Back with a Vengeance!

It's been a while since Miss I. has popped onto the blog. Looking at my last post, I feel like I wrote it yesterday! This overdue comeback has me refreshed and filled with so many new ideas to share.

This is my sixth year of teaching Basic Skills Math. This year, I have about 40 students on my caseload in grades 1-5. I also assist in kindergarten classrooms during math time. My students are referred to my program because they struggle in math, and it's my job to help them understand while making math fun! This year I have completely changed the inner-workings of my classroom; old lesson plans have been tossed out and each day I work hard to create hands-on center-like activities for my kids.

Since I do not have a specific math program to use, I create most of what I do on my own (with a little help from Pinterest and other TPT resources!). I try to make our activities relatable to life and as relevant as possible. Of course this week, we're all about the election! 

This month will also be filled with lots of Thanksgiving activities. My students adore our yearly math project, Thanksgiving Dinner Problem Solving. 

Thanks for popping by! Enjoy this Thanksgiving Freebie that's all about fractions! 

                   

xoxo, 

Miss I.

My fish had a "case of the Mondays......."

Happy Monday! Since this is a 3-day work week for most school districts, today is basically Wednesday in my book!

This weekend, I learned how hard it is to keep a goldfish alive. Its so, so, so much harder than you think. If you are like me, you figured you could pick up a couple fish at the pet store, give them cute names, throw them in a bowl and feed them once a day for the next 3-5 years. WRONG. 

If you are thinking about getting goldfish, read this first! I certainly wish I did....... Poor Taco made it about a week before going belly-up. 

http://thegoldfishtank.com/goldfish-care-take-care-of-goldfish/


In other news, I kicked off the autumn season today with a fun activity that I was able to use with students in grades 2-5. By just enlarging the number you assign to your students, this activity can be used at any elementary grade level! My students reviewed standard, expanded and word forms of a number and colored in the candy corn when they were finished. It made for a perfect, festive bulletin board! Enjoy!

-Miss I. 

Place Value Freebie!

Happy Thursday!

We're all in full swing and nearing the end of our second full week of school! Mine was interrupted by a severe sinus infection which always hits me at back-to-school time! 

As a Basic Skills Math teacher, the first chapter we are working on in each grade level is usually related to place value. Below, you will find a freebie that will help your students build number sense and place value understanding. Apologies for the short-and-sweet post...it's tea and bed time for this sick girl!

Enjoy!

-Miss I

"Kitchen Sink" Muffins!

   I love muffins. I used to start my day with a crumbly corn muffin or moist gooey blueberry muffin from my favorite coffee chain until I realized that even the 'low-fat' version contained over 400 calories. Although I'm certainly not a calorie counter or health nut, I do try to eat well and can't justify that kind of caloric intake for a silly little muffin. Last night I had some too-ripe bananas lying around and decided to experiment with whatever I had in my pantry. My options were limited, but with a little tweaking and substituting, I ended up with a delicious batch of muffins! My egg yolk allergy (sad.....we all know the yolk is the essence of the egg!) caused me to substitute egg whites, but you could use either.

"Kitchen Sink" muffins

Makes 12-15 muffins.

1 ½ cups whole wheat flour

1 cup rolled oats

½ cup white sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon salt

¼ cup egg whites or 1 egg

¾ cup skim milk

1/3 cup applesauce

3 tablespoons peanut butter (optional)

¼ cup semi sweet chocolate chips (optional)

2 mashed bananas

Preheat oven to 350.

Combine flour, oats, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl.

In a separate bowl combine egg whites, milk, applesauce, and peanut butter. Add mashed bananas and combine thoroughly.

Stir the flour mixture into the banana mixture until it is just combined. Add chocolate chips or sprinkle them on top of muffins when they are in the pan.

Scoop mixture ¾ of the way full into muffin tins lined with cupcake liners or sprayed with oil. Bake for about 15 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Enjoy!

Here's the best part! If this recipe makes 14 servings that brings you to 157 calories a muffin! Sounds pretty guilt-free to me!

The Best Artwork You'll Never Buy!

    I love greeting cards. I have spent countless dollars and hours finding perfect cards to send to friends and family for different occasions. Although Papyrus is usually my go-to, I've been finding a lot of other great cards as I've explored new paperies in recent months. 

    Not only do I love to buy and send cards, but what's better than opening your mailbox and getting some good ol' snail mail? I have hundreds of cards that  I've saved throughout the years, mostly for sentimental reasons. My friends know I appreciate an adorable, sparkly card and it's nice to know they now give a lot of thought to the card buying process too! 

   I'm not big on the large pieces of artwork with popular quotes that are very common these days, but I've taken some of my favorite cards that have great quotes and graphics and framed them around my condo. I have gotten tons of complements on them! My favorite is a Wizard of Oz housewarming card (which also happened to be my favorite movie growing up!) 

   Next time you're at the store, find some great cards and toss them in a cheap frame backed with some scrapbook paper!  Great (and unique) artwork for under $5. 

Coffee + Wine = Love

     I spent hours on pinterest when I first moved into my condo a few months ago. Since I don't see this as my 'forever' home, I didn't want to spend a fortune on furniture and decor. I see this as a little space that I can truly make my own. 

     I love putting things together that don't always match, but work together. I look for inspiration online and find ways to create things on my own or on a budget. I often do weekly rounds at my local Home Goods, Marshalls and TJ Maxx. It's hard to go to these stores looking for something super specific, but I've had a ton of luck this summer in finding exactly what I was looking for!


     One thing I was certain I wanted in my new little space was a coffee and wine "bar." I love a good cup of coffee, tea, or red wine! I scoured Pinterest and found so many great ideas. I came across this awesome shelf from Hobby Lobby. I procrastinated buying it and it quickly sold out online. Luckily, a Hobby Lobby recently opened nearby and I picked it up in July!

      My family has finally come to terms with my love for other peoples' junk, and my Aunt grabbed a great piece of furniture for me off of a curb on garbage day! After a date with a screwdriver, several coats of bright paint and some new knobs, my little coffee and wine bar came together wonderfully. 

Furniture- found on a curb!
Shelf and wire baskets- Hobby Lobby 
Glass mugs- Ikea
Lace bowls and mugs, rubber mat- Christmas Tree Shop 
Tea and sugar ceramic canisters- Home Goods 
Wine bottle holder- thrift store

Back to School Freebie!!

     It's that time of year again! Back to school! I still love to go back to school shopping. There's nothing better than new notebooks, binders, highlighters, markers, crayons, etc.- sometimes I even pick up a few things for my students ;). 

   Although next week begins the 'official' start of the school year in my district, every teacher I know has been working hard to get their classroom ready for the big day. The end of the summer is quite bittersweet. I know I don't speak for myself when I say that I spent my entire summer working several other jobs, but I am excited to get back into the classroom and back to a normal routine. 

   I spent my summer doing the million other projects that I don't always have time for during the school year. Aside from decorating and furnishing my new condo, I've taken on a new hobby: calligraphy! I will share more of my home and paper projects soon. Today's focus is all about school!

   Each year I try to choose a fun and exciting classroom theme. Last year, my classroom was decked out in cupcakes and baked goods! The students loved it, but I have to admit that I tired of it quickly since I often spend my weekends surrounded by baked goods (we will also discuss that at a later time...). Last year, I created these fun baked-good themed number posters. They include tens frames, which we know play an integral part in our Common Core Curriculum. Although they won't be hanging in my classroom this year, I hope you will enjoy them in yours!

    In the next few days I will be posting photos of my nice clean classroom and new math bulletin boards. Enjoy the holiday weekend!