Can you name that number?

Hi all!! I am Caitlin from Kindergarten Smiles! I am so thankful that Penny has allowed me to come share with you today! 

This summer I have spent a good amount of time going over the Common Core math standards. There are a couple things I am surprised about--patterns and time are no longer required in Kindergarten; however, for the most part I am very excited to fully implement these new standards in my classroom. 

I think Common Core is giving us the chance to slow down and REALLY teach children numbers and their meaning. Students will come out of Kindergarten with mastery skills that will allow them to succeed in math throughout their schooling. 

I wanted to share with you a math game that you can play with your students in a small group. This game will help your students recognize and count numbers 1-100. You can also use the number cards in various ways:

-Have students pick a card and start counting from that number  

  (K.CC.2)
-Put numbers in order 1-100 (K.CC.1)
-Use number cards 1-20. Have students draw a card and count out 

  that many unifix cubes (K.CC.4)
-Use number cards 1-20. Have students draw a card and write that 

  number 3 times (K.CC.3)

I can go on and on.....Click the picture below to grab your FREEBIE! 

Another BIG thank you to Penny for giving me the opportunity to guest blog today :) I hope you will come visit me over at Kindergarten Smiles!

100 Followers and Counting!

Imagine my surprise when I noticed my number of blog followers had exceeded the century mark! Wow! 100 followers in just over a month!  You guys are super!  Thanks so much for the comments and notes of encouragement!

To thank you, I have created a little prize for the occasion.  It is a quick and simple activity that is easy to implement in your classroom but packs a punch in helping to nurture a child's conceptual understanding of numbers. 

I have used Today's Number as a math journaling activity, a morning math rountine, and as a way for students to communicate their understanding about numbers. 

You have probably seen this used in many different ways before.  Lately, I have noticed a couple of versions floating around on Pinterest.  So you might say this is Pinterest inspired.  I've included a number sheet to post with ideas for representing the number, and a sheet for students to record their own representations. 

I hope you enjoy using it and thanks for being such sweet followers!  Feel free to pin this and share the printable with friends! Click the picture below to grab your copy.

 

Hip, Hip, Hooray! - 15 days of K

If you have not discovered Mrs. Lirette's Learning Detectives Blog, you will want to hop on over and check it out!  She is hosting a big event celebrating her move back to Kindergarten! 

During the first 15 days of June, she has a new guest blogger each day.   I have not missed a day checking in to see who is guest blogging for her.  Everyday is a surprise!

However, today was no surprise to me!   Her guest blogger for Day 12 is none other than...ME!  Check out the cute button she made for the occasion! You can click on it to go directly to today's post.  I wrote about the importance of asking good questions.  I believe you have to ask great questions to get great answers!

I was thrilled to celebrate with Mary considering all the time I have spent in a Kindergarten classroom.  I know how excited she must be.  Hop over and check out today's post and grab the free Question Ring I included just for her blog readers!

I hope you will download it and that you will enjoy using in your classroom!  And be sure to pin it or like it so that your friends can grab a copy too.  Enjoy!

Bloggers Best Math Freebies!

Great Math Resources

A teacher friend recently asked me about my favorite math professional resources.  He was thrilled to be selected to teach all of the math for his grade level for next year (1st grade) and he wanted some advice about books to read over the summer to help him prepare.  But not just any books.  He wanted books which were filled with hands-on, inquiry based ideas!  My kind of books!  

It occurred to me, as I was contemplating my reply, that others may also be looking for the same thing.

Now typically, my favorite book is whichever one I may be currently reading. :)  And this year has been a big one for Professional Development books of the Math variety.  I will give you a couple of examples of great books you may want to add to your summer reading list.  Perhaps later I can go into greater details about their unique content.  You may have others that you think are worthy of mention.  Jot me a note if you do.  I am always looking for new resources to share with my teachers.

Here are two of my current favorites:

Number Talks by Sherrie Parrish

       Math Exchanges by Kassia Wedekind                 

You can see these books featured on my side bar bookshelf.  Click the link to check them out.