Fractions Galore!

We have been studying fractions in math. I always dread fractions because I feel like it's a hard concept to grasp for first grade. But thankfully I found a great lesson on The First Grade Parade using construction paper pizzas and REAL pizza boxes. Let me tell you... my kids were so excited when they saw those pizza boxes on my desk! And all I had to do to get them was ask. I went to a local pizza place and they were happy to give them to me. Not to mention I got to eat pizza for dinner, too. :) Anyways...I know they were all hoping for real pizza but they were happy none the less. They really seemed to get the concept... very quickly! Here's a pic of one of the boxes:

So I was feeling inspired and created my own lesson (another one I just posted to TPT!) called Ice Cream Fractions. This cutie lesson is FREE! Here are a few completed by my students. I improved the one that is on teachers pay teachers to have lines for the kids to write on... they ran out of space without them! They seriously got carried away with all the different ice cream flavors. So cute!

I am having so much fun using this new knowledge on how to create sheets for lessons on my computer using Publisher. For the LONGEST time I have just been using Word or drawing everything by hand. I would love reccomendations/comments if anyone has found great software they like to use. I am considering getting the Adobe Creative Suite but I hear it is expensive. Might be worth it, though!

OK... so it's been a LOOOONG time since my last post. About 6 months... but who's counting? I have gotten so consumed with tutoring after school it seemed to have taken over my life... that along with the crazy holiday season I got out of the routine. Anyways...blogging is something I really enjoy and have truly missed. The past few months I have been getting into some better habits, like working out and eating healthier, and I really think it has given me more energy. I swear when people used to say that to me I would roll my eyes. Maybe it's that or it could be the nicer weather rolling in... either way I am in a much better state of mind these days.

So I am going to follow my advice I give the kids to "Get it together". After lots of help from my assistant, downloading PDF converters, learning how to use Microsoft Publisher, dowloading super cute graphics from Scrappin Doodles, and picking out adorable fonts from Fonts for Peas, I am SO excited to announce my first EVER download to Teachers Pay Teachers. And it's free!

Please dowload this and use it with your kiddos to get ready for Easter.
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Jelly-Bean-Graphing-Sheet

Here it is in black and white. I am not quite sure yet how to post it on the blog in color yet but I'm sure I will figure it out eventually. The actual download is in color.

I made a super-cute activity with fractions and ice cream scoops that I will be posting as soon as I get it done. In the meantime... Happy Tuesday!