More Pumpkins!

I don't know about you, but this has been a very exhausting week.  I guess it is a good thing that I subbed every day this week, and I am already booked for 4 days next week.  Friday, I witnessed the craziest dismissal ever.  I taught second grade today and all bus riders and after school daycare students just walk themselves from the room to where they are going.  The only difference with the car riders is that I walked them to the door and watched them leave.  It was crazy considering for the past 9 1/2 years, I had to personally see each one of my students leave.

Now to get back to all of my pumpkin creations.  On Wednesday, I posted 2 of my pumpkin creations, I have 1 more that I will highlight today.  All of these items, plus a few additional fall themed items, will be on sale in my shop throughout the weekend!  I have 8 items that are 20% off throughout the weekend, http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Amber-Ottman/Price-Range/On-Sale

I created another pumpkin themed reader titled, "We Like Pumpkins!".  This reader goes over the different things that you can do with a pumpkin, like carving it, painting it, counting the seeds inside of it, and more.  This reader is priced at $1.50 but is on sale through the weekend for $1.20.  To take a look at this reader, click here.

We Like Pumpkins! Reader

I'm going to try and enjoy this weekend, I already know that the next two weeks are going to be busy like this one.

Amber

Pumpkins

This has been and is going to be a very busy week for me.  I'm booked for subbing everyday this week.  It is really hard getting up in the morning since it has been a long time since I've had to wake up to an alarm clock three days in a row and counting.  The one thing that subbing has taught me is that every school district is completely different and I'm getting a feel for the districts that I would like to find a permanent position with and ones that I would not.  Tomorrow, I will be back with the sixth graders that I was with today and on Friday, I will be in second grade.

Last week, I mentioned that I finished a couple of pumpkin literacy activities.  I am going to share two things today, one free and one paid item.  I will share the others later this week, hopefully Friday.

I'm going to start with my freebie.  I created three sequencing writing prompts about pumpkins.  The writing prompts are: how to pick a pumpkin, how to carve a pumpkin, and how to make a pumpkin pie.  I made a version with and without transitional words.  I also made a cute blank writing page, what can I say, after spending so much time in K-1, I have to have a certain level of cuteness in my projects.  You can grab this freebie by clicking here.

The last thing that I am going to share is a reader that is titled: "How Does a Pumpkin Grow?".  This reader is 9 pages long, including cover and goes over how a pumpkin seed grows into a pumpkin. There are 2 copies of the reader, one in color and the other in black and white.   There is also a comprehension page that you can have your students work on after reading the book. This item is available in my teacherspayteachers store for $3.00, check it out by clicking here.

Here is a preview of "How Does a Pumpkin Grow?"

The good news is it is Wednesday and there are only two more days left for this week.  Come back on Friday/Saturday to see what else I have to share with my pumpkin theme, there may also be a sale on the items that I'm sharing over the weekend!

Amber

Apples and Subbing

I've started subbing last week, I will have to admit that it is so much more relaxing being the substitute teacher instead of the teacher who has to make the sub plans.  So far, I've been a high school math teacher, a high school ag teacher, and a elementary p.e. teacher.  Tomorrow, I will be in 5th grade.  After spending the past 9 years teaching K-1, this has been really easy.  I know that it is still early in the school year and that my days will start to pick up.

While I have been home, I have been working on some apple projects.  I have found that it is easier to have the clip art that I want to use then start working on my projects.  Sometimes I have this wonderful idea about what I want to do but have to make changes because I cannot find clip art that works with what I am creating.

Here is a peek at what I've made with my apple theme.

I've created a reader, that talks about how an apple grows.  I started with an apple seed that will grow into a tree.  Then about how the tree will get buds in the spring, the buds will open into blossoms, then will turn into apples.  I even included how a bee will visit the blossoms to collect pollen.  I also created a comprehension worksheet that can be used after the story. You can check this product out here.

I also created a few apple writing prompts.  This is a freebie in my teacherspayteachers store.  The prompts that are included are: "Write about your favorite food to eat that is made from apples.  What makes it your favorite?", " Write about the steps needed to pick the perfect apple." and " Write about the steps needed to make an apple pie.".  You can find this product here. 

I made another apple reader as well.  This reader talked about what you can make with an apple.  I ended this reader with the question, "What do you like to make with apples?" this question would be perfect to use as a writing prompt after your students have read and discussed the reader.  You can find this product here.

I've also been working on some pumpkin readers and writing prompts.  I'll be back next week to preview those for you.

I'm anxiously waiting for Saturday so I can go see my nieces and nephew!  Enjoy your weekend.

Amber

Number Puzzles

I did it!  Through many, many headaches I've completed my number puzzles.  This project made me realize just how difficult it is to work with clipart.  I will have to say that they did turn out cute.  I made three different sets of puzzle cards.

The first set contains puzzles for the numbers 1-10.  Each number has three pieces with a bonus fourth piece to allow for differentiation.  Each puzzle contains the numeral, the number represented in tally mark, the number represented in base ten blocks, and the bonus piece contains the number word.

The second set contains puzzles for the numbers 11-20.  I did this set the same way as the numbers 1-10.

The third set contains puzzles for the numbers representing tens from 10-100.  This set was very challenging to make the clipart do what I wanted it to do. Each number in this set has three pieces with a bonus fourth pieces for differentiation.  This time, each puzzle contains the number, the number represented in base ten blocks, the number represented in ten frames (there was no way I was making that many tally marks and besides I taught my first graders last year not to draw by ones when your number is above 30 because it takes too long and it is hard to count) and the bonus piece contains the number word.   I did make two different variations for the number 100, one puzzle has the number shown using base ten 10 rods and the the other with the 100 block.

I can't wait for my 4 year old niece to try this!

All items are now in my teacherpayteacher store.  I even created a bundle with all three of the puzzle sets.  To celebrate the start of football season and the many long hours I spent creating these.  My puzzles will be on sale until after the Miami Dolphin game on Sunday.

Each set will be set at a sale price of $2.25, regular price is $2.75.  The bundle will be on sale for $5.00, regularly priced at $6.50.

Here are the links to each of the sets:
Numbers Puzzles 1-10
Number Puzzles 11-20
Number Puzzles for Tens 10-100
Puzzle Bundle

I'm thinking about making a mixed up sentence center with these puzzles too but that is going to have to wait a while.  I've spent too much time working on these that I need a break.

Amber

My Crazy Summer

It has been forever since I've had time to write.  Last year was a crazy, busy school year that kept me working late every night.  Over the summer, I decided to move back to Illinois, which is extremely hard to get a teaching position.  This school year, I will be subbing, working on products for my teacherpayteacher store, and tutoring.  There is always a chance that a full-time position will open up during this school year, fingers crossed.  I will have to admit, that it is a little different not setting up a classroom this year after doing this for the past nine years.  It is also hard to break my habit of buying school supplies that are now all on clearance wherever I go.

The past month, I've been busy making different themed calendar numbers.  So far, I've created calendar numbers using the following themes: football, soccer, basketball, stars, polka dots, fall (apples and pumpkins) and paw prints.  The paw print design has been the most popular design that I've created.  I'm trying to figure out some other seasonal designs that I can create.

My super cute paw print calendar numbers!

I'm currently working on numeral puzzles.  I will be making three sets of these, one containing the numbers 1-10, another with the numbers 11-20, and the last one with tens (10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100).  For these, each number puzzle will have three pieces; the numeral, tally marks representing the number, and base ten blocks showing the number.  I've also decided that I will be making a fourth piece that will contain the number word, which can be used for differentiation.  I am hoping to get these finished by the end of the week.  I am almost finished with the puzzles for the numbers 1-10.

I am trying to think about cute things to make with pumpkins and apples for September and October.  Enjoy your school week, I'll be back later this week to give an update on my number puzzles, hopefully they will be completed, fingers crossed.

Amber