Updated Daily 5 Freebie

Just a quick post from me today.  I wanted to let you all know I've updated my Daily 5 freebie.  I received some requests for a few changes/additions and was able to get to them on this long weekend.

Here is what this freebie includes:
Posters, Pocket Chart Cards and Editable T-Charts in:
*2 Spanish translations
*English
*Wordless
*Bilingual Spanish and English

I added the editable T-Charts because my classroom has an incredible small amount of wall space.  So, as my students become more familiar with the routines and expectations I plan on replacing the huge original chart paper anchors, with these T-Charts.  You can add your own text to them and make them fit your classrooms language needs.

Take a look:

I really appreciate that I was contacted by people with requests.  It feels good to know that people are using this resource.  I want everything I create to work for your classroom - so I appreciate it that they took the time to make a request instead of resigning themselves that wasn't quite right!  I'm sure most bloggers feel the same.

Click here to get the freebie on TpT.

Enjoy the long weekend!
Cheers,

Mrs. Castro Pin It

Back to School Updates and a SALE!

Hello all!

I've been absent from the blogging world for a while...a long while!  I'm happy to report that whatever it is that motivates teachers to create, share and blog has been rekindled in me.  Last year was a wonderful year in a 5th grade dual language classroom.  However, the learning curve was steep and my students were a wonderful, special and needy bunch!  Which, did not leave much time for creation or energy for blogging.

I'll be teaching third grade this year, and am excited for the change!  I haven't been able to visit my classroom yet - so I'm eager to get started!  While anticipating beginning classroom setup, I've been busy updating my Back To School packets!

I've made changes to all the packets, general revisions and some new material. In celebration of finalizing the updates, I'm throwing a 20% off sale!

All my the Back to School packets are on sale today and tomorrow (August 5-6).  Bilingual packets include activities in English and Spanish, so my bilingual teacher friends will  not need to waste time translating!

Click the images below to visit my store.

 

 

I hope all is well and you've enjoyed your summer!  I hope to be back here blogging regularly, and am thankful to those of you who continue to follow my blog!

Cheers!
Mrs. Castro

P.S.  If you're  a Splat the Cat fan, my products are temporarily marked down by A LOT!  Check them out!

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Updated Math Work Station Freebie

Happy New Year!  It's been ages!  I've been a terrible blogger lately.  Not writing, not checking in, nothing. I apologize for being so absent.  I'm hoping the new year will bring in a wave of creative energy, something that's been lacking lately.

I wanted to share a freebie that's been updated at the request of a follower.  

I previously shared a math work station that was "How Many to 5?".  It's been updated to include the materials for a "How Many to 10?" work station.  Everything is in English and Spanish, of course!

Follow the link below to find the freebie in my TpT store:

Before moving up to 5th grade I also used this fun freebie with my 1st and 2nd graders.  My teammate had found and lost track of a freebie that was about "fishing for 10".  So I made a quick version of my own to share.  

Students will need cards from 1-10.  We used cards from a regular deck and counted the Ace as 1.  Students divide up the cards, my students had 5 cards each, and try to make 10.  The rainbow is just a cheat sheet for them to decide which cards they should ask for.  For example, if they have a 2 they can follow the rainbow and see they should ask for an 8.  

Each pair of cards that make 10 are set out.  If a student has a 10, they set it out by itself since there is no 0 card.

If their partner doesn't have the card they go fish.  It was pretty basic, but this helped my students with the concept of making 10.

We kept it simple.  Sometimes the game lasted forever, and other times it ended as soon as it started.  Click the rainbow for the freebie in Google Drive.

That's all for now!   Pin It

"I have…Who has"–Bilingual freebie

I hope your school year is going well!  It seems like it’s so easy to forget how overwhelming the beginning of the school year can be…or maybe it’s a case of selective memory.  This school year has been great so far!  My kids are great blend of sassy and respectful.  My teammates are amazing! And, I love 5th grade!

BUT, I won’t lie…I’m overwhelmed.  There is so much to learn when switching schools/grades/program models.  I have a lot to learn, and as always feel the pressure of doing my best to help my kids be as successful as possible.  You know the feeling, I’m sure!

Because I’m overwhelmed I haven’t been keeping up with my blog.  Finding time to post something insightful is too much for me right now.  Once I figure out the grade level, curriculum and dual language hopefully insights will just pour forth.  But for now I’m noticeably lacking insight.

Instead of insight I thought I would share a quick freebie.  I’ve definitely noticed that my dual language students are struggling with large numbers.  They lack confidence when required to say a large number out loud, especially in Spanish.

I created a quick “I have…Who has” set for them to practice saying those big numbers.  There is a set in Spanish for my dual and bilingual friends.  But I think it’s unlikely my students will only need practice in Spanish, so I created a set in English too!

So instead of insights I offer a freebie hopefully a few of my loyal readers can use or share with someone.  Click the image below to download from my TpT shop.



Happy October!
Mrs. Castro Pin It

Sneak-a-Peek Linky Party

I've been a terrible blogger lately.  Between summer school, changing jobs and going on vacation I haven’t been responding to emails or comments lately.  I will do better…starting NOW!

While on vacation I made sure to head over to a café for some internet action – since our little cabin was internet free.  Oh boy, I didn’t realize just how addicted I was to constant internet connection.  It was like detoxing, it wasn't pretty!

BUT, I was able to buy some things…I wish I had been more prepared and put intermediate things in my wish list!  Live and learn!

1.  Natalie from What the Teacher Wants had this amazing set!  I need all the help I can get since I’m coming from primary.  I’m so glad to have something to help me stay aware of the common core!


2. Kristen from The Ladybug’s Teacher Files cursive alphabet!  The one that was in my classroom was ancient and awful in every way!  This will be great…I just have to figure out where to print it.  Any suggestions for what you do for color printing?


3.  I teach math in Spanish.  But I wanted something to help me keep track of data, and expectations in the 5th grade.  So I purchased Jennifer Findley from Teaching to Inspire in 5th’s Math Common Core Assessments and Data Collection.  I’m sure I’ll be doing some translating, but that’s the life of a dual language teacher!  After a brief perusal I’m really impressed!


4.  Tracee Orman’s Creative Activities & Project Ideas for Any Book.  I thought this looked interesting, and it’s from Tracee Orman who is the queen of upper grades on TpT.  Again a lot of translating will be needed, but I think it’s a great guide!


5.  I’m not sure if I’ll be able to use this or not.  But since I love words and love to see how they are all related I thought this was pretty AMAZING!  Plus, there are so many of the cognates between English and Spanish stem from these root words so I think I’ll find away to use this.  This came from Stephanie at Teaching in Room 6.


7.  Also from Stephanie at Teaching in Room 6 is this calendar math for the upper grades.  Remember how I teach math in Spanish…well I know I’ll need to translate and tweak this for my classroom, but she had such a cool system that I had to get this!  You can see more about her upper grades calendar math at her blog post by clicking HERE.


8.  So this was an impulse buy.  I did not do the guided math book study and I don’t know if I’ll be ready for guided math this year because I’m:
*Changing grades
*Changing curriculums (Houghton Mifflin to Everyday Math)
*Channing instructional languages
But I know guided math is the way to go!  So I got this kit by Clutterfree Classroom, to help set it up…again, I’ll have to translate it and tweak it but how could I not get it!?


So those are my purchases for this big sale.  I’m excited to start using them…but next time I’ll be more prepared!

Cheers!
Mrs. Castro

P.S. New blog look coming soon! Pin It

Back to School Sale

No doubt you’re all thinking about the beginning of the school year and adding things to your TpT wishlist like a madwoman!  (I can’t be the only one!)

I’m happy to announce that I’m here to help!  My entire store will be on sale August 12-13th (Sunday and Monday).  You can get up to 28% off all my products.  AMAZING!

Every product will be on 20% off.  Make sure to use the coupon code - BTS12 to get an extra 10%off!



Here are some of the things you can find and wishlist until the sale!

Back to school packets

You can also find my Splat packets which come in English only and bilingual forms

You’ll find other items there too!  Click the green sign (green means go... so go!)

I know I have a bunch of things on my wish list I’ll be purchasing.
Happy back to school shopping!  

Mrs. Castro Pin It

Back to School – Start the year right!

Heads up – this post is about my store, not my classroom. So read on if you are in need of some back to school activities – in English or Spanish.

***All Back To School Items discounted and on 20% off until Tuesday, August 7 at midnight!***

Have you ever started a simple straight-forward project that slowly evolved into something so much bigger than you planned?!  That’s what my back to school project turned out to be – a behemoth with a mind of its own. 


I’m so happy it’s finally done and I can share what I’ve been up to.  I know there are lots of back to school activity packs out there for you to buy.  But I wanted to create something a little different.  How is this different you might ask…


1.  I designed it with my bilingual/dual teacher friends in mind.  I wanted to create something they wouldn’t have to spend any time translating...Later I decided to make everything in English too, for my monolingual teacher friends who still want to spice up their beginning of the year!


2.  These activities will “spice things up” by using “new” non-traditional back to school read alouds, AND traditional read alouds.  These include two AMAZING multi-cultural reads!


3.  This packet isn’t about keeping the kids occupied those first days of school.  Each activity works towards the creation of something bigger – a class book!


Each pack is full of activities and comes with a PowerPoint with editable covers for your class books!  In addition to creating 7 class books, students will work on a “All About Me” book.  Cool, right!?  Activities have been differentiated for three different grade levels!  There is a reading survey, family tree activity, poetry writing, and more!


REMEMBER bilingual teachers – in the bilingual pack all activities are included in English and Spanish! 

I’ve also broken up some of my favorite activities into smaller products – so if you don’t want to buy a whole pack you can get the individual activity for less $.


So click any of the images on this page to head over to my store and see all my back to school products.  All of these items are discounted and 20% off until Tuesday, August 7 at midnight!  Don't miss out!


Cheers!
Mrs. Castro Pin It

Announcing Upcoming Giveaway!

Happy Friday!  Since summer school started this week, it actually seems important that today is a Friday – days of the week again carry meaning!  Where did my summer go?!


**Just an FYI…this Sunday I will post my 100 followers giveaway!  Some of my blogging friends mentioned they would like to participate, I will be emailing you!  If you don’t receive an email from me but would like to participate just let me know with a comment or email!**


So far I know of two things that will be up for grabs, my Splat unit and a Vistaprint Groupon voucher for $70 of Vistaprint goodness! 


And, I know you’re all thinking “Vistaprint, Shmistaprint…bring on Splat!”


Also, I have added the Splat craftivity to my TpT store if you’re interested in just the amazingly cute craftivity but don’t need a whole unit! (I could have done this months ago, but it didn’t occur to me till last night…I don’t think I have a drop of entrepreneurial blood in me!  Live and learn!)


Check it out by clicking the image below:

All right, back to reading Shadow of Night – the sequel to A Discovery of Witches.  I’ve been waiting a year!


Happy Friday!
Mrs. Castro Pin It

Splish Splash Splat is finally on TpT = Splat-Tastic Sale

Hey all!  I’ve finally completed my Splish, Splash, Splat! unit.  It is full of Splat-tastic math and literacy activities.  I’ve created two units, an all English version and a bilingual (English and Spanish) version. 


CLICK the image below to go to the product’s page on my TpT store.



SALE: To celebrate the fact that I’ve finally finished this project, all my TpT products are 20% off until…Friday the 13th at midnight…eek!


This is a great unit in general, but especially good for summer school, the beginning and end of the school year, when you miss “summery” things, if you have a beach themed classroom...an so on.


You find the English version by clicking right here.
You can find the bilingual version by clicking right here. 


Cheers!
Mrs. Castro Pin It

“Key Buys” and a blog award nomination!

My mom always called good deals that she was able to take advantage of key buys.  So, I’ve taken part in the TpT sale, and did not forget to use the coupon code!  (I tend to be bad with details, and cry later!)  I’m going to call them all key buys, because by doing so it will counteract the terrible guilt I feel at going so crazy!!! I waited and waited and just lost all control today!  Sigh...
Knowing I’m teaching 1st and 2nd grade next year has me agonizing over every purchase.  I want to get the most bang for my buck. 
Here are some of my key buys that I’ve been drooling over for a while:
The 3 AM Teacher’s lovely graphic sets:


Cara Carroll Creations:





Amy Lemons stuff (super excited!!!)

The Teacher Wife:

And finally one I almost forgot, but then didn’t (sorry bank account!)  But who can resist this author study?  HONESTLY!


And like some other bloggers I’ve noticed today, I received an email that informed me I’ve been nominated for the “Most Fascinating Blog of 2012 Award”.  I’m really excited that my blog was noticed outside of my blog circle.  The post that warranted the attention is, my clutter linky x2, which is a bit ironic considering I’ve pretty much failed to live up to my plan.  PLEASE keep in mind that I’m moving classrooms and have just put off the organization until my stuff is moved to the next classroom, PERFECTLY REASONABLE! 

AT some point there is voting for the blogs nominated – I’m not entirely sure.  I will keep you posted!
Mrs. Castro Pin It