ST. PATRICK'S DAY MATH

I love to draw.  I'm not good at it, but I like it anyway.  And when you teach first grade, you're generally a little better at it than the mini-artists around you, so you tend to feel like Michelangelo... and suddenly you're an artistic superhero. Your students think so, too.

I always make time for drawing in my classroom.  It appeals to so many kids (not all, I know, but many).  And when I can connect opportunities to draw with the standards I need to teach, I think I've done something good.  These little leprechauns were made from a directed drawing lesson.  I love how cute they are and they're as different and unique as the kids who drew them, but directed drawing lessons have educational benefits as well.  They can help strengthen many skills including:

• listening and following directions

• understanding logical sequence

• improving hand-eye coordination and fine motor development

• developing spatial awareness and perspective

Some teachers get nervous though.  It kind of goes like this, "What if someone comes into the classroom and thinks we're just drawing?"  Been there.  (Heaven forbid we might just be doing art.)  So make it standards-based.  Done.  Now it's a glyph that I can use to practice collecting, graphing, and analyzing data with the kids.

And anybody can walk in without making me sweat.

The last few steps of this particular directed drawing lesson are glyph-dependent, so although we're all drawing basically the same picture, a few of the features (the stripes, the location of the clover, and the number of pockets) depend on each child.  I've included a key in the set I made, but you could easily make a similar one on a chart, too.  (This one is a condensed version of the one in the set... less text for the little ones.)  

Once the drawings are finished, we begin collecting data using tally marks.  A bar graph has been included so the children can record the results.  And in the end, we analyze the data we collected... so much math work!  (No sweating here.)

I'd love to give some of these away to our readers.  Be one of the first TEN to leave a comment below and I'll send you the set, Lucky Leprechauns: A GLYPH & GRAPH Math Activity for St. Patrick's Day.  Don't forget to leave your email address so I know where to send it.

Happy teaching!

A Cut Above The Rest!

Christmas is in the air. I love this time of year. Christmas carols, Christmas lights, Christmas bargains, and Christmas Spirit all over.  I love to spoil my kiddo's teachers with cute little partially home made gifts. (Let’s face it, I said partially because I am not the DIY Queen that I think I am!). I love most of these because they are SUPER easy but still SUPER cute! Any who, if you are looking for a cute little gift for your child’s teacher(s) than this post is just what you need.  Here are a few gifts that I have done over the years:

1.) A Cut Above The Rest - Purchase some cookie dough and wrap it. Attach a cookie cutter and a sweet little note about how much you love and appreciate them. (I copied mine onto cute Christmasy stationary.)

2.) Thanks for all you “Dew” - Purchase a 6 pack of Mountain Dew and a Tervis Tumbler. Wrap it and attach the tag with ribbon.

3.) You Make Me “Sparkle” - Probably best suited for women (but you never know......) Purchase some sparkly nail polish. Put them inside a cute little bag. Attach the tag with ribbon.

4.) Seeds of Knowledge - Purchase a small plant or some seeds. Wrap it and attach the tag with ribbon. 
If you would like to use some of these tags, you can download them here:
Teacher Gift Ideas and Tags

Here are some other great ideas that I found on Pinterest! (If you are one of my children's teachers close your eyes for the next line!) I plan on using the wrapping paper idea along with the Starbucks gift card this year!

Merry Christmas!