Fraction action!

I know it's been a while since I posted anything useful so hopefully this will make up for it!

This week we've been looking at fractions. It's early days for my guys. For now, we are focusing on wholes, halves, quarters and eighths.

I've been getting some wonderful advice from a maths guru who is doing some training at our school at the moment. He's really opened my eyes to the importance of linking maths to reality.

I've realised that it is easy for teachers to dive straight into the 'maths' of mathematics (if that makes sense).

When you think of addition, you think '+'.

When you need to teach multiplication you think 'x' and arrays.

What the little ones really need is for maths to make sense to them. They need to be able to link it and see it and experience in some sort of reality. If (when) you do that, you'll start to see that the kids will link the maths that you do teach to reality on their own. It's like their eyes open to the maths around them and you'll start hearing things like "Mum cut my orange into eighths today" or "You can divide our hundred board into half at 50 and quarters at 5".

It's exciting!!!

So, here's some snaps from our fraction action so far:

Our fraction action began with a 'fraction hunt' where we located things in our school and classroom that were either 1 whole part, 2 equal parts, 4 equal parts or 8 equal parts. I printed off some photos and have made a 'Fraction Action' display in our classroom that we are still adding to as we do more activities.

I didn't want to introduce the mathematical language straight away. The focus was connecting to reality.

The next lesson, we represented what we found on our hunt using abstract materials. We glued matchsticks into our scrapbooks and wrote sentences to match them. In another lesson, we used play dough as 'oranges' and made 2, 4 and 8 equal parts.

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*Side note*

If you follow me on Instagram, you would have already seen this picture that I put up of the MOST AMAZING play dough that I've ever made, EVER!

It is seriously the BEST recipe I've ever used. I got it from here (click on the pic):

Thank you, Anna! It is amazing! I will never use any other recipe. So easy to clean up, too!

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Back on track again, I then began to introduce the language of halves, quarters an eighths. Some little smarties, of course, already knew these words. This is heading away from the abstraction of the concept and moving towards the actual mathematics that I want them to learn.

We also did some fun games where they had to get into pairs, where they became two parts of one whole. Then one half (one student) had to sit down and one half (the other student) had to sit down.

They then had to join with another pair and became 4 parts of one whole and then joined together with another group of 4 and became 8 parts of one whole. The whole time the kids were using the language of halves, quarters, eighths and wholes.

After that, they went back to their desks and drew pictures of what they did with the game. It was great! It was such an easy way to see which little ones had understood and were using the kinaesthetic activity to draw a representation in their scrapbooks.

We had so much fun! Next week we're going to do some more fun activities.

How do you teach fractions???

A wonderful sale in honour of teachers!

Now here's a sale that I'm passionate about!

TEACHER APPRECIATION!

Seriously. No one understands or appreciates teachers like other teachers. If it weren't for all the fabulous teachers out there I would never have come close to the teacher (or person) that I am today.

So...thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!

I'm joining in (along with every other Teacher-Author out there) with the huge sale happening on TPT at the moment. You can save up to 28% off an unbelievable range of resources from teachers all across the world. Here's what you do:

1. Click on 'My Purchases' and make sure you've left feedback on any past purchases. You get TPT credits to use for every item that you leave feedback!!!

2. Spend hours choosing things to add to your cart Browse stores and do some searches to find some amazing resources that you love and add to your cart- don't forget to move things from your wish list to your cart!

3. When you finally checkout, use the code 'TAD13' to get an extra 10% off.

4. Click on 'My Purchases' to download the products that you've purchased. When you've had a chance to use them, come back to leave some feedback (for more TPT credits!!!!)

It's so exciting!!!!

Here are some of my faves from my own store (click on each picture for a better look):

 

Go and fill your carts, people! But first, tell me:

What's in your cart/on wish list?

I need ideas for some great new resources to purchase ;)

Happy shopping!

Five for Friday {Saturday here in Oz!}

Yup, it's certain. I NEED to start showing my b-log some more lovin'. What better way than a Five for Friday?

 

1. Look what the super sweet Lori from Teaching with Love and Laughter sent me after receiving a set of my new Simple Borders?!

She seriously made. my. day!!!! It was such a sweet gesture and it put a smile on my face for the entire day. Click the picture above to check out some of my borders.

2. I'm trying to be healthy. Crowd laughs. No. I'm serious. People around me are just so good at looking after themselves and I...well, I'm just not! So, to kick it off, I made a healthy dinner. Look!

Chicken kebabs with mushroom couscous! Look at me being a good girl?

3. I've volunteered to have my teaching BFF to come in and observe me next week as a part of our school's move towards providing feedback for teachers. Even though it's my BFF, I'm still nervouuuuuuuuuuuuuuus! It's always a little bit scary having someone 'observe' you. I heart her though so on the other hand, I'm thuper exthited!

4. I'm going to boast a bit here...I reached 1000 followers on Pinterest yesterday! I was probably a little bit more excited than was necessary. Let's just say, the BF does NOT understand. Pffft!

5. This is what happens to your favourite pair of wedges when you come home from your besties engagement party and your 4 and half month old dog wakes up before you because you are verrrrry tired the next day.

Mega. Sad. Face.

Lucky he's so dang cute!!!

Link up with Doodle Bugs Teaching!!!

Some Simple Border Love

I have been neglecting my little ol' blog BIG TIME lately. I've taken on a few more responsibilities at school, as our year level mentor is on leave, and I've been trying to make sure I stay organised and do a good job ;-)

In other news, I've found a new love...creating borders!

Mel from Graphics at the Pond has given me some hot tips on creating hand-drawn borders and I think she has born a new obsession of mine.

Take a look...

Simple Borders #1

Simple Borders #2

Simple Borders #3

Simple Border #3 set are all hand-drawn by me! I LOVE it! I've always enjoyed doodling and have found a way to put it to good use.

Each set contains 8 different style borders. Each of them come with a clear and white background. So that's 16 borders per set!

I've decided to bundle my Simple Borders sets. They're in a zip file and contain all 3 sets at the moment.

It's a file that I've decided to add to so it will continue to grow. Once you've purchased it, you can simply re-download to get any additional borders I create. However, that also means that as I add to it the price will go up slightly.

Sooooo, get if you're a border addict (like me) head on over and check out the bundle! Click on the picture below. Grab it now while it's cheap ;-)

{First person to comment below with their email will receive one set of Simple Borders of their choice for FREE!!!}
CONGRATULATIONS LORI!

Vistaprint love and a Super Pack for Bundy

Look what came in the mail?! I was amazed at how quick I received these! I'm still waiting on a pen and sticky notes...that means I get another package - YAY!

Here's a closer look at what I got:

Stickers!!! That say 'Miss N says SWEET JOB!' LOVE!

A spiral notebook and notepad with my name on them.

Don't ask me why I chose cupcakes. It was just the cutest theme they had and I couldn't say no!

I may now have an addiction...

On a more serious note, in early February this year, Bundaberg East State School here in Australia was under water after tropical cyclone Oswald hit the state of Queensland.

Bundaberg East School lost most of its teaching resources and is struggling to rebuild.

Mel from Graphics at the Pond and Jody have assembled a Super Pack of Fun Resources as a donation pack. Over 20 talented contributors have offered their products in this packet of over 550 pages - that's over $70 worth for only $15!

All proceeds from the sale of this super packet will go directly to Bundy East State School, through Jody Ward. The packet has been listed in her TpT store HERE.

Five for Friday...on Saturday!

Alright, so I'm a day late (TWO days late if you count that I'm in Australia) but I want to join in with Doodle Bugs' Five for Friday because I have a few things to share with everyone.

1. I only have 2 weeks left until Easter break. I am VERY much looking forward to this break. I wanted to squeeze in a few Easter activities before we go on break. To kick things off I created this cute activity last night:

 I can't wait to do it with my class! They will look so cute hanging in our room.

2. My fluffy Buddy boy has grown up! He is taking walks now (sort of) and loving playing with the 'big kids' at the dog park. Look how much he's grown!!!

He got diggin' in the backyard.

 3. I have started my Masters in Education. I'm doing Studies in Literacy and my first subject is Functional Grammar. The technical language is overwhelming! Has anyone else done any study in Functional Grammar? Any advice?

4. I've been busy creating some other products. Here they are:

 

5. I've put my St. Patrick's Day items on sale for the next day. Click on the images below to check them out!

 

I hope to have something more interesting to share with you all next Friday!!

St. Patrick's Products and a Kid President Inspired Poster

Hmmmm...it's been a while since I blogged. I'm sorry! Here's what my class have been up to:

1. In literacy, we've been revising a lot of Year 1 concepts but our main focus has been poetry. We've been looking at a LOT of poems and their syllable and rhyming patterns.

I've been modelling reconstructing poems then they go and have a go on their own. They really enjoy poetry because they have realised that they can be silly and be made up of nonsense if they wish.

2. We've been doing a LOT of counting patterns, hundred board work, part-part whole and number line work lately. I've been throwing in a bit of time, too, because they always seem to struggle with it.

3. We've been looking at Australia - its states/territories and capital cities. We've also been looking at maps - what makes up a map, why are they important and who uses them. They are really enjoying learning all about their country.

Would you believe that we were doing math rotations in the first week of school? I couldn't believe it! What's great about it, is that learning the math rotation routine has helped them learn the literacy rotation routine. Today was their first day at literacy rotations and they were fabulous! I was a very proud teacher :)

I've been a busy little bee myself! I've finished up some St. Patrick's Day activities, as well as a cute little craftivity. Click on the pictures to check them out:

Also, have you seen this little guy?

My boyfriend and I sat and watched a few of his clips last night and I was almost rolling on the floor with laughter! He's just way too cute! He inspired me last night with some of his words of wisdom:

"Quit complaining and dance more."

You said it, Kid President! So I made this little one to hang in my classroom...and maybe even on my fridge at home :) Before you go, click on the pic below and get yourself a copy!

Huge thank you to Melonheadz Illustrating and Fancy Dog Studio for the image and border!