CUBES and Word Problems

So this is a method that I saw other teachers use. While it doesn't fix all my kids problems in word problems, it does at least help a little bit.

The underlying idea is that students have to break down the word problem and really understand the information and what is being asked BEFORE they solve the problem.  At the moment, some schools are trying to move away from the "action words" like "in all" or "how much more." This method does work better for some of my students though, so I do introduce it to them. It helps them make sense of all the "stuff" they are reading.  This is a page I like to print for them to keep close in case they need it to help them figure out where to go. If you like it you can download it as a freebie from my TPT store.

Wordless Wednesday: Focus Wall

Two posts in one day! Say what??? For this post I'm linking up to Miss DeCarbo at Sugar and Spice's Wordless Wednesday.

Certain things have to be cute in my classroom. Certain things have to match. I'm pretty sure there is a law.  This week I managed to start on matching sets for my focus wall, because I have been pulling resources from everywhere  this year (yay new series) and nothing matched. So matching focus wall pieces is my new hobby. 

What things in your classroom or life need to be cute or match to make you happy?

Storing Posters

I hate posters. I say that because I spent the last two years trying to figure out how to store the gigantic life sized monsters that take up space and frustrate me to no end.  I had a mass of posters that were all mixed together and rolled up.  At one point I put large clips on the edges to keep them together, but that failed miserably because they were different sizes.  I ended up still having to roll them and shove them into a top cabinet and pray I didn't need to switch them out.

Then the Bright Ideas Bloghop came to the rescue.  Teaching with a Mountain View did a great post on her adorable Anchor Chart Bin.  I have to admit I'm super jealous of her bin.  It would go perfectly with my polka dot classroom.  Unfortunately, I don't even have room for a bin, but I realized I have something almost as good, corner space between two shelves.  So I rolled my posters, used color-coded Avery labels and rubber bands, and stuck them in the corner.

It may seem like a huge amount of space devoted to my posters, but it is a small corner and it was completely wasted space before.  Now at least it serves a purpose.  Plus I know where my anchor charts are and I don't have to spread them all over just to find the one I need.  Love it! Big thanks to Teaching with a Mountain View for the fabulous tip!