Multiplication Madness {FREEBIE}, Fall Centers Sale, & RWS Update!

I know, I know...you are NOT even thinking about school. Either you are already out, or you're in pure survival mode for the next two days! We are still in school until Wednesday. When I say we, I mean my kids and my sweet student teacher! I am off to Indiana to spend some much needed time with my family and to celebrate the life of my precious grandmother! Since I am sitting here in the airport waiting for my connecting flight {for the next FIVE hours}, I figured that this would be a great time to catch up with my blogging buddies! (We missed our flight in Washington, D.C. by two minutes! I love it when I am forced to get things done!) 

Ok, onto school things! We have been working like mad men {and women} in third grade! Seriously...third grade is something fierce! I may say that every time I post, but honestly, y'all...it blows my mind...all of the time! I am trying to keep it fresh and spunky, but sometimes I feel like I teach a million miles a minute and there is still not time to cover everything I need to cover. I am just so sure I have had about a million amens by now! I know that we all feel the crunch at some point in the year. My crunch just tends to come every day! MAKE. IT. GO. AWAY! Ha! 

So, this past week, we began our multiplication unit. I covered some multiplication in second grade, so the kiddos caught on pretty quickly. We have been skip counting between every transition time. Honestly...if you teach third grade...this is a MUST! This has made all of the difference in the world. A sweet teacher friend of mine made up songs for skip counting 2's -12's and we literally sing the chants ten times a day. It takes about two minutes to get through all of the songs, so it is perfect for those transitions {You know, the ones where the kiddos think it is time to talk and jabber on about anything and everything.} 

Along with skip counting, we have been getting our hands all into multiplication. Here are a few of our favorite activities! 

Marshiplication: 


During this activity, the students use marshmallows and fruit loops to create a visual of a multiplication problem. Then, they write a repeated addition sentence, and skip count to find their answer. A class favorite for sure! 


If you want to grab our recording sheet for this activity, click {HERE}


Four Square Multiplication: 

Next, I wanted to make sure that the students understood all of the different ways that they may see multiplication. We completed a sample four square multiplication problem together, and then, I passed out a specific set of unifix cubes, and the students had to create their own four square. 

 This group blew my socks off! 

We ended the week practicing our second strategy! The kiddos loved using different objects to make arrays! 




This activity was perfect to introduce the inverse property of multiplication. Once they finished their first array, many of them figured out that they could flip the array and have the same answer. I think it is safe to say that they are all about multiplication! 

Last week, we were also able to review some of our ELA skills using my Fall into Literacy Centers. Here are a few of their favorite activities that they worked on during our enrichment time. 




If you need some extra activities to get you through the next two days, both of my fall center sets will be on sale for $5.00. Click on the pictures below to pick them up at TPT!


Now for a little Reader's Workshop Update! 

I just wanted to keep those of you that have been sending emails a little update! I am *almost* finished with my first RWS unit. This unit will provide all of the resources necessary to completely launch Reader's Workshop in the classroom. I swear this pack may be about 300 pages...literally, but will include a large amount of resources. I am hoping to have it up and ready for you all by this weekend! Here is a sneak peek: 

If you have made it this far, bless your heart! Maybe if I could find time to blog a little more often, I wouldn't have to squeeze it all in to one post! Hope you all had a super fabulous weekend! 

10 comments:

  1. Sorry to hear about your travel delay. But I was sooo excited to see a post written.

    I too will be working on multiplication after break. Either your friend, if she blogs or you, can you PLEASE share the fun multiplication chants. How FUN!!!

    Third graders are soo excited to learn their facts. I use the motivation of ice cream to help them. They earn a scoop or part(bowl,spoon) of their sundae as they master a factor.
    Scoopin' Up the Facts.

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  2. I love your Marshiplication activity. I haven't seen this before, but will share it with the 2-3 teachers in my building. Thanks for sharing it!
    Connie Anderson:)
    www.welcometofirstgraderoom5.blogspot.com

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  3. Wow! All of your stuff is adorable! I hope mine is as cute someday! I am a new follower! (I am also from Indiana!)
    Hilary
    Second Grade is Out of This World

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  4. Third grade is ALL ABOUT multiplication- especially with those common core standards! I am totally going to do the 4 square in cooperative groups tomorrow! Thanks for sharing the great ideas!
    Happy Thanksgiving! :)melissa

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  5. Hi Hope,
    What a bunch of fabulous activities, I love all the hands on multiplication!! I was just stopping by to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving!

    Shawna
    The Picture Book Teacher's Edition

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  6. Love the 4 square activity! Please share the songs you do for transitions - every idea helps these third graders learn those table.

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  7. So helpful...almost makes me wish we had school this week, so I could do it immediately....almost:-)

    Laurie
    Chickadee Jubilee

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  8. Hi Hope!

    I LOVE your multiplication activities. I was pinning away for my 3rd grade colleagues from my district to see. We are in the midst of multiplication right now. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and enjoy your visit with your family.

    Krista
    stellar-students

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  9. I love this! I can't wait to start following you. nice blog.. it would have been more good if there were a couple of photos for brief explanation:)

    Multiplication facts

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  10. I'm curious about the skip counting songs you mentioned. I would love to implement these in my 2nd grade class. Please if you could share these I would GREATLY appreciate it. I'm pulling my hair out trying to help my kids get skip counting.

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