Our Estimation Station

Want a simple class routine that boosts students' estimation skills?  Try an "Estimation Station."

I have this area set up in the window sill.  It doesn't take much room or even much preparation, but it provides some much needed math practice.

I purchased the estimation container at a teacher supply store.  You could use anything that has a secure lid and is transparent.  A cleaned out mayonnaise jar would work fine. Next, fill the jar with some small seasonal items.  Be sure you have counted them and written the exact count somewhere. I usually write it on a post-it, fold it,  and tape it to the inside of the lid so that the kids can't see it.

At the end of the month, we take a few minutes and have everyone write down their estimates.  The person who comes the closest without going over gets to pick something out of the prize box.

A good chapter book to read to the class before starting this routine is The Candy Corn Contest by Patricia Reilly Giff.  I usually read this book in late September or early October before we start this routine.  As you can see in the picture, I also have a few books about estimation propped up nearby.

Some of the things I have used in the jar: erasers, fake leaves, acorns, little Christmas baubles, candy kisses, gold coins, cotton balls (as snowballs), jelly beans, plastic hearts from Hobby Lobby, and toy cars.  Thinking up things to put in the jar is my favorite part!

Here is a freebie you can print and use with your "Estimation Station."

Estimation Paper

Do you have any class routines to help with math skills?  Please share!

Writing Brag Tag Freebie!

Do your students love collecting brag tags?  Mine do!  I love the fact that I can use these inexpensive and readily available  resources to inspire and reward my kids.  Last week I shared how I use an "Author of the Week" routine to share student work as writing mentors.  I recently created these brag tags as another way to shine the spotlight on great student writing.

Grab your freebie here.

I hope you can use them too!  Thanks for stopping by!

Celebrate the Student Author of the Week

Student writing mentors are great!

Want a great way to motivate your writers?  Try having a student "Author of the Week." This little addition to our classroom routine is having quite a positive impact on the students.

Each week, while conferring with the students, I look for one piece to highlight in the classroom.  I try to find a specific "craft move" or practice that I can share from the piece.  In this way, the student writer becomes a mentor for others.

Whoever is chosen as the "Author of the Week" not only gets to have their piece hung up in the classroom for the week (I make a copy so the student still has the original), but they also win some fabulous prizes.

The author of the week gets a blank book (usually one from the Target dollar section) to use in any way they choose.  They also get a brag tag that says "Awesome Author."

Here are a few pics from some of my colleagues that also do a similar thing.

Another fabulous writer...

This teacher actually has a spotlight shining on the poster!

This teacher makes color copies to show.

Thanks for visiting!  Please share your thoughts and ideas with me!  Do you have student mentors in your class?  How do you showcase student writing?

New Year, New Decor!

I know... It's not exactly the "New Year" for school or the calendar, but I'm a little behind in posts.  😯

This past summer I stumbled upon a wine rack at the thrift store. (Maybe I shouldn't have said "stumbled.") Since I can't have wine in my classroom, I thought I would have the next best thing- COFFEE!  The picture on the right shows the wine rack after I removed the slats that held bottles of wine.  I thought it would make a cute coffee bar for my classroom.

I searched Pinterest for some ideas and inspiration.  I decided I liked the color combination of red and teal.  One of the biggest reasons I used the color combo is because I already had lots of red stuff in my classroom.  I had acquired a primary colored classroom theme by default.  I hadn't planned on changing anything, it just happened that I was inspired.

I had a blast looking for little things to add to my decor at Hobby Lobby, Big Lots, Target, and of course the thrift stores.  I had decided that I really wanted to make my classroom look and feel more "homelike."   We spend SO much of our day in this room, it should be appealing and comfy.

I found some cute wire picture holders on clearance.  The sales lady even reduced the price further because of a missing clip and a small ding on one of them.  I only paid about $15 for the pair.  I sent a letter home to my classroom families asking them to send in family pictures.  I posted them on the clips above the coffee bar.  I also have a cute framed poem about families propped up on the refrigerator.

I bought wire farmhouse baskets to insert in the coffee bar piece.  I keep snacks and other kitchen things like paper plates, napkins, and plastic silverware in the baskets.  I added a red chevron burlap bow to the bottom basket.

I bought the mugs at the thrift store and hung them on a rack.  My son added the lettering that says "The Classy Cafe." (My principal thought of that title.)  I bought the little wire 2 tiered holder at Hobby Lobby.  It's filled with napkins and K-Cups of coffee and tea.  I love when my friends come in to visit and grab a cup!

The little cafe table was something I had in my backyard.  One chair is broken so I only have one.  It was originally black wrought iron, but I spray painted it red.  I think it turned out cute!  I just threw a piece of blue polka dotted cloth on the top.

I recovered my 2 file cabinets with chevron paper in red, teal, and yellow.  I found the yellow curtain that is covering a large book shelf at the thrift store. I liked the little pop of yellow with the red and teal.  I used yellow knobs on my drawers of the coffee bar and desk.

Here's a picture of my desk area:

I painted the desk ($25 from the thrift store).  A friend gave me the little red polka dotted curtain to hang under the sitting area.  I just use the desk as a storage area so I stick things under it.  I found a bulletin board that I covered in red polka dotted fabric too. Then I added some accents of burlap ribbon for border.  The blue flowers came from The Dollar Tree.

My husband made the book shelf that is hanging above my desk.  I wanted an area where I could put some of my professional books.  Most of those books I keep at home.  I have a collection of books that is, according to my mother, just sinful.

I bought the wire 3 tiered hanging file at T.J.Maxx  (not sure if that is how you spell it).  I decorated a small lamp shade and added an accent lamp near my desk.

I wanted to make new book labels for my book bins and try to reorganize a bit.  I got a tall wire spinning book rack from a friend whose store was going out of business.  I found the toy chest bench at the thrift store too.  The accent pillows are made from bandanas.

The chair I had in my reading area was falling apart.  I found this red chair at a home store consignment shop.  I bought a yellow pillow at Target for an accent.

The wire 3 tiered book rack on the left is red.  It doesn't show up well in the picture.  I bought it at Hobby Lobby. The other small wire rack on rollers came from the thrift store.  I painted it and added a ribbon.  I kept the same rug that I already had.

Like I said, it was a blast redecorating this summer!  Here are a couple of other pics that show where we keep our i-pads and classroom supplies.

Thanks for stopping by!  Do you have a classroom theme or color scheme to share?