1.5 more days to go. I despise taking my room apart at the end of the year. It’s so sad and bleak. But I do get access to the room all summer and as soon as those floors are waxed, I’ll be getting that room back together. And thanks to a top secret project with my pals at Creative Teaching Press, I have a major jump on some stuff already!
Ok…enough about me…I could talk about me all day…but I know you’re here for something fun, useful and interesting….so how about a do it yourself project for math centers?
Ladies and gentleman, I give you the adding machine!
I have seen this all over Pinterest and loved the idea but it looked a little complicated. Then I saw this idea and I knew I could do this. What I love is that this makes a great math center but it would also be great for introducing addition at the beginning of the year!!!!
What you need: plastic solo cups in 2 colors. A box or container for your machine. I bought these at Wal-Mart (no lids!) for about $3. Some card stock to match your cups, black foam board and a hot glue gun.
I’m sorry I don’t have pictures of the assembly process. My SD card on the camera had a glitch and there is a gap of missing pictures…but here’s what I did.
1. Cut the bottoms out of the cups.
2. Glue the cups to the foam board. Put them on the side and angle them IN towards the center.
3. Cut out a plus sign and equals sign. (Just strips of card stock)
4. Glue the symbols on.
5. I added the border since I already had it!
6. BAM! Adding machine.
I put PomPoms in the machine for manipulatives (since I have about 24,876 of those things….People, they multiply like rabbits…) in matching colors (of course!).
Students put 2 number cards in the machine. They place the cards under the cups. They put the correct number of Poms into the cups and they come out in the machine. Then they count the number of Poms and write their equation!
My ‘staches LOVE this center!!!
If you’d like the free number cards and recording sheet, click HERE!
Thanks to Creative Clips and The Hartmann Sparkle for the fun graphics!
And now, the moment you’ve all been waiting for.
You “met” her the day she came running from the building during the first fire drill of the school year, arms flailing wildly screaming “IT’S A FIRE! IT’S A FIRE!” She stole your hearts with her never ending quest to make us laugh.
She completely worked her way into my heart as someone who has profoundly impacted me as a person and a teacher. I only wish that I had half the spunk she has, half of her drive and most importantly, half of her positive and happy outlook on life.
This girl came into my classroom on day one and when I asked her name, she looked at me and shrugged. Her vocabulary consisted of: “HUH?” “OH!” and “OH MY GAWD!” Today, she’s ready for her big move to first grade. She’s reading at grade level. She is at 80% mastery on nearly every skill. People, she has gone from answering me with “HUH?” and “OH!” everyday, to reading and comprehending books!!!!!
Here’s my truth: that first day, I was like, “oh no…this isn’t gonna be fun!” I admit it. I was a little less than thrilled to have this sassy little one in my class. But after a couple of days, I knew I had someone special in my class and I vowed that by the end of kindergarten, she would be able to read a book. I sorely underestimated her. Weeks and months of “HUH?” and even more weeks and months of her wandering aimlessly in the halls while we were walking in line (literally…she was ALL OVER THE HALLWAY! I had to assign someone to coral her anytime we were in the hallway!) has turned into my proudest teaching moment. She has made my laugh and cry (i’m crying now as I type…) and solidified my belief that if you expect them to succeed, they will succeed and more. I set her bar far too low and she proved to me that the bar should always be set high. If you set it, they will reach it. But most importantly, she has made me a better teacher and a better person.
She will forever be my amazing, courageous, hilarious, Fire Drill.
Ladies and gentlemen, meet Shantasia!
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16 comments
Beautiful interview with Shantasia! An amazing girl and a teacher who she is blessed to have. A perfect pairing I'd say!
She is absolutely adorable! I can tell that you love her and she loves you!
This is such a random question. Did you find that when you not glued your cups the plastic melted? I tried to put cups on a bulletin board earliers this year and had to abort the mission because the hot glue melted the plastic. Maybe it was the Target brand? Just curious if you enociubtered that problem as well.
okay… you know she is a rockstar when 1) my computer sound is broken and I have both the iphone and ipad up trying to see it 2) I kick husband, dogs, and kids out of the house so I can hear it (without interruption), and 3) I have to replay it! GREAT JOB fire drill!
I'm tearing up just thinking about your TED talk which hasn't even happened yet. End of year nostalgia!
Tiffany
Hi Fire Drill,
It's nice to meet you! You and Mr. Greg are lucky to have each other. I have enjoyed hearing all of your stories, and I hope Mr. Greg keeps telling us your stories. You see I am a first grade teacher, so I am very excited to hear that you are going into first grade. I can't wait for Mr. Greg to tell me all about passing your sight words, reading chapter books, doing cool equations in math and most importantly writing down all the amazing things you think and say. You are a VERY funny little lady. I bet you could a tell a story that would make me laugh until I cried. You are a miracle little girl. All of us are like stars, and you, my dear, are one of the brightest in the sky.
Love,
Mrs. Katie Knight
Love your interview with “Fire Drill”. What an amazing little girl and you are an amazing teacher! Thank you for sharing. You are an inspiration!
Greg,
I am a ball of tears just seeing her and hearing her talk! What an amazing story she has and how lucky you both are for having each other in your lives. Bravo to you both. I hope you will keep us updated on her journey.
-Andrea
You have touched a life, Greg! You have made a difference. She is precious but so are you! I have a feeling she'll be visiting you often next year and years to follow. How wonderful to watch her grow and do amazing things.
Mr. Greg, I'd want to come to school all summer, too, if you were my teacher. Mad love for you and what you do!
CaseyJane
WigglingScholars
LOVE HER!!! Great Job Mr. Greg!!
:0) Cara
Kindergarten Boom Boom
I'm tearing up just thinking about your TED talk which hasn't even happened yet. End of year nostalgia!
شركات فى المملكة
تخلص من الحشرات
نقل وتخزين الأثاث بجودة عالية
جلى البلاط والرخام
نظافة المسابح
نقل عفش المدينة المنورة
شركة نقل عفش بالمدينة المنورة
غسيل خزانات بالمدينة المنورة
شركات نظافة بالمدينة المنورة
شركة تنظيف فلل بالمدينة المنورة
مكافحة حشرات بالمدينة المنورة
شركات تنظيف بالمدينة المنورة
شركة تنظيف منازل بالمدينة المنورة
كشف تسربات المياه بالمدينة المنورة
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شركة تنظيف منازل بالدمام
رش مبيدات بالدمام
نقل اثاث الدمام
شركة تنظيف خزانات بالدمام
شركة تنظيف فلل بالدمام
كشف تسربات المياه بالدمام
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شركة تنظيف مجالس بالمدينة المنورة
شركة تنظيف فلل بالمدينة المنورة
عزل وتنظيف الخزانات
نقل عفش الدمام
شركة رش مبيدات بالدمام
شركة نقل اثاث بالدمام
شركة مكافحة حشرات بالخبر
شركة تنظيف منازل بالدمام
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تنظيف فلل بالدمام
شركة رش مبيدات بالدمام
شركة مكافحة حشرات بالدمام
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