Keeping Up With Kirbys

We've spent the last week introducing the kids to the beginning of multiplication and division.  This is seriously, the best day in a 2nd graders life.  They live to learn multiplication.  No one can add or subtract but everyone wants to multiply--I don't know what it is but they LOVE it. Of course we introduce the beginning of multiplication by using repeated addition, arrays and pictures of equal groups but I thought we could use a fun hands on way to continue to practice the new skill.  {{click here }} Students will use their own fishing poles made from twine, pencils and a magnet.  They will get to fish for their fact to match on their board.  We just placed small paper clips on the fishing cards.  If the students caught more than one fish then they have to pick one and throw the rest back. The first student to complete their board wins....BUT be careful not to catch a shark. You have to throw all your cards back if yo...

I LOVE teaching my 2nd graders the beginning of multiplication and division.  They feel all grown up and like true mathematicians!!  Their littles eyes light up and they act like they can now conquer the world.  Nothing else matters as far they are concerned.  Adding, subtracting, regrouping, borrowing...who needs that?!  We can multiply and divide. I think I enjoy teaching this to the kids because it is a nice break from borrowing and regrouping -- which is a gray hair creator for teachers.  And if you asked 9 out of 10 second graders what they want to learn in 2nd grade they will say "times", which means multiplication. We used Laura Numeroff books to get us started.  First we read If You Give a Pig a Pancake  and then make a list of all the things that we could put on top of a pancake and create their multiplication problem with a craftivity to match her books. I've created templates for a variety of her book...

It's a SNOW DAY!!  Oh, the excitement of a snow day.  It's like a special little gift wrapped in snow.  It's not that I really want to be out........I have a ton to do, it's just the unexpectedness of it all that excites me.  Can we discuss the panic that took place yesterday at school??? The panic that people have in Texas makes me giggle a little.  You should have seen the school yesterday.  Children were bouncing off the walls.  The intercom was going off every 2 minutes calling for students to come down because they were being picked up.  Children were bouncing off the walls.  The team leader's walkie talkies were going off for additional children that were not being announced on the intercom.  The children were bouncing off the walls.  At 11:30 they announced we would be dismissing early and the entire school would need to go to the lunchroom to eat before the early dismissal at 12:20.  The children were trying to clim...