Restaurant Math {Serving Up the Common Core}

It's Thursday... which is normally super exciting except I'm on winter break.  So Thursday now signals the end of my time off.  I have really been enjoying my marathons of House Hunters on HGTV, morning coffee, going to the bathroom whenever I want to, etc.  I have been logging in some super quality time with my boys and I think they finally realize the merits of sleeping in!  {Can I get an AMEN?!?!}

Today I finally finished a project that I started a few weeks ago.  I have been limiting my creating time in an effort to being more balanced (my OLW for 2014).  I am excited about this one and the kiddos are going to love it {I used my own children as guinea pigs... I figure they owe me for giving birth to them}!

This set has a few different parts included.  There is a restaurant menu where they can decide on their perfect meal.  Once they've picked, they have to write their order down on a guest check and total it up.  They can draw their meal and write about it as well.

There is also an option {differentiation or group work possibility} for the kids to make their own menu.  There are task cards for the kiddos to solve in centers or small groups.  There are also blank task cards for the kids to create for their classmates to solve/work through.

The possibilities really are endless with this product. To check it out you can click HERE or click on any of the pictures.  Check out the preview on TpT for a more comprehensive look.  I'm giving a few away tonight on my FB page... so you may want to check that out by clicking HERE!!!  

Hope y'all will have a great rest of your Thursday... and that your Friday will kick butt!  Talk to y'all soon!

The Lemonade War... Well, Pour Me Up a Glass

I'm in Georgia and our district has decided that we all need to use the Georgia ELA frameworks to drive our instruction.  The ELA units are divided into 4 units (for each 9 weeks).  I can't believe it, but we are about to begin the 4th nine weeks at school (can I get an AMEN?)  Well, the main read aloud text for Unit 4 is The Lemonade War.  I read the book a few weeks back and I really liked it.  I thought that it had a really good message and I think the kids will like it when we start next week.  I just finished up the book companion I made to go along with this pack (just in time!)...  wanna take a peek?  You can find it on TpT HERE!

I was excited about this unit and I have been working on it for a few weeks now.  It's crazy JUST how exhausted little humans can make you at the end of the day.  As soon as my class walks out, my M1 and M2 walk in... it's non-stop all day.  So, my unit making has to wait until after their bedtime each night... and sometimes by then I'm just too tired myself!  I am relieved that this one is done in time for the beginning of the 4th 9 weeks starting next week (did I already ask for an AMEN?)

 

The unit has comprehension questions for each one of the 14 chapters (includes an answer key for easy grading).  There is a graphic organizer that I absolutely LOVED making.. .the clipart of the lemon made it so easy to visualize what it "could" be.  There is a vocab poster for each one of the economic terms.  There is a response journal printable book (I used Washi tape to edge mine... have I ever mentioned my fascination with Washi tape?)  Also included is a student lapbook with fold-ups and pockets.  This is my first time making a lapbook for a novel... I'm used to making them for my 4th graders with science and social studies content... but this one turned out great and I was super happy with it!  I used a blue file folder and my washi tape (see above comment about washi)... 

I hope that you all will have a great week... and how the heck is it only Wednesday?  It sure does feel like it should be at least Thursday... just sayin'!  I know many of my friends around the US are already on spring break... not us... we still have a few weeks to go!  Come on May...
-Stacy

Teachers Pay Teachers??? Sa-weet!

I have been looking through my computer for centers, documents, and ideas I have created in the past few years... thinking that some of those things might be worth putting on Teachers Pay Teachers.  Tonight I finally finished creating my Common Core posters for Reading/ELA.  I found cute {and funky fresh} clip art to use... and I was delighted with how they turned out.  I will start working on the math ones tomorrow.  If I get crazy inspired I might decide to do the other grade levels to upload on TpT also!  I feel like my brain has so many ideas...  it's just hard to maximize my time.  Check out my Teachers Pay Teachers link and give me some feedback... do they look OK?  Side note... got some great health news yesterday... and that has made my weekend!  Hope y'all have had a great weekend, too!