

Bump is a great game where students practice adding three dice.  I have some FREE winter bump mats in my TpT store.  Check them out here.

Some other games to play:

Beat the Calculator

I Have, Who Has...

Game Board Races using flash cards

Memory Match

Check out my Winter Addition Fact Fun if you're looking for some ideas!

These games can all be played with cards:

Addition War

Addition Top- It

Make a Number

Great math websites:

Math Magician Addition

Math Magician Subtraction

Math Machine

Addition Baseball

We also send notes home to parents encouraging students to practice their facts at home and providing suggestions.  

Do you have any other ideas for helping students master math facts?

Winter Addition Fun and a Funny Story!

Looking for a way to rid your kiddos of the winter blues?  How about a fun-filled 63 page pack of addition fun and games.  I created this fun and exciting winter unit and I am pumped to start using it when we get back to school in January!  I hope you enjoy it!!  It's only $3.00 but I'll have it on sale for the next two days!

Click here!!

Have a wonderful New Years Eve!  I am excited to spend some time with some great friends as we ring in the New Year!  We are having a wine and cheese party... can you say YUM?!

And since you made your way through this post, here's  a good chuckle for you!  We were reliving Christmas memories and this one just cracks us up every time!  It's Christmas morning and we are about to open presents with our immediate family.  My sister asks my mom what kind of Nook she got my dadd.  (We were all going to pitch in since that's all he REALLY REALLY wanted!)    My mom then proceeded to laugh and say what do you mean...you got the Nook!  This led to some funny glances and  a burst of laugher after an initial freak out!  That's right... neither of them had gotten the Nook.  We had no present for my dad! AHH!  WE whipped up a quick little note on the computer telling him we wanted him to pick out the exact one he wanted! HAHAHA :)  No worries, we came clean to him!   

Have a New Year full of love and LAUGHTER...LAUGHTER is key! ;)