A Great Migration, Expressions and Fun :)

Wow...what a week.  My school is currently undergoing a "Great Migration"  {not to be confused with the moment in history of the same name---and, you're welcome for the history lesson}.
And let me tell you, it is a pain in the toosh.
Our version of the Great Migration is that we are converting our computers from Windows XP to the most current version {I think}.  Well, last night my computer migrated.  Ugh!  Nothing worked properly today.  Like AT ALL.
My husband just didn't understand my distress.  He said, "Didn't you to teach without computers and Smart Boards before?"  Well, yes....yes, I did.  But, I'm so USED to them now, that my life goes a little haywire when I'm suddenly without it.    Don't you just love technology?

Change of topic:

My students are doing a great job with understanding expressions and variables.  We are flying through this unit.

Thanks to using Calendar Math {again, thanks, Stephanie from Teaching in Room 6}, I think my students were able to understand how variables and expression work pretty quickly.

We started with this anchor chart:


Today, we put together our flapbooks.

I forgot to take a picture of the student version {oops}.  If you downloaded this earlier this week, please download it again.  I had a goof on it and it's now fixed.  Click {here} to download from Google Drive or {here} to download from TpT.

Change of topic one last time:


For those of you who have hung around with me for so long, I'm going to have a little contest.  I'm picking a number and will be looking for that number of comments on this blog post.  If I get that many, then I will add $5 to a pot.  Further, if I get double that amount then I will add five more dollars.  For each of my blog posts from now until Dec. 14th I will do the same thing.  On December 15th, I will add all of the money up and buy a gift card to Target in that amount.  Then, I will have a giveaway for that total. {Bottom line, I'm hoping to increase comments...I know, shameless bribery at its ultimate best...but I'm feeling a little lonely in Room 4B.}

So, spread the word...the more comments, the more $$$.

Oh, and one last topic change....

I'm extending my sale on TpT until Friday.  Because, if you are anything like me, then you are realizing that you missed some great items and want a "do over".

19 comments

  1. I find it interesting that you use Windows. Our whole district is primarily Mac.

    And shameless bribery or not, it's a good idea :)

    Diane
    Fifth in the Middle

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  2. I hate when technology doesn't cooperate! It is frustrating, isn't it?!

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  3. p.s. Where the heck was I when you posted about the variable and expression foldable. We are on that now and some of my kiddos are struggling and it's frustrating the tar out of me because I was doing a version of the calendar math and they have been doing expressions for ever...introduce it as a topic lesson and the knowledge isn't transferring....!!!! Ug!!!! Does this count as another comment??? lol

    4th Grade Frolics

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  4. You crack me up girl!! I think bribery of this fashion is fantastic!!

    How on earth do you make such cute charts?? I think there's something wrong with me...I must have missed a course on it back in college. I always have to type it all up after :/ Type A? Perhaps!

    Can I come back here and ramble in additional comments?

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    1. I totally had to let go of my Type A personality when I started making charts a few years ago. It's so difficult. If you look closely, you will see tons of smudges and squished together words....and things aren't centered. But, I let go of that, right???

      And...hahaha...of course come back and ramble ;)

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  5. I approve of shameless bribery, that's always the best!

    I'm still new to the blogsphere for teachers since I'm finishing up my student teaching in the next week... but I love your blog! It's one of the few that I have pinned to my browser so I can always come and check up on new posts, especially for ideas.

    :)

    ps, any tips for a newbie like me? :)

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  6. Lol, I groaned out loud when I read about your technology switch- what a mess!! I couldn't imagine my day without my projector, Pandora music, email, Mimio, etc. etc. etc... I was all glum on your behalf until I saw your lovely chart and then I was happy again :) It's so purty and apparently I need to get myself into gear and get me some Calendar Math! I have heard such great things!!

    Have a great night :)

    ~Stephanie
    3rd Grade Thoughts

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  7. Totally can relate...about two weeks ago my digital projector was being finicky, so I told the kids we were going to do it the good old fashioned way...on paper. And they loved it!

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  8. I feel ya girl, I would die without my technology. I can't imagine ever teaching without it again! You got a shout out on my blog! :)
    Adventures of a Third Grade Teacher

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  9. Thanks for keeping your sale going! :)

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  10. My district migrated over the summer. How crazy are they to make you do this during the year?! Could they have not waited until Winter Break at least?

    Good luck!

    Jenny
    Luckeyfrog's Lilypad

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  11. I love my technology! I'm really fortunate to have both a Smartboard and iPads available in my classroom. I HATE when things don't work correctly:)
    Also, my kids are doing variables and expressions - and doing well too! I'm curious as to how good we will do when we start substitution next week:)

    Stephanie

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  12. Thanks for all of the help you give on a weekly basis! I follow your blog every week.

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  13. Kylie y.
    HI Im a teacher from Victoria Australia and I would just like to tell you how much I am enjoying your blog. I am new to the world of reading blogs and have taken to it like a duck to water. The inspiration I am drawing from yours and many other blogs is fantatsic so thank you.Besides which it helps to enteratin me on friday nights when Im bored at home alone. Keep up the great work.

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  14. I love the bribery! Hope you get all the comments your heart desires! Thanks for all your great ideas. Do you have post about calendar math for fourth graders? If so, could you give me the link please?

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  15. Interesting bribery! I am excited to get to the point where I can offer cool stuff like this on my blog--I'm just too new! I love the stuff I have found on your blog tonight, so count me in as your newest follower! Sorry about your technology...I've only had my Smartboard since August, and I already don't know what I would do without it!!!

    Meg
    www.fourthgradestudio.blogspot.com

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  16. we migrated a year ago from XP to Windows 7. Much was lost as they reimaged the computers at the same time, AND took away our ability to load anything. I have a list of updates that need to be approved by an administrator and it is making the machine s-l-o-w

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