Center Activity: Fractions and Decimals on a Number Line

Made another center for our first unit on converting fractions.

Students will match the fraction with the decimal, meaning they will have to calculate.

Then they will put it on the number line.

After I laminate the sentence strips, I will add the Velcro dots. I have four sets and matched the sentence strip color and the cards for organization purposes.

Download the activity cards here.

Download the recording sheet here.

Middle School Math JACKPOT

I may not have hit the jackpot in Vegas this past week, but I did for finding Middle School Math blogs!!!

Will Grade for Coffee has a 6th grade blog list... which led me to Technolgy Integration for Math Engagement... which had a post about Middle School Math blogs reposted from I Speak Math (whom I follow already)

This blog world ROCKS!!!!

The Lists

I have just returned from vacation and my mind is racing.

First of all, Vegas was incredibly fun, so fun this is my husband and I now.

Okay, back to reality....

I have 3 days left of summer vacation. I have one day of training and then I am BACK!!!

So for me, it is time to PANIC!!!!!

This means the lists begin and I will make lists for my lists (I'm anal like that)

 I have laundry, cleaning, grocery shopping, smothering my kids for the next 3 days...

Then, the school lists... oh my! Those are the ones that  freak me out.

I have not been up to school yet. Well, once, but that was only to have my hubby move my stuff from one room to another. We just left everything in one spot and I will have to tackle it next week.

I have done a lot this summer, but now I need to go through all that work and organize, organize, organize.

Being gone also has me behind on blog reading. So, I have to find time to stalk, read what every one's been doing. Of course, this leads to more panic because you people are productive!

Time to tackle the lists!!!

Currently... August

My first Currently link up, very exciting, but I am prograstinating....  

                                                                 Thanks to Oh Boy 4th Grade

Fractions & Favorite Back to School Activity

To avoid two posts in one day, I am combining Friday Freebie and My Favorite Back to School Activity


Fun in First is having a link party for your Favorite Back to School Activity.

Mine is a revamped one I did last year. I can't wait to do the "upgraded" version with my students.

Math About Me Silhouette

I want my students to represent numbers in various ways. We include equations, numbers words, fractions, decimals, etc...

I share mine with the students so they can learn personal facts about me and they will create one as well so I can learn about them. This year I plan to create a bulletin board outside my classroom with them.


                                                     

I am working on our math centers and updating some things we did last year. Here's one set for Adding and Subtracting Fractions with like and unlike denominators.

Addition and Fraction center activity

Hope this is useful to you!

Happy Friday everyone!

 I am off to Las Vegas until next Wednesday, so see ya next week!

My First Blog Award!!!!

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK  YOU! to Jenny at  Teacher and a Mom for nominating me for my first blog award.

7 Random Facts about me:


1)  Salty/Sweet treats are my favorite

2)  My laundry room is pink, pink and more pink because I am the only "pink" in a house with 5 "blues". 

3) I've completed 2 half marathons.

4) I can literally sleep anywhere, anytime and for long periods of time.

5) My children range from 21-2, all boys!

6) My favorite show is Sportscenter on ESPN

7) I'm an Army Brat

And here's my nominees, I have gotten such great ideas from them all:
Finding Joy in 6th Grade
Surviving Sixth Grade
I Speak Math
Fifth Grade Dugout
Caught in the Middle
to the square inch
Teaching in Room 6
Primary Possibility
Sixth Grade Scribbles
6th Grade All Stars
Coffee, Kids, and Compulsive Lists
6th Grade Sparkle
Teaching with Blonde Ambition
Adventures in Teaching
For the Love of Teaching Math

Follow these rules to to claim your award:

1. Thank who nominated you.

2. Include a link back to who nominated you.

3. Include the award image in your post.

4. Give 7 random facts about yourself in your post.

5. Nominate 15 other bloggers for the award.

6. When nominating, include a link back to their blog in your post.

7. Let the bloggers you nominate know by leaving them a comment.

Words of Wisdom

Teaching in Room 6 is having a link up for advice to new teachers. I think its great for ALL of us though.

I am starting my 19th year of teaching. It's my second in 6th grade. Last year was bad, really bad. I have tried all summer to get moved to one of our elementary schools. I mean, really tried. Even after the bad year, my principal wants me back and to be head of the Math department now. It is such an about face from last year. 

When I think about advice for 1st year teachers, I think I need it too.

So, here's my thoughts:

•  ASK FOR HELP No matter how great a teacher you think you are, your experience or non experience, ASK FOR HELP.

•  HAVE A PLAN for classroom management. Kids want boundaries, they really do. As a teacher and a mom, I believe in this whole heartily. Make rules, make consequences, give rewards, but have something in place and STICK to it. You can have your students help design this, but YOU are the teacher. Go in with a plan BEFORE school starts.

• BE POSITIVE WITH PARENTS Dealing with parents can be hard sometimes. Contact them with positives before negatives occur. If you are nervous about parent conferences, ASK FOR HELP (see first bullet)

• TAKE TIME OFF Manage your time during the day and don't spend every weekend at school. Don't spend every night working at home. I am a firm believer that you can't eat, breathe, sleep school. Well, you can, but I don't think you should. Trust me, you will think about it ALL the time. I wake up in my sleep thinking about a lesson, or a student, or something weird. It happens. I just know you can't let it consume you, no matter what you "family life" is like.

• BE REALISTIC Do not compare yourself to the "perfect" teacher down the hallway, next door, or friends that you know or find on these awesome blogs. Decide your focus and get that right before tackling something else. For example, get your classroom management in order, then focus on perfecting centers, Daily 5, journals, etc. For me, last year it was surviving. It was close, but I did it. No, not really, it was Math journals. This year my focus is incorporating Math Centers in Middle School. I will still do journals, just adding the center things.

• HAVE A GOOD ATTITUDE This is my new mantra for this school year. I am going in with a new attitude. I am actually excited about going back to middle school. I am not going to look at it as "just get through the year". I am excited about teaching math and leading our new team. I know its going to be tough, there will be frustrations, but I know my attitude is better than last year and I can do this.

Lastly, some simple things they don't tell you in college:
1. Sharpen pencils BEFORE classes
2. Teach students how to use glue (any age group, seriously!)
3. Have erasers available at all time, pink ones, pencil top, just have extras
4. Invest in wine, lots of wine (but partake at home only)

 Best of luck and have a super year!