Thursday, December 17, 2015

Keep Ya Head Up...

I was needing some encouraging keep-going words and created these little ditties and thought I would share...they are perfect for instagram, throwing in a chatbook--and I am printing them up and framing them...because all that glitters is gold! (except real glitter...that just is a whole 'nother story).




You all are the best---it's been a week hasn't it?! Almost to Christmas break--keep on trucking along and doing good things!

Over and Out!

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Be TEACHER SANTA!

AH! December?! We are meeting again...and so soon!!! I LOVE it! Is anyone else in a slight panic mode because there is thiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis much to do and this much time?! Say it ain't so!

Even though I am slightly feeling overwhelmed with so much to do I am totally reveling in the Christmas spirit. Pandora is playing Christmas songs all day and we've been catching a few of our favorite Christmas shows. The wrapping bonanza has already began at our house!

AND BOOKS! My books play double duty--I use them both at home AND in the classroom. It's either a #teacherperk or #teacherproblem. I posted this on instagram last week but figured I should post it here to...some of my faaaavorite books. You can read about it later this week (maybe tomorrow...we shall see)!

ALLLLSO, while I am sharing a few of my favorite things...I want to share what I do for Christmas for my kids...

I don't do individual gifts...

I DO A BIG CLASS GIFT! My first year teaching I hated the idea of spending money on junk ((candy)) or things that my kids wouldn't use. AND being a first year teacher with a pretty sparse classroom, I opted to try presenting the idea of a class gift and they WENT for it.



I took requests on games (for rainy day and snow day recess), books (both individual books and guided reading wishlists and kindle books), science activity or materials, music, supplies, and just about anything that we could use at school.


SUCH a lifesaver and such a fabulous investment in my classroom!!! My first year my class really loved games so I stocked up on playing cards, monopoly deal, spot-it, blink, dominoes, topple and I think I got more beach balls and inflatable balls for outdoor games...seriously brilliant and the perfect budget busting excuse...because its all for the kids!



I've done big book Christmases...loading up our classroom kindles, buying sets of new books for guided reading, and getting some pretty fabulous read alouds.



THE options are really endless. One year my students asked for new expos---done!!! I also take song requests--and I'll buy them up so they are always on my phone, computer, iPad, and iPod so we can move and work with some of our favorite songs. My students squealed when they saw $20 dollar iTunes gift card.



My first year I wrapped everything...but since I've thrown everything in a bucket, covered it with a blanket, and whisked it off and totally felt like Oprah. It's the best! AND YOU should try it!

This year I am hoping to grab some magna tiles (scouring for a deal...I missed one a few weeks ago), the guided reading books above (with kindles I only have to buy one copy and my students can share), a switch-pitch or two, annnnnd some fun recess balls...it's basically the best time to splurge on my kids!

So if you are struggling with what to give your students figure out something to give the WHOLE class!

Thursday, December 3, 2015

Switch it OUT! Instagram Tip!


Here's a tip for YOU! Whether you are a teacherpreneur or have private class instagram, on top of one of your own, logging in and out can be so frustrating--and making sure that you are posting on the right account. Total #firstworldproblem but time is of the essence, right? Especially teacher time.


I LOVE to document everything my little girl does (plus family things and kitchen successes and disasters because I LOVE cooking) and all the teachery things too (probably just like you!) but don't want the two to mix. Anyone else? Also, my big passion is teaching, creating, and education...but not all of my friends and family want to see posts of long division, tpt sales, and stacks of papers. 
You get that, right?!


It's such a hassle to log in and out of both accounts and keeping everything straight!
So I tested out lots of APPS but FOTOGRAMME has been my FAVORITE. 

I can easily switch accounts or sometimes just keep my teachery account open on it and my personal one up on instagram. You can browse so easily, heart, and comment to your hearts content.



The account picture tells you which one you are logged in on. Which makes it so so easy!



Here's my little girl! She's so two, happy, sassy, silly, and full of two year old moments. AND I also love collecting memories for our family chatbooks. I hate missing out on whats going on with my teacher friends and also family...AND that's what I love about this app makes it!
I can keep things together and organized! And I need all the help I can get!

This is just a favorite. Photogramme has no idea that I exist or that I love their app.

Over and Out!

Sunday, November 29, 2015

Give Yourself Permission...


It's that time for the TEACHERSPAYTEACHERS CyberSMILE sale.

Use promo code SMILE when you check out (and don't forget...whoops, might have done that once) and save!

Think of things that you'll need and want in January--after Christmas. #lifesaver. I know I'm taking the plunge and getting some things that have been sitting on my wishlist for a few months--well, since AUGUST. You should do the same!(:

AND...LOVING this flashback. The 90's...miss them! AND all of the cheesiness in the world.

Over and OUT!

Friday, November 27, 2015

Get It Together!!! {{ATTEMPTING the IMPOSSIBLE}}


So excited about this!!! I was inspired by Ashley at Schroeder's Shenanigan's in Second to put all of my to-do lists in one! 

I think it'll help keep me organized and it BRILLIANT! PLUS I can do this for school subjects too--but with tabs for math, science, reading, writing, guided reading...etc!!!

 It's easy peasy and such an easy way to stay organized. Saying good bye to post it's and scratch pieces of paper to keep me together! #pleasetellmeimnotalone

Y'all. Please enjoy the rest of your break--you've earned it! AND get organized before MONDAY!

Over and out!

Friday, November 20, 2015

Take it from the TOP!


Hello! This is fun! PERCENTS -----> PROPORTIONS


I am so excited about this! PERCENTS ---------> PROPORTIONS! I was planning on doing one BIG post but I decided to break it up--so read and then come and see me before THANKSGIVING. 

Holy. Guacamole. 

We made it to Thanksgiving. Lovely and wonderful.

TODAY. Percents to Proportions. I really hope I'm not the only one in the universe that struggles with this. I've tried all of the tricks and know a million and a half ways to get help my students find percents of a number and set up proportions but the need LOTS OF confidence. It's a scary thing, 

Those darn proportions (I love proportions, I do. BUT JUST DARN. Sometimes) can be so tricky.



ENTER this!

So a long time ago I created task cards where my students were given a problem and those that were really unsure at first, I wanted them to check their proportion setup (before they even went through to solve it). It breaks my heart when students spend tons of time and their setup is wrong.



SO. My students I have a card where they can check their setup and then they solve. This is also perfect for me to see if they 
a) have a hard time discerning the part from the whole
b) mess up with their math when solving

It's so so helpful when you need to know how to help your students!


When you are working on percents and proportions it's so important for students to spill their brains so you have a snapshot of what is going on in their minds!


Small group, whole group, centers, scoot, review, introduce...these cards take can take you through the whole year!


>>>>TRY THIS!<<<<

I line these up on desks and students go down and set up their proportions and then walk down the other side of the desk to make sure they have them set up correctly.


>>>>TRY THIS!<<<<

I've even written the correct answer on the inside ^^^ so they can check that as they go too. But usually I don't always have time so I just leave a copies of the answer key (north, south, east, west) for my students to check their own work #reallife #makelifeeasier #monitoryourownlearning


I send mini versions with my kids that go to resource or get tutoring help. Totally helps with keeping everyone on the same page!


There are challenge problems and my confident kiddos don't need to check it--just let them keep on a goin'!


These are in my store HERE!!!


Over and OUT!



Tuesday, November 17, 2015

CHa.Cha.Cha.CHANGES

AH! I'm popping out of my crazy ~RaBbIt HoLe~ to say HELLO! How are you? Thanksgiving is right around the corner...youv'e got this!

I got this great idea to redo some product covers and then proceed to update some products and let's just say I am having fun! There are so many things I didn't know then that I know now AND way better fonts and other things that I have discovered since my TPT journey started.
 Out with the old and in with the new! It's been a lot of fun and I'm still trucking along!

Here are some of the fun updates!!!

This is a newly posted product that I need to blog about ASAP! I have pictures ready to go and everything! There's always more to a product than is on TPT!

Fraction, Decimal, and Percent LOVE

FRACTIONS in ACTION

Can't get enough angles...I'm sad they aren't in the 6th Grade core...I love teaching GEOMETRY!


Orders of Operations with SWAG

I LOVE MY S.C.I.E.N.C.E. people!!! All of my science products are getting streamlined and I love it! If you need vocabulary poster cards or word wall words--I'm your girl! 

I'll be popping in this weekend and with some F!U!N! proportion and percent things that I want to share (well...this weekend is the goal!)

Anyways!

OVER AND OUT!






Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Dot Marks the Spot!

Let's get down to graphing! Reflecting points on graphs to be exact! When I first saw this in the Common Core---I was so nervous to teach this for some reason--well, all graphing things are a little intimidating to me for some reason. But I LOVE THIS. It's so visual and almost like a game--so we play lots of Battleship, Pirate Map, and Guess My Square games (all that were made up on the spot) to make this memorable, fun, and REAL.

What do you call this stuff? Cartesian Coordinate Graphing? Graphing? Plotting point? Battleship? I feel like there are so many fancy schmancy titles that 6th graders LOOOOOVE and associate with graphing! By the time kids make it to 6th grade they can a plot a point like nobody's business...right?!



I've found that students sometimes get a little intimidated when it comes to reflecting points and honestly...I was too when I first had to teach it! This is one of those math things that I throw caution to the wind and let my students discover and come up with the rules (well...I throw caution to the wind more often than not) because it's soooooo much better. So much.



I use these task mats--make a few copies of the set and have students work in groups to plot points using handy-dandy dot stickers...that are neon (because....neon is always better). I've laminated these and had sets where students plot the points using expo markers but dot plotting works better. I don't know what it is--I think seeing it and the power of stickers does wonders for all learners--but especially my visual learners.


I love this because my students come and tell me..."Mrs. Van...when you reflect over the x axis you change the -/+ of y and when you plot points over the y axis you change the -/+ of the x!" Each year we come up with a little rap or rhyme and by the time I'm teaching this again I totally forget #teacherprobs. But I LOVE that each group has made this their own. And BOOM. It's not that intimidating after all.



YES! These are in my store!!! Check them out here or by searching for my store under "Beth Van"!

Over and Out!

Monday, November 9, 2015

ROUND 2: Create Your Own Ratio

Ah! So my poster "Create Your Own Ratio" is all over pinterest--and if you are visiting from there THANK YOU SO MUCH and stick around! So I posted my little idea--just pictures and I thought it was about time to post the actual activity. So HERE it is BELOW but I've also added it to the original blogpost (HOORAY!). Enjoy :) Happy Day!





AND in case you are looking for more I have some other ratio activities posted up in my store! Check them out!

12 SWEET Ratio Activities! Task Flip Strips, Solve and Color, Table Building, and MORE! (percentages and proportions also included)

Are you needing a BIG JUST RATIO review? THIS is your ticket!

Over and Out!

The copy provided is for personal use and is not to be distributed or sold. Thanks! I appreciate it!

Monday, November 2, 2015

MOMENTS

Okay Y'all. I just finished Mr. Ron Clark's Move YOUR Bus and it was nothing short of amazing. After the epilogue I was in tears. So just be warned--you need tissues for the epilogue. This word--MOMENTS--was repeated at least five times in the last paragraph of the book and I can't stop thinking about it. Our happiness and the difference that we make comes down to moments--if we run or make magic or if we walk or ride. 


I am so behind on blogging but it's because I've been creating lots of magic AND enjoying MAGIC created for me (birthday Taylor Swift concert surprise) that I will share soon! 

It's November friends! Let's roll up our sleeves and make some Moments of Magic!

Over and Out!

Friday, October 30, 2015

Weekend TeachersPayTeachers SALE

If you are reading this you survived HALLOWEEN and a FULL MOON!!! So high five yourself and feast upon a treat! 

Stop by my store and grab a treat or two! I know I am going to be stocking up on a few things to help make it through November! (even if it's lots of fonts and clipart!)


Here's a link to my store https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Beth-Van
or click here!

Over and Out Friends!

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Latin Me Tell You About the Greeks!




TODAY we are TALKING about ROOTS of the Latin & Greek VARIETY!

ROOTS! Whenever I first started teaching roots made me groan because how can they be fun! You know what!? So I made it my mission to make roots fun! AND don't you think your students would love roots more if they actually starting finding them and saw that roots aren't just a thing of the PAST. They are awesome sauce.

AND because I try to not to reinvent the wheel but for this one...I had TOO!

One OF my FAVORITE resources for TEACHING and LEARNING roots is membean.com and I have no idea how I came across it at all. BUT it's this treasure trove of all things that are WORDY. Which I love!

I have no affiliation with the site membean.com. I just stumbled upon this gem of a site and have to share it (just to clear the air). I don't subscribe to the website and everything presented below is FREE! Because teachers are broke and humble. :) Whew got that off my chest. So let's take a look!


This is the main page--wouldn't your kids just go gaga for those posters because they are SO COOL! I love the visualness of them!


How stinking cool is this--it's all so cool! I love the visualness of this and how it links words together.  Oh, and there are podcasts. How fun would that be to listen too to squeeze in some root word awesomeness? Pretty cool.


If you scroll down below the tree there are some really cool written histories about the words and a list of ten that have definitions written using the root. Sah-Weet!


Another favorite part is this one--I've included a few of these WORD MAPS! I could look at these for forever! I have my students use chrome books or we go to the computer lab and type in our spelling words and learn more about them!


I love all the words that my students add to their vocabulary from this!!!


I could have added a million of these word posters. Don't you just love these? 


They also have a root of the day! Root! Root! Pretty awesome. This is just a glance at the website--there are other things to do and see and explore.





Fun a game by Scholastic http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/athens_games/gameGreekToMe.htm

Also let's chat about dictionary skills. I STILL think that kids need them and it's not painful for you to teach or boring for them to learn if they have guidance, direction, and engaging things to do while they are searching the dictionary! If anything it teaches perseverance!\

One thing that you probably dread is sending kids off to "hunt" in the dictionary--it never turns out quite like you think or with any results. AND it's FRUSTRATING at times. However, I've found that if my students have direction that things end up much better. I have these snazzy posters and word collections









You can catch these in my store (Beth Van) as well as some matching games that make for a great center or review!

Over and out friends!


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