Math-y Valentine's Day Cards - FREE!

"Parallel lines have so much in common...it's a shame that they'll never meet."

Print these humorous parallel lines cards for Valentine's Day or hand them out as mini-posters at any time of the year!

I add candy sticks or pencils to the parallel lines to make a fun, math-y Valentine's Day card!

Pick yours up (free!) here:

Teachers Notebook
Teachers Pay Teachers

Enjoy! (And thank you in advance for taking the time to rate this free product!)

P.S. Speaking of LOVE...and MATH...do not miss this article on how love and math intersect.

Fractions Operations Review with Pattern Block Pictures

While we're on spring break, I want to share some recent photos from math class. My students did the (free!) Fractions Operations Project from Mary at Teaching with a Mountain View. Thank you, Mary, for sharing such a nice activity for fraction review!

When my students did the activity, they calculated the total number of pattern blocks used, using both multiplication and addition with fractions. They first had to figure out how many of each block were used and then multiply by the fractional part comprised of that block; so, for example, the total number of green triangles had to be multiplied by 1/6. Then they had to add the numbers for all the blocks together, giving them a total for their pictures. Next, they had to "prove it" by showing the blocks used in their picture, organized so that the total could be easily checked.

Learning intensified when they found that their totals (calculated on paper vs. showing/counting the blocks) didn't match! (This happened to quite a few students.) Usually, they recounted the blocks and came up with the same total. So then they had to go back to the math--multiplying or adding with fractions--and figure out where they went wrong. Lightbulbs were going off so fast the room was ablaze! :)

Recounting to check fraction operations!

I love, love the way this combines art with fraction operations and provides opportunity for students to prove their work!

Find more Fraction Ideas here!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Enjoy your day! The cards are here if you need them in the future! :)

FREE Parallel Lines Poster Cards (for Valentine's Day or just for fun!)

"Parallel lines have so much in common...it's a shame that they'll never meet."

Print these humorous parallel lines cards for Valentine's Day or hand them out as mini-posters at any time of the year!

I add candy sticks or pencils to the parallel lines to make a fun, math-y Valentine's Day card!

Pick yours up (free!) here:

Teachers Notebook
Teachers Pay Teachers

Enjoy! (And thank you in advance for taking the time to rate this free product!)

P.S. Speaking of LOVE...and MATH...do not miss this article on how love and math intersect.

A FREEBIE Thank You to My Readers! (Clock Fraction Flip Books)

My new Clock Fraction Flip Book is FREE on TPT and Teachers Notebook. My students had a great time making their mini flip books and I hope your students do too!

If you like the product, I'd REALLY appreciate it if you'd take the time to give it a rating in my store(s). Thank you in advance!

Clock Fraction Flip Books

You know you have a hit when you demonstrate the new homework assignment and the class collectively says, "Oooooooh, COOL!"

Since we've been using clocks as a model for learning fractions, I thought it might be fun to make Flip Books...in this case, mini books in which fractions appear to move, getting either bigger or smaller (depending upon the order in which you compile the pages.)

The pdf comes with 3 pages of "clock friendly" fractions. (23 fractions with an extra blank one, just in case.) At right, you see several samples of Flip Book cards, colored by a student.  The assignment asks students to:

1. Color each given fraction. The cards come with numbers and blank clocks.
2. Cut out the cards.
3. Sequence the cards. They are purposely printed out of order. The set includes equivalent fractions that must be placed sequentially.
4. Staple into a Flip Book.

The pdf is FREE in my Teachers Pay Teachers  and Teachers Notebook Stores. The pdf was revised on 11/25 to improve "flip quality." Grab your revision if you downloaded before then! ;) The clocks are now on the right side, so the opposite of what you see in the video below.

One of my students made a little stop action video to demonstrate...AKA, the "Separatists' evil clock plans..."

Summer Job Cards - a Stay Sane Freebie

School is now OUT; summer, bring it on! I just made a set of Summer Job Cards in an effort to:

• keep Momma sane
• try on the "perfect summer parent" facade
• avoid THIS (we're in serious trouble!)

It's a freebie to use how you see fit.*

Let me just say this...  I have FIVE kids. Some of them have made me feel like the mother-of-the-year award was imminent. Those kiddos probably didn't need a summer schedule. Others have been a tad harder to parent. (Although I haven't yet run naked, screaming, out the front door, it is occasionally in the realm of possibility.)

How the System Works
Each morning--or the prior evening if I want to still be in the running to become America's Perfect Summer Parent--I select the task cards I want each child to complete the next day and place them in a pocket chart. The order of completion is up to them. I have learned that it's wise to appear to give the natives some sense of control...even if it's just a mirage. I really don't care when it gets done. Although kids are generally fed after pets are fed. And playtime with friends usually happens after jobs are done. You get the picture.

Some of the cards go with the Vacation Workstation. But most are just routine tasks that I will need to repeat two-hundred-and-seventeen-times-a-day if they aren't written down.

*If you're already up for mother-of-the-year, disregard this post. If not, you might want to use the second, blank sheet to make additional job cards to fit your children's needs. I printed ours on cardstock.

Happy Summer, Everyone!

Ultimate Freebie Celebration!

Stock up on ink and paper.

Get your printer warmed up.

Practice finger exercises for clicking to download.

The ultimate freebie celebration begins tomorrow at Teaching Blog Addict with over 1,000 FREE items waiting for you to grab!

{CLICK HERE to begin on Friday at 7:00 am EST}

Personal Note from love2learn2day: 

In honor of Teaching Blog Addict, all the items in my Teacher's Notebook store will be on sale through the weekend, from Friday-Sunday. Celebrate! :)

Free Math Practice Books!

You can print FREE full size math practice books for grades K-5. Seriously...

Bridges Practice Books
Using the above link, click on "Practice Books" for the grade level you desire. The consumable books are available for purchase, but you can download the FULL set of blacklines (pdf files) for FREE.

Written to  address the NCTM Focal Points, Bridges Practice Books provide activities  and worksheets for additional skill review, informal paper-and-pencil  assessment, preparation for standardized testing, and differentiated  instruction. These books may be used with any math program  to provide practice with skills targeted for mastery at each grade  level.

The blacklines include the answer keys. Also, each book is indexed by skill so it's easy to find multi-digit addition & subtraction, fractions, decimals, problem solving, etc...

Grade K Skills:  Numbers to 30, comparing and ordering sets, skip  counting, early addition and subtraction, story problems.

Grade 1 Skills:  Numbers to 100 and beyond, number patterns, place  value, facts to 10, money, time, graphing, and problem solving.

Grade 2 Skills:  Numbers to 1,000, skip counting and number patterns,  facts to 18, place value, double-digit computation, money, time, and  problem solving.

Grade 3 Skills:  Numbers to 10,000, multi-digit addition and  subtraction, multiplication and division concepts, fractions, equations,  perimeter, time, money, and problem solving.

Grade 4 Skills:  Multiplication and division facts, multi-digit  addition, subtraction and multiplication, fractions and decimals,  patterns and equations, area and perimeter, data analysis, and problem  solving.

Grade 5 Skills:  Multiplication and division facts, multi-digit  addition, subtraction and multiplication, fractions and decimals,  patterns and equations, area and perimeter, data analysis, and problem  solving.

Pattern Block Lessons K-5, Free (Meet CCSS!)

I can't believe this is free! Some of my favorite lessons from Bridges in Mathematics have been compiled as "Pattern Block Lessons." The combination of lessons are designed to help meet the Common Core State Standards in grade bands K-2 and 3-5. Download the pdfs here.

Lessons include games, activities, literature connections, and all the necessary instructions and blackline masters. All you need is pattern blocks. Perfect for classrooms and homeschools. Enjoy!

P.S. They also have tons of other items listed there! Check out the Bridges Breakouts!!

Exciting Freebie - Number Rack!

The Math Learning Center has an amazing new set of freebies. The Number Rack App can by downloaded from the iApp Store in iTunes -OR- used as a free Web application.

The moveable beads work with counting as well as addition and subtraction strategies. You can also download a free activity/lesson book to use along with it. I'm interested in trying it with subitizing.

This could be used at home or in the classroom with individual children or with a large group lesson. Read more about it here.

Fun, FREE!, Hands-on Math Units

Two of my favorite units from The Math Learning Center are now FREE!! They include:

Hands-On Math: Measurement with Marbles (click to free pdf)

Hands-On Math: Geometry with Geoblocks (click to free pdf)



I've repeatedly used the lessons with math groups. You can find my reflections on the geometry lessons here. And the marble roll lessons here and here.

Giveaway: Dinah Zike's Fractions & Measurement

Here is my contribution to Homeschool Creations' "Curriculum Clean-Out!"*

I am holding a giveaway for one of Dinah Zike's books (out-of-print, I believe...used but in great condition) called Cross-Curricular Classrooms Thematic Manipulatives: Fractions & Measurement.  This is a "series of illustrated manipulatives." It mentions using them in conjunction with Zike's Big Book of Books, but if you're into lapbooking or fold-it books, you already know how. Blacklines are included in the book for publishing centers. Making a layered book with fractional parts. A trifold pizza book. Question and answer books for fractions. Pop-up book pictures...and lots more. Basically gives you all kinds of blacklines to make hands-on paper visuals (think lapbooking) while studying fractions & measurement.


Four ways to enter. You need to post a comment for each entry.

1. Please comment, sharing how you use (or want to use) paper folding, mini books, hands-on learning in math.

2. Enter a second time if you are a follower of love2learn2day.

3. Tell about my giveaway on your blog and link back to here.

4. Enter again if you contribute to this week's Math Monday Blog Hop. :) 

U.S. Shipping only. Be sure to leave contact information in case you're the winner. (jane doe at gmail dot com) I'll announce the winner at next week's Math Monday Blog Hop.

*Also, if you want to join in on the Curriculum Clean-Out, you can post something on your own blog to give away OR you can enter contests on a whole host of blogs to win items that others are giving away. Link-up at Homeschool Creations. I won a couple neat things last year! You do not have to host a giveaway to enter other contests.

Fall Curriculum Clean Out: Living Math Book Giveaway

My Living Math bookshelf could use a little lightening. Here's one for a giveaway:


Pigs in the Corner, hardcover, ex-library in good condition.

Leave a comment with the title of your FAVORITE LIVING MATH BOOK. If you're not sure what a "living math book" is, you'll find some ideas here. I'll choose a winner at random on Sunday the 29th. Please leave a way to reach you or I'll need to pick an alternate winner. Sorry, but only U.S. shipping. Thanks for visiting! :) And thanks to Joyful Learner for alerting me to the Curriculum Clean-Out!

***It's Sunday, August 29, and the Giveaway is now closed. Thanks for entering. Winner is #22, Brandi! 

Lesson Pathways - Free, See it to Believe it!

Are you a homeschooler? A teacher? Have you seen Lesson Pathways? Wow.

You join the website for free. Upon joining, you have access to "pathways" in every subject (science, history, reading/phonics, language arts, math), grades K-5. Let's say you are looking for a curricular pathway for first grade history. You go to that pathway and then access 36 weeks worth of lesson plans and links. Tons of hands-on projects, links to readings, games, and videos... Here's a summary from the site:

    A Guided Journey is a 36 week learning plan in one of the core subject areas, for a specific year or grade level (ie. Year 1 Science).  A Guided Journey is made of individual Pathways. You may follow our recommended Guided Journeys or mix and match Pathways to create your own 36 week course.
    A Pathway is a single unit on a given topic. (ie. Animal Life Cycles)  Each Pathway contains content for one week of instruction, depending on how often you teach a given subject.  Each Pathway is made of multiple Stepping Stones.
    A Stepping Stone is a single resource.  This may be a lesson, video, worksheet, hands-on project, ebook, online game, or other activity.  (ie. Create a Spider Life Cycle Poster). Multiple Stepping Stones make up a Pathway.

They are doing this for free with the hopes that revenue will come from ad related links. I am very impressed with the navigation/layout and am amazed that this is all available for free. The site allows you to customize the pathways using a planner that's also free on the site. You can add multiple students with individual planners for each. Totally flexible. Lots of hands-on, "living" material. Seriously, check this out. You have to see it to believe it!