PIN IT TO WIN IT - Fourth Grade Dice Games [ALL common core MATH standards]

PIN IT TO WIN IT DETAILS are at the bottom of the post! :)

If you’re like me, then you have hoarded dice for your classroom ever since you first started teaching.  Well, whether you have the ordinary dice, the Lakeshore math dice, or the foam variety – dice are the ONLY extra materials needed to accompany these independent math games.  Download the set by clicking on the image below.

I love that this pack includes 42 dice games hitting on ALL of the 4th grade Common Core math standards and most require the usage of the Mathematical Practices.  As I prepare for a new school year, I knew I needed something extra in math that would provide meaningful review but also keep the kiddos independently engaged with a hands-on activity!  

The dice games may become a math center, a check for understanding, or a quick midpoint assessment.  The possibilities are endless.  Also, if you'd prefer to have the activity be partner or group-based, it's easily adaptable.

I plan on placing the page I want available for student use into a labeled folder, magnetic paper holder, or bin beside the dice basket.  Since I hate hearing the clanking of dice, I gathered enough Highlights subscription forms from my students last year to invest in this amazing tub of FOAM arithmetic dice.  Did I mention they're FOAM?  That means when the kiddos roll them, I don't hear anything!!! 

Other tips that will help ease the sound of rolling dice if you only have the old-fashioned kind is to have students roll on a piece of felt - I did this as a first-year teacher and it worked wonders!  Also, Dollar Tree sells these mini plastic storage bins where the die can be placed inside and all students do is gently shake the container, much quieter!! 

If you feel like the ROLL OUT: Fourth Grade Dice Games pack is something you'll use, please take a moment to pin the top image to any of your pinterest boards and leave me the pin URL in a comment.  I will randomly select one winner on Sunday, July 20th!

Free Lit Study Book Bag Labels

Well, it was not until recently that a clever little organizational tool I had used while student teaching appeared to be the solution to our grade-level problem.  We had the ability to use the Who was ______? informational biography series (the kind with the caricature-esque illustrations on the front cover.)  These made for quite engaging reads during our lit groups.

The only downfall was these books only come in paperback since they're new so our library doesn't have the durable Turtle binding.  Needless to say, some of them came back looking really doggedy.  I mean, this was the first year they were ever used and the bottom pages of one came back magenta for crying out loud!  "What happened?"  "Oh, my crayons fell out in the bottom of my backpack!"  "Good grief!"

Hence the reason for my implementation of gallon-sized Ziploc book bags for students to tote their novels to and fro.  Especially since this time around they will be my brand new lit set of One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia!  This is such a great read and I can't believe I've never read this author before, she has such a captivating way with words that makes you want to keep reading.  Literally, I read this book from cover to cover in one sitting!  Pick it up using Scholastic Book orders while they're $1 per copy when placing a TAB February order.  That's what I did; bought half with points and the other half with dollars! This morning, it was even the #1 bestseller of Children's African American books on Amazon.com

 Using the gallon-sized Ziploc bags, any brand will do.  I'm actually a fan of the Dollar Tree kind because they're plain with no lettering to compete with.  You can even fit worksheets or the lit unit packet inside and still be able to zip it shut (as long as the novel isn't too fat)!  However, they're not as durable as Ziploc bags are, so you do lose some quality points if you go the dollar store route. If you'd like to create a set of book bags for your class, just pick up the freebie below and have the following materials on hand:
*packing tape
*fluorescent copy paper (I prefer lime green)
*paper cutter
*gallon-sized clear Ziploc bags

{download freebie}

Hooray for Spring Break! Be sure to check out the other freebies offered up on Manic Monday below.

Pin to Win! St. Patrick's Day Printables for Big Kids

 Hello Everybody!  The arrival of March means the onset of shamrock-laden aisles and wishes of four-leaf clovers.  Well, this year is different from all my other years of teaching because it is my very first St. Patrick's Day spent teaching in the classroom.  Luck would have it that St. Patty's Day always fell during our Spring Break or the weekend, but not so this year!  Well, what's an upper grade teacher to do?  Prep to bring the luck of the Irish within our classroom walls, that's what!

I created this pack to engage my 4th graders who need to be digesting passages within the 740-1100 lexile band.  These kiddos also could benefit from a spiral review of various math skills before our statewide testing begins in 20 school days.  Lastly, I threw in a hands-on science project because that's irrefutably their favorite subject!

About the product: This simply easy printables pack comes complete with an answer key, 5 ELA handouts (1 writing, 1 context clues / vocabulary, 3 reading & comprehension), 5 Math handouts, and 1 two-paged science experiment using Lucky Charms marshmallows and water!  In the ELA section, you'll find three St. Patty's Day passages followed by appropriate yet challenging comprehension questions.  (Appropriate for 3rd - 5th grade)

Click here to see the unit on TpT.

I will give away this unit to the first THREE people to pin the image above.  All you have to do is leave your pin url in the comment section below and tell me you want it!  If you're not one of the lucky lassies to snag this pot 'o gold, it will be on sale until Wednesday.