Valentine Goodies

So most of the things I share with you I've tried out in my own classroom. This is a new idea I had, and it hasn't been classroom tested. This is a Valentine Day Math Mat. I had seen lots of these types of mats for primary students but never for intermediate students, so I decided to create some. A couple of weeks after I created this one I got a Really Good Stuff catalog, and they had several for intermediate grades. Oh well, this one is free. Please let me know what you think. I've created one for the 100th Day, and I'm working on ones for other holidays. Just cut it out and tape together. You will need a package of conversation hearts. Click HERE for your free copy. UPDATE: If you downloaded this, you need to download the revision. I did not have enough columns. The 1st grade Math Mat is at the END of this post.

Teaching Tip of the Week
Motivate writers with a song!

A couple of years ago, I picked up this singing elephant during the Valentine season. He/she sings, "Sugar Pie Honey Bunch." When I have a writing conference with my students, I have students read a writing selection of their choice to me. If I find a really great piece to highlight, I push the button on the elephant and serenade the students. I change the words to, "Sugar Pie Honey Bunch, you know I LOVE your WRITING!" The student beams with pride. I don't over do it and I'm pretty picky. In other words it has to be showcase worthy.  I try to showcase one or two writers a week. I do look extra hard for those struggling writers. Sometimes I just highlight one sentence. I can't begin to tell you how successful this has been. Most of the students desperately want their writing to be worthy. I do think they put more into it. After I started this, I found these elephant writing pins on Ebay. I had to have them. I bought all the seller had.  I give one every 9 weeks to the top writer. Keep in mind I teach 4th grade, but I have one student who wears it EVERY day.

I have no idea if you can get either of these items anymore, and couldn't begin to tell you where to look. Before you throw something at me, I came up with something you CAN get right now during Valentine season. I found a giraffe that sings, "Your Love Has Lifted Me Higher." I plan to change the words to, "Your WRITING has lifted me higher." I made a heart that says, "Your Writing." and taped it over the last heart. I also created a giraffe printable. I plan to print it on sticker paper, but you could just print and laminate. I got this at Wal-Mart and I cringe to tell you the price, $16.95. I KNOW! If you want to risk them  running out, you could get it after Valentine's for half off. Click HERE for your free giraffe sticker printable.

Just Because I Love You
I decided to give you a little extra this week and created another freebie for you. Somebody Loves You Mr. Hatch is such a great Valentine book. The theme is easy for kids to pick out, too. If you click on the cover of the book, it will take you to a FREE online video version of the book. It does have a commercial. If you click HERE it will take you to Storyline and you can click All Stories and choose it from the list. It it straight from the site without commercials. You can also choose download file size.  It also has some free activities and more great free books.   I think this one is really well done. I also created a story map to accompany the book. Click HERE for your free copy. 

If you have enjoyed anything I've created, I would love for you to follow my blog. Either way, I wish you luck as you create magic in your classroom.  Have a  magical Valentines!


Breaking The Rules:

  This blog is primarily for grade 3-6 teachers, but if you've followed my blog closely, you know my mother is a 1st grade teacher. She needs a couple of activities for her firsties on Tuesday, so I created  them for her. It just seemed a waste to only share it with my mom. I hope my target audience, 36 teachers, will forgive me. Click HERE or the picture for the 1st grade math mat.
The second thing I created was a sequencing activity for the picture book Arthur's Valentine. Click HERE or on the picture for the printable. This book is also available free online. Click on the cover of the book for the link.