Black Friday Sale!

Interactive Math Notebook Flip Books for Meanings of Division

I finally finished my sixth Interactive Math Notebook.  Do you ever start one product only to come up with another and decide to start that one as well?  This happens to me all the time.  My students will be ready for division right before Christmas so I decided I better get this one finished.
The Notebook includes five flip books; Division Vocabulary Words, Division Using Repeated Subtraction, Division is Sharing, Division Using a Multiplication Chart, and How to Solve Division Story Problems.  Here are some pictures of the finished product.

You can check the Notebook out at my TpT store or TN store.

Writing Fluency

Have you ever had a student that has a topic but no idea what to write?  I have several this year.  It's not that they can't come up with any thing to write about each day.  It's that they don't know how to get started.  I came up with a jar activity to help students with writing fluency (because it's timed), thinking quickly, and making connections.  Students choose a word card from the jar and write it at the top of their paper.  The minute timer is then turned over.  Students have one minute to write as many words as they can that relate to or connect with the chosen word.  I made a graph for students to complete each time they do the jar.

This really encouraged them to try to write more words than the previous time.  So far it's worked very well.  One of my most reluctant writers chose this prompt from my Thanksgiving Writing Prompts Jar, "Pretend you are a pilgrim for a day.  Write a story about it."  She said she didn't know what to write about for her story.  I told her to do a minute writing fluency with the word pilgrim.  She was able to come up with 15 related words.  I then asked her how she could include some of those words into her story.  It was in no time at all that she had written a great story about a day in the life of a pilgrim.  You can check my Writing Fluency Jar out at my TpT store or my TN store.

Five for Friday (photo overload!!)

It's been eons since I linked up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for Five for Friday.  It's probably because by Friday evening I'm so exhausted that my fingers are too tired to type!

I just updated one of my favorite jar activities!  My students absolutely love my Recess in a Jar, especially now that we've had to stay inside several days the last two weeks.  The jar contains 24 indoor recess activities for students to do.

You can check out the preview at my TpT or TN stores.

Last weekend I had the best weekend!  My husband and I went to Louisville with seven other couples for a friend's 40th birthday.  My friend had the whole weekend planned.  Some of the highlights were doing the Louisville Quest (like The Amazing Race through Louisville) and zip lining at the Mega Cavern.  We ate lots of good food!  May I suggest Jack Fry's if you're ever in Louisville!!  Here are a few pictures from the weekend.

On Thursday my teaching team was lucky enough to go to see Lucy Calkins in Indianapolis.  I can't wait for her new Units of Study for grades 3-5 to come out in the spring!  It's so nice to be able to go to a conference and get new ideas for improving instruction!

I need a new look!  I'm thinking about getting my hair chopped off (not too short).  I've always been a fan of the bob and love Jennifer Aniston's new look (we are the same age!).  What do you think?

Just some randomness from the last few weeks...
My oldest daughter earned straight As for her first trimester in high school.  We are so proud of her!  She's obsessed with selfies!

Rock, paper, scissors...

My poor dog leads a rough life...

New Products and "It's All New" Giveaway

I have so many new products in the works!  I'm hoping to have two ready for this weekend.  The first is my sixth Interactive Math Notebook.  This is a notebook of flip books to help students with division.
My second is an old product with a brand new design!  Here's a sneak peak...

Speaking of new... I'm so happy to be celebrating with Meg at Fourth Grade Studio's for her blog anniversary and new blog design!  She is have one huge giveaway.  Today's giveaway is for $120 worth of TpT products!!  Click on the button below and head over to Meg's blog to enter!!

Currently November

My favorite month!  I love November for several reasons.  First, school is in full swing. Second, I love cold weather clothes.  Finally, I love the anticipation of the upcoming holidays!  I'm linking up with Farley at Oh' Boy Fourth Grade for November's Currently.

Listening... to girls giggle.  My youngest daughter is having a slumber party.

Loving... that it's November and I have so many things to be Thankful for this year.  Here are a few.

My family, friends, pets, students, nieces and nephews, new sister-in-law, IU basketball, comfy shoes, my blog, and all that Teachers Pay Teachers has allowed me to do!!  It's be a great year!

Thinking... I really need to Fall clean but instead I went shopping today.  In my defense, my daughter needed new dance shoes and there's always tomorrow to clean.

Wanting... next weekend to get here!  My husband and I are going with six other couples on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail next weekend in honor of a friend's 40th birthday.  We haven't been on a couples weekend in ages so I'm so excited!

Needing... to have a giveaway.  I'm planning a big giveaway for the weekend of Black Friday through Cyber Monday.  I'm so close to 1,000 TpT and blog followers, so I want to celebrate and hopefully meet that milestone by December.  Stay tuned!!!

A yummy pin...  I know everyone thinks about pumpkin this and pumpkin that during the month of November, so I decided to pin a yummy non-pumpkin pin.

My family LOVES white chicken chili with a southwestern kick!  This recipe is excellent.  The only change that I make to the recipe is to add a can of beer to the chili.  Don't ask me why but it really adds to the flavor.  We also like to eat ours with tortilla chips.  Enjoy!