Headfirst Unit 1 - First Grade Number Lines and Number Bonds

Do you want an organized math curriculum that literally has EVERYTHING you need to teach math? This is the unit that I use at the beginning of the first grade school year. 

At the beginning of first grade, I start out teaching subitizing. This is knowing how many are in a group of objects without counting. Dice and dominoes are great tools for this. 

Next we move on to using a number line. Making a classroom number line is a fun and meaningful way to create a tool that can be used throughout the year. 

Next up we begin learning about number bonds.

Wholes of 5-10, one or two per week. 

This mat is made with a page protector and mini erasers from Target. 

This worksheet mixes number bonds with addition sentences to help students understand that they are the same thing just written in a different way. 

On this worksheet students color all the ways to make 8. The ending result is stair steps. 

Number Bond Practice: 

 This is a color by code which reveals the number the addition sentences add up to. 

Make your own abacus: 

This is another example of a number bond mat.

Also included are crafts for each whole 5-10. 

There are also centers to play.

There are story problems, one for each day. Here is an example. The file is editable so you can type in your students' names and they appear throughout the document. 

 This example is from Unit 3 but shows that these can be used in many different ways. 

There are flashcards organized by number bond. 

Click to check out Unit 1:

Click to check out the Bundle:

How to make story problems more meaningful!

The dreaded story problem. We know that kids sometimes grumble when it is time to apply their math skills in real situations. But knowing how to use information when trying to solve a math story is the point of learning math in the first place!

I start out my math class with a problem of the day. We do it together so that they can follow along if they are not ready to be independent, and I can see how much or little they understand about the problem and how to solve it.

I'm sure you have some students who will be able to just tell you the answer after reading it (yay!) but then comes the dreaded: show your work. In first grade we are still learning different ways to solve problems so I combine all the ways so that they can see how the information can be used to solve the problem in different ways.

This is an example of a completed story problem from one of my student's journals.

How do I get kids more excited about story problems you ask? Put them in the story. Now this is not new. Teachers have been doing this for years. However, I have used technology to make this idea even better!

The document has editable fields so you can put in your students names. Print and cut them apart for students to glue into a notebook. Having the problem right in front of them is easier than reading it from the board.

Here are some more examples: 

If you like what you see, check out my 

Editable Story Problems!

Differentiated Morning Work

Morning work is a great way to get students started on skill-based learning while you are taking care of the 10 notes, lunch money, lost folders, boo-boos, and anything else that is thrown at you in the first 5 minutes after your students walk through the door. 

I was frustrated by the lack of choice and that what I was using was one-size-fits-none. So this product was born. It is divided into 4 units that correspond with the 4 quarters of a school year. However, you can use the first units in the middle or end of the year for low-achievers or the middle or high at the beginning of the year for high-achievers! It is also great for spiral math review!

I find that if I don't keep practicing all the math skills like counting, fact families, doubles facts, greater than/less than, etc. my students forget. This way they can keep practicing all those skills. Here are some photos of work throughout the year. I had my students complete these in May and I told them to put whatever month they wanted to on them so those are all over the place but you'll get the idea of what it looks like completed.

Click Here to see my Morning Work in my TpT Store!

Word Wall

Word Walls have been around for a long time. I have organized mine by quarter: Yellow is 1st Quarter, Green is 2nd, Blue is 3rd, and Red is 4th.

I made the cards and printed them on regular white paper. Then I cut around the letters and glued them onto colored cardstock. Finally, I laminated them. When I have to replace them, I won't laminate them. As you can see with some of them, the laminating makes a glare.

I put them up as the year goes on so that they are not overwhelmed at first. When I introduce the new set, I show a word flashcard and the kids have to point to it on the word wall to become familiar with where it is. 

The letters also serve as my handwriting alphabet and the pictures go with Saxon Phonics. 

I printed the letters and cut them out. Then I glued them on dessert size plates. I decided to hang them up high. I have them on rings also for kids to take to their seats when they need and one for me to use as flashcards during our reading time.

Purchase these Word Wall Headers and Editable Sight Words Here!

Positive Notes for Classroom Management and Behavior Incentives plus a FREEBIE!

I often have a fleeting thought at some point during the day that I should tell a parent about how well their child is doing at a particular skill or routine. And then something happens, and I forget when it comes to the end of the day. Here's the solution. 

 

These are positive notes I created to send home when students are caught being good. I keep a stack handy, and when a child needs a reward, I write their name on it and put it in their mailbox. 

I have had a tough class this year. However, some kids have made progress or have a good day after a string of bad ones, and I want to build them up and send some positive feedback. 

I have a student who throughout the school year has been getting into trouble. Finally this week, we had a breakthrough, and he's getting his work done and being kind on the playground. I pulled one of these out and gave it to him, intending for him to take it home. He asked for tape so he could put it on his desk! He was so proud. So of course I gave him a second one to take home. Headfirst win!

These come both on a full page and 4 to a page so you can choose how to print. Enter your students' names (or leave them blank) and fill in your own name and print! All ink-friendly so you can print on colored paper. 

Click the link to see them in my store!

Editable Positive Notes

and now for your FREEBIE!!!

Editable Parent Teacher Conference Notes Template

Table Labels

Who doesn't love a little competition? Table labels are a great way for your students to work together to earn points for their table. I also use them to dismiss students from the carpet to their tables. "Everyone at the 8:30 table can go back to their seats."

I change them up throughout the year depending on what we are studying. Students can earn clips for their table by:

• Everyone having their name on their paper.
• Everyone being done with their work on time.
• Clean floor under their table.
• Quietest table during a test.
• Everyone having clean desks.

Clips can be taken away for:

• Noisy tables.
• Shouting out answers.
• Messy floors.
• No name papers. 
• Arguing.
• Not taking care of supplies.

After a table reaches 10 clips, I reward the table and take the clips down to start over. At this time I usually move desks around to switch things up. Reward ideas:

• 5 extra minutes of recess.
• First table to receive snack.
• Treasure box.
• Be the teacher.
• First in line for lunch.
• Popcorn.
• Juice boxes.

Have fun!