One More Week Before School Starts!

I don't know about you . . . 

But my Summer "To Do" list was "Bear-ly" touched!  

My days and nights are mixed up so

I can "Bear-ly" get up in the mornings.  

I "Bear-ly" know what day it is anymore.

In "Bear-ly" one week I report back to school and

I can "Bear-ly" remember my copy number, lunch number, passwords, etc.

However . .  .

I can "Bear-ly" wait to meet my new students!

They will be a Honey of a Bunch!

Hope y'all have a wonderful back to school week!

Erica Bohrer's Back to School Bonanza Giveaway!

Is it time to go back to school already????

Erica's Back to School Bonanza Giveaway will make you feel better!  

Twelve terrific bloggers have teamed up to give one lucky winner a huge back to school prize pack!  

Scroll down to see the twelve prizes you could win. 

The contest will run until midnight eastern time, on Thursday, July 28th.

Head on over to Erica Bohrer’s First Grade Page at

http://ericabohrer.blogspot.com/

for complete directions.

Bloggers involved in this giveaway are:

FREE Math Games for Addition

I've been using these math games in my classroom for several years and the kids really enjoy playing them.  I made 2-sided copies of a Doubles game and Baseball/Basketball game so when the kids finished playing one game, they could flip it over and play another one.  These are quick and easy games the kids like to play.  Not only does it keep them engaged and provide a fun way to practice addition facts and doubles, it will also allow you to work with a small group uninterrupted!  (Well, if there is such a thing!)  Click on the Game Name beside the picture to download them for FREE!  Hope you and your kids enjoy them like mine do!

  Double Up

 Doubles Race

Homerun Derby

Come To The Game

Safari Literacy and Math Fun Unit

Whew! I just put the finishing touches on my 
  
Safari Literacy and Math Fun Unit! 
  
and it's up on the Teachers Pay Teachers Store.
  

  I'm so excited about starting the year off with these 
  
"Wild and Fun" Literacy & Math Center activities.  
  
My new theme for the beginning of the school year is 
  
"We Are Wild About the Brady Bunch!" 
   
 We know the first few weeks of school can be 
   
like maneuvering through a jungle! 
  

Here’s a peek at the Unit's Table of Contents
    
and a Freebie to go along with it!
    
Have a Happy Safari!

Click HERE for this free Graph to get you started!
   

Castles and Crayons is having a 300+ Follower Giveaway

Go to Castles and Crayons to check our Kelli's wonderful Giveaway! She has some awesome activities to share with 3 lucky winners! Congratulations, Kelli!

CONGRATULATIONS

Thanks to everyone who responded to my Beary first Giveaway!  I'm now a follower of some new blogs myself!  And, CONGRATULATIONS to Janine at Faithful in First!  Her numbered comment was selected by Random Number Generator.  Janine, I'll be in touch!  Thanks again everyone!  Happy Blogging!

Sunday, July 17th at Midnight is my Giveaway Deadline

If you haven't already checked out my Giveaway, please do it now!  The deadline is tomorrow at midnight!  I can't wait to see who gets this BEARY special collection!  Thanks to everyone who has already commented that they are Followers!  I love following you, too!

Number Puzzles

The First Grade teachers at my school have been looking at the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics for First Grade this summer and writing our curriculum plan for the coming school year.  Part of our work, while actually having fun together, has been to gather activities that will help reinforce the concepts.

A part of one of the standards under the domain of Number and Operations in Base Ten, is for the students to “Count to 120, starting at any number less than 120.”  Previously most of our activities only went to 100.  So, we expanded on one idea we already do in First Grade to help students count and recognize larger numbers.  The Number Puzzle!

I made a 120 Chart and on the back, I copied the letter “A” all over it.  (See picture).  I’ll make 5 sets of the 120 Chart on yellow card stock and copy on the back of each one the letters A-E, so I have an A Number Puzzle, a B Number Puzzle, and so on.  Each 120 Chart will be cut into 5 different pieces and placed in a Ziploc baggie.  The A puzzle will be different than the B puzzle, etc.

I will also make a 120 Chart on blue card stock, using the A-E letters on the back.  However, the blue ones will be cut in 6 or 7 pieces.  I will make some more on green card stock, using the A-E letters on the back, and these will be cut into 8 or more pieces.  So the puzzles get more challenging.  Hope this is an idea you can use in your classroom! 

Click here on 120 CHART to download for free.


Another fun thing we like to do is Number Puzzles on paper.  I have a template that has some numbers filled in.  The children use their 120 Chart to determine what number comes before or after the given number or what number is 10 more or 10 less, etc.  I've also included a blank template so you can fill in your own numbers.  These are really good Math Center activities.

Click here on NUMBER PUZZLE FRAMES to download for free.

MY BEARY FIRST GIVEAWAY!

I have very much enjoyed looking at so many teacher blogs and the generous freebies I can use in my classroom.  So in appreciation, I’m BEARY excited to host my first GIVEAWAY! 

If you are like me, you just can’t have enough tote bags!  I fell in LOVE with this beautiful HOT PINK TOTE BAG.   It will hold your laptop and everything else! 

Then I found a BEARY adorable CLIPBOARD with the circle pattern!  Who can’t resist a cutsie clipboard?  But there’s MORE!  I found a BEARY cute pink COMPOSITION NOTEBOOK.  I use these all the time!  I have one for jotting down ideas for my blog (such as activities, how to do those techie things I forget how to do, etc.), another for faculty/grade level meeting notes, and another for a prayer journal – just tons of uses!  There's even a PENCIL BASKET with a pink bow to keep your pencils handy!

Also, I’m including a really sweet little NOTEBOOK that slips easily in your purse or car console so you’ll always have something to write on!  (Fast food napkins don’t really work that well!)  Then, there’s the matching MAGNETIC NOTEPAD.  I ALWAYS have one on my desk for quick notes and ALWAYS one on my refrigerator at home!

I’m BEARY excited about all these useful things I know someone will be BEARY excited to win!   The giveaway STARTS NOW and will END SUNDAY, JULY 17TH at midnight.  I’ll be using Random Number Generator for the drawing and will announce the winner on Monday, July 18^th.

Here’s all you have to do!  

• Leave me a comment that you are a NEW Follower.  If you are already a Follower, THANK YOU, and let me know that, too.
• Leave me a comment that you have posted about my Giveaway on your blog.
• Leave me a comment that you have Grabbed My Button!
• Leave me a comment that you have added the First Grade Honey Bunch to your blog roll.
• Leave me a message that you are following me at the TeachersPayTeachers Store.

And that’s all there is to it!  THANK YOU BEARY MUCH!

Favorite Book Linky Party

I'm linking up with Rundes Room for her Favorite Book Linky Party.  I have lots of favorite books, however, I'm going with my guilty pleasure summer reading list . . .

(1) The Spellmans Strike Again, by Linda Lutz
(2) Revenge of the Spellmans, by Linda Lutz
(3) Miss Julia Renews Her Vows, by Anne B. Ross
(4) Miss Julia Rocks the Cradle, by Anne B. Ross
(5) Smokin' Seventeen: A Stephanie Plum Novel, by Janet Evanovich

Happy Summer Reading Everyone!

Finally in First Font Linky Party

Finally in First is having a Font Linky Party.  I love getting new fonts!  Some of my favorites are:

Claudia Jean            Desiree’s Cool Dots

Fontmoochers       Janda Curly Serif

Pea KT Polka Dot

What's your favorite?????

Mrs. Dillard is having a giveaway!

Mrs. Dillard is having a great giveaway that ends July 10th!  Check out her blog to enter!  It's SEUSSTASTIC!

HOORAY! A Giveaway is Coming Your Way!

I have BEARY good news!  In just a BEARY few days I’ll be hosting 


my first ever GIVEAWAY!  I’m BEARY excited!  It’s going to be a


HONEY!  

Another Teacher Giveaway!

I LOVE 31 Bags!  You will, too!  Check out Mrs. Owens' Giveaway!

Go Fourth! with Mrs. Owens!

Win an awesome 31 Gifts' All in One Bag!

Birthday Packet Freebie

Look what I found on Miss Snowden's blog!  Peace, Love, and Learning is giving away a freebie today -- a Birthday Packet!  Surprises and fun activities are only a hop, skip, and jump away from each other.  Buzz on over to Peace, Love, and Learning and check it out!  What a great way to celebrate BIRTHDAYS in your classroom!

FREEBIE Beginning of the Year Games!

When school starts back and we have to so much to do -- like assess our kids -- these two games for basic letter and number recognition are perfect for your students.  The games are fun and easy enough for the kiddos to do independently while you are able to pull students for individual beginning of the year assessments.  The kids can change groups to get to know each other better and keep it fresh with a new partner.  Go to TeachersPayTeachers to download these games and directions for FREE!

Please let me know if you find these game useful or have any suggestions!  I've created games for every month of the year and I'll be posting them later.   Please FOLLOW ME so you don't miss them!  Thanks!

Freebie Linky Party!

 Just Add Clipart is having a fun Freebie linky party!  How fun is that??  I've already downloaded some great ideas.  You can, too!

Head over to Lettering Delights -- NOW!

Hey friends!
Lettering Delights is having a fantastic sale!  I just got some absolutely precious alphabet fonts that I cannot wait to use!  Seeing all the fonts for 50 cents -- that's right -- 50 cents -- got my creative juices flowing thinking about all the things I can create for the upcoming school year!  Get over there NOW!  Click HERE to get there!  Have fun and let me know what ideas you come up with for creating some exciting things for your classroom!  The Halloween alphabet will be great for our Monster Math.  The Gingerbread alphabet will be so fun at Christmas time when we do our Gingerbread activities!  Can you tell I'm so EXCITED!  Let me hear from you!!!!