The AmazingClassroom.com Blog

JUST ADDED - Short Vowels Train Game

2012-02-26T22:10:00.002-06:00

This is a great game for one of your reading centers. Use it in your Daily 5 stations as a word work activity or incorporate it into your reading groups. This game provides tons of practice for students to recognize words with short vowels. It features a train theme with cute and adorable graphics from thistlegirldesigns. An answer key is included in the pdf file for students to check their work.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE GAME!

Download the 1st Grade File Again

2012-02-26T14:59:00.002-06:00

Download the 1st grade standards again. There was a small error on the front page that I corrected. It should be okay now. Please let me know if you find any other errors. I did these all in one day and everything started blending together....lol

Common Core State Standards 6th Grade Math FREE Printable Download

2012-02-25T23:47:00.002-06:00

The final math set of common core state standards is finally finished! Yay! They are cute, teacher friendly and are great to keep in your lesson plan book. Click on the link below to print. This is a freebie for you so please follow our blog to show support! I will be adding the other subjects to www.amazingclassroom.com for download.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE 6TH GRADE MATH STANDARDS

Common Core State Standards 1st Grade Math FREE Printable Download

2012-02-25T20:51:00.005-06:00

Yeah! 1st grade is now finished for all of the first grade teachers out there! These are cute and adorable teacher friendly versions of the new 1st grade math common core state standards. Make sure to click follow on the top blue bar to the left to stay up to date with our freebies!
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE 1ST GRADE STANDARDS.

Common Core State Standards 2nd Grade Math FREE Printable Download

2012-02-25T19:20:00.004-06:00

2nd Grade math common core standards are now finished and ready for you to download! These are cute and teacher friendly to keep in your grade book, lesson plan book, or hang by your desk for easy reference. Remember to click on the link above to follow our blog so you can receive more freebies when we post them!
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE PDF FILE FOR FREE!

Common Core State Standards Kindergarten Free Printable Download

2012-02-25T17:24:00.002-06:00

Are you a Kindergarten teacher, or do you know one?
Here is a cute and teacher friendly version of the new Math Common Core State Standards for Kindergarten. Make sure to join/follow our blog so you don't miss out on our other freebies!
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE KINDERGARTEN MATH COMMON CORE STANDARDS.

Common Core State Standards 5th Grade Math FREE Download Printable

2012-02-25T16:25:00.003-06:00

Here is the 5th Grade Common Core State Standards for math in a cute, teacher friendly layout to keep in your grade book or lesson plan book. Make sure to follow our blog so you receive updates to our other freebies. Enjoy!

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD IT FOR FREE!

Common Core State Standards 4th Grade Math FREE Printable Download

2012-02-25T14:19:00.003-06:00

Here is the 4th Grade Mathematics Common Core Standards to download for FREE. Click above to follow our blog and then you will receive updates when I put the Communication Arts and Math standards from other grade levels. Enjoy!

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD FOR FREE!

Common Core State Standards 3rd Grade Math FREE Printable Download

2012-02-25T05:58:00.006-06:00

Someone requested a teacher-friendly or colorful version of the third grade common core state standards to keep in their lesson plan and gradebook. I thought this was a good idea for myself so I created a version for all teachers to download for free. Click on the top left to follow our blog and download the CCSS for 3rd grade math for free. I will be adding other grade levels in both reading and math throughout the week, so keep checking back. If you follow the blog, you will receive updates through the RSS feed. Enjoy!
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE CCSS FOR 3RD GRADE MATH

St. Patrick's Day Backgrounds

2012-02-25T02:12:00.004-06:00

Check out our newest resource pack, "St. Patrick's Day Backgrounds." Cute, Cute, Cute! There are sixteen different styles for all of your lesson planning needs. These will install in shared resources/backgrounds/St. Patrick's Day. Enjoy!

Friday's Free Background

2012-02-23T22:04:00.003-06:00

Follow our blog to download this frog background perhaps for one of your science lessons!
After you click follow to the left, click the link below to download the background without the watermark.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

JUST ADDED

2012-02-23T20:56:00.003-06:00

This flipchart will help you keep track of your student's Daily 5 reading choices. (Read to self, Read to someone, Writing, Word Work, and Listen to reading). Read the page notes within the flipchart for detailed instructions on how to use this check list to best assist you and your students during reading instruction. Many of the images in this flipchart lesson came from thistlegirldesigns. We have a reseller's license to use these images.

Homophones - To, Too, and Two

2012-02-22T22:48:00.002-06:00

I am so excited! I finally got my reseller's license from thistlegirldesigns, so you will be
seeing many more flipcharts and activities created with their stinkin cute graphics. Check out our 54th flipchart
Homophones - To, Too, and Two featuring these adorable images!

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FLIPCHART LESSON

Multiplication Flash Cards Match Up

2012-02-20T21:57:00.002-06:00

We have just added multiplication flash cards. The students have to match the cards - the problems with the sums. After you log in to your amazingclassroom account, go to whiteboard resources and then printable worksheets to download and print the cards. It's a cute and fun way to help your students memorize their multiplication facts. Set these cards at your Daily 5 station or use during math workshop. Enjoy!

Border Backgrounds 7

2012-02-19T00:40:00.010-06:00

As I sat and tried to think of a name to suit this new background pack, all I could come up with was Border Backgrounds 7. I mean I have to continue the numbers, right? This pack is filled with cartoon style backgrounds that include many frames and dotted and dashed lines, along with one of my first girl drawings I call Rita.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy them and can find a use for them in your interactive whiteboard lessons. Remember, these images are available in Promethean's Resource Pack, Smart's Gallery Collection, and in a zip file as transparent png images. Enjoy!

Video on ActivExpressions

2012-02-18T20:35:00.005-06:00

Here is a great video on how the RCA (Ron Clark Academy)uses Promethean's ActivExpressions in the classroom. The video is really inspiring and he has some great uses of ways to use the learner response systems in and out of the classroom. Check it out!

Letter Tiles

2012-02-18T02:03:00.000-06:00

These cute letter tiles can be used in your interactive whiteboard lessons to play games, work with words, or just as a decoration. This file contains all 26 alphabet tiles along with two blank tiles.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD ALL OF THE LETTER TILES

New Resource Pack - Frame Backgrounds

2012-02-16T18:41:00.000-06:00

We have just added a new resource pack, "Frames Backgrounds." This resource pack includes 20 uniquely patterned and designed frames for your interactive whiteboard lessons. These frame backgrounds will install in shared resources/backgrounds/frames. Enjoy!

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THIS RESOURCE PACK

Photofunia - A Fun Online Photo Editor

2012-02-15T19:04:00.002-06:00

A great and fun website that has really neat effects for your photos. There is a warning at the beginning of some of the effects, such as the zombie effect, as Photofunia feels the zombie effect may not be suitable for children under fifteen. There are a couple of other effects that are probably more appropriate for the upper grade students to use rather than lower elementary, but others are just fine. You just click the effect, upload a picture of your own and click go. You then have an option to save the picture anywhere on your computer for immediate or future use. There are over 200 different effects you can add to your pictures. This site doesn’t really allow you to “edit” photos, rather they allow you to add effects to your photos to make them unique. I am going to use my students' pictures and then create an interactive whiteboard lesson where I pull out their pictures that I created randomly to call on them. I think the students will really enjoy seeing their picture on a New York City billboard, or as the face of a snowboarder flying through the air. What are some ways that you use photo editors in your classroom? Do you have students create projects with them? Share some of your ideas with us. Click on the link and it will take you to Photofunia's website.

www.photofunia.com

Free Butterfly Background

2012-02-15T13:07:00.000-06:00

Here is a free butterfly background for all of your interactive whiteboard lessons.

Be sure to follow our blog and like us on Facebook so you don't miss out on any freebies.

Click on the picture and then right click to save the image. Enjoy!

Happy Valentine's Day

2012-02-13T23:31:00.000-06:00

Happy Valentine's Day to all the teachers out there! Enjoy a free Valentine's Day background for your interactive whiteboard. Click follow in the above left hand corner to keep up to date with our blog and so you don't miss out on our freebies! Like us on Facebook to stay up to date as well. Have a great day today!

Teaching Friendly Letters

2012-02-12T16:08:00.001-06:00

One of our state standards for Missouri is for the students to be able to write a friendly letter correctly. Not only does the letter have to be in the correct format, but the students also have to use details in their letter from a story or a prompt. First, I start off with teaching how to write a friendly letter by using various Promethean Flipchart Lessons, Brainpop, and other interactive websites. After the students had a few days of practice, here is what I did:

We watched/read the story Clever Trevor by Sarah Albee. It's a book about three kids who use real science to solve their bully problem.
I then tell the students to write a letter to either the bullies, or the three kids who solve the problem. They must include all five components to their letter along with two paragraphs.
When they think their letter is complete, I taped it on construction paper for a border and then attached it to a piece of chart paper with Scotch tape.
After all students letters are taped, I type an example letter on my Promethean Board as a guide.

Since I had 17 students participating in the lesson. I had four large pieces of chart paper with four letters on three pieces and five letters on another. See below for the example.

I then posted these four large pieces of chart paper with the letters in four different parts of my classroom. All students were divided into four groups and each student was given a bunch of Post-It Notes. Using my letter on the board as a guide, the students rotated in sort of a gallery walk every ten minutes to each of the groups of letters. Each student was to post one critique with a C: of something the student could correct and one positive with a P: of something that was correct, or looked good within their letter. After all of the groups were finished, I cut each child's letter out of the chart paper, gave it back to them, and let them use the Post-It Notes that others wrote to make corrections and resubmit their letter for a grade. I really think being able to help critique others' writing, helped my students when they were writing their own friendly letters. See pics below from more of the lesson.

Video Writing Journal Entries

2012-02-06T12:58:00.000-06:00

Every so often, I play a video for my students and then they write and reflect about the video in their writing journals. This was our 20th one for the year so far. After writing in their journals, several get to come to the front and share their reflections. Sometimes we use our reflections to edit and correct our writing as well.

Jeopardy Template Promethean Flipchart

2012-02-05T10:37:00.000-06:00

Do you want to create your own Jeopardy games, but aren't sure how? Now with this neatly designed, bright and colorful template you can make Jeopardy review games for your classroom in a snap! Just add your own categories and questions! Play up to four teams. The arrows underneath each team name keep score by the hundreds with just a click. Use with your voting devices for even more fun!

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FLIPCHART

Fun Interactive Measurement Game

2012-02-04T22:41:00.002-06:00

Math Morning Work for 25 Days of School

2012-02-04T10:12:00.002-06:00

has just added a new flipchart, "Math Morning Work." Do you put morning work on the board for your students? This flipchart contains math morning work for 25 days of school. This morning work covers number sense, algebraic relationships, geometry, measurement, and data and probability. No more creating morning work for your students, just pull up this flipchart each morning and display one of the flipchart pages on your interactive whiteboard. Enjoy!

Free Background for the Upcoming Holiday

2012-02-03T22:12:00.000-06:00

Enjoy a free Valentine's Day background to use in your

interactive whiteboard lessons.

Be sure to like us on Facebook and follow our blog for more free resources! Enjoy!

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE BACKGROUND

METC 2012

2012-02-02T23:35:00.001-06:00

Have you registered to attend the METC this year? It's approaching soon. Click on the link to listen to Kelly Gilchrist's Podcast about her Promethean ActivInspire Workshops that she will be presenting. http://2012.metcconference.org/mod/resource/view.php?id=71

Valentine Word Problems Flipchart

2012-02-02T20:43:00.000-06:00

We have just added a new flipchart, "Valentine's Day Word Problems." These word problems are a mixture of one and two step addition, subtraction, and multiplication word problems. They contain adorable Valentine themed graphics that you and your students will love. Enjoy!

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FLIPCHART

Remembering Columbia

2012-02-01T20:41:00.001-06:00

Inference Bags!

2012-01-30T20:22:00.000-06:00

Today I did a neat activity with my students. I called it the "Inference Bag" activity. I thought this was a neat activity that would allow my students ownership.

Step One: I handed out paper sandwich bags to each of my students

Step Two: I handed out a name tag and glued it on their bag

Step Three: I let the students place anything that would fit in their bag. I had rubber animals, stuffed animals, unit cubes, paper decorations, anything they could find that wasn't actually living they could put in their bag. It was their job to make sure they put it in their bag secretly.

Step Four: Staple the bags closed.

Step Five: Hand out one index card to each student.

Step Six: Have students write out 6 clues about their mystery object in the bag. They don't want to make the clues obvious, but they do have to be factual.

Step Seven: Place the bags in a corner of the room with their clues and a sheets of paper with all of the students names on them. When the students go to the corner or center, they read the clues and work together to determine what they think is in each student's inference bag. After all station rotations are over whether it be two days or a week, the children can reveal their items and the other students can check and see if they were correct.

A close-up of one of the bags and the student's clue card.

The Stolen Children

2012-01-29T09:55:00.000-06:00

We finally finished the book, Stolen Children, by Peg Kehret yesterday. It was fantastic! At the end of reading it, I had my students use our ActivExpression voting devices and we used the sort in order feature to sort the books I have read to them in order from the book they liked the most, down to the book they liked the least. We wrote to Peg Kehret and she also suggests the book Small Steps: The Year I got Polio. I think that will be my next read-aloud. What chapter books have you read to your students as read alouds? What were their favorites?

Using Decision Making Organizer to Help Students Inference During Read-Alouds

2012-01-26T21:15:00.005-06:00

DECISIONS, OPTIONS, AND CHOICES GRAPHIC ORGANIZER

Many times I read aloud books to my students. Lately, I have been reading as well as enjoying many of Peg Kehret's Books. I started a little before our winter break reading Abduction, the Runaway Twin, next, The Ghost's Grave, and now we are almost through her book Stolen Children. My third graders beg me to read to them everyday and I usually have to stop at a point in the book where the students don't know what is going to happen next. Although most of my students are involved as I read, by listening and participating in answering questions, I wanted another way to involve them in the book. I wanted them to be able to help make the decisions that Peg's characters encounter along the way. I recently read an article about using a Decision, Choice, or Option graphic organizer to help students with this task. I liked some of them I had seen; however, I had to create one that would benefit my students.

HOW I USED THIS IN MY CLASSROOM

There are many decisions that the characters in Peg Kehret's books have to make throughout the story. I passed out the "Decision, Options, and Choices" graphic organizer and when I came to the next decision Amy makes in the story, I modeled it on the board as the students filled out the graphic organizer along with me. The students and I had great discussions during this part. Currently in the story, Kendra ( a three year old little girl) has been kidnapped with Amy (her 13 year old babysitter) by two men who are holding them for ransom money. Amy has an opportunity to get into the van and drive away since the key are in it, granted she is too young and has never driven before. The students wrote the problem at the top and then the three decisions in their assigned spots on the organizer.

Decision 1: Amy can drive away in the white caravan without Kendra

Decision 2: Amy can drive away in the white caravan with Kendra

Decision 3: Amy can stay in the cabin with Kendra and decide not to leave the cabin at all.

We then discussed and jotted down the pros and cons of each decision. The students then can make a mental prediction of what they think her end decision will be. I read a couple pages further and we realized that she decided to stay in the cabin with Kendra and not risk any more danger. This decision was only about four pages of the read aloud and made room for great discussion, predictions, and inferencing. In fact, it worked out so well, that I gave my students four copies of them to keep in their reading folders. We will do another one together tomorrow, and then they can complete one on their own after we come to the next couple of decisions in the story. I didn't see anywhere on the internet where this organizer was available and like I said, I wasn't' really happy with the one I saw and I created my own. You can download a copy of the one I created for my kids. Let me know what you used it with, I would love to know. Enjoy!

STUDENT EXAMPLES

Click on Follow in the top right hand corner of our blog to keep up-to-date with our freebies!

CLICK ON THIS LINK TO DOWNLOAD THE GRAPHIC ORGANIZER FOR FREE!

On Our Hundredth Day of School!

2012-01-26T00:05:00.000-06:00

100 Places You Would Like to Travel

100 Things We'd Like to Do

100 Acts or Words of Kindness

Today I used an idea I found on Pinterest and completed these four activities. My kids loved it. I found it hysterical how one of the places they want to travel to is McDonalds. What did you do for the 100th day?

100 Ways to Make 100

Enjoy Another Free Background!

2012-01-25T07:31:00.000-06:00

Hope everyone has a great day today.

Here is another free background for you to use in all of your interactive whiteboard lessons!

Click "follow" on the tool bar to follow our blog!!!

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THIS FREE BACKGROUND.

Fun Inferencing Activity!

2012-01-24T21:23:00.001-06:00

reading worksheets

Happy Friday! Enjoy this Free Background!

2012-01-20T06:57:00.001-06:00

Happy Friday to Everyone! Click on the link below to download another one of our free backgrounds for your interactive whiteboard lessons! Enjoy!

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE BACKGROUND, RIGHT CLICK AND SAVE TO YOUR RESOURCES! ENJOY!

A Very Neat Way to Call on Students

2012-01-17T09:22:00.001-06:00

A colleague of mine just showed me another neat way to call on students randomly. It's at http://www.barryfunenglish.com/enter/tDartBoardSelector.php

It's a very cute way to call on students. If you use internet explorer, you can do file, save as and save it to your desktop or to your interactive board.

Our Newest Background! Download it Below for Free!

2012-01-16T11:17:00.005-06:00

Click on this link to download our newest free background!

Click follow at the top of our blog to follow us and to keep up to date with our latest additions and freebies!

Magic Revealers 2 by Kelly Resource Pack

2012-01-16T02:05:00.000-06:00

Your students will love when you use these magic revealers in your flipchart lessons. There are over thirty new revealers in this resource pack. From muffins, to monsters, ebooks, and computers, your students will be sure to have fun while learning! This resource pack will install in shared resources/magic revealers by Kelly 2. Enjoy!

Not sure how to use the magic revealers you just downloaded? Watch the quick video clip above to show you how!

Geometry Flips, Slides, and Turns Flipchart Just Added!

2012-01-15T03:35:00.000-06:00

With this flipchart, your students will be able to identify figures that have been flipped, slid, or turned. This flipchart lesson contains twenty nine pages of colorful graphics, activities, games, and voting. Students will learn all about flips, slides, and turns, manipulate shapes, and play games during this flipchart lesson.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD NOW!

Elementary Geometry Quiz Just Added

2012-01-08T22:34:00.001-06:00

Test your student's knowledge of geometry with this geometry quiz. This quiz covers polygons, angles, area, 2-D shapes, and perimeter. You could use this quiz as a formative assessment prior to teaching these concepts and as a post test to see what your students have learned. Answer key is provided to make grading easier. Enjoy!

Fraction Bingo

2012-01-03T21:22:00.000-06:00

Help reinforce fractions with your students by playing

Fraction Bingo!

Fraction Bingo was just added to our website. The game includes 18 smaller cards for you to print and laminate, or 18 larger (letter sized) cards for you to print and laminate. A caller's card is also included for the teacher. Enjoy!

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE NEW GAME

Objectives and DOK Backgrounds

2012-01-02T03:20:00.000-06:00

Are you required to post student friendly objectives along with the Depth of Knowledge of your lessons? Now it's easier with interactive whiteboard lessons. Just use our newest objectives and DOK backgrounds. There are over 20 beautifully designed backgrounds to fit any of your lessons. Use these backgrounds at the beginning of your lesson. Enjoy!

If you are using ActivInspire, these backgrounds will install in shared resources/backgrounds/objectives and dok

CLICK ON THIS LINK TO DOWNLOAD THE OBJECTIVE AND DOK BACKGROUNDS

Happy New Year! 2012's First Free Background

2012-01-02T01:33:00.000-06:00

Click below on the link to download this year's first free background without the watermark! Happy New Year to everyone!

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FREE BACKGROUND

Alphabetizing Station Activities

2011-12-29T17:42:00.000-06:00

This resource includes over 120 pages of alphabetizing activities to use in centers, stations, or as whole class instruction. There are a total of twenty four different activities. Each activity features a different letter of the alphabet. Some of the stations focus on alphabetizing to the third and fourth letter. All assembly instructions, directions, and answer keys are provided for you. To download this resource, log in to your amazingclassroom account, click on whiteboard resources, and then click on printable worksheets with answer keys. Enjoy!

Our Newest Background! Download it Below for Free!

2011-12-24T01:57:00.000-06:00

Follow our blog and download our newest background for free!

This background uses the apple from our newest clip art pack, "Cute Fruit."

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD IT FOR FREE!

Check out our newest clip art set, Cute Fruit!

2011-12-23T23:42:00.000-06:00

We have just added a new set of clip art. It features eleven different kinds of cute fruit. This resource will install in Amazingclassroom buttons, cute fruit clip art. Enjoy!

We just added a new resource - "Comic Book Letters"

2011-12-22T00:30:00.000-06:00

Check out our newest resource pack, "Comic Book Letters." This will install in shared resources/my letters/comic book letters. Enjoy!

A Free Background Just For Our Blog Followers!

2011-12-18T22:40:00.000-06:00

Are you following our blog? Click follow above to start following us!!! Then, click below on the link to download the background image above without the watermark. Happy Holidays! Enjoy!

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FREE BACKGROUND

2011-12-18T21:49:00.002-06:00

has just added a new image pack, "Fraction Pieces." There are over 100 fraction images! Print them to use in your math stations or centers, or add them to your interactive whiteboard library to use in your Flipchart or Notebook lessons. Enjoy!

Our Newest Background! Download it Below for Free!

2011-12-16T00:34:00.000-06:00

Download our newest free background. Just click follow in the top left corner of the blog and then download our newest free ChrisMouse background. Enjoy!

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE BACKGROUND

New Cute Animal Clip Art Resource Pack!

2011-12-16T00:24:00.000-06:00

We just added another clip art resource pack. This resource pack contains adorable animals to add fun to any of your lessons. All images have a transparent background. This resource pack will install in shared resources/amazingclassroom/cute animal clipart. Enjoy!

ChrisMouse Clipart Image Set

2011-12-15T20:48:00.001-06:00

We are so excited for our newest resource pack! It's our first clipart resource pack for all your teaching and lesson needs. This resource pack contains cute and adorable Christmas designs featuring ChrisMouse. All images have a transparent background and are high quality! This pack will install in shared resources/amazingclassroom/Chrismouse clipart. Enjoy!

Check out our newest resource - Crazy Colorful Alphabet!

2011-12-14T01:31:00.000-06:00

This resource pack features each of the 26 letters of the alphabet in a crazy, colorful design! Enjoy!

Free Sports Themed Classroom Newsletter Template!

2011-12-11T17:28:00.001-06:00

Another free newsletter template just for our Amazingclassroom.com blog followers! What a great time of year to use this football themed newsletter template in your classroom. Tired of your same newsletter? Change it up by downloading our sports themed template.

Click here to download the newsletter template!

Addition and Subtraction Word Problems Activity Page

2011-12-07T00:52:00.000-06:00

We just added an addition and subtraction word problem activity page! This activity page contains one step and two step word problems for addition and subtraction. Use this activity as guided practice or as a formative assessment to see what your students know.

We Know Our Numbers One-to-One Number Correspondence

2011-12-06T23:18:00.002-06:00

This activity features over twenty pages of one-to-one number correspondence cards from zero to thirty five. There are a total of 108 cards to cut out, laminate, and use in a math station. Each set of cards has a number, the word form of the number, and a matching amount of pretzels. Use two of the cards for an easier activity, and add the word form cards in for your more advanced students. Enjoy!

We are Stuck on Synonyms at AmazingClassroom!

2011-12-05T23:30:00.000-06:00

Synonyms was our number one request by teachers last month. We have created a Synonym Flipchart, Synonym Rolls Station Activity and just added a Synonym Snowmen activity to our resources. Do you have a request? Which skill or strand would you like lessons and activities for? Let us know on our contact page. We will focus on creating activities for December on the most requested skill!

Focus on the Positive

2011-12-02T07:25:00.000-06:00

When managing a classroom full of kids it's important to focus on the positive. My entire behavior system is based on finding positive role models showing great examples of good classroom behavior. Doing this can improve classroom behaviors by a landslide. Let me give you an example: All students are lined up and ready to go to the cafeteria for lunch. They are noisier than usual and many are not quiet. Rather than raise your voice and yell at them to turn their voices off, or say, "Everyone should be at a level 0, " which actually causes more noise and chaos, purposefully look for those students who are doing the right thing. Say, "Wow, Shaun! I love the way you are standing in line quietly, arms by your side and facing forward. Way to go. Will you please move up one, when we get back to the room?" Almost immediately you will see a line full of children that are starting to model Shaun. Why? You acknowledged him of course and all children want to be acknowledged. Plus, you didn't focus on the negative behaviors, which many times can result in others doing the negative things to get attention. I will challenge you today to pick out the students in your classroom that are modeling good classroom behaviors. Focus on them, no one else. Give them specific feedback and see how the behavior in your room changes.

Another Free Background!

2011-12-01T23:58:00.001-06:00

Follow our blog to receive this free background. Click follow in the upper left hand corner of the screen and then click the file below to download the image. When the window opens, right click, save the image, and drag it into your resource library. Enjoy!

Click here to download the background!

Fancy Letters 2

2011-12-01T22:04:00.000-06:00

These images are available in resource pack, gallery pack, and png formats. This pack contains twenty six letters of the alphabet in both capital and lowercase. Use these letters to spruce up any flipchart or notebook lesson! Enjoy!

Free Classroom Newsletter Template!

2011-11-30T00:41:00.001-06:00

Here is a free classroom newsletter template in Microsoft Word format. Just click on the link below to download it and save it as a file somewhere on your computer. Use it in your classroom to keep your parents up-to-date!

Click here to download the template!

Let us know what you think!

Interactive Websites for Teaching 2D and 3D Shapes!

2011-11-29T22:25:00.003-06:00

Each link below will take you to a different 2D and/or 3D interactive game.
I put many of these on the homepage of my website. This way the students can go straight to our classroom website, click on the link, and play!

An under the sea game that covers the attributes of 2D and 3D shapes with a bonus round.

3D Shapes Space Game Starrmatica

Calamity Quest - Free Princess Amber

Shape Lab

Fun Robot Game (The boys love it!)

2D Shape Adventures

3D Shapes Activity followed by a quiz

2D Shapes Introduction

Free Background of the Week!

2011-11-27T23:53:00.003-06:00

This is an image of the free background of the week. Use the background in any of your Promethean Flipchart, Smart Notebook, or Powerpoint lessons. Please remember to provide a link back to http://www.amazingclassroom.com somewhere on your work. Download the file below to receive this exclusive background for Amazingclassroom Blog followers only! The file is in png format and you can add it to your resource or gallery library.

DOWNLOAD THE FILE HERE

Right click and save as when the file loads.

Synonym Rolls Reading Center or Station Activity

2011-11-27T03:25:00.000-06:00

This center station activity contains over twenty five pages of fun with synonyms for your students. Students will manipulate the printable synonym rolls (cinnamon rolls) and place them on the matching baking sheet (print out). This center station activity includes ten words (baking sheets) and six synonym rolls (synonyms) for each word. The synonym rolls can be printed out in color and laminated to be used over and over again. Also included is a synonym assessment with the answer key that can be used as a formative assessment to find out what they know, and then as a summative assessment, to find out what they learned. Gauge the difficulty level of the station by placing only two or three baking sheets (printouts) at the center or station at a time. Make the center more difficult by gluing several of the baking sheets to poster board and mixing the synonym rolls up. An answer key to the center station activity is also provided.

Here is a link to take you to the file!

Designer Backgrounds

2011-11-26T01:34:00.000-06:00

This resource pack contains over twenty beautifully designed backgrounds perfect for your flipchart lessons. These backgrounds will install in shared resources/backgrounds/designer backgrounds. Enjoy!

Synonyms Flipchart Lesson

2011-11-25T20:38:00.000-06:00

With this flipchart lesson, your students will be able to define and identify synonyms. This flipchart begins by stating the objectives, and then introduces students to examples of synonyms. Container activities and magic revealers add interactivity and fun to the lesson. There are over twenty colorful pages of interactive games, activities, and voting for use with Activexpression or Activote devices. Enjoy!

Santa's List Random Student Name Picker

2011-11-20T22:51:00.000-06:00

This flipchart is sure to delight your students as Santa calls them to come to the board or answer a question. This is just another cute way to grab your students' attention around the holiday season. Page notes are included if you need to copy more wreaths for your classroom. Enjoy!

Varsity Style Letters

2011-11-15T22:10:00.000-06:00

We have just added a new resource pack "Varsity Style Letters." This resource pack contains twenty six colorful capital letters to add to any lesson. Enjoy!

Halloween Backgrounds 2

2011-10-11T20:08:00.000-05:00

We have just added a new resource pack with twenty neatly designed Halloween backgrounds!

Cute Critters 2

2011-09-28T07:25:00.000-05:00

AmazingClassroom has just posted a new resource pack with 20 adorable backgrounds. Use these background images with any flipchart lesson. Your students will love them! Enjoy!

Moon Phases

2011-09-22T07:33:00.000-05:00

We have just posted a flipchart lesson on the eight phases of the moon. This lesson includes multiple voting assessments as well as an activity for students to put the eight phases of the moon in order. This lesson is great for review of the moon phases or a great extension activity to our moon journal flipchart.

Enjoy!

Random Pirate Student Picker

2011-09-09T23:57:00.000-05:00

This random student pirate picker is great for those who are teaching a thematic unit on pirates, or for those who just want to add fun and fascination to their day by picking their students the pirate way! Click on the sail to hear a creepy "Arghh matey walk the plank" and pull out students' names from the hull of the ship. Teacher notes are included that describe how to change the names to your students and/or duplicate more if you need them.

Teaching Landforms

2011-09-08T22:55:00.002-05:00

Currently my students are learning about many different types of landforms. We have viewed, discussed, and identified the following: oceans, rivers, lakes, valleys, mountains, plateaus, islands, peninsulas, hills, canyons, and volcanoes. After a couple days of lessons on landforms, I had my students create a landform flipbook to illustrate and describe five landforms of their choice. Above, is an example of a landform flipbook that I made as an example to show my students.

Ordering Numbers

2011-09-05T00:22:00.001-05:00

We have just added a new flipchart lesson! This flipchart is all about ordering numbers - from least to greatest, greatest to least, and everything in between. This flipchart includes a formative pre-assessment along with interactive ordering number games, containers, and activities. Click on the two file attachments below to download an ordering numbers activity page with an answer key. Enjoy!

If Students Don't Reach Proficiency.....

2011-08-28T22:40:00.000-05:00

As teachers we need to remember that our lessons don't always go the way we think they should. There are times when we present an objective and follow through with a lesson that things can go awry. Students don't interpret the information the way we think they should, or students don't have enough prior knowledge to yet be comfortable and proficient with a given activity. All of this is okay, if we as teachers learn from our mistakes and experiences in the classroom. Have you ever told yourself, "Uh, that didn't go exactly as planned!" I have, more than a few times, over the past several years. I can't hold the students responsible if the majority, 80% or more of my students didn't score 85% or above on the assignment. If the majority of my class fails a lesson/activity whose fault is it? Mine. I need to revamp, retry, reteach the activity, lesson, and objective in another way to better reach my students. It's that simple. I never record an assignment or activity in the gradebook, if it's my fault that the students didn't learn it! What are your thoughts about recording grades?

Compound Words Activity Page

2011-08-18T19:57:00.000-05:00

Use this compound words activity page to introduce the concept of compound words. Students draw lines to make compound words and then use those words to fill in the sentences. This activity page is best suited for advanced second, third, or fourth grade. Enjoy!
Click here to download the activity page!

Odd and Even Logic Activity Page

2011-08-16T22:49:00.001-05:00

Download and print our newest odd and even activity page.

This activity page covers the skills needed for odd and even numbers, ordering numbers, place value, and logic. It's challenging and fun for a variety of learners.

Click here to download and print this activity page for your students!

3rd Grade Math Concepts Test

2011-08-14T15:52:00.002-05:00

Do you want to know which math concepts your students already know? Do you want to know how to guide your instruction? Give this math concepts test to your students at the beginning, middle, and end of the year to see what they know. This math test includes test questions in numbers and operations, geometric and spacial relationships, algebraic reasoning, data and probability, and measurement, and contains over 80 multiple choice, fill in the blank and constructed response questions. Enjoy!

Click here to download the test!

Create your very own classroom website!

2011-08-07T13:21:00.000-05:00

Have you ever wanted to create your very own classroom website, but weren't sure how? Amazingclassroom.com makes it very easy. Just choose from any one of our website templates and enter your information. Yes, it's that simple! It's a great way to keep in contact with your students and parents. Click on the link below to see all of our website templates that you can use!
http://www.amazingclassroom.com/examples.asp

Free Commercial and Non-Commercial Use Photos

2011-08-06T15:16:00.000-05:00

Are you worried about infringing on someone's copyright when you use photos from the internet? No need to anymore. Free Range Stock Photos is a great place to get pictures to use for your flipchart lessons. They are free to use and download. You can use them for commercial or non-commercial use. Just sign-up for a free account and type in any keywords to browse through tons of pictures. Click the download button and save the pictures you like to your computer.

Click here to visit Free Stock Range Photos Now!

Bright Colorful Backgrounds

2011-08-05T19:54:00.003-05:00

Check out the Bright Colorful Backgrounds that we just added to the website! This resource pack contains twenty bright backgrounds for your flipchart lessons. The resource pack will install in shared resources/backgrounds/bright colorful backgrounds. Enjoy!

Click here to see our resource packs now!

Cute Critters is our Most Downloaded Resource Pack!

2011-07-27T10:06:00.000-05:00

Cute Critters is our most downloaded resource pack. If you haven't downloaded it, check it out today. It contains over 20 adorably designed backgrounds for all of your flipchart lessons. This resource pack is great for any grade level. Children of all ages will love the cute critters featured on each page!

Newest Resource Packs Added!

2011-07-26T23:35:00.000-05:00

Below is an updated FULL LIST of all of our resource and image packs for use with ActivInspire, Smart Notebook, or you can download them in png format. Check them out and download them today!

Graphic Organizers 2

Monthly Birthday Backgrounds

Cartoon Backgrounds (one of my all time favorites!)

Checkered Letters

Animal Photo Backgrounds

Independence Day Backgrounds

Stringy Letters

Bulletin Boards 2 Backgrounds

Spanish Buttons (True/False - Yes/No)

French Buttons (True/False - Yes/No)

Starry Night Letters, Frames, Numbers, and Stars

Paper Backgrounds

True/False - Yes/No Buttons

Border Backgrounds 6

Easter Backgrounds

Cartoon Letters, Frames, and Stars

Verbs

Nouns

Adjectives

Contractions

Insects, Bugs, and More

Tiger Striped Letters and Numbers

Voting Buttons A-F

Gradient Squares

Border Backgrounds 5

Christmas Backgrounds

Cute Critters

Halloween Backgrounds

Bows, Bows, and More Bows

Carnival Backgrounds

Positive Sounds for Your Lessons

Fancy Letters

Mosaics

Kaleidoscope Backgrounds

Track PackSummertime Backgrounds
Cartoon Backgrounds
A-F Buttons Pack
Border Backgrounds 4
Comic Blue Lowercase Letters
Blue Gradient Capital Letter
Sticky Notes Backgrounds
Polka-Dot Uppercase Letters
Space Themed Resources
Border Backgrounds 3
Bright Gradient Backgrounds
Border Backgrounds 2
Polaroid Style Frames
Colorful and Floral Frames
Metal Capital Letters & Frames
Woodgrain Capital Letters & Frames
Notebook Backgrounds
Pastel Lowercase Letters & Frames
KWL Graphic Organizers
Pull Tabs
Themed Border Backgrounds
Frame Border Backgrounds
Speech Bubble Backgrounds
Voting Templates
Voting Buttons
Graphic Organizers
Yellow Design Uppercase Letters
Aqua Design Uppercase Letters
Nueva Rainbow Uppercase Letters
Rainbow Boxed Uppercase Letters
Rosewood Rainbow Uppercase Letters
Zebra Stencil Uppercase Letters
Aztec Circle Lowercase Letters
Cottontail Lowercase Letters
Orange Plaid Lowercase Letters
Rainbow Boxed Lowercase Letters

Word Problems

2011-07-26T22:53:00.000-05:00

Have you downloaded one of our newest flipchart lessons? This flipchart contains over twenty workable math problems with the problem, workout area, multiple choice assessment, and operation assessment on each page. Move your toolbar because one won't be needed when teaching this lesson with your students. Each page contains its own toolbar for easy manipulation of the lesson. The word problems cover addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Let us know what you think! Enjoy!

Grammar Baseball

2011-07-26T22:38:00.000-05:00

Have you downloaded one of our newest flipcharts yet?

Grammar Baseball is a great way to review parts of speech with your students. Review nouns, verbs, and adjectives with two teams in this game. Instead of page notes, play the video for the play-by-play of how to play the game. The video is located on the third page. Just click on the glove and the video will begin. This flipchart features 30 review questions and a tie breaker question if needed.

Random Student Name Picker

2010-07-12T14:31:00.004-05:00

Many teachers are always asking me how I choose and call on students fairly. One place that allows you to do this in a fun an exciting way is Classtools.net
Below you will find a random name generator. You can select the typewriter, or my favorite, the fruit machine to pick students randomly. After the machine picks a student, click remove to take them off of the list. It's that simple!
CLICK ON THE FULLSCREEN VERSION BELOW TO SEE IT BETTER!
Then, click on the fruit machine button.

Click here for full screen version

Check out all of our resource packs!

2010-07-11T11:29:00.001-05:00

We have many exclusive resource packs on AmazingClassroom.com!
Each week we try to add a new pack for our members.
Do you have them all? If you have forgotten to download them, do so now!
These great resources are available in Promethean resource pack format, Smart Gallery pack format, and png format. Here's a list of all of our exclusive packs so far! Don't forget to check back next week to download the newest one.

Resources:
Summertime Backgrounds
Cartoon Backgrounds
A-F Buttons Pack
Border Backgrounds 4
Comic Blue Lowercase Letters
Blue Gradient Capital Letter
Sticky Notes Backgrounds
Polka-Dot Uppercase Letters
Space Themed Resources
Border Backgrounds 3
Bright Gradient Backgrounds
Border Backgrounds 2
Polaroid Style Frames
Colorful and Floral Frames
Metal Capital Letters & Frames
Woodgrain Capital Letters & Frames
Notebook Backgrounds
Pastel Lowercase Letters & Frames
KWL Graphic Organizers
Pull Tabs
Themed Border Backgrounds
Frame Border Backgrounds
Speech Bubble Backgrounds
Voting Templates
Voting Buttons
Graphic Organizers
Yellow Design Uppercase Letters
Aqua Design Uppercase Letters
Nueva Rainbow Uppercase Letters
Rainbow Boxed Uppercase Letters
Rosewood Rainbow Uppercase Letters
Zebra Stencil Uppercase Letters
Aztec Circle Lowercase Letters
Cottontail Lowercase Letters
Orange Plaid Lowercase Letters
Rainbow Boxed Lowercase Letters

Customize a slideshow design

School Time Games

2010-04-17T16:17:00.003-05:00

School Time Games is an excellent resource for educational games. They have games in most subject areas, it's free to use, and they look and work great on interactive whiteboards. Click on the link below to check them out!
School Time Games

Writing Fix - The Greatest!

2010-04-15T23:30:00.001-05:00

As a teacher, my job would be much more difficult without Writing Fix. Teachers have created hundreds of lessons about writing. What I love is that everything is laid out for me with all the necessary graphic organizers and student samples that I need for the lesson. My favorite part of the site are their mentor text lesson picture book prompts. These lessons are all based around many different picture books. They cover all of the 6-traits of Writing with these picture books lessons. If you have an interactive whiteboard, almost every lesson comes with an interactive story idea generator. Students can click on these different generators to gather ideas for their stories. It's a great website to check out and one that I am thankful for!
Click on the link below to check it out! Enjoy!
Writing Fix

AmazingClassroom.com - A Great Place to Be!

2010-04-15T23:17:00.002-05:00

If you have an interactive whiteboard, you will love AmazingClassroom.com. Not only can you create your very own classroom website, but you can print newsletters, use the online gradebook, and have your students take timed math facts tests. Not only are these features great, but they also have fabulous backgrounds and clipart for any interactive whiteboard. New resources are added weekly! Tons of lessons and tons of resources. Check us out by clicking on the link below!

AmazingClassroom.com

Cool Timer

2010-04-15T23:05:00.000-05:00

Cool Timer is a great FREE program for any teacher with an interactive whiteboard. The time can be set to extremely large, or to small. The timer can also be modified with sounds on your computer, or sounds stored within the timer itself. Click below to download Cool Timer for free.

http://download.cnet.com/Cool-Timer/3000-2350_4-10062255.html

Random Name Generator

2010-04-15T22:56:00.000-05:00

A great free resource that I have found and love is simply called, "The Hat". The students love it as well. After you download the hat, you add your list or lists of students, and you can either pull out one name or a pair of names. It is totally random and your students can never blame you for not calling on them. It also won't call the same student twice, which is fabulous. The graphics and sounds are great. Click the link below to download this great program onto your computer and use with your interactive whiteboard. Now your students will think you are the magician in your classroom.

http://download.cnet.com/The-Hat/3000-2132_4-10074565.html