Fun Games 4 Learning: July 2012

Manic Monday Freebies

I had seen this before but today when I went to CoffeeKidsandCompulsiveLists I thought it would be great to join in.

So I decided ( quite late in the day I know) to add my Olympic Games Brain Teasers. About a week ago I created these brain teasers based around the Olympic Rings as something fun and challenging in math that relates to the Olympic Games.

They are 7 brain teasers in card format and worksheet format!

These brain teasers are great for all ages as I have included a simple version and a challenging version of 3 of them!

Download them now at

https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B22L3xCcFjIydlpZc2RVQWc2UVk

And make sure you check out the other fantastic Freebies at

http://www.classroomfreebies.com/2012/07/welcome-to-manic-monday-at-classroom_30.html

I Love Playing Around With Words!

From my first year of teaching - which was some years ago - I always loved teaching phonics and playing around with words.

Children get so much from rhyming, letter swapping, reading words lists and building word lists.

These simple posters are filled with big opportunities!

We use them for reading words with these patterns but we also have lots of fun with them.

Miming Clues

Students can mime a clue for a word and the others try to guess what the word is. Someone might mime eating off a plate for the word plate.

What's My Word?

I like to give students a clue for a word and the students have to guess what my word is. I might say, 'We do this at night.' for the word sleep.

Letter Swap

We also play letter swap where I select a word and ask students to change a letter to make a new word. I might say, 'Change the i in hit to make a new word,' and students could say hot, hut or hat.

There are lots of fun things that you can do with a list of words!

The posters above are from my Short Vowel and Long Vowel Word Work Units but you can easily make your own lists. In fact brainstorming a list of words with a particular letter pattern is another great way to play around with words.

Picture Books - My All Time Classroom Favorite

I came across this linky today at
Fifth is Fun. Straight away I knew I had to join in so I have linked up with The Teacher Wife.

As I chose my 5 favorite picture books, I suddenly realized that out of all of the classroom activities that teachers share with their class - this had to be my favorite. Sharing a good picture book with my class.

I love seeing little faces staring with wide eyes and open mouths in anticipation of what will happen next.
I love seeing them so still and quite that you could hear a pin drop as I pause between pages or for effect!

This would definitely have to be my classroom favorite!

So here they are - My Top All Time Favorite Picture Books! Hope you enjoy them too!

The Whales' Song

Absolutely beautiful story with amazing illustrations. I always tell children to make sure that they look at the pictures carefully as I read because the artist is so talented. Children are always taken with how lifelike the pictures are. The story is intruging and children always want it reread! Enjoy!

The Whales' Song

Dear Greenpeace

This is cute, cute, cute! The letters are flying fast between Emily and Greenpeace when Emily believes she has a whale in her pond!

Dear Greenpeace

Owl Moon

I am not sure what the main appeal is about this one but there is always a hushed, open mouthed response. Lovely pictures and lovely story!

Owl Moon

Where the Forest Meets the Sea

This is a 'save our forest' story the leaves children in awe of the majesty of a forest that is millions of years old. The illustrations are collages by the talented author Jeannie Baker.

Where the Forest Meets the Sea

Puzzle Island

A story with a puzzle to solve as well. I was so disappointed when I discovered that my copy had gone missing!

Puzzle Island

Olympics Brain Teasers Freebie

If you don't already know it - I am a huge fan of using brain teasers in the classroom, especially in math.
So with the Olympics about to start I just had to do it!

It took a little while but finally I have 7 math brain teasers based around the Olympic Rings.
For 3 of these, I have created a Super Challenge version (these will tease the brains of even the adults) and a basic version which makes them easier for the younger students.

They are all available in 2 different formats - Brain Teaser Cards which can be printed 2 to a page and worksheet format with them all on one page.

And did I mention that they are a Freebie? Available now from TPT.

Olympic Games Math Brain Teasers

Enjoy the Olympics - I can't wait to see the Opening Ceremony!

It's Still Christmas!

Don't worry, you didn't miss out!
After TeachersPayTeachers was down for most of Wednesday, I have extended the Christmas in July Sale for one more day! Many of the others who were participating have also extended for one more day too!

Everything on Sale Now at

www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Games-4-Learning

Christmas in July Sale!

When I came across this at http://imbloghoppin.blogspot.com I couldn't resist joining in!
I am a huge Christmas fan and any excuse to celebrate Christmas or have some Christmas fun is a good one!

A huge thank you to Babbling Abby for making this adorable picture!

I have actually listed all of my items on sale not just the seasonal ones!

Everything on Sale Now at

www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Games-4-Learning

Look at who else is participating!

1.	Kinder Alphabet	18.	Deanna Jump	35.	Teaching Upstairs
2.	What the Teacher Wants!	19.	Mrs. Lirette's Learning Detectives	36.	Mrs. Johnson's First Grade
3.	Step Into Second Grade	20.	Kindergarten Lifestyle	37.	Mrs Kilburn's Kiddos
4.	A Special Kind of Class	21.	Mrs. Wills Kindergarten	38.	Fluttering Through First Grade
5.	Sub Hub	22.	Hope King	39.	Bright Concepts 4 Teachers
6.	Erica Bohrer's First Grade	23.	Fabulous in First	40.	Mrs. Mayas' Kinders - Jamie Mayas
7.	Growing Kinders	24.	Crazy for First Grade	41.	Sliding into First!
8.	One Extra Degree	25.	Primary Graffiti	42.	Karen Stamp
9.	First Grade O.W.L.s	26.	Mrs. Albanese's Kindergarten Class	43.	Surfing to Success
10.	Teacher Bits and Bobs	27.	The Learning Tree	44.	Kindergals
11.	The Teacher Wife	28.	Mrs. Plant's Press	45.	Spedventures
12.	Julie Lee	29.	Reading Toward the Stars	46.	Best Practices 4 Teaching
13.	Life is Sweet...In Kindergarten	30.	Rulin' The Roost/Angela Rubin	47.	Little Miss Kindergarten
14.	Mrs. Wheeler	31.	Ms. Rachel's Room	48.	Welcome to Room 36
15.	Simply Kinder	32.	Teaching in the Early Years	49.	Little Miss Hypothesis
16.	Smiling In Second Grade	33.	Really Roper	50.	The First Grade Parade
17.	First Grade Schoolhouse	34.	Primary Reading Party	51.	First Grade Fabulous Fish

Be In It To Win It!

Make sure you check out the special 200 Follower Giveaway that Kim Davis has at

CarriedAwayKindergarten .

There are some great prizes and my Ultimate Math Board Games Collection is included as one of the prizes.

It contains all 4 of my Math Board Games collections.

You can seem more about this collection at my TPT store.

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Games-4-Learning

Lots of other great prizes are included too! I love the Yoga 4 Classrooms prize and the cute Jamberry Nail Shields.

Make sure you enter - you've got to be in it to win it. :)

I LOVE Brain Teasers!

I am so hooked on using Brain Teasers with kids!

I love seeing there faces light up when they are given a challenge to solve!
Sometimes you can almost see their little brains ticking over!

They get so much from Brain Teasers
- the chance to apply math skills,
- they develop strategic thinking
- the opportunity to develop thinking skills
- they also learn to 'think out of the box'.

Each child has a BT book (short for Brain Teasers of course) so that they can be a bit messy when it comes to working out the brain teaser. If they need to draw a diagram or have several attempts as they 'guess and check' it doesn't matter if they are a bit messy!

I am always designing Brain Teasers but until now I hadn't put them all together in one collection!

Finally (after starting this project in 2007) I have a collection of math brain teasers!

I am celebrating completing this collection and my birthday which falls on Friday 13 this year! (how lucky for me)

My new collection of Brain Teasers is now available at
Math Problems and Brain Teasers Cards.

Please consider trying Brain Teasers in your classroom if you haven't already!
You won't regret it!

And I Would Like to Thank -

Am honored to receive another award. This time from Allison at
http://www.aworkofheart-blog.blogspot.com

I have received 2 awards previously and it took a bit of time to pass these awards on but I always feel so grateful after I do. It has been so wonderful to discover and connect with other teacher bloggers!
Thank you Allison!

This award highlights blogs that have under 200 followers. Here are the rules for it:

1. Copy and paste this award on your blog.

2. Thank the giver and link back to them.

3. Reveal 5 other bloggers and let them know by commenting on their blog.

I am happily awarding the Liebster Blog Award to

http://divingintolearning.blogspot.com

http://creeksideteachertales.blogspot.com

http://www.theteachersworkspace.blogspot.com

http://onthe21st.blogspot.com

http://www.sweetlifeofsecondgrade.blogspot.com

I Call These Word Boards!

I call these word boards and have used these in some form for many years. I even remember making basic ones for weak students in the 6th grade some years ago.
Well this is what they look like!

What do you do with them? Anything you want. These phonics activities are really versatile and ideal for teaching or reviewing letter patterns.

They can be a board game, team game, word building exercise, class competition, homework activity, give a clue game, real or unreal game! You really can use them for anything that want and you will probably come up with many more ideas!

The 2 above are freebies at

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Short-Vowel-CVCC-Board-Game

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Short-a-CVC-Board-Game

I also have a whole set of short vowel Word Boards at

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Short-Vowel-Word-Boards-for-Games-and-Activities

There are 18 short vowel CVC, CVCC and CCVC Word Boards in the set. It includes 9 different ideas for using the boards!

I really hope you give these a go! The kids LOVE them! Now all I need is more hours in the day so I can fianlly get around to making a Long Vowel set! :)

I'll keep you posted and let you know when I do!

Top 10 Reasons for Games in Classroom

Thought this sounded like fun when I found it on http://thebendersbunch.blogspot.com .

So why not give it a go yourself and link up with "Teaching My 3" for a Top Ten Linky party.

Here are my Top 10 Reasons for Games in My Classroom

1. Fun for the kids and for me!

2. Engaging - kids get so motivated!

3. Learning without realizing it! The kids learn heaps but think they are just playing!

4. Great way to introduce new concepts and get kids interested.

5. Great way to review concepts instead of boring drills or worksheets!

6. Makes them think! Love games that really make kids think!

7. Easy to prepare - Some of my favorites require no preparation!

8. Great time fillers for the last 5 minutes of the day. And the kids go home happy when they finish the day with a game!

9. Teaches good sportsmanship and fairplay even if it is not a sport!

10. Develops leadership - I love letting the kids run the game and watching them develop leadership skills!

Such an Honor!

Am very honored to have received One Lovely Blog Award not once but twice.
One from Julie at www.thehipteacher.blogspot.com

and one from Mrs. Slocum http://mrsslocumsthirdgradeclass.blogspot.com

Tic Tac Math Freebies Now Available!

Tic Tac Toe and Math Facts Practice! I had done it before but in a different way - now I have a huge collection of game boards that will turn kids into math facts masters in no time at all.

The thing I love most is that while they play not only do they become faster and faster with basic math facts but they also develop strategic thinking as they try to master Tic Tac Toe! I love games that make kids think strategically!

I now have 4 large sets of printable Tic Tac Toe board games on TPT and have added 2 Freebies!

Addition Tic Tac Toe and Multiplication Tic Tac Toe are now available!

3 Addition Tic Tac Toe Games Board

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Addition-Tic-Tac-Toe-Freebie

3 Multiplication Tic Tac Toe Game Boards - 9 Times Facts on one of them!

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Multiplication-Tic-Tac-Toe-Freebie

Hope the kids have heaps of fun with these!

Wishing you loads of fun and games always!

So Much Fun!

I came across this at http://shenanigansinsecond.blogspot.com .
It looked like fun so I thought I would join in!
I was right - it was fun!

Was feeling hungry so went to make lunch - just realized I could have put something different for Loving in the above - it could have been

Loving - My new soup maker - just throw in all the ingredients and turn it on - YUM!

If you would like to join in the fun, I would love to read your July Currently so head over to

Oh' Boy 4th Grade and link up! Many thanks to Farley for organizing this!

Giving Away Tic Tac Toe Math Fun - It's FREE for 3 Days

I am really excited about the new math board games that I have just finished!
I decided to combine Tic Tac Toe and basic operations practice to make learning basic facts lots of fun!

The result was 4 new collections of math game boards.
And I am giving away the Tic Tac Toe Subtraction Collection for 3 days - Monday 2- Wednesday 4 July! There are 22 Tic Tac Toe Subtraction Game Boards in this set!
Download for free now at

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Tic-Tac-Toe-Subtraction-Facts