Are you ready for game time? This football classroom transformation was perfect after the Super Bowl with my 5th graders! We reviewed adding and subtracting decimals using a concession stand menu and the scavenger hunt!

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Let's Decorate!
First, to decorate the classroom for the transformation, I headed to Dollar Tree! I picked up the plates and a few little footballs to decorate. The green paper on the tables is bulletin board paper that the school provides. I also asked the students if they had any football gear. A student brought in his helmet and another brought in a football. It was pretty neat when it all came together and I spent less than $5!

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Set Up Time
I printed the scavenger hunt task cards and concession menu. I taped the task cards under the plates to add a little more challenge to the scavenger hunt. So, the students walked in and it looked like they were going to have a snack.... not so much ;). 

I copied the recording sheet and concession menu for each student. They could start with any task card letter because the scavenger hunt makes a loop. They solved the adding and subtracting decimals math problem and then looked for their answer on the top of another card. 

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There are two tracks or loops that the students could be on. I made two so the students didn't run into each other or get bottle necked at a certain question. Students have to complete 10 word problems in order to complete their track! 

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If students finished early, I gave them a letter from the other track so they could get more practice! They had a lot of fun and requested more scavenger hunts!
 

Let's be Franco 

To start, they had to flip over the plates to find the task cards. By the end of class, all the plates were flipped to make the answers easier to find! 

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Check out the football scavenger hunt HERE. 

Looking for more ways to transform your classroom? Check out all the scavenger hunts HERE.
 

Let's be Franco

Test Prep Boot Camp

I am gearing up for Standardized Tests already! This year we are doing a BOOT CAMP! 
Here was the problem that I was facing... I wanted to make sure students were prepared for the standardized tests but the online "released" items were no fun. The students weren't engaged and didn't put much effort into remembering all the concepts we learned throughout the year. I was at a loss. I didn't have anything in my resources that would cover the year and still engage students. So I made a Test Prep Boot Camp! 

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I try to set the scene and put camouflage everywhere! I wear camouflage and a whistle and act as the Drill Sergeant! I encourage the students to wear all the camouflage they can find too. 

To Prepare:
- Print all the task cards (12 for each station)
- Print and copy a packet of recording sheets for each student
- Print the station signs. I recommend putting them on card stock so they can stand as a tent. 
- Print and copy the puzzles for the Mess Hall Station as an early finisher activity. 

Boot Camp

Each Station Includes:
- 12 task cards for each concept
- Answer Key for students to check
- Station Sign

Boot Camp

Here is how it works:
I use the 20 stations as a week long review. I assign a group of 2 or 3 students to a station. I set a timer for between 8-10 minutes and have the students work through as many problems as they can in that time period. Since this is a review and not an assignment, I don't mind if the students don't finish all 12 questions. The goal is for them to refresh their memories on ALL the previous content!  About a minute before time is up, I have the students check their answers with the answer key and review any of the questions that they missed. When the time is up, I blow the whistle and choose an exercise to complete for 30 seconds. 

Boot Camp

There are 28 exercise task cards included! Then, the students move on to the next station. If a student or group of students finish a station early, they can move to the Mess Hall Station where there are some puzzles and fun math reviews that they can complete. I leave the stations up in the morning too so any student that wants to try and finish a station or work through the Mess Hall Station, they can! 
If you could include anything else in this boot camp? What would you include?

Join my email list and get the whole Mess Hall Station FREE! Click HERE.

Boot Camp

You can get a FREE sample of the boot camp stations HERE. 

Free Boot Camp Station

Want the whole bundle Test Prep Boot Camp? Click HERE! 

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Math Reference Bulletin Board

Let's talk math bulletin boards! As a math teacher, I wanted a bulletin board that was easy for the students to reference during math workshop. I tried to think of the references that I needed to start the year and created this bulletin board! 

Let's be Franco Math Bulletin Board

Teacher HACK: 

I simply printed out all the reference material on colored paper so I didn't waste too much ink! 

Keep Reading... FREEBIE at the end! 

Place Value:

No matter how many times students see and learn the value of each place, I feel like I still have to reteach it multiple times throughout the year. Well, now I can just point to the board and they can decipher what the value is of the number. Decimals are especially tricky in 5th grade so it helps to see how each decimal fits into the place value system. 

Let's be Franco Math Bulletin Board

Math Workshop: 

I like to put a problem solving station in my math workshop close to the bulletin board because it has so many helpful tips like key words and how to break down a word problem. 

Let's be Franco Problem Solving

Problem Solving: 

The CUBES problem solving method has been a game changer for my students. Students struggle so much to slow down and actually READ the word problem. I teach them to read each problem once for an overview and then start annotating the problem by using the CUBES problem solving method. 

I also love having the KEY WORDS handy for students to reference. It gives students a hint as to which operation is needed in a word problem using the key words. I include a smaller version of these posters to include in interactive notebooks as well. 

Let's be Franco FREE PEMDAS posters

Finally, order of operations! PEMDAS is a fun acronym for students to use when they are solving expressions with multiple operations. I tried to make it even more clear that multiplication & division are done in order from left to right as well as addition and subtraction. Check out this part of the bulletin board for FREE HERE.

Also included in the bundle:

- A Math Get to Know You activity

- Math Talk Bulletin Board

Are there any more reference materials that you would like added to the bundle? Let me know in the comments! 

5th Grade Math Review

This week, I did a math spiral review with my students to review the material we learned this year. Let me tell you... it was enlightening! I realized we have a lot more review to do before the end of the year! Here is my game plan: an escape review, a coloring review, and lots of flashbacks! 

Let's be Franco Math Activities

We are going to start with flashbacks. These flashbacks are 10 questions that spiral review the 5th grade standards. The students complete all 10 questions and write their answers on the page. Then, to make my life easier and provide instant feedback, the students can type their answers into a Google Form (provided). The students get their score right away and can determine which problems they missed. 

I am going to have the students use their notes and revise all the answers that they missed. I love that it provides instant feedback for the students and also helps me keep up on my grading! Check it out for FREE here :) 

Free Math Flashback

Then, we are going to pep it up! My game plan is to have a "Summer Party" and all the students are going to wear sunglasses and summer clothes. I am going to put all the escape clues around the room for the students to find - like a scavenger hunt! Then they will solve the math problems, decipher the codes, and see if they can escape the school! You can find it here. 

Escape to Summer 

 I have found a lot of success with coloring in my math classroom. We are going to review for our final test with this craftivity. Students solve 20 word problems to review all that was taught in the school year. Then, they will use their answers to determine how to color the summer picture! You can find it here. 

5th Grade Summer Math Review

Check out how cute the picture turns out! And BONUS it makes a great end of the year bulletin board! 

Summer Coloring 5th Grade Math Review

What is your favorite way to review for testing at the end of the school year? Let me know in the comments!

Math Review Baseball Game

Are you looking for a math review game that will engage ALL of your students? Try math baseball! I like to use this game for math because I can come up with countless questions on the same topic. Below I will show you my rules for the game but they can be adapted based on how you would like to play! 

Multiply Decimals Baseball Review

How to play

Preparation:

1. You will need to collect many questions for each of the 3 levels of questions. When I collect my questions, I usually have at least 20 questions per level. Check out my Multiplying Decimal Review if you don't have time to come up with your own questions. 

2. You will designate the bases around the classroom. 

3. You will split the class into teams and create a batting order (if desired). 

4. Have paper or whiteboards for the students to work out the questions. 

5. Teams can choose a team captain that will be the spokesperson for their team. 

Multiply Decimals Baseball Review

Rules: 

1. All students must attempt each problem for review. 

2. Only the student who is batting will get a chance to answer. 

3. The fielding team can work collaboratively to see if the answer is correct. 

4. Good sportsmanship is required! 

Game Play: 

1. One team is up to bat and the other team is playing the field. 

2. The team that is up to bat will roll a dice to determine what type of problem they are attempting. 

• Single - if they roll a 1 or a 4
• Double - if they roll a 2 or a 5
• Triple - if they roll a 3 or a 6

3. The player that is up to bat will answer the question. 

4. The team that is fielding will determine if the answer is correct (only the team captain will speak). 

• If the batter is correct, they go to the base that they rolled. If there is anyone already on base, they force them to go to the next base. 
• If the batter is incorrect, they are out. 

5. Once the batting team has 3 outs, the fielding team will be up to bat. 

6. The game ends when both teams have been up the same amount of times. 

7. The winning team will be the team with the most runs into home plate. 

This is one of my favorite ways to review because all students can get involved in the game regardless of whether they are "up to bat" or not. Students love the change of pace from a boring test review too! This would also make a great classroom transformation which may be in my future... 

I also have a 4th grade review that I use at the beginning of the year. Click here to see more! 

What other questions do you have about Math Baseball? Let me know in the comments! 

Mindfulness in Math? Why Not!?

Some students LOVE math and some students just do not. For the students who don't love math, it can be a very stressful subject! The anxiety of coming in to class and feeling overwhelmed by another day of content driven instruction can just be too much for them. I wanted to create a way for students to feel successful while reducing their stress so I created math color by code craftivities!

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Fraction Division

The last unit the students were working on was fraction division. Instead of doing another worksheet or book review, I wanted the students to practice word problems and end the lesson less stressed than they came in to class!

First, students worked through problem solving task cards and recorded them on their recording sheets.

Bakery Divide Fractions

Then, they used their answers to determine how to color that portion of the picture.

Bakery Divide Fractions 

Last, the students were to color and relax before test day! Sometimes students don’t finish the coloring in one day and then it is a bonus for them to relax and color after a test. The students were so proud of their finished products!

Bakery Divide Fractions

BONUS: The coloring activity ends up in a bulletin board for you! I love a multipurpose product :)

Try a coloring set for each of your math units! Click here to see them all!

Football Conversions

Treasure Adding and Subtracting Fractions

These could also make great additions to a room transformation! What coloring picture would you like to see next?

A Day in the Life of a 5th Grade Valentine

Let's be Franco

What do you celebrate Valentine's Day in your classroom? 

Here is a glimpse into my Valentine's Day! 

Class Meeting: 

In my class, around this time of year, the tensions tend to rise. The students have been with each other for months and their personalities start to get on each other's nerves. I don't know if this happens in any other classroom but mine... 

To refocus the students' attention on being positive towards one another, we focus on what we love about each other! Out of construction paper, I cut out enough hearts for each student and put their name on top. Before we start the activity, I remind the students that we are all different and that is what makes us special! I ask them to think about what makes each person in the class special! We leave our hearts on our desk and I turn on some classical music to set the mood. The students and I go around to every desk and write something unique that they love about each other. I ask them to try to think of something original. For example: "Yes, we know Anthony is funny so that would be something we might want to write, but that is not all we love about Anthony, we also love..... Try to think of something different then all the other comments!"

When the students get to read their own at the end of class, their faces light up! I really think it makes a huge difference in their self-esteem, even if just for a moment. 

Math: 

How can I have fun on a day where the students are full of sugar and excitement? Well, I came up with an escape for Valentine's Day! The students will apply their problem solving skills and a little bit of logic to help Cupid escape before the students come to school and see him! I am one-to-one with Chromebooks so I made the escape easily accessible for Google Classroom users (and to save ink and copying time, because let's be real, who has time for that?). The students will complete a series of problems involving multiplying and dividing fractions all relating to Valentine's Day! I love these activities because the students can be very independent and leave me free to work with students that need reinforcement or extra help. 

Cupid's Candy Mystery

Reading/Class Meeting: 

Ok, maybe this doesn't have to do with reading necessarily BUT I think it is worth it to Spread the Love. We took 52 Kindness task cards that are focused on spreading love around the school. I gave the students the challenge at the start of February to finish by Valentine's Day! Each day, in our class meeting, we talked about what task cards they finished and how it made them feel! 

Share the Love

Writing: 

Poems! I mean who doesn't want to write a poem for Valentine's Day, right? I teach similes and metaphors and then have the students write a poem using them! They can focus on all the things they love! "Love is the steaming hot coffee that welcomes me into the day" (well that would be my first line at least ;) )

Share the Love

 The students get to decorate the cover for their poem to add to our "Share the Love" bulletin board! 

Share the Love Poem

Share the Love Poem

Grab all of these in 1 bundle! 

Let's be Franco

What fun things can I add to my day? What are your go-to Valentine's Day activities?

Problem Solving made easy with Google Forms

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Have you ever felt like you are trying to be in 22 (or more) places at once when you are teaching math? I walk around the room with my thoughts interrupted every 5 seconds with, "Mrs. Franco, is this right?" This year, I started to search for a solution and I found it with Google Forms! 

Here is how it works- 

1. I create a Google Form by opening my Google drive and clicking "New" then "Google Forms"

2. I type in the title and the name of the problem solving lesson that I am working on. 

3. The first question I add is "Name" and make it a required question.

4. The next question, I will start to type in my first problem. There are a few steps here that you will repeat for every question that you create. 

• Type in the question or upload a picture with the question on it! 
• Make it a short answer question using the list on the side.This is what your screen would look like at this point. 
  

• Make the question a "Required Question" at the bottom right of the question's box.
• Use the 3 dots that are on top of each other next to the "Required Question" and click "Response Validation.

• After that, I click "text"  instead of "number" and then I put my answer in the"text" space. In the "custom error text," I type "try again!" and it should look something like this... 
  
• You can make a new question and repeat the steps! 

After you finish typing in all the questions you want the students to answer, you can press, "Send" and then click the "link" option. I copy the link and paste into my Google Classroom. 

The benefits of using Google Forms for problem solving lessons are:

1. The students are independently checking their problem solving by typing in the correct answer. 
2. The teacher is free to help those students that have tried multiple times to answer a question and needs a little assistance. 

Although, I admit it is a little more prep work, it makes problem solving lessons very easy to manage! Also, the students are excited to use a computer to check their answers! 

Check this out! I made you a freebie to show what a finished lesson looks like! 

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Getting Back to School with Math

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Pairing sports and academics always seems to be a hit in my classroom. A BONUS is when I can say that I have met the Common Core standards while we play!

I started playing Math Baseball last year because I am always looking for a new way to review material. I want to keep the students engaged and interested in every question. While we play, I have every student hold a personal white board to work out each math problem. 

To begin, the class is split into two groups (boys vs. girls?). I place the bases around the room so the students have to walk to the base which gets them up and moving. 

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One team starts up to bat while the other is playing the field. The batting team will "roll a hit" by rolling a dice to find out what kind of hit they are playing for. 
Single - roll is a 1 or 4
Double - roll is a 2 or 5
Triple - roll is a 3 or 6
Depending on what they roll, I will choose a question that is appropriate for the level of hit. 

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To keep the fielding team involved, they  determine whether the answer is correct or incorrect (I always have the final say though!) 

What could be better than using Math Baseball to start the first lesson of 5th grade math? They can review what they learned in 4th grade while making the class fun for you and the students! If you teach 4th grade, this also covers all the standards to review at the end of the year!

Want to see more? Click here to check out my store :)