Linky Love

Love is in the air..... a favorite bloggy friend is having a linky party!  Head over to Funky First Grade Fun and get in on the fun with Kimberly (and link up to some more awesome blogs!).  Here is my love list:

On a side note... here is another one of my current loves that is all over Pinterest (mostly on my boards- yikes!)  You can follow me and see some more that I've collected from around Pinterest this weekend!

My gift to you on a Sunday.  You're welcome :)

3 Addend Addition & Work Mat Freebie

With a new quarter, came some new math units.... we started 3 Addend Addition on Monday.  My class has been pretty strong in addition and subtraction so far this year.  I do 2 math stations daily (2 out of the 12 are addition/subtraction), so they keep those skills at the forefront.  I have to say.... the last 2 years with math stations, have been a totally transformation in learning.  I highly recommend looking into it if you haven't already.  (Check out my post about it here , as well as the other you can find tagged.) 

In order to introduce the concepts, we first gathered in an oval-ish shape on the floor and used unifix cubes and this work mat (click below the photo for the freebie).

Click HERE

I just verbally gave them equations and the set up the problem and raised their hands to give the solution.

The next day, I gathered the oval-ish group again and added the component of writing the equation on a dry erase board.  After a couple equations with me, I had them get with partners to practice.

The following day, we added paper and pencils to the mix. 

We will do this for a few more days before phasing out the manipulatives.  Some of my students will continue to use the manipulatives, as a support tool.   From here, we will learn how to pull 2 of the numbers together to make an easy-to-add number (like 10 or doubles).

Operation N.M.D = Success!

And what, you ask, was " Operation N.M.D "? Well seeing as Mick and I have a big boy on our hands now, we decided a week ago that we would kick start " Operation No More Dummy ".... and its been pretty much a 100% success!

The boy with his beloved binky ( and Daddy )...

We explained to Flynn that because he was getting to be a big boy now that it was time to get rid of his dummies, or binkies as he calls them. (We pretty much already had him down to only having his binky at sleep times, or when he was particularly upset.) He wasnt too keen on the idea at first but when we explained that it was the Dummy Fairy that would come and take them - not us - he seemed a bit more interested. Mick said he'd seen the Dummy Fairy down the street and that she'd told him that Flynn was big now, so she'd come and get his binkies soon. I said i'd talked to her on the phone and that seeing as she wasnt busy that day, she would come that night.

So - thats what happened. Last Friday night we had a visit from the Dummy Fairy. She took away all of his dummies ( not even one left for an emergency! ) and in there place she left a letter and a little present. Excuse me not having take a photo but the letter went something like this:
Dear Flynn,
I have come to take your binkies because you are a big boy now and you dont need them anymore.
I have brought you something else special that you can take to bed instead.
Love The Dummy Fairy

And there next to his bed, in place of his dummies, was a small plush Elmo, something friendly and familiar that he could cuddle in bed.

He was quite happy with that - the boy loves Elmo! - and his nap that day with no binky, and no trouble. Same thing that night - he went happily off to his sleep with no problems but we did hit a slight snag when he woke in the middle of the night. I went in and gave him a cuddle and explained that no, he couldnt have his dummy - the DUmmy Fairy took them remember? He calmed but he kept calling out, upset. So eventually after 45 mins of leaving him to try to fall asleep Daddy went and jumped in bed with him and everyone got back to sleep.

.... and my big boy, dummy free, "driving" Daddys work van

And thats been it - the rest of the week has been easy. He's asked for his binky a few times but everytime he's asked i've said " You cant have one. Do you remember why ? " and says " 'Cause the Dummy Fairy took them away ".... and thats it. He hasnt where they've gone or when they're coming back - its just she took them, she gave him a present and thats it.

Now if only toilet training were this bloody easy!

Sunshine, Wherefore Art Thou Sunshine?

( And yes, before anyone points it out, i know " wherefore " actually means who, not where. Whatever - it sounded good ).

And yes, this is another rant about the weather - i swear its like my 3rd weather post this summer, and i'm sorry..... but i just cant stand this " English " summer we're having. It is the middle of summer and it is currently 16C outside. I am at work, wearing the same 3 layers i would wear during the middle of winter ( and because our new manager has the air con turned up i am STILL freezing ). Its raining too, and is predicted to continue raining on and off for least a week. This psuedo-summer-may-aswell-be-winter weather is getting me down!

Plus, in 2 weeks Mick and I are taking Flynn away for the weekend for his very first trip to the beach. He's so excited - everytime he sees a picture of a beach, or a beach on tv he gets all bouncy and goes " Mummy - we go to beach! Flynn and Mummy and Daddy! ". Not only will it be his first trip to see the ocean, but it will most likely be the only trip away that Mick and I get this year ( as he is the only driver we have for our delivery service, he cant take holiays or sick leave ). So if i dont get at least one perfect, sunny day when we go to Nelson Bay i am going to be so disappointed. And angry and kind of upset. ( As much as you can get upset and angry with the weather - i mean, there isnt really anyone to blame is there ? )

So - is it just me, or is anyone else getting mildly seasonally depressed this summer? Are the grey days getting you down too? And you could possibly send my family all the good weather vibes you can muster for our beach trip in 2 weeks? Thanks muchly!