Advanced Multiplication Math Ladders

More multiplication ladders are posted! I like to use these throughout the year to keep my students' skills fresh. These particular ones are used for my advanced fourth graders to challenge them.

Back to School Sale!!!

It's that time of year again...time to stock up and save that 28%!! Most stores are 20% off and you can get an extra 10% off using code BestYear. Don't forget to enter that code or you'll not get the extra 10% off.

Happy Shopping!

Classroom Sticky Note Planning Calendar (2016-2017)

For the last I don't know how many years I've used sticky notes to plan my year. Sticky notes. Yes. When I first met with my administrator about my plans, I had my nice, neat digital ones on the server for her to look at while I looked through my sticky notes calendar. She laughed. But, you know what? It works for me! I'm a planner (I've already got Science & Social Studies mapped out for the entire 2016-2017 school year and we haven't had the first day of pre-planning yet). I worry about not getting through all of my standards (in Science/SS because I teach two subjects in one period or in Math because there are more lessons than there are days before the state testing) so planning it all out at once helps me stay on track. Sticky notes help in that it's easy for me to move things around. Unplanned workshop, field trip, sick child? No problem, switch a couple things around and I'm good to go.

My plans for October....an example of what my folder looks like.

Go Get the FREEBIE!

Long Division Math Ladders

Whew! I hope everyone has been enjoying their summer. My husband came home from a year-long deployment overseas and we celebrated with some time at Disney. I'm wrapping up my summer by prepping for the next school year (we go back in two weeks - ikes!) and knocking out some TPT projects I've been meaning to get around to.

Multiplication Drills {FREE}

....and the multiplication drill sets are done!

Level 1: Individual Practice & Mixed 20 per page

Level 2: Mixed 25 per page

Level 3: Mixed 30 per page

Division Drills {FREE}

There are very few times I'll give a grade on something that's not a fourth grade benchmark. After all, that wouldn't be fair!! But, let's face it. Kids struggle with their basic facts. And, though they're "supposed" to master them in 3rd grade, very few retain the skill for 4th. And 4th grade is miserable if fact mastery hasn't happened!! After analyzing 11 years worth of teaching, I finally figured out why my kids seemed to know their facts better in my earlier years of teaching. It was a no-brainer, but with all the changes in curriculum and standards, I didn't realize it until this August.

Daily. Math. Drills.....Timed. 1 Minute. Graded right there. By the kids.

I gave up the daily math drills to 1. Save paper! 2. Get rid of having 40+ multiplication drills in the grade book. (I know!! Crazy!!!)

This year, I took on a new approach. Daily math drills (check). Timed (check). Graded by the kids (check). But, instead of putting them ALL in the grade book, I randomly choose one every week or so. We get the benefit of daily practice. They never know when is for a grade. And, I get a record in my grade book of 10 or so drills to let me know how they're progressing. And, if a parent is concerned about their child's math grade, the very first thing I check is how they're doing on those math drills. After all, if you don't know your basic facts, finding equivalent fractions is going to be a monster, at best.

And, of course, I've been working on math drills for my class. Here's a link to the (FREE!) division sets.

Level 1: Individual Facts Practice & Mixed Practice (20 per page)

Level 2: Mixed Practice (25 per page)

Level 3: Mixed Practice (30 per page)