Elementary Tales

I love to-do lists.  They make me sane even though I will probably do only half of the to-do's.  I will take the summer to map out my classroom and how I want those first few days to go so that I'm prepared when the whirlwind of in-service meetings begin and then you are left with a day and a half to get your classroom ready.  Maybe some of these ideas will inspire. Pocket Chart Ideas: Calendar Helpers Daily Graph Story/Poem of the Week Mountain Language/Math Attendance Centers Weekly Spelling/Sight Words list Sticker Chart Uses: Weekly Behavior Homework Accelerated Math/Reading Book Club Displays/Posters: Math Vocabulary (with pictures/examples) Science/Social Studies Theme with Literature Quality Work Examples Themes/Units (per grading period) Writing Examples/Themes Student of the Month Birthdays Holidays Important/Current Events Preparing for the 1st Week of School: Script Getting to Know You Activities Transitions Procedures Ice Breake

This game is a great alternative to Around the World with flash cards.  I picked this up at a training my first year of teaching and I've been using it ever since.  The kids love it and it allows every child a chance at answering the math facts. Rules: All students stand at their desk.  The teacher walks around the room with the Kaboom can to each student one at a time.  The student will: 1.  draw a card out of the Kaboom can, 2.  answer the basic fact problem, 3.  answer correctly and the student stays standing, 4.  answer incorrectly and the student sits down, 5.  draw a Kaboom! card and the student sits down. The last student standing is the winner. Here's how I made my new Kaboom cans... One can for each operation 1.  Clean the empty cans. 2.  Measure and cut colorful scrapbook paper. 3.  Glue paper on cans. 4.  Add stickers and done! You can print out the addition , subtraction , multiplication , and division cards here. Side note, have fun with