Fireworks go KABOOM! Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July Y'all!!

I'm hope your day is filled with friends, family, grilling, and relaxation! 

I'm just stopping in today to share a little project I've been working on to celebrate the 4th.  One of my favorite products, Multiplication Kaboom got a total over haul and I've in love.

There are new fonts, new backgrounds, and new frames!

Have you ever played Kaboom?!? It's super fun!! The best part about this game is it can be played practicing all different skills. Once your kids know how to play, the sky is the limit. This Multiplication Kaboom game focuses on multiplying large numbers and is mostly geared toward 4th and 5th grade. The fireworks patriotic theme makes it perfect for Veteran's Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, or...basically anytime. Fireworks are fun all year!

Game Cards Included:

• KABOOM! cards
• 2 digit x 1 digit 
• 3 digit x 1 digit
• 2 digit x 2 digit

There are 16 multiplication game cards for each skill.  Skills can be played individually or all together. There are also 2 different styles of cards included in the set because choice is a good thing for teachers too. There is a basic rectangular game card for easy storage in baggies and long skinny game cards that fit nicely in refurbished chip cans.

Game play is simple. Each player draws a card from the deck or from the Kaboom container. (I prefer the cards that can be stored in baggies because they take up less space and I just don't have space to spare in my classroom.) If the player draws a multiplication card they must solve the problem. Other players solve as well to check their work.

If the players solves correctly, they get to keep the card. If not, it goes back in the deck. However...and this is where the fun comes in, if a player draws a Kaboom card, they loose all cards previously earned and must return all cards to the deck and start collecting again. 

And... that's it! It's a great game and has been a huge success in my classroom! Once your kids know how to play, you can adapt it to practice any skill you want. I included some blank card pages for you and/or students to come up with their own problems to add to the game.

I don't know about you, but I need low maintenance, easy to set up, easy to explain math games in my classroom. Kaboom fits all my needs and my students love LOVE it!

The best part about this game is the game grows with them as their skills grow. I start with 2x1 digit multiplication for review and add game cards as we build our skills. It is also an easy game to differentiate for my students and a great tutoring activity!

To celebrate the 4th and the revisions,
 Patriotic Kaboom will be 50% off July 4th & 5th! 

Hello dollar deal!! :)

Click any of the images of Multiplication Kaboom above to download this game for $1 and add it to your collection for the summer or the upcoming school year. If you already own this product, please be sure to download the revised version for a more explosive and colorfully fun game!

Enjoy!!

Patriotic Kaboom {Flash 4th of July Freebie}

Happy 5th of July everyone! I hope you all had a relaxing and wonderful 4th of July filled with good food, family & friends, fireworks, and lots of fun!

I don't know about you, but I'm still in a celebratory patriotic mood.  That's why I upgraded my Multiplication Kaboom game! #fireworksinspire #fireworksgokaboom

Photo Courtesy of http://www.vvng.com/2014-professional-firework-shows/

Happy Birthday America! Let's celebrate... Flash Freebie style!

For the next 2 days (July 5th & 6th) you can download my Multiplication Kaboom cards for FREE at my TPT store!

Have you ever played Kaboom?!? It's super fun!! The best part about this game is it can be played practicing all different skills. Once your kids know how to play, the sky is the limit.This Multiplication Kaboom game focuses on multiplying large numbers and is mostly geared toward 4th and 5th grade.

Game Cards Included:

• KABOOM! cards
• 2 digit x 1 digit 
• 3 digit x 1 digit
• 2 digit x 2 digit

There are 16 multiplication game cards for each skill.  Skills can be played individually or all together. There are also 2 different styles of cards included in the set because choice is a good thing for teachers too. There is a basic rectangular game card for easy storage in baggies and long skinny game cards that fit nicely in refurbished chip cans.

Game play is simple. Each player draws a card from the deck or from the Kaboom container. (I prefer the cards that can be stored in baggies because they take up less space and I just don't have space to spare in my classroom.) If the player draws a multiplication card they must solve the problem. Other players solve as well to check their work.

If the players solves correctly, they get to keep the card. If not, it goes back in the deck. However...and this is where the fun comes in, if a player draws a Kaboom card, they loose all cards previously earned and must return all cards to the deck and start collecting again. 

And... that's it! It's a great game and has been a huge success in my classroom! Once your kids know how to play, you can adapt it to practice any skill you want. I included some blank card pages for you and/or students to come up with their own problems to add to the game.

I don't know about you, but I need low maintenance, easy to set up, easy to explain & use math games in my classroom. Kaboom fits all my needs and my students love LOVE it! The best part about this game is the game grows with them as their skills grow. I start with 2x1 digit multiplication for review and add game cards as we build our skills. It is also an easy game to differentiate for my students and a great tutoring activity!

Click any of the images of Multiplication Kaboom above to download this game and add it to your collection for the upcoming school year. You kids will love it and even though it has a patriotic theme, I think we can get away with it anytime, don't you?! #fireworksanytime

If you download, please don't forget to leave feedback. It is greatly appreciated and truly valued. If you have any questions or suggestions, just shoot me a quick email.

What other games do your students love to play to practice math skills and build mastery?

Thanks y'all and happy teaching!!

Anchor Charts: Multiplication & Division

I started my morning in the garage. If you remember I had heaps and heaps of school stuff in there from moving EVERYTHING out of my classroom at the end of the year. There was so much that my two car garage didn't even fit one car. I really need to get everything in order.

BUT...It's hot and humid in there. Plus, there are mosquitoes and I loath mosquitoes. Apparently, they do not feel the same way. They love me. So, with deet infused bug spray, a strong fan, and a sense of purpose, I set out this morning to organize my anchor charts.

A couple of my thoughts on anchor charts...

• They are much more powerful and meaningful when made WITH the students. I know this means they won't always be pretty, but it's important that the kids play a critical role in creating it. If they get sloppy and you just can't take it, then you can always rewrite a cleaner version after school, but as long as you make it with the kids, it has meaning to them. 
• Simple is  better.  Keep it clean, simple, and easy to read from a distance. Cute doesn't always mean effective. 
• Set up your anchor chart beforehand. Add the title and designs to the anchor chart before your lesson. Then, add the "meaty" information with the kids.
• Black marker does not make it boring. Black marker is hands down the easiest to read. I use black constantly. If it is important, it needs to be written in a color that is easy to read. I like black, dark blue, dark, green, and purple. I use the lighter fun colors for my titles and to highlight really important words.
• Every color does not need to make an appearance on every chart. This goes back to keeping it simple and easy to read. Can you tell it's a big theme of mine?
  
• Mr. Sketch markers are the only acceptable markers to use when creating anchor charts. I'm obviously being dramatic here, but they are my absolute favorite markers for anchors. Although, watch out for the light pink. It smells good and it's pretty, but it also fades.  
• Anchor charts are a valuable teaching tool. If you use them and reference them, the kids will too. However, just like most things, modeling is required. :) 

Several years ago, I saw this great idea about an anchor chart binder. The teacher put a picture of all her anchor charts in a binder for both teacher and student future reference. I thought this was a brilliant way to save wall space and keep a record of all the anchors for the year. While I have never been organized enough to do that, I have taken pictures of a few that I wanted to be sure to repeat the following year. The best part about the picture is that is forces me to recreate it with my students but gives me a goal for how I want things to look and what information I want to include. 

Here are just a few of my charts on multiplication and division from this past year.

This chart stared with only a header and then the model/strategy t-chart. You can see by my imperfect lines that I don't stress out too much about it being perfect. As a class we defined multiplication in the most simple terms and added to our chart as we went through the unit.

This is the division chart to match the multiplication. This was before we got into long division.

I love this one because it shows students the many different ways they could divide basic facts. Many of my students get turned around with the circles and sticks model, so they love seeing the table. The table really helps keep them organized.

This chart was generated after a discussion about the similarities/differences between multiplication and division. All information was student generated.

I took pictures of tons of my math, writing, and reading anchor charts from the last year and then gave the charts the toss. It's all part of my purge, purge, purge plan. 

Do you guys keep your anchor charts year to year?  Which ones do you save?  Any more helpful tips on keeping them pretty while also keeping them student generated?

More pictures to come...