Rocket Math Drills and Celebrations

Our school uses a math program to supplement Everyday Math. We felt that the students weren't learning the basic facts well enough.

Rocket Math is a one minute drill sheet, but each child only completes the number that they are able to write in that amount of time. (A pretest determines how much they can write.)

The levels are named each letter of the alphabet. As they pass one level they move to the next. As they pass addition, they move to subtraction, then on to multiplication and finally division.

In our building each level has it's own reward. If the child passes the letter, they get to stand on their chair and the class gives them a chair cheer (really, REALLY loud screams, cheers, banging on the desks, what ever makes a loud noise!)

When  a child passes addition, they get to stand on their own desk and get their picture taken for the Wall of Fame.

 If they pass Subtraction they stand on my desk.   If they pass Multiplication, they stand on a roof outside my room. All the kids who are at recess come up and cheer them on. If they pass Division, they stand on this roof and spray them with silly string!

This is the Wall of Fame where the 2nd grader's pictures go if they pass.

Below is the Wall of Fame for the 1st graders who have passed Addition.



 

This is the bulletin board that changes daily as students pass a level and their rocket gets moved to a new letter. This is two classes of first grade and two classes of 2nd grade. We also put a string by the letter that shows the goal they are trying to reach by the end of each trimester. It helps them see where they need to be.

Not sure why these two pictures won't stay together!

I hope this helps some of you who feel the need to beef up your Everyday Math program.

P.S. I wanted to let you know that our service project total is at $1596! We have raised enough for the one house and now are trying to get enough money for the bathroom.

That is amazing. . . no, it's AH -MAZ- ING!

This Friday is the last day. Let's hope we can help this family out and get them a bathroom!

Patty

Holly (who was almost Holy according to my typing!) over at Crisscrossapplesauce is having a linky party. . . I must make a confession. . .. I have never done this before. . . but I'm going to join her linky party.

Why did I join this one? Who on God's Earth knows. Because this one is driving me crazy! She wants us to show our classrooms. . . but not just the classrooms, but ALL of the Good, AND the Bad, . . . . AND the UGLY!

They UGLY? Are you kidding me? Do you know what it takes for this girl to show YOU the UGLY? I am going to have to go into therapy for showing you this. I don't share my UGLY with anyone. . . . ANYONE!

So for me to post these pictures, you have to swear that you won't snicker, gasp, giggle, or sigh in shame. AND you must NOT share them with anyone!

Now, I've been teaching for many years, and I do know that many of you have rooms like mine and some people have rooms that are in worse condition. One of my analnesses. .. (is that a word?) one of my acts of being anal is that I stay late once in a while and actually put things away and straighten things up. I even rearrange things from time to time. But other than the people in my own building, I don't share my room with others. And God forbid I wouldn't ever share them with the world. . . . I still don't know why I'm doing this. Must be because it's Friday and that I want to keep a friendship going with you!

If you feel so inclined to join her, grab that button up there and go to it! She's given us an assignment and we better do what she says!!! Or Else!!

Here goes! Start at the top, those aren't so bad. . . and yes I straightened up a bit. . . I HAD to. I couldn't bring myself to be so transparent!

Each teacher puts a "HOT" book on their desk to highlight.

This is an idea to share with your students what a good book is.

That's why I have Elmer on my stand.

Behind the curtains are the indoor recess games and some of the other things I use for centers.

We have 4 Mini computers stacked in the corner with head phones.

Plus these two computers here and two more on the other wall. So I can run groups of 8 or less. One group on the computers, one at centers or seatwork, and one with me for 30 minutes each. We do this once in the morning for reading and once in the afternoon for math.

Take home books for homework each night.

AR Books for free choice reading.

Extra books like I Spy, student made books, magazines, poetry books,  yearbooks, etc.

Listening center and math centers.

Supplies needed for students.
 Now we're getting into the more cluttered look.

2 computer stations with shelves above to hide my own library, videos, and

those wonderful binders we all have so many of!

Do you recognize any of your things from blogs on my walls?

Above on the left is the sunrise/sunset chart! It's fascinating to see how the amount of daylight changes throughout the year. At Christmas time we have about 9 hours of sunlight. In the middle of the summer we have 14! That's a huge difference in daylight!

 Below is our lunch count.

 Homework Check in. . . move your name inside the green box if you brought it
and leave your name out of the green box if you didn't.

This is the REALLY bad part. . . cover your eyes with your hands and spread your fingers apart just a little to view this please!



If you have made it this far, and you don't feel faint, then you could be a true friend. . . I will be doing some therapy after this episode. . . It might be retail therapy, but it will surely make me feel a  whole lot better!

Patty

Fractions revisited

I'm reposting an activity. . . is that allowed? I've noticed that many people are currently doing fractions and I thought some might like this fraction practice that I made.  Click here to go to that particular link Fractions with multiples
And if you find it functional, let me know pulease!
Patty