Hello All,

We met our 50 Likes milestone on Facebook and there is a freebie for you!  So, click this to go to my Facebook page to see about the freebie.  If you haven't liked my page, like it while you're there. We are now working toward 100 LIKES on Facebook for another FREEBIE!!!

So, what are you waiting for CLICK the picture to go to the Facebook page to find the FREEBIE!

Like my FB page and Follow my TPT store so you don't miss out on all these goodies!

Have a great week!

Thanks,

Ms. Francisco

Shades of Meaning Vocabulary activities and 3 more likes to a freebie!!

Hello All,

I just finished a huge vocabulary activity set for Shades of Meaning. It's Easter Themed so it's just in

time for you to add some Holiday cheer to your student's activities. It's full of bright, cheerful and springy colors thanks to the great clipart.

It's got 2 sets of matching cards one with just words and the other with sentences. It comes with an anchor chart and a graphic organizer.  There are 3 different writing activities to go with this set of activities. You can get a lot of use out of this set.  One activity is for them to create their own using the graphic organizer.  It is already differentiated for you. Students will be challenged and find this engaging as they reach for mastery on this important vocabulary and writing skill.

Just click one of the images above to go to my store and check this and my other products out!

Some other exciting news is I am only 3 away from getting 50 likes on my Facebook page.  So, if you haven't liked it  yet get over there and do it.  When I reach 50 likes you'll get a freebie.  I think it's going to be the other Easter activity I've been working on the last 2 days!

You'll find out when I get 50 likes! So, like it....share it.....get me 50 likes! :)

Have a great day!

Thanks,

Ms. Francisco

Strategies for teaching Firsties about Money

Hello All,

Since I am going to be teaching money soon I thought I would do some research on strategies and concepts they need to learn. I taught 2nd grade Math and Science last year and they struggled with money, even the advanced class.  So, I know that these Firsties need a good foundation.  Again, this is not in our curriculum but we feel it is important so we are working it into our schedule.

One great site for some activities is MathWire.  I am going to talk about a couple of the concepts here but just so you know they are not my original thought these are from Mathwire.

First, they talk about adding antennas to the coins. Basically for multiples of 5 the students drawn a tally mark stemming from the coin. It's the same concept as touch math basically. A nickel gets one antenna, a dime 2 and a quarter 5.  Then they skip count by 5 to get the value and to add on to the value of another coin. I think I will try this with my struggling learners after I introduce money.

Another idea they had which I never really thought of for money was using a hundreds chart.  Students need to be adept at using the hundreds chart and understand the patterns of it to use it.  First, they suggest using it to count coins.  For example, give a student 3 dimes and 1 nickel. The students would place the dimes on 10, 20, 30 and the nickel on 35. The last coin tells students how much money they have altogether.   This method is effective for having students figure out which coins to use to pay for an item.   If you teach 2nd grade check out the link for how to use it for making change. I don't think we'll be doing that very much in first grade but I have the link if we do need to go there!

What's great about this site is on the link I provided they give you a literacy connection and also some games. There is a free I have who has game.  There are several other activities as well. It's well worth your while to check it out.  MathWire

Money is soooooo important because it is not just about academic skills that you don't know how you'll use but because it's a life skill that is extremely important.  If you can't count money you can get cheated at the basic level buying a treat at the store.  You have to be able to count money.  Many start at jobs like McDonald's etc., even if it tells you what change to give it doesn't tell you what coins make up that 83 cents. It's an important skill. It needs to be taught at every level.


I found this link off of Heidi's Swamp Frogs blog that has games and activities for each CCSS.  Mony is one here so search for it and you'll find some great activities.

 http://www.allentownsd.org/Page/3359

I hope this is helpful to you. I wanted to post some information that is not just product related. When I return to school after Spring Break then I will be doing these activities with my kids. I will know how to add to them if needed and I plan to take pictures of them using them. I'll get feedback for sure about what they like and don't like!

Happy Teaching and Learning,

Ms. Francisco

Is Money in your Curriculum for First Graders?

Hello All,

Money is not on our curriculum map but we are teaching it because it's on the SAT 10 test that students will be taking in a few weeks. I can't believe how close it is getting.

I am preparing some products about money for my class and I will be posting them in my store soon. When we did time I got a game Clocks in a row by Jennifer Elliott. It's actually a freebie in her store and my kids just loved it.  Here's the link to her store.  So, I made a money game like this.  There is a game board with money amounts and then there are cards with the coins on them. The kids will draw a card and tell the amount on it.  If they get it right they cover the square with their color of chip.  I have included an answer sheet by Card number so the other partner can check and see if they are right. This should help them practice authentically and not practice wrong amounts.

So, keep an eye out for this game in my store!

It's not there yet I have a few more touches to it!  I also am working on a matching card set and some worksheets with some matching and also some word problems..  I will probably put them in separate and then bundle them so you can get them at a discount.

Click the preview above to go to my TPT store.

What do you do with your students to help them learn the coin amounts and how to count the coins?  I would love to hear what you do in your classroom.

Thanks,

Ms. Francisco

Going Franans on Facebook -- 25 more likes to a Freebie

Hello All,

Hope you're enjoying your day.  I started a facebook page to make a great audience. I have set a goal for 50 likes in order to get more traffic.  When I get 50 likes I will give away a freebie on my Facebook page.

So, if yo haven't liked my facebook page yet and you'd like a freebie then go to my facebook page and like my page!

Click the cute little monkey to go to my Facebook page.  The clipart is from Wholly Clipart and is found on Etsy.

Hope you'll like my page!  Follow me over to the right on google + and never miss out on a post again!  You never know what you'll find on here!

Thanks,

Ms. Francisco

Adding Tens to Two Digit Numbers -- Scoot in TPT Store

Hello All,

I got another activity ready for my class when we get back from Spring Break.  I have it in my store for you!  We're working on that important concept of adding 2 digit numbers to 2 digit numbers.  The third activity in the series now is Adding Tens to Two Digit Numbers.  Students understanding place value is so important. This will help you scaffold them up to understanding place value.  They need to understand when you add tens only the tens digit will change.

Clicking the picture will take you to my TPT Store.

I sure would appreciate you pinning this to Pinterest for me.  There's a pin button up there at the top of my blog to pin from here or you can pin from the TPT store page. I appreciate the publicity. Remember if you do purchase a product you can earn free TPT products by providing feedback on those products.  For every 20 credits = $1. I had never done this. This weekend I commented on all my purchases and I got so much free stuff. It adds up quickly!

Also, when I get 50 likes on my Facebook page I will give out a freebie.  So, go like my facebook page!   Going Frananas on Facebook!!    

I'm at 19 likes so get to liking if you want a freebie!!!

Thanks for all your support!  Help me get the word out!

Thanks,

Ms. Francisco

Adding Tens with Hundreds Chart Task Cards

Hello All,

Well, Spring Break is making me quite productive.  I have been looking ahead to plan for my class and as I was getting materials ready I thought others might be able to use them as well. It is my goal to offer activities that help teachers and are fun but authentic learning experiences.

We are working on adding multiples of 10 to 2 digit numbers.  We're gearing up for that independent two digit by two digit addition and eventually regrouping. I remember in 2nd grade last year this was challenging for them.  So, I am trying to make products I feel will help scaffold my firsties through these steps for a good foundation.

Here's what I came up with:

Click to go to the store!!

This is not a large set but it's enough for 15-20 minutes practice.  Not only are there practice problems but the skill is applied in 6 word problems. I don't know about you but over 9 years I have yet to have a class no matter what level they are at that has not struggled with word problems. They can never get enough practice.  Well, I think you'll like the price this set is only $2.

Please leave comments here, feedback on TPT, pin it to pinterest, like it on facebook.  The more you support these products the more others will know about them and hopefully teaching will be a little easier for all of us!

Happy Adding,

Ms. Francisco