Saturday, December 31, 2011

2011’s Top Three Most Viewed Blog Posts Linky Party!



2011’s Top Three Most Viewed Blog Posts Linky Party!
Fern Smith is having a Linky Party at 
“Fern’s Smith’s Classroom Ideas!”  
You will be able to read the top three blog posts 
from more than 50 teacher blogs. 
Congratulations to Ashleigh, TruthMe, and Runde’s Room
 who created the top 3 blog posts from this year’s 
“The Best of Teachers Pay Teachers.” 


FREE LANGUAGE ARTS LESSON
December Creative Writing
by Ashleigh 
November 25, 2011
1,656 Page views


FREE LANGUAGE ARTS LESSON
Thanksgiving Mad Lib
by TruthMe
November 12, 2011
697 Page views


FREE MISC. LESSON
Christmas Cootie Catchers
by Runde’s Room
December 10, 2011
646 Page views

Friday, December 30, 2011

Pinterest - The Best of TpT FREE LESSONS


"The Best of TpT FREE LESSONS" - Pinterest


It displays the "Free Lesson of the Day" from this blog, 
"The Best of Teacher Entrepreneurs."




"The Best of TpT" Collaborative Pinterest Boards

  
It displays free products and products for sale from the best teacher-authors of www.teacherspayteachers.com.

It also has additional boards you may find helpful 
when you celebrate holidays with your students.

The "Best of TpT" Pinterest Boards are...

The Best of TpT FREE LESSONS
TpT Language Arts Lessons
TpT Math Lessons
TpT Science Lessons
TpT Social Studies Lessons
TpT Misc. Lessons
TpT Blogs

If you are a Teachers Pay Teachers seller-author, 
feel free to sign up and be a part of the 
TpT Collaborative Pinterest Boards at...


FREE LANGUAGE ARTS LESSON - “Fluency Progress Charts”

by MsJordanReads
2nd - 6th Grade


Do you have students who need regular fluency check-ups?

Visual representations of growth and progress are powerful influences on student motivation and allow for opportunities of celebrating growth as readers!

These Fluency Progress Graphs are perfect for monitoring of oral reading fluency progress! Each week students can read a passage and the teacher or student can graph the progress of words per minute (wpm) on the chart! You can make it a line graph or a bar graph.  You decide the format and fill in your own numbers (on the line or in the boxes!)

**Use these graphs in conjunction with my FREE "What is Fluency?" Student Reference Sheet.



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and get THOUSANDS OF PAGE VIEWS for your TpT products!


Go to http://www.pinterest.com/TheBestofTPT/ for even more free products!






Thursday, December 29, 2011

Top Ten Teaching Tips for 2012

Classroom Confections


teacher tips
by Molly of Classroom Confections
  1.   Prioritize what needs to get done.  Look at the whole picture, but also keep in mind what needs to get done TODAY!  It’s okay to put some things off until tomorrow.   
  2.  Don’t let your grading get the best of you.  Grade a little each day and it won’t pile up.
  3.  Make the day fun for you and your students. Get creative!  Search for fun lessons on the Internet by visiting websites like Teachers Pay Teachers.
  4.    Collaborate with your coworkers.  The best ideas might be hiding out in the room next door. Participate in a ‘get one, give one’ lesson exchange.  You take a lesson and then you get a lesson in return.
  5.   Make a student feel special. Pick a child each day and tell them something positive.   Put a smile on their face by leaving them an award on their desk or even just a sticker to display. Sometimes we get so caught up in the negative, we forget to focus on the positive.
  6.   Don’t stay late every day!  Remember, you either have a family to get home to, or you need to have some ‘me’ time.  I used to be a stay-later and then I got my priorities straight.  I am a 100% teacher from 7:30-4:00 and then I have one stay-late day per week.  It can make you a better teacher if you leave!!  
  7.  Don’t get caught up in what I call teacher-gripe!  Some things that we teachers want to gripe about will simply not change, no matter how much we dislike it and no matter how much time goes by.  
  8.  Get that room cleanAs the kids come back after the start of the New Year, have them clean their desks out.  I mean really clean them.  I have students take the Lysol wipes to the inside of the desk.  A clean desk can help clear the mind.  Kids will be ready to perform in 2012.
  9. Change something up in the classroom for the second half of the year. Whether it’s your discipline program, your bulletin board, or something else.  It will add excitement to the remainder of the year.  My teaching neighbor and I are going to start doing a fun Friday the last Friday of the month for good behavior. 
  10.  Teach!……oh yeah, that’s the number one tip, right?  Teach with your heart and everything else will fall in place.

FREE LANGUAGE ARTS LESSON - “Guided Reading Lessons - TEKS - Grades 4 and 5”

by Mark Lyons
4th & 5th Grade


Guided Reading Lessons – TEKS – Grades 4 and 5
This set of lessons is intended for use by teachers and students as a resource for guided reading lessons. A reading passage paired with a poem serves as the basis for guided reading lessons and to help assess student knowledge of reading objectives. Each lesson is correlated to the reading TEKS for Texas. 
Instructions for using the selections as guided reading practice are included. They are designed to provide teachers with before, during, and after reading lesson plans to help guide students through the selections. A list of higher level vocabulary words found in the passages comes with the lessons. Multiple choice as well as short and extended answer questions follow the paired selections. Each question is designed to assess a specific reading objective. An answer key is also included. It tells the correct multiple choice answers and examples of best-score short and extended response answers.
The set of passages can also be used as stand alone assessment pieces without the lesson plans. Students independently read and complete the passage and question items. The teacher can then either score each assessment passage apart from the students and report back to them as to how they performed or the teacher can score the passage in class together with the students allowing for immediate feedback and discussion. 
If you like the Guided Reading Lessons – TEKS – Grades 4 and 5, please go to my website (www.readingwarmupsandmore.com) to view and purchase additional products for TAKS and TEKS reading practice.


To only teacher-authors on the Teachers Pay Teachers' Seller's Forum:  Feel free to cut and paste this submission to your blog, website, and/or promotional item...you just cannot sell it for profit.  Permission was granted on the Seller's Forum on July 7, 2011...Selling Tips...Blog, Sqworl, &TpT Products Page = FREE ADVERTISING!

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

FREE MISC. LESSON - “Polar Express: Build-A-Train”

by Stacy Johnson
1st Grade


This is an activity that will be part of my Polar Express Unit when it is completed so check back soon.

Students use shapes to make a train then write the steps they took to complete it.


Tuesday, December 27, 2011

FREE MATH LESSON - “Ordering Numbers: What comes before? (Numbers 0 - 15) Math Center FREE”

by Mrs. Magee
Pre-Kindergarten - 1st Grade


My students always seem to struggle with the concept what number comes before, after, or between. To help combat this issue, I'm creating these centers to allow students the opportunity to practice. This set is FREE and covers finding what number comes before using the numbers 0 - 15. 
Included in the ZIP file is a PDF with 14 work mats, 14 number cards, and a PDF with 2 worksheets that complement the activity. Directions are included.
If you find it useful, please leave positive feedback so that others may discover this product as well!
If you like this product and would like the whole set (numbers 0-110) you can purchase it for $3.50: 


Monday, December 26, 2011

FREE LANGUAGE ARTS LESSON - “Read to Self (Silent Reading) Lesson, PPt, and all Daily 5 Separately”

by Wise Owl Factory
Pre-Kindergarten - 2nd Grade


Read to Self (Silent Reading) Lesson, PPt, and all Daily 5 Literacy Tasks

Zip Folder of all 5 Power Point Lessons

These lessons help a class increase silent reading time by building reading stamina, and also learn about all five DAILY 5 literacy tasks:
*read to self 
*read to another
*listen to reading
*writing work
*word work 
This is a zip file. Zip folders do NOT need special software, just pull the files out to use. SEE ALSO: DAILY 5 Notebook File for Smart Boards 

THE DAILY 5, by Gail Boushey & Joan Moser, was written because they feel teaching should not be exhausting. By training children in literacy tasks, they feel students learn habits that help them achieve independence in literacy. Use of the lesson assumes access to the book, THE DAILY 5, for background information. Several slides are to be completed by the teacher and class as they reflect on their read to self sessions. Building stamina in reading and literacy tasks is a big part of the Daily 5. The graphics are licensed through The Graphics Factory. Permission for teachers to adapt as needed for their own classrooms. 
By Carolyn Wilhelm, NBCT
Wise Owl Factory

To only teacher-authors on the Teachers Pay Teachers' Seller's Forum:  Feel free to cut and paste this submission to your blog, website, and/or promotional item...you just cannot sell it for profit.  Permission was granted on the Seller's Forum on June 3, 2011...Selling Tips...Blog, Sqworl, &TpT Products Page = FREE ADVERTISING!

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Merry Christmas!


Merry Christmas!
Wishing you the very best 
during the holiday season... 

Vicky Leon
The Best of Teachers Pay Teachers

Friday, December 23, 2011

FREE MISC. LESSON - “Chinese New Year Lantern Craft and Math Activities”

by Teacher Tam
Pre-Kindergarten - 3rd Grade


Just in time for Chinese New Year, which starts on January 23rd in 2012! This packet includes directions and printables to make a festive lantern decorated with Chinese characters. It also has 2 different math activities focused on ordering numbers 1-12 and beginning addition. The craft and both math lessons are provided with 2 levels of difficulty. For example, the addition becomes harder for older students when they have to try to remember the Chinese characters! Download this free packet and get started celebrating with your students!


The Best of Teacher Entrepreneurs Marketing Cooperative

Thursday, December 22, 2011

FREE MATH LESSON - “Pete the Cat Math Journal”

by Cecelia Magro I Love 1st Grade
Kindergarten - 2nd Grade


I created this project for incoming first graders. It includes story problems and a few cut outs to assist in solving the problems. Enjoy!
To only teacher-authors on the Teachers Pay Teachers' Seller's Forum:  Feel free to cut and paste this submission to your blog, website, and/or promotional item...you just cannot sell it for profit.  Permission was granted on the Seller's Forum on December 17, 2011...Selling Tips...Freebie Promotion = FREE ADVERTISING!

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

FREE LANGUAGE ARTS LESSON - “Vocabulary, Fluency, and Comprehension Supplement”

by Jodi Southard
1st - 3rd Grade


As a 1st grade teacher in a high poverty school, I am always looking for ways to help my students increase their reading fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary. This 5 day packet includes a new fluency passage for each day with "Power Words" to encourage vocabulary development. Each passage includes comprehension questions, a parent checkoff section and some other type of supplemental language arts activity. This week’s packet includes two poems, two fiction stories, and one nonfiction passage. 
This would be beneficial as a general supplement to your reading program, as a reading intervention for higher achieving 1st graders or 2nd graders, or as a take home packet. Thanks for checking it out.


Monday, December 19, 2011

FREE MISC. LESSON - “Homework Passes Free”

by Ruth S. 
Kindergarten - 7th Grade


Keep these homework passes handy so that your students can be rewarded instantly! Give them to students who need a little extra "pat on the back" or to someone who has turned in an assignment on time, when that's usually not the case!

See more of my best sellers by clicking on DETAILED PRODUCT DESCRIPTION. My novel packets are from 15-32 pages in length. All products are reasonably priced.

Stop by my store for more :)
My TpT Store




Thursday, December 15, 2011

FREE MATH LESSON - “Integers Test Study Guide”

by Lindsay Perro
6th - 8th Grade


This 1 page handout reviews Integer Rules for Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication and Division, Absolute Value, Order of Operations, Exponents, and Scientific Notation.

Also available as part of a bundle! Search for "Integer Operations Lessons and Worksheets Bundle" under my listings!
To only teacher-authors on the Teachers Pay Teachers' Seller's Forum:  Feel free to cut and paste this submission to your blog, website, and/or promotional item...you just cannot sell it for profit.  Permission was granted on the Seller's Forum on July 29, 2011...Selling Tips...Freebie Promotion = FREE ADVERTISING!

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

FREE MATH LESSON - “Winter Symme-TREE: Sorting Squares & Rectangles, Measuring, & Symmetry”

by Loreen Leedy
Kindergarten - 3rd Grade


Make a symmetrical Christmas holiday or winter tree out of squares and rectangles with this printable activity. Students measure and mark a line of symmetry on construction paper then cut out, sort, and arrange the shapes. The snowflakes will help them center each shape along the line of symmetry. Great for math centers, instructions are included.

To hear about new freebies, please 'Follow Me.‘   Happy holidays, everyone!

Loreen Leedy
Children's author-illustrator
My spring 2012 picture book is SEEING SYMMETRY
www.LoreenLeedy.com



Monday, December 12, 2011

FREE MATH LESSON - “FREE Center Game Math Addition 'Doubles' Concept ~ Over 50 Pages ~ "

by Fern Smith’s Classroom Ideas!
Kindergarten - 4th Grade


Each file focuses on one concept and includes:
* 6 delightful themes in full color with student directions included. Teaching the concept in March? December? May? There should be a theme that will work with your weekly/monthly units!
* Over 50 PAGES of printable center games including a variety of different ways to play the game.
* Distinct cover sheet to glue on the folders or place in a Ziplock baggie.
* Each theme has two pages of matching problems & answers in color to be cut apart as playing cards or use one page as a game board and one page cut apart as the matching playing cards.
* Each theme has one page of student directions.
* Everything also comes in black and white if you want to save on color printer ink!
** Extra Bonus! A cover sheet for your students to organize their own folder for individualized center games.

This center game is designed to be printed, cut apart for your classroom, and laminated if desired. It is cute, colorful, and is completely designed to be an independently led student activity. EXCELLENT for when the teacher is working with small reading or math groups. It also contains the ENTIRE file in a black and white version so that you can copy some and send it home as weekly homework. Great for the students to cut out and practice fine motor skills as well as reinforcing the math activity of learning the addition secrets to the "Addition Doubles" Concept!
Thank you,
Fern Smith 


Sunday, December 11, 2011

FREE MATH LESSON - “Santa’s Workshop Build-a-Sum”

by Michelle Walker
Kindergarten - 3rd Grade


This simple, fun Christmas-themed board game is an excellent Math Center activity. Players move around the game board collecting number cards and operation cards (+, - and =). The first player to be able to make a true sum wins the game. Excellent for practicing bonds and number facts!




Saturday, December 10, 2011

FREE MISC. LESSON - “Christmas Cootie Catchers - FREE”

by Runde’s Room
3rd - 7th Grade


Your students already love them, why not use cootie catchers for a fun holiday activity. This file contains 6 different cootie catchers with a Christmas theme: Christmas jokes, Winter Jokes, Musical Next Lines, 12 Days of Christmas, Movie Trivia, and Christmas Trivia. The file also contains a blank template for making your own cootie catcher (a perfect activity for test review questions.)





Friday, December 9, 2011

FREE MISC. LESSON - “Christmas Santa I Can Draw Fun Pack”

by KinderKay
Kindergarten - 3rd Grade


In this fun Christmas activity, two ways for creating a Santa are included. Students may create him following easy step by step drawing directions or they can follow directions for constructing him from cut paper. The easy to follow illustrations are laid out in such a way that this activity could either be put into a center or used as a teacher directed activity. A background paper that students can use to form their Santa upon is included. Students will be proud to show off their work and say I DID THIS MYSELF!




Thursday, December 8, 2011

FREE LANGUAGE ARTS LESSON - “Candy Land Contraction Game (FREE)”

by Mel D
Pre-Kindergarten - 3rd Grade


I have 18 Candy Land Games available & wanted to offer this one for free to try it out in your classroom. 
This game includes 57 different contraction words on look-alike Candy Land cards. Have your students say the contraction on the card in order to move. To challenge them they can say the contraction and the full words that make up the contraction. You just need a game board & game pieces. Print out cards on card stock, laminate, cut & use for years to come! My kids LOVE this game! This can be used in a Work Work station in Daily 5 or as a literacy station. This can be used for your at risk, on-level, or advanced students depending on your grade level. This can be used in an RTI group or larger group depending on how many game boards you have. Print as many games as you want for one class only though. 
I will be making this game for Dolch pre-primer & primer sight words, compounds, blends, dipthongs, nonsense, Fry's first 100, 200 & 300 words, addition & subtraction games! So get all those Candy Land boards & game pieces from your family & friends & let your students have a blast learning their long vowels with a familiar game board! Check out my blog @ http://www.seusstastic.blogspot.com
To only teacher-authors on the Teachers Pay Teachers' Seller's Forum:  Feel free to cut and paste this submission to your blog, website, and/or promotional item...you just cannot sell it for profit.  Permission was granted on the Seller's Forum on December 4, 2011...Selling Tips...Freebie Promotion = FREE ADVERTISING!

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

FREE MATH LESSON - “Decimal War Card Game”

by Amanda Holland Gregory
3rd - 5th Grade



Math game to teach and reinforce the concept of decimals to the tenths. Students play the game similar to the card game War. The player that lays the card with the greatest decimal keeps the cards. This can also be used as an ordering activity where the students order the decimals from greatest to least.