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

Blogging changes lives…really!

Blogging has changed my life.  Literally.  And in a BIG way!  I’m excited to share some news with you.  I am making a change…well, lots of changes really.

*I’m changing districts.
*I’m changing grade.
*I’m changing program model.

Here’s the info…since I started to blog, I almost immediately started following the blog of a 2nd grade dual language teacher.  I bet you follow her blog too!  Krista @ The Second Grade Super Kids.  Well it was exciting when I realized she was practically a neighbor of mine, and is also from the Chicago area.
We were able to meet during the summer and…

#1 – she’s amazing!
#2 – she’s inspiring! 

After talking with Krista I found myself wishing more than anything that I was part of a dual language program.  For those of you in the bilingual education know – I was teaching in a transitional program.  But dual language was calling my name!

So, I decided to see if the perfect position would present itself.  I wouldn’t change for anything but the perfect position!  I had such a wonderful teammate, and support system at my school.  These were the people who helped me figure out how to teach!  It’s hard to leave them behind and venture into the unknown!

BUT, the perfect position did present itself as a 5th grade dual language position.  Even better, I’m going to be working at a school with a staff that believes in dual language and has an established methodology and vision.  (EXCITING!)  To top it all off, I’ll be working at the same school as Krista.  She’s no longer just a bloggy friend, she’s a colleague and a friend. 

So from bilingual 2nd grade to 5th grade dual language I go!

See!  Blogging changes lives!  There is no doubt if I hadn’t started blogging I wouldn’t have been on the path that led me to this opportunity. 

Here are some pics of my new classroom as I found it:

All these pics mean I’m linking up to Miss Nelson’s linky – Before & After!   Isn't that a good idea.  I've always loved before & after pics...and as a teacher nothing beats classroom before & afters!

Today I had to empty out my old classroom.  I think today might have been the second day in the ENTIRE summer that it actually rained, and all day!  BUT after a few trips I was able to move all of my things to my garage.  You’ll remember I spent a lot of time this summer organizing my classroom library – well all those books and fancy labels are in my garage until further notice. 

Remember my back to school packets?  I thought I was being smart, creating a product and getting myself set for the beginning of the school year.  Well, feedback has been great, I’m really proud of them and was looking forward to using one in my classroom…but all that’s out the window too now!  Fifth grade teachers how do you start the school year?!

It’s worth it though!  I’m excited to read real literature with my 5th graders.  I’ve already picked up these book from the library and have 12 more on hold!  Can you tell I’m excited about reading some “real” books!!?!  I’m so looking forward to the conversations my students and I will share in Spanish and English! (HUGE GRIN!)

What this all really means though, is that my blog is going to have to change its look again!  I have to think of a clever name…any suggestions? 

Any tips for 5th grade?  I will take all tips and advice!  Behavior management suggestions?  Does the clip chart work?  Incentives for 5th graders.  I’m not sure bling will be as tempting as it was for my little guys. 

Last thing in this l-o-n-g post.  This Saturday is my husband's and my 5th anniversary!  CRAZY!  We’ll be going on vacation to northern Minnesota (exciting, I know!) for a week – just in time for me to be freaking out about not being in my classroom…but I’m going to try and keep it together and remember that no matter how much preparing I do, I’ll feel unprepared on the first day of school this year…at least I’ll keep telling myself that.

Cheers!
Mrs. Castro Pin It

Product Swap–Product Review–FINALLY!

When I first signed up to be a part of the product swap hosted by Jessica Stanford at Mrs. Stanford's class, I wasn’t really sure what to expect.  I’m so glad I decided to participate though!  I was matched with the lovely, Lori Wolfe.  I couldn’t have been more lucky!  Lori has tons of experience teaching ELLs and has already created so many products – published products.  As it turned out I actually already owned one of her math books! 

I’ve been working on improving my math work stations, so I chose Lori’s “Place Value with 2 Digit Numbers – Math Games and Lesson Plans”.  (Lori generously sent me her 3 Digit Numbers pack as well!) 

These packs sell for $5.95 and includes 5 different place value games.   DUAL AND BILINGUAL TEACHERS this is available in Spanish too!!!

These packs come in black and white.  I LOVE this!  I personally don’t own a colored printer.  The colored printer at work is notoriously out of ink and this is the sort of resource I would rather color code myself with different paper than have colored graphics.  Here you can see how Lori has hers in fun colors:

Here you can see I color coded my games.  Each game is a different color – makes it so easy to keep all the pieces separate!  Unfortunately the colors I chose are semi-similar and it’s hard to tell.  I have a teal, light blue, turquoise and purple. 


I also used my handy-dandy Scotch laminator to make sure these games really lasted!  Everything turned out so sturdy and EXPO marker friendly! I’ve even laminated the recording sheets – that way they can be reused again and again!

There are two things that really impressed me about this product…

1.  The layout.  The directions are very easy to follow.  I was absent when they taught “following directions” and “reading for detail” at school…so I usually struggle putting things together, and there are lots of wasted paper and mistakes.  BUT, this product is laid out in such a way that I had no problems putting the games together.  Everything is concise and labeled!  I put them together in no time!  See...easy to read set up!

2.  The games are simple and yet incredibly meaningful!  I do not expect it to be difficult to teach these games to my students.  And yet, the games will challenge the students to develop place value strategies in order to beat their partner.


EXAMPLES:
1s & 10s Greatest Number.  
3 players.

Students each have a 2 digit place value game board.
Students draw a number and must place the card in either the ones or tens place.  Their goal is to get the greatest number.  Students must come up with a strategy for determining when to place a number in the ones vs. tens…how will they determine it?
The learning is extended as the students then have to write the numbers on the recording sheet from greatest to least.  COOL RIGHT!?


Odd or Even? 
2+ players
I played this by myself to make sure I could explain it.  This is a challenging game if you wan to win!  Each student has a 2 digit place value game board.  Each student draws a number and must decide to place it in the tens or ones place – the goal is make the largest ODD number.  So not only do students need to understand even and odd, they must also determine how to make the biggest number possible. 
Students record the results on a sheet to see who gets the most “greatest odd numbers”.


3 In A Row - 2+ players
This game is great because it adds a twist.  Students must be the first to fill their board.  BUT, the number cards are labeled with tens or ones…so when a student draws a card they must put it in the right place value slot.


Go Fish Even – uses the same materials but students try to fill their boards with even numbers ONLY.  I like that this is interactive because my students will be forced to talk and use math language!

Lori also has a place value game that uses base 10 block cards!

I anticipate this packet becoming an essential resource for place value in my work station rotations.  They are simple, straight-forward, easy to assemble but pack an instructional punch!  I know my students will have fun playing these games and won’t even realize how much they are learning and reinforcing their learning while they play!  Isn’t that what we’re always looking for as teacher?  A way to make learning engaging and meaningful!  Lori has managed! 

Lori’s TpT store is FULL of amazing products for regular ed. teachers and bilingual teachers.  She has products in English and Spanish.  AND she has products across the content areas – Language Arts, Math, and more.  Check it out here:

Here is the link to Lori’s blog!

Lori has a FB account too!













I feel very fortunate to have been matched to Lori Wolfe.  Check out all of her wonderful products and ideas!

Cheers!
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

Monday Made It #2 - Silhouette and Debbie Diller in one post!

I’ve officially demolished a Silhouette cutting mat in my first attempts at using it.  But, that is irrelevant because I have made my first Silhouette project.  It’s not particularly awe-inspiring, but it’s a start.


I use numbers to keep track of my students and last year I wrote the numbers on sticks – and just kept them in a container.  Very blah, and uninspired.  What would always happen was, I would misplace sticks that I had chosen because I had nowhere specific for the sticks that had been used…I would also walk around with the holder and misplace that…but I hope all that can be solved.


I’ve created these bright fancy number sticks and holders.  Now every stick has a home, called on or not!  Bonus: everything is bright, so hopefully I can’t misplace anything even if I set the tins in a random place.
Why am I glad I used my Silhouette? I DIDN’T HAVE TO CUT ANYTHING!  I printed the circles on colored regular paper, NOT cardstock.  Sent them through the laminator. Then the Silhouette cut them out.  I didn’t have to cut a single circle! 


Hopefully I’ll do something much more fun for next week!  Accepting all Silhouette tips and ideas!  BTW the Tazo Tea Tins are incredibly difficult to recycle!  It was a real chore taking off the labels…even using the goo be gone stuff!


Next, I made these math work station mats.  During summer school I’ve noticed how the kids just love to roll the die as far as possible, and spread the counters all around them, and…well you know how it is.  Even after modeling and explaining, I still catch the odd flying die in the corner of my eye. 


Debbie Diller did think of something for this and on page 40 of her book explains the mats.  I bought the shelf-liner from the Dollar Tree.  Duct tape I made two trips – 40% off at Hobby Lobby and Michaels.  So pretty cheap!

So there you have it!  My latest creations.
 
To join the linky fun and see what other teachers are creating head over to Tara's blog by clicking below:

I won’t be posting again until I finish my back to school packets.  So be on the look out for those.  They’ll be perfect for dual language, bilingual classrooms and regular education teachers looking for some new read alouds and activities.


Happy Monday!
Mrs. Castro Pin It