Superbowl, Super Sale, Super Hair Cut, Super Exhausted, and Currently!!

It's been a big day.  This morning our church celebrated their 9th birthday/anniversary.  It was the first of many Superbowl parties... everyone in their jerseys, popcorn and cookies after service, it was great.  
Then we headed to my parents house for lunch with my cousin... she is a traveling nurse and is stationed at present in our area.  She's a hoot to talk to!
Then we got home with enough time to turn on the game on our own TV.  I think it's funny how my little boys are so into the game... well mainly into the game... they took a break to go play legos for a while too.
I've been filling my cart over at TPT, haven't done the official check out yet, but I have loved hearing the TPT app on my phone go "cha-ching" many times today.  Thank you for your purchases!
I did take a moment before the game started to head to get my hair cut.  

It was a major cut - 11 inches.  A year ago I made the New Years Resolution that I wanted to grow my hair out for Locks of Love.  I've never done it before, and it has been important to me.  Over the past year my hair has driven me nuts - it's been curly and crazy and gets tangled by little fingers.  I guess bittersweet is the emotion I felt having the lady chop it off.  I did have tears well up as she cut it off and I have to say that I did close my eyes.

But it was worth it.  I know it's worth it... it's just so short!  
All in all - I came home, took a shower to get rid of all the extra hair floating all over, and then promptly fell asleep for a nice nap.  I never sleep during the day, so hopefully I can sleep tonight.  Then I woke up to a power outage and my husband going slightly ballistic over the game.
Okay - here's my Currently.   I'll be number 593 on Farley's list if you are looking for me...

Pretty much self explanatory... I throw a hissy fit if someone dares to use the pencil sharpener when someone is talking or when someone else decides to talk when we are supposed to be listening.  

I think it's time to go check out... wish me luck!

Making Algebraic Equations Fun!

Just a quick post between grocery shopping and trying to clean up the mound of toys in the family room...
Hope you are having an awesome Saturday.  We are too - it's just weird since hubby doesn't usually work on Saturdays but he had the opportunity to get 8 more hours so he went for it!  We went down there to "help him" for a little bit near lunch as he is trying to rearrange all the technology and cords and well... I'm glad he knows what they are all for.  Since he was busy that left me taking all 3 boys to the grocery store.  I don't believe it's possible for a mother to stay sane going to the store with 3 sons... maybe it would be different with 3 girls...  Things were going relatively decent until my now 3 year old decided to scream/yell/sing/shout/holler "DADDY" throughout the store.  People were looking and I just wanted to climb under the basket.  I really hope my child isn't the only one that plays that game...

Anyhow, in the peace (can't say quiet) before heading out and about, I made up these task cards to help my school kiddos review Algebraic Equations.  The past 2 weeks we have been focusing on graphing on coordinate planes and they were tracking with me... then we tried to revisit function tables this past week (which we did way back when) and turn those outcomes into ordered pairs.  The thinking train came to a complete halt for many of them.  It's a struggle since some of them just didn't remember how to do it.  I guess in their minds graphing should be completely separate from function tables.

Anyhow...
The main gist is that they need more practice working with equations that have a "x" and "y" in them. They need to conquer their fears..  So, onto these cards.  I decided to make it in various levels since my kiddos need the practice... some have just the simple x + a number = y... some are more challenging when they have to solve through parenthesis, multiplication, addition, and subtraction.  

As usual, I added an answer key since I love having an answer key handy.  

You probably can tell that I love task cards.  We just used the long division ones yesterday with our Superbowl stations.  I have started printing off two copies of the cards - one in color which I laminate and get ready for games (Scoot and centers), and the other I just print in black/white which I turn into an interactive bulletin board. 

Just an example of turning something into an interactive bulletin board.

Each student gets their own task card number, they solve it and write the answer on the back.  Then they stick it on their project with a piece of tape on the top and the kids review by flipping up the card after solving to check their answers.  It works great since I have this type of bulletin board on my rolling cabinets.  They happen to be part of the pathway to get out the door when we are all lined up... those kids in the back have at least a couple of moments to review when we are waiting to walk out the door.   
Okay, better go tackle the toys... I promise it was all clean last night!
P.S. - Just a reminder that my stores (yes plural) are on sale both today and tomorrow.  I have my fingers crossed that the items on my wish list will also go on sale.  :)  Happy Shopping! 

Chinese New Year and a Super Sale

Yes, both my stores will be participating in the sale over at TPT and TN this Saturday and Sunday along with many many other people.  Thanks to Primary Polka Dots for the super cute graphic!     TPT will be 20% off plus an additional amount on Sunday when you use the code "Super".  I put TN on sale for 25% as well. 
This week I celebrated our 100th day of school and Superbowl.   It was fun... and draining!  If I could only mention all the things that my students decided to do today to move on the behavior chart... but I can't and I won't.
I love this time of year, but there are tons of things to add to the curriculum.
Sunday, February 10th is Chinese New Year and I always like to do something special.  Next week we will be celebrating in the classroom because the next week is busy with Valentines...  I made these last year for Chinese New Year... not my picture... this was pre-blog.  I ended up doing it slightly different - traced a 4 inch circle onto felt (just used a canning jar lid), the kids cut it out, and then I hot glued a 4 inch piece of pipe cleaner on the inside diameter.  The kids wrote themselves a fortune on a slip of paper, and then I showed them how to fold it - to take their fingers to pinch it closed and fold it into the shape.   
Here are also some free things I found on TPT that I'm excited about. Most everything will be perfect for my intermediate classroom. This has 3 different reading levels plus comprehension questions.
This will be a fun craft. This has everything!  Story, coloring, word search, boggle, tangrams, lantern, learning the language, and writing.

This lantern page is adorable...
Click on any of the above pictures to head to the correct links. Hope this can help someone!