Tonya's Treats for Teachers

Comparing numbers easy yet effective activity-freebie!

Today my 3rd graders were introduced to comparing numbers. I know they have learned about it in second grade but it's still in the 3rd grade CCSC! I was SO happy to see that 90% of my kiddos got it right away! Awesome, now I can move on to something else...hopefully!

So last night I made this simple yet effective comparing numbers activity! And you can snag it up at the end for FREE:)

So I gave each student a copy of this sheet

They folded it in half. And that is when I realized it was upside down...oh well! It still worked.

Then I gave each stduent a number

Next, I pulled names out of a container. However I called their name is how they had to stand in the front of the room with their number. Students would read the numbers and show me the correct sign to make the number sentence true! They had SO much fun!

Finally, I told them I had a trick and a test for them:) They didn't like that! But I told them they could have extra recess of they got it right...all of them! They looked at me so confused! I loved it! Then I also told them that they were not allowed to talk...at all! Again, confused. So this is what I had them do for their test. They had to get in order from least to greatest with their numbers as a class....WITHOUT TALKING.

They had a blast! All but 3 got it right away! 3 were mixed up. I still gave them extra recess! Now I know for tomorrows lesson of ordering numbers I may not need to do a whole lot!

So tomorrow is our first early release of the school year. We get to have some PLC time in the afternoon after our lunch that the PTA is buying us:) I am crossing my fingers that I can get all 7 kids I have left to do my reading assessments on DONE! I am having the kids work on reading activities all morning so I can test, test, test!

One activity students will be doing is using a Scholastic order form to cut and sort out Genres!

I plan on giving them they genres I want them to sort by on a handout! Farrah over at Think Share Teach has some cute free genre posters!

I will be printing this off so they know how to sort their Scholastic book order:)

Well, that's it for today! I am SO ready for bed and it is only 7:22! I was up and at the gym at 5am...super tired! Have a great night! OH...yes, and you can get my freebie HERE! I almost forgot the BEST part!

CROP-QV reading strategy

How many of you have heard of the CROP-QV reading strategy? I didn't until a few years ago when I was teaching at a different school. I actually have no idea where this strategy came from...I have searched high and low! But all I have found was different people using the strategy!

Any-who...so I am STILL doing my reading assessments and have a TON left to do. I really hate doing these as one student today had to go through 3 books, 3 retells, and 3 writing responses before I found her correct independent level. Talk about a LONG time!

So my kiddos today were working on their CROP-QV book! They really liked it and found it to helpful!

If you are interested in this reading activity you can pick yourself up a copy today at mt TPT and TN stores! But I would gladly give someone a FREE copy if they can guess this question correct:) What bath and body work FALL scent wallflower do I have plugged in right now??? I just can't get enough of all the yummy fall things right now!

On another note, I had my first observation/walk through today! This is day one of week 3! I can't believe they are starting already! Well, it went very well! She pulled me aside after school and asked about all those hand movements and student talking time! Yes, she was talking about...class/yes and teach/ok! She LOVED it and so do I! WBT rocks! She loved the partner work they do when they teach/ok. She left me with this nice note:)

I hope everyone is off to a GREAT week:)

500 follower mega giveaway winners...and a math freebie!

I want to say a HUGE thank you all the bloggers who helped me celebrate my 500 followers! I also want to thank each and every follower out there! You are all amazing! Thank you for following me and being a part of my life!

If you entered my giveaway and did not win, don't worry! I have a little freebie for you! Have any of you have had your students watch the Rounding Rap on YouTube? I found it last year and my kids just LOVE it! It really helps them remember how to round-which is such a difficult concept for them to get!

So what I did was make a poster to hang in the classroom! This way if they forget the song, they can see the poster!

Just click HERE to get it:) I hope you like it!

Now, here are the winners of my mega giveaway! Congrats to you all!

Heather-$50 gift card to your choice ot TPT, Target, Amazon, or Erin Condren

Vicki-10 items from my TPT store and a $10 TPT gift card

Shelia-mega pack 1

Christine-mega pack 2

Andrea-mega pack 3

I will be emailing you and the other bloggers soon so you can get your prizes!

Everyone enjoy their weekend! See you soon!

Table Leaders-possible giveaway too!!!

Just something quick for today that I just have to share:)

You know when you ask someone at a group or table to do something they ALL want to do it??? Then they fight over who does what you want them to? In the past I have used table leaders but for some odd reason I stopped! I wonder why???

Well today, I mean, yesterday, I mean Tuesday-well this whole week...I have had kids fight and argue over who does what at their table! Now, I LOVE my kiddos this year, but this has got to stop!

I am bringing back the table leaders that will switch out weekly! I have plenty of those vertical name tag holders with lanyards I can use.

I made these cute table leader badges for them to wear in the class! Thanks Ginger from Ginger Snaps for the AWESOME new fonts:)

If you are interested in winning these for free just try and guess my question. I have asked it before but no one ever got it right! So go back to some previous posts so you don't guess the same thing that has been guessed before!

What is the ONLY dog breed I have ever owned???

I am off to go eat my dinner...check out this delicious dish!

Don't forget...you have ONE more day to enter my mega giveaway!!!

Have a great night!

Sandwich book report freebie

Today was the start of week 2 for this school year! I am already slammed for getting the reading assessments started! It is very hard to try and do all these assessments when you haven't even finished teaching students how to do the Daily 5. So what they heck am I supposed to have these students do when I HAVE to get these assessments done in our two week window? These assessments will take me the whole two weeks...it stinks! Anyone else do mClass? I HATE it:(

The thought of busy work really bothers me...but it's what I have to do until I can get these assessments done! So I am having my kids work on a sandwich book report. I found this a few years ago, it is not mine:( I tried to search for it, and all i found was the PDF file, not the creator. So if you are the creator, please let me know so I can give you credit!

This is an awesome full length sandwich report kids can work on as they are completing a book. When they are done, they can color it, hole punch it, and tie it together! They actually love it!

So if you want this file, you can click HERE to get it:) But this will only last a few days...does anyone have other ideas I could do for fun book report type stuff???

By the way, thank you for all the kind words of encouragement about my life change. I was thinking about each one of you as my alarm went off at 4:40am this morning to get my butt to the gym! I was there form 5-6am. Came home to shower because quite frankly...the towel they gave me at the gym for the shower wouldn't even cover my cat! And get this...I was still very early to work...7:15 matter of fact! Kids come ta 8:35! I think this may work! I also started another blog about my new journey. It is just for me right now and set to private. It is a great way for me to talk to myself about my feelings and such without having a real journal. Maybe one day I will make it public!

Don't forget about my Mega Giveaway! It ends Friday night! So does my 50% off sale over at Teacher's Notebook!

I just created a new Place Value Card game!

You can get it now for $1.25

Have a great night everyone!

Day of 3...September Currently, Monday Made it, life changes

Happy Labor Day bloggy friends! I hope everyone is enjoying their day off! I know I am! I was able to sleep in and run some errands! It's nice to be home at 2pm with very little to do the rest of the day!

So today I am linking up twice! First with Farly from Oh'Boy 4th grade for her monthly currently! I can't believe September is already here! Fall is my favorite season and I can't wait to plug in my new wallflowers from Bath and body works to get my house and classroom smelling good:)

My favorite things:)

Well, my new life attitude by far is my favorite thing right now(see below). My second favorite thing is my hubby. He is my rock! He is supporting me with these new life changes and I am so thankful to have him by my side! I would be lost without him! Last, I am so loving He and She Eat Clean blog. I love their recipes, their inspiration and motivation to make the changes in my life! I can't wait to start my new journey! Here are the pics of the pumpkin protein bars I just made! They are SO good!

Go check their blog out...you won't be disappointed!

I am also linking up with Tara from 4th Grade Frolics for her Monday Made it. This is the first Monday made it turned monthly instead of weekly! I can't wait to see what everyone has made.

I have been working on adding a vocab center to my literacy block! This will go with word word in hopes they can practice their vocabulary words!

I created a vocabulary wheel:)

I was thinking you can use this in two different ways. One, have the kids complete each section of the wheel for each word. Two, they can use a paperclip and a pencil to spin what to do with their vocabulary word! What do you think??? If you are interested in having this center idea you can get it HERE for free for today only!!! I hope you love it!

And last, but not least. Yes, I have some life changes ahead of me. I have always been up and down in weight my whole life...it's SO frustrating! Starting tomorrow, I am planning on changing the way I treat my body. I am working on eating clean, working out more, and setting small goals of getting this weight off.

I have known for awhile I have gained some weight since my wedding (may 2011) and never did anything about it. For the past few weeks my foot has been feeling better and I knew that once school started it would also be a fresh start for me!

I am eager to get back into the swing of things and make a change for me! So I bought a new gym bag, got shower shoes, and stuff to go in the bag. I am all ready!

But what really hit home...was a picture a friend posted last night on Facebook from the party I went to this weekend. I finally saw it, I finally saw how much weight I have gained, how unhealthy I am and how I really need to do something about it. I would post the picture on here...but I am embarrassed...very:( Instead of me sitting here wondering what went wrong...I am changing:)

Here is to the new Tonya!

Disco Brain Break Party Anyone? Oh and a freebie too!

Who doesn't LOVE a Target shopping trip??? But what is even better??? When you find something you weren't really looking for but eventually wanted to buy and it was on CLEARANCE!

So I pinned this fantastic idea from Ginger at Ginger Snaps about using a disco ball during brain breaks! She hasn't talked about how she is going to use it yet...and I can't wait for her to do so!

So, back to Target! I was at Target looking for a new gym bag, some groceries, and a few other things. When all of a sudden I saw this at the end of an aisle...

I instantly remembered Gingers post about using this and HAD to have it! The best part is...it was on clearance! SCORE!

I sure LOVE a great deal! I would highly recommend you go to Target NOW if you want this bad boy!

So about those brain breaks! There are MANY great ones out there on TPT and TN. I have yet to purchase some because I have been using these amazing FREE ones I found a few years ago! They are awesome and the kids love them! Their favorite has always been the Sports Galore!