happy hump day freebie

Is tomorrow already Thursday?! Thank goodness! I mean this week has just been rolling along and it is beginning to dawn on me that it is already progress report time-- say what?! I know some of you are just beginning your school year, it is hard to believe we are almost halfway through the first 9 weeks...our 20th day to be exact!

I finally took some pictures of my A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E milk crate seats at my guided reading table.

I love them! I put hanging file folders inside and now I am storing my leveled readers that came with the reading series in them. I have each week separated in a file folder (I should've taken a pic! sorry!). I am hoping this will make finding books super easy and now they aren't in those UGLY, HUGE reading series displays. I am in love! 

This week we have been working on communities. I found the perfect circle map on pinterest:

I used this template from Ginger Snaps in our lesson yesterday. I also introduced the topic with BrainPop, Jr. (have you used this?). I really like how I can introduce a topic and the kids are totally engaged. 

Here is our anchor chart. I broke the Fire Marshall's rules and hung it on the blinds. I need my wall space for other (more important) anchor charts! 

We are working with another first grade class to build a first grade community tomorrow! I can't wait to see how it turns out!

In other news, we are working on addition with Envisions. Do you use Envisions? I HATE the way it teaches addition with part part whole. It doesn't make any sense. So, I made some super cute Part, Part, Whole mats! Feel free to use :)

Click the pic for the TPT link!

One more thing, have you seen these before?

These little cones are an AWESOME behavior management tool. During whole group, small groups, transitions, basically anytime during the day I use these to keep my tables on track. I just have to drop one on the desk (it makes this noise that automatically gets the other tables attention). The table with the most cones at the end of the day gets their choice of a gumball or a dum-dum from this:

I used this during open house too. Those blue circles are actually items from my wish list. 

Anyway, those cute little cones are from Dollar Tree! Have a great rest of the week :)

Source: Uploaded by user via Laura on Pinterest