Number Line Math Stations

Years ago, I began experimenting with Guided Math and how that looks in the classroom.  My teammates and I found a system that worked pretty well for us and allowed us to see our students in smaller groups while also providing meaningful practice opportunities for students to independently practice.  This year, with class sizes rising, we needed to do something to break things down into smaller groups, otherwise we were going to be looking at about 8-10 kids in each of our groups!

I shared with my team the idea of doing math stations, which I used while I taught first grade last year, and which I structure very similarly to Guided Math.  We decided to launch a practice week of stations to establish routines and procedures, but are finally starting real math stations next week!  All of our stations are focused on Number Lines (and skip counting...since they go hand in hand).

Here's a peek at some of the stations we'll be doing this week!

Human Number Line

Human Number Line - counting by 5s

This is my third product for TpT!  I created it for my teammates and I to use with an activity that we found and modified to work for stations.  The great thing about this activity is that you can also do it whole class if you aren't comfortable with trying math stations just yet!

Monster Number Line Squeeze

Number Line Squeeze is a recommended game from our Everyday Math textbooks, which is one of the resources my school district has to support our math curriculum.  I found this adorable version from Over the Moon Bow on Teacher's Notebook!  It certainly spices up our plain old Number Line Squeeze.

Number Line iSpy

I've been using this freebie from Amy Lemons at Step into Second Grade with Mrs. Lemons for years!  Some years I used it in Guided Math, some years as a seat work activity, and now as a math station activity!  I love the challenge that it provides the students to work with various counting patterns and missing numbers in different places!

Computer Station

I have our LMC assistant create a folder on the internet browser at school for my class and I email her links to the games I'd like to be included in that folder so my students can access them quickly.  Here are the games I'm recommending that my students play this week!

Battleship Numberline
Fruit Shoot Number Line Subtraction
Fruit Shoot Number Line Addition
Number Line Quiz

Fact Fluency Station

This station is the same from week to week.  Students practice their math facts to prepare for our math fact fluency program, Otter Creek.  Students practice writing their facts and then can use flashcards to practice with a partner or go on XtraMath to practice on the computer!

Students will also visit the Teacher Station, where they will practice number line concepts at the table with me.  I have leveled some of these lessons depending on the groups of students I will have at the table.  I have the gifted cluster in my classroom this year, so I've been pushing myself to find challenges for those kids as well as modified activities for my lower ones!  After leaving the teacher station, students will go to their seats for seat work station.  This gives them the opportunity to practice the new information independently right after learning it.

We'll also be experimenting with math journaling this week, so I'll be back soon to share how that goes!

My First Product!!

About a week ago, I had dinner with some of my friends from my Master's Degree cohort.  While we graduated in May, and finished working on our certifications over the summer, we try hard to stay in touch as much as possible!  I love getting together with these ladies, because they inspire me to push myself and accomplish my goals.  While we were digging into some delicious cheesecake, we talked about the possibilities for teachers on Teachers Pay Teachers.  I have used this website frequently for purchasing products that assist in my classroom instruction, however I have never considered the possibilities of selling on that website myself!

Dinner with my teacher inspirations!

When I found out that Dimitra was on TpT, I asked her about a million questions and she shared with me her successes with sales on that website.  She uses it to fund her children's extra-curricular activities!  She gave me some basic tips and pointers for getting started and challenged me with the goal of listing one item on TpT during the month of September.  I opened my account to become not only a buyer but a seller as well, and uploaded not one, but TWO resources!

The first product I created combines some of my favorite instructional practices.  I created a math station/guided math/rotation activity for my 2nd graders to practice their number line skills as well as counting by 2s, 5s, 10s, and 100s.  I usually teach math in a guided math format or a math station format where students have the opportunity to work independently or in small groups on activities focused around one main topic.  The first topic of the year in our district is number line use and skip counting.  So I created an activity that combines both and can be completed (and even checked!) independently .  Anyone who knows me also knows that I am passionate about incorporating technology whenever possible.  By utilizing QR codes, I allow my students to use their BYOT devices, and also to check their work!  I find that my students quickly get used to counting 2, 4, 6, 8, etc. and 5, 10, 15, 20, etc. but when it comes to counting by increments of 2s or 10s when not on the even numbers, or not on the decades, that becomes really difficult for them!  This activity should provide a little challenge for students while allowing them independence!

Click on the picture to go to my TpT store!

The second product I listed (and for free!) is a simple reading response worksheet about theme.  Currently, I am trying to teach my second graders about themes found in literature and there are a lot of options!  I would also like my students to be able to respond in writing to what they have read.  I think I achieved the perfect result!  I hope to create and add more versions of bump to my TpT store as it continues to grow.

Click on the picture to get this freebie!

I'm really excited to share my two new products (one of which I have listed for free)!  I hope you'll try one or both out and leave me some feedback in my store to let me know what you think!  I know there's a lot to learn and am sure I will be making changes and adjustments all the time!  But I'm so excited to join this dynamic, creative, and passionate community of Teachers Pay Teachers sellers!