January-June Math Interactive Notebook

Hello everyone and HAPPY NEW YEAR!! 2014 flew by so quickly, I can't believe it is already 2015.  It's been awhile since I have blogged (maybe I should make that a New Years resolution?) but I'm glad to be on here to write about one of my new(ish) products.  It's been posted for a few months but I haven't given it much attention since it was primarily made for the second half of the year!!  (Lord knows in November we can't see much past Winter Break, right?!) I had such amazing feedback from my August-December Math Interactive Notebook, I decided to make a sequel! You can find it here at my store. 

This notebook is designed to accommodate fourth grade Math for January-June. This was based off of my district's pacing guide, but whatever isn't covered in this edition is covered in the August-December edition! I always include what is covered in the description of my products so that you know exactly what you are purchasing!

Interactive notebooks are such a fun way to get your students engaged and keep them organized! I love the hands on activities that it allows, while also allowing your students to make a cumulative record of everything they've learned throughout the school year and keep it organized in one single place. I've seen a lot of my students this year take pride in their notebooks and keep them nice and clean! I am going to be so glad that I have Interactive Notebooks for all subjects when end of the year testing comes around because it will serve as a fabulous study tool! This was my first year doing interactive notebooks in my classroom and the kids and I are loving them!!  

Here is a list of everything that my Interactive Notebook (January-June edition) has to offer: 

**Product comes with pictures of examples for a visual on how to use INB in your classroom! Pictures are included for ALL pages and activities listed below**

Decimals
-decimals anchor chart "Why do we use decimals?"
-place value street (decimals place value chart through the thousandths place)
-place value with money and base 10 blocks
-write the decimal captivity (with base 10 blocks)
-adding and subtracting decimals (step by step "interactive anchor chart for INB")
-graph paper squares for students to work addition/subtraction problems with decimals

Measurement
-measuring length fill in the blank/interactive "anchor chart" 
-measuring our classroom items activity (foldable)
-tools for measuring length
-measuring weight/mass fill int he blank/interactive "anchor chart"
-conversions tables 
-measuring capacity (land of gallon) poem/story
-land of gallon (gallon house)
-capacity cut/paste activity with conversion chart
-measurement conversions anchor chart for INB
-length, capacity, and weight conversion charts

Elapsed Time
-interactive foldable clock to assist with telling time
-elapsed time strategies (use a clock, make a t-chart, mountains/hills/rocks with examples of each)
-elapsed time practice problems (foldables)
-elapsed time word problems (foldable)

Geometry
-geometry notes including definitions and examples of: point, line, line segment, ray, angle, endpoint vertex, intersecting lines, parallel lines, and perpendicular lines
-congruent vs similar shapes interactive page
-geometric transformations (rotate, translate, and reflect) cut/paste activity
-polygon/NOT a polygon cut/paste activity
-polygons: triangle, square, pentagon, hexagon, heptagon, octagon, nonagon, and decagon cut outs (including an example of labeled sides)
-quadrilaterals page including trapezoids, parallelogram, rhombus, square, and rectangle with examples and definitions of each

Probability
-probability spinners (Blank for the convenience of customizing. Create your own problems with these blank spinners.)
-probability with M&Ms activity (with cut outs and foldable)
-probability statement number lines (impossible, unlikely, likely, most likely, certain)

Patterns
-shape patterns labeled with letters (continue the pattern by filling in the blank)
-number patterns (continue the pattern by filling in the blank)
-goldfish patterns (students create their own patterns with goldfish and label with letters-- teacher directions provided)
-input/output patterns chart (blank for the convenience of customizing)

This product is going to TEMPORARILY be on sale in honor of the NEW YEAR!! Beginning at 5pm on New Year's Day, this product will be 50% off for a limited time at my store. That means that you will be getting all of this for only $4 (regular price is $8).  Don't miss the SALE!!!!

Have a safe and Happy New Year's celebration tonight! Bring on 2015!!!!!

What an Exciting Week!

I know I have been promising this blog post for a few days now and I am finally getting the time to sit down and do it! I have had such an exciting week and I have so many awesome things to share!

First of all, I am ecstatic that my Instagram page is growing as rapidly as it is! I have decided to do a HUGE giveaway when my page reaches 1,000 followers so if you're not following, make sure to head over and follow to be eligible for the giveaway! My Instagram name is fourthgradefab.

Secondly, I received the sweetest package EVER from my generous blogger buddy Lindsey at Thriving In Third.  I mentioned to her that I loved her Mrs. Frizzle costume and wanted to know where she got it.  She had it specially made and offered to send it to me so that I could borrow it for "Favorite Book Character Day" at school! Thank you, Lindsey!!! I promise to take good care of it.  If you're not following her blog, you are seriously missing out! Make sure to check out her page! The costume is adorable and fits like a glove!!

Now, I want some serious feedback on the next subject at hand! My school is going to begin implementing Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) at some point this year and I have this obsession with QR codes.  I want to know how you guys use QR codes in your classroom? With BYOD it should be easier because I currently have no iPads/tablets/etc. that I can have the students use.  I am thinking that once BYOD is implemented, there will be a way for students to use their own devices but I have to wait to find out for sure until after our BYOD training next week (so excited!)  Of course there are many rules that have to be followed in order to do it properly so I will not begin doing this until my school allows it! Do any of your schools use BYOD? Here is how I am THINKING about using them (this is just me thinking and I would love to hear from all of you!) During Guided Math, there are usually three rotations in my classroom.  I am so lucky that I have a co-teacher so we are able to have TWO teacher groups during Guided Math and one independent work round.  During that round, I would love to have the QR code activities set up so that students can work on whatever Math we are currently doing and check their answers with their devices using QR codes. Math seems to be such an ideal time to use these for self checking because it is so important for the students to understand if they are doing the work correctly.  Do you use QR codes for other subjects? How do you use them? Does your school use BYOD? If so, how? I'd love to hear all about from as many people as possible. Isn't sharing ideas what this whole blog thing is about anyways?! Here is a picture of the activity I'm going to use for long division practice next week (hopefully on a borrowed iPad that belongs to the school). You can find it for FREE here at Tanya Villacis's TpT store.  

Lastly, before I hop off of here and go to bed, my primary friends just started a TpT store.  Head over to their store Aplus Primary and follow! I'm sure that some amazing activities are in store :) 

I hope that everyone has a wonderful and relaxing Sunday in order to get ready for this crazy Halloween week.  I hope to hear feedback from you.  As always, please check me out on Facebook and TpT.  Also, don't forget to head over to my Instagram and follow! Thanks for stopping by!

Reading Group Discussion Cards

Is it possible that I'm really finding time to squeeze in a blog post?? Working on making sure I blog more often because there are so many amazing things going on that I would love to share! 

I am beginning my regular reading group rotation this week now that all of my conferencing and goal setting is complete! Goal setting is one of my favorite things.  I love watching the students get excited about reaching their goals in order to grow as readers.

I love reading group time because it allows you to discover so many things about the students through discussion.  In order to ensure discussion takes place, I created this product to use during group time.  These Reading Group Discussion Cards cover many reading comprehension strategies and activate deeper level thinking to keep students engaged.  These cards could be used in many different ways and I plan to put them to action in all of these ways in my own classroom:

1.  Teacher led group discussion

2.  Student led discussion with peers

3.  Resource for parents to use at home to monitor comprehension with nightly reading.  

4.  Communication tool to assess learning both at home and at school. Parents can communicate with teacher which cards students struggle with and vice versa.

Thanks for stopping by to check out this product! You can find it here at my store! 

Place Value Bundle Pack

Are you teaching place value right now? I am!!! I decided to join two existing products with two new products to make this amazing bundle! It covers place value, base ten blocks, comparing numbers, AND rounding! 

The bundle includes the following: 


-8 Interactive notebook activities (cut/paste) for place value including base ten block "build me" activities, place value chart, expanded form, word form, finding the place value, finding the VALUE/worth of a given digit, comparing numbers, and rounding. 
-32 Place Value Task Cards (find the place and the value of a given digit)
-32 Rounding Task Cards (round to the underlined digit)
-Double sided Place Value work mat where students must roll a number on a dice and write it in the place value chart. Students must then build it with base ten blocks, draw it, expand it, spell it, and round it. 
-2 anchor charts (cut paste) for Interactive Notebooks (comparing and rounding)

You can find some pictures of my new product below! It is also temporarily on SALE so make sure to go get yours now! You can find the product here at my TpT store! 

Thanks for stopping by! I hope everyone is having a FAB year so far!

~Brittany

Reading Interactive Notebook

I am so excited, I can't sleep! I finally finished my Reading Interactive Notebook and I wanted to squeeze in a short and sweet blog post to tell you a little bit about it!  

My reasoning for starting Interactive Notebooks in my classroom this year is because of the high level of student engagement. I have read and studied so many success stories from fellow teachers that use them.  Students take pride in their work and enjoy seeing their collection of things they have learned grow.  It's amazing to watch how the organization of these works.  

The Reading Notebook is meant to be a reference tool for students to use throughout the year as we continue to grow and become better readers.  The notebook will be full of anchor charts with strategies that they've learned with examples and little tricks to help them remember them.  I want students to be able to reference this notebook during an assignment to help jog their memory if they need it.  Below are some pictures that I've included of what the notebook looks like! I have put this notebook bundle on sale for Labor Day Weekend! A full description of this item is located here at my Teachers Pay Teachers store, Fourth Grade Fab.  Go grab yours now and follow my store for more product updates while you are there!  Thanks for stopping by and have a fabulous weekend :)

Buy This Product Here

Classroom Reveal

Well, tomorrow is "meet and greet" where I will meet some of my students for the first time! My room is FINALLY ready (with the exception of a few things.) I can't believe that I worked all summer and still didn't finish everything I wanted to do by the start of school.  That just shows you that this job seriously never ends!! I am going to do a couple of last minute things in the morning and I will just add those pictures to the post tomorrow.  

So, here is the finished product of my summer work :)  Please leave any feedback/ideas/comments that you may have! I am always open to learn more from my fellow teacher friends!

Here we go!! (I totally can't take credit for my door.  My mom is amazing!)

I'm going to try to have my lunch count outside of my room this year.  Student magnets that I made (you can find the tutorial on my blog post- Magnet tutorial).  The choices will be posted with little labels around the outside (one of those last minute things to do in the morning!)

Ready for meet and greet! Sticky note wish list found on the table outside of my room for parents to take with them for donations.

Trying something new this year... Student name tags are found in the basket.  Each student will find his/her name tag and place it on the desk that they choose to sit at on the first day of school (knowing eventually they could be moved.)  Then, the parents will fill out the "Student Information Sheet" found on the student's desk.  You can find this sheet located in my Teacher Binders and Dividers (editable) pack found at my TpT store.  

View from the back of the room. Student Information Sheet found on desks!

I've also decided to do mini trash cans for interactive notebook scraps this year to save time. We will see how it goes! 

Math and Reading rotations board! Students will check in before each round for accountability purposes! Again, find the tutorial for the magnets on my blog! 

Here is the back wall of my classroom! The front boxes are their "book boxes" for Daily 5 and they also have another box in the back for extra school supplies. (We are a little tight on space in my room so I'm trying to make the best use of it!)  The tubs are for coats/backpacks in case they fall because they often have a hard time staying up on the hooks. 

I added this at the end of last year and loved it! It's such a good visual to have the numbers around the clock!

Behavior Chart.  I use this chart in addition to Classroom Dojo and I use them simultaneously so that it flows together.  Clip chart measures behavior for the day and Classroom Dojo measures behavior for longer amounts of time (like the week.)  I found these ADORABLE clips that I numbered at Tuesday Morning! You can also find this behavior chart here at my store!

My file cabinet isn't in the best of shape but the labels are just too darn cute not to share!

Reading corner is ready to go! Futon was an addition this year that I was lucky enough to get from a very generous friend.  I wanted the kids to have a cozy spot for "Read to Self" each day!

My wonderful (and patient) boyfriend even came up to help me get the futon in my room! Isn't he so sweet?!? Let's just say he has been asked to do a lot for me since I started teaching and he is (usually) so willing :) 

My classroom library is continuing to grow! I still need to print a few more labels (on the to-do list) but you get the idea! You can find these labels in the Classroom Organization Pack along with MANY other things found here at my store! My library is continuing to grow but it is the main thing I am working on trying to improve.

Kidney table with my adorable crate seats that I made this summer! You can find the step by step tutorial with pictures included on my blog! I can't wait to have reading groups here!!

Quite possibly my favorite thing about my room this year :) I wish I could take credit for these adorable CAFE letters and strategies, but I got them from Rachelle Rosenblit's TpT store.  Go check it out! 

Things that make me happy behind my desk. As some of you know, my grandma passed away this year.  She was a fourth grade teacher for many, many years and had this pink apple.  My mom thought it was absolutely perfect and brought it for me after she passed.  So thankful for this happy reminder of her in my classroom each day.  I can't wait to see her again! 

Bulletin boards! On the left are classroom jobs, in the middle is a twitter feed, and on the right is what will eventually be my Calendar Math.  I am still looking up ideas for exactly how I want to do it but I have a start! All of those books on the bookshelf need to be leveled and added to my classroom library so that will be my ongoing project throughout the school year. 

Up close shot of the twitter feed! I'm going to use this as an exit slip when I want to quickly formatively assess the students! (I totally can't wait to see the hilarious #hashtags that I see!)

Since we are implementing Guided Math this year, I knew that I needed a place in my room for students to easily access manipulative materials.  I have each drawer labeled with the SOL strand (Virginia's standards).  In each drawer are manipulatives that fit within that strand.  I'm hoping this will be a good way for students to find what they need during Math rounds.

Sharing this because I am obsessed with it.  I did a marble jar this year but I just couldn't pass this up because of how colorful it is! Whenever the class gets a compliment I will add some fuzzies to the "warm fuzzy" jar. When we fill up the jar, the class will get a treat that they vote on!

View from the front of the room.  One good thing about my tall ceilings is all of the room that I have for anchor charts! I will add pictures throughout the year of how I arrange and organize my anchor charts to make it easy for the students.

Flip Book information for parents to grab on the way out of the door along with a little treat :)  You can find your own EDITABLE version of this flip book at my blogger friend Lindsey's TpT store

Well, there it is! I hope that you enjoyed :) As always, you can find me on Facebook and Teachers Pay Teachers.  Thanks for stopping by! Feel free to leave some feedback in the comments below.

Celebration Giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wow! Words cannot even express the love I feel from this past week, especially yesterday! My Facebook page has been rapidly growing, and also my sales! Yesterday I reached 2 personal goals and I couldn't have done it without you! I beat my record high for sales at my TpT store in one day AND I reached 1,000 "likes" on my Facebook page! I am so thankful for everyone who follows my page/store and supports it because I am so passionate about what I do! Because of all of these wonderful things happening, I have decided to do a GIVEAWAY and I even had a friend join in with me to celebrate! My friend Ashley from The Teachers Treasure Chest has donated one of her amazing products (Forms and Binder Mega Pack) that will work for ANY grade level and I am giving away the winner's choice of any product from my store :) You can enter here in a variety of ways but must be following my blog to enter! (Can also follow on Bloglovin'.) The giveaway will end on Sunday so enter quickly and don't miss out! 

Again, THANK YOU x 1,000,000 for all of your support! Don't forget to thank Ashley for her donation by following her Store and Blog. 

Last week of Summer!!!!

I wanted to jump on here really quickly and introduce my newest product before I leave for my vacation tomorrow and enjoy my LAST WEEK OF SUMMER! I know that the beginning of the year is crazy and we are usually scrambling to get everything finished! Place Value is such a big "beginning of the year" Math focus, so I made some Place Value Task Cards that you can find at my TpT store. As a fourth grade teacher, I sometimes have such a hard time finding cute and engaging materials that meet the rigor of fourth grade curriculum. These task cards include numbers that range from the ones place to the millions place! The product also includes a recording sheet for students to record the place AND value of the underlined digit! I hope you guys like this product and have a GREAT start to your year!!! 

Thanks for reading!!!