Guess My Number FREEBIE!

Well, today has been a little rough. We found out this morning that we have to surplus a teacher because our numbers are too low. It was decided to be one of the 3rd or 4th grade teachers (of which I'm included), for multiple reasons. I am trying not to be worried, but as this is only my second year in 3rd grade, I am a little worried. And whichever way it goes I will lose a colleague and possibly absorb half her class, making mine 33! Eek!

But enough about that! Here's a freebie to lighten the mood. "Guess My Number" is a super fun, critical thinking/reasoning, game. I learned it several years ago when I was student teaching. I'm sure there's many version out there with different names.

I did it for the first time this year and my students absolutely loved it! You can draw the chart on the board and do it as a whole class, as partners, or as a math center/game. Click the picture below for a recording sheet and instructions for the game.

I hope your students love it as much as mine :)

From the Heart of a Teacher

Hello blogland! I made it through the second full week of school. Whew! I forgot how little they know when we first start- like how to sharpen a pencil, or line up. :) Establishing those procedures sure takes a lot of time, patience, and practice, but it is so worth my sanity in the end!

We started school on a Wednesday this year, which hasn't happened in years. I loved it! We were able to have 3 days of getting to know each other and practicing routines without having to start our "normal" routine of Spelling, Reading and Math programs.

Last night I was feeling especially emotional about the students and my job. Here's what I posted on Facebook last night.

"I don't know if my students will ever know how much I love them. How I think about them all the time. How I wonder what I can do to help them learn the content they need to succeed. Or how when I go to sleep at night they are the last thing I think of. How my heart breaks when I see them cry, hurt, or discouraged and how I want to make it all better, while teaching them to be strong. How I am brought to tears when they finally get it-the thing they've struggled with. Or how I do silly, embarrassing things just to make them smile and laugh, because school should be fun, dangit! I wonder if they'll ever know how much I want them to be happy. Or how I treasure the notes, drawings, eraser "presents" and custom honeysuckle crowns. I don't know if they'll ever know, but I hope, I really hope, they can feel some of that when they come to school everyday."

 

I love my job. :)

The adorable honeysuckle crown a student made me at recess. Wore it all day, too :)