Hi friends! I hope everyone is having a fantastic February! I don't know about your neck of the woods, but the weather here has been INSANE. One day it's 45 degrees, the next it's 89. I'm surprised we don't all have pneumonia or worse.

Anyway, because it's winter, and because the groundhog saw his shadow, I wanted to share a little activity I created last year for my firsties. This helped us to sum up our unit on place value and regrouping. Plus it's super adorable!

I needed a review activity for our Numbers to 120 unit and I love snowmen! So I made this! 

With this activity the kids can create a snowman by choosing a two or three snowball snowman, a scarf, and two or three buttons. Each addition has a value of tens or ones. They add them all together and show the total value of their snowman! 

I've included a recording page and a page to hang in the hallway with the snowman. 

Click HERE to grab this! 

I also created a QR code scavenger hunt scoot for early finishers to begin once they finished with this little activity. It was a review of all the topics we learned in the unit. 

I know you just love my photography skills. I'm the next Ansel Adams. 

Recording Page 

This one is more Annie Leibovitz, right? 

I tape the cards all over the room in different areas. 

They scan the codes, read the clue, and then they have to go off and find the answer! And NO the cards aren't in order! 

Please check it out HERE and let me know what you think! 

I hope everyone has a fabulous February!

Happy Teaching!

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Jessica

Hello! Just a quick jot tonight to share my latest remake of my listening library.
QR Codes!

I have collected A LOT of books on CD over the years and the baskets of bags aren't very attractive on the counter. Here is a picture from the beginning of the year (before the children got their hands on them!) and before I ordered more a lot more from Scholastic. I'm a sucker for new books.

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Jessica

Happy Friday everyone! I hope you all had a fabulous Thanksgiving filled with food, family, and fun! 

I am happy to be linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for Five for Friday! It's been awhile but I'm thinking the time is right to join this linky party again! 

I've had an eventful Thanksgiving break, from the flu, to product planning, to Black Friday shopping, to tree decorating - it has been full! 

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Jessica

Hello! Just a quick jot tonight to share my latest remake of my listening library.
QR Codes!

I have collected A LOT of books on CD over the years and the baskets of bags aren't very attractive on the counter. Here is a picture from the beginning of the year (before the children got their hands on them!) and before I ordered more a lot more from Scholastic. I'm a sucker for new books.

It's just overflowing now. 

So I'm giving it a makeover.

Have you ever used QR codes in your classroom? They are so fun! The kids love to use the iPads and scan and listen to audiobooks.

Here's how to get started:
Put all the audiobooks onto your computer in .mp3 format.

I use Windows Media Player. Insert the CD and open Windows Media Player. Click on Rip Settings, then Format, then choose MP3
Then click Rip CD.

Once it's uploaded to your computer, you'll need to get a URL for the QR code. To get that, you'll need to upload the audio file to a file hosting site like Dropbox.
Sign in or create account.
Add a file to the Dropbox.

Once it's uploaded, click on Share.

This box pops up and there's the link you need!

Copy it.

Now, find a QR creator website that you like. I like QR Stuff. SUPER easy to use. Type in the web address and the screen you need immediately pops up.

See? Easy Peasy.

Paste the link, choose the Encoding Options, and BAM - there's your code. Click to download the code as a picture. 

I print out the picture and tape it to the back of the book. The kids can scan the code and then listen while reading along. No more CDs and paper cases and books in bags.

I'm loving this new system! 

How do you use QR codes? Anything new and easy? 

Happy teaching, 

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Jessica