Order of Operations Challenge Tasks

I don't know why I haven't blogged about these before, but they are a little known gem in my TPT store that have been available for about a year now. What are they?

These are 3 different puzzles/tasks that will keep your kids engaged for a while! In each puzzle, there are 4 order of operations problems with 9 numbers missing. Students can use the numbers 0-9 using each one only once to fill the 9 spots. There will be one number left over. Included in the file are the number squares should you want to have something tactile to use, or you can just have them make their own numbers on notebook paper. You can also choose to give them the number that is left over and will not be used, or you can have them figure that out. There is more than one solution, but I have included one in the answer key for you.

I originally made these to use in my 6th grade class. Last year I taught 8th grade, and thought I would give it to them when they finished an assignment. They really are rigorous for several grade levels. Let me tell you, my 8th graders STRUGGLED with this. But, they LOVED it and refused to take any hints. They were so proud when they were able to get the first one that they practically ripped #2 from my hands!

Don't you just love days like that where the kids are so engaged that they don't even want you to help them?

This was one solution that a group of girls came up with. The group of boys next to them came up with a different solution that was still correct. 

Once they come up with a solution, I have them write in their answers and turn it in. Easy breezy!

Have any of you used something like this in your classroom? What did you think? I'd love to hear from you!

ColAR App!

I recently presented at the technology conference that my district put on in June and it was amazing. I presented two sessions about how to use the app nearpod in the secondary classroom, but before that, I went to three other sessions as a conference attendee and they were all amazing! I am going to have a few blog posts to write about my findings :)

The first session I went to was about how to integrate augmented reality into the classroom. I have used the app Aurasma before, but that was the extent of augmented reality that had ever entered my classroom! For those of you who are wondering what augmented reality is, it is where you use a "marker" or target of some sort and it can be anything. The easiest way to explain it is to think of a qr code and what happens when you scan it. With augmented reality, when you use an app that supports AR, it will make something show on your device that really isn't there in reality. I did a really bad job of explaining that but it is super cool and your kids will love it so you should look into it. 

Ok, so because I don't have kids, and we have been out of school for a month, I had to find someone that was like a child to try this out. My did is still a six year old at heart, so I brought the crayons to color in this picture. 

You can see the website on the picture where I went to print these out. They have tons! But, in the holiday spirit, I went with the July 4th themed picture. They obviously come out blank, but I got way too excited and didn't snap a pic! 

So, basically, you print and color. Then comes the real fun...

You download the ColAR app on your iPad or other device. Get it? Color but the AR comes from augmented reality?? I thought it was clever. Moving on...

When you open the app to scan the picture and make it come to life, you have to make sure the whole page can be seen. Then, you will see yours look something like this:

That means it is getting ready to work and is taking notice of all of the colors and patterns that you used to color. It doesn't matter if you use crayons, colored pencils, markers, pens, or any other art supply. It should still work. 

Then, the magic happens!

Isn't that fantastic! I couldn't quite get the camera to cooperate, but if you touch the firecrackers, they will actually shoot off and make a pretty fireworks display right on the iPad! It was so fun! Apparently in each picture, there is a way to interact with what you see.

I am not sure how I can use this in the classroom, but it would be good to have these on hand for after tests or exams at the end of the year. All I know is that the first time your kids tell you that they are bored this summer, pull out one of these sheets and they will be busy for hours!

Five for Friday!

I am linking up with Doodlebugs Teaching for the very FIRST time for the weekly linky:

And I am so excited to share what I've been up to this week! It has been a busy one.

We stopped by the house a few times this week to check the progress. Exterior brick and stone are almost finished and we should be moving in about 5 weeks from this Monday!

We bought a TON of new furniture for the new house and I am STOKED to have ordered this custom headboard for my new KING size bed! This is the one piece that I am just elated about. OH--and the new memory foam mattress that we ordered is going to be amazing as well. 

We spent some time with our sweet nephew today who lives in San Antonio. He is about 20 months old and is just SO cute!

Even our dog celebrated the 4th today! 

This was taken just before the storm got really bad today. We actually had several power outages and HAIL! Can you believe it? Glad we stayed in to watch the fireworks on TV this year!

How was your week?

It's CURRENTLY July!

I am usually that teacher who wants summer to last forever. Until the school supplies come out. And, then I get really excited to get to work in my classroom. BUT, not this summer. It's not that I want to go back to school. Let's be honest, this is only my 4th week of summer and I have had so many things for school that it hardly feels like summer.

Ok. Maybe I am being slightly dramatic.

Either way, here is my currently post for July!

So, as you can see, the reason why I want summer to hurry up and race to the finish line is because my HOUSE will be ready at the beginning of August and I just cannot wait patiently enough to move in and decorate!

Did I mention that we are starting our third month of living with my parents since we sold our house so quickly? Oh, I did? Must have simply slipped my mind :)

Happy July, everyone!

July Special in my TPT store!

Can you believe it is pretty much July? I have had 3 glorious weeks of summer and I am still cringing at the thought of moving classrooms in August. Some of you may remember that I moved campuses (my choice) in August of last year, and now I am changing rooms on that same campus. I didn't realize I was changing rooms until after I had packed away every. single. thing. into the cabinets in my old classroom. Oh well. Such is life!

I know that some schools go back as early as mid-July, so I wanted to do something special for the month of July ONLY! Remember when I put a bundle on Teachers Pay Teachers last summer that gave you access to every item in my store including future updates? Well, if you purchased each individual item from my store, it would total over $320!

For the next 31 days, it will be on sale for $99! After that, it will no longer be available for sale. I will convert it to a bundle that will not include future updates for free, and all future products for the 2014-2015 school year that I create will be available in a new bundle. Take advantage of this unique opportunity for the month of July ONLY!

Just click the image above to go straight to the product listing. 

Feel free to ask me any questions before purchasing, and happy shopping!

Catching up!

Wow, it has been a long time since I have blogged! I promise I haven't been sitting here twiddling my thumbs for the past (almost) 2 months. Do people actually do that?

Anyhow, I have missed many a link-up and currently and Monday Made-it because I just haven't had ANY time. I am in the middle of my third week off for the summer, and while I have enjoyed the time off, I have found other things that have occupied my time!

The last time I blogged was May 4th. That was the day after my husband and I moved out of our house and in with my parents. You see, over spring break, we went looking at model homes and decided at the end of March to sign a contract and put our house on the market. We figured we wouldn't sell right away and we would be able to stay in our house until school ended. WRONG! The day after our house went on the market, we had a FULL-PRICE CASH OFFER! On what planet does that happen??

And, they wanted us out in 30 days.

Did you hear me? THIRTY DAYS.

Panic sets in after the initial elation subsides. I looked at my husband and said, "we are going to need some boxes!"

And, boxes we bought.

No, don't worry, this is only 1/2 of what he brought home from the first trip to the UHAUL store.

And, we had to go back 2 more times. 

Seriously, whatever it takes to help you get through it!

This was taken the last night in our old house. Our sweet dog, Banjo, LOVES running around and playing catch in this backyard. He has adjusted pretty well to the sweet life at Grandma and Grandpa's house!

Anyhow, we packed for literally 30 days straight. Then, the day that the movers showed up, we found some more that we accidentally left behind. Really, what happened was the hubs was in charge of a few areas and I  think he just put those things in another closet to make it looked like he finished faster. I am on to him.  

I literally thought the boxes would never end. We had to put almost everything in storage since we were going to be living with my parents for 3 months. Here is what it looked like about 3/4 of the way full...

For those of you who are wondering the size--it is a 10 foot by 30 foot unit. And we FILLED it!

And, after going back the next day to get a few more odds and ends, we drove away for the very last time. This was my first house to purchase as an adult and I was so blessed to live here for 5 years. But, I am SUPER excited to move on to the next adventure in our lives :)

And, so it begins! Check out the lot for our new home! Estimated finish date: August 2014!

Stay tuned for more posts that detail all of the math that goes into building a house!

TPT Loves Teacher Sale

I'm sure you don't need another blog post letting you know about the TPT sale this week or that it is Teacher Appreciation Week for that matter, yet here I am letting you know anyway!

I have a love/hate relationship with this time of year. I love it because state testing is over, the summer is in sight, and I get to do more "fun" things than I would normally get to do during the year. I hate this time of year because although we have 5 weeks left, it seems like it will go way too fast and way too slow at the same time. I hate having to say goodbye to my sweet students after I have formed solid relationships with them all. Because they are 8th graders, I won't see them next year. I also hate HATE to pack, and we have to take everything off of our walls and pack it/put it in a cabinet for next year. With the amount of stuff I have, this gives me great anxiety.

I am currently in panic mode.

Not to fear! For the next couple of days, I will spend my time looking for some new resources to use next school year and to finish out this year. It is the perfect time to buy during the TPT sale! In my store you can receive 20% off plus an additional 10% off at checkout (must use promo code TPTXO)! The sale runs May 6th-7th.

Here are a bunch of other secondary sellers that have teamed up:

Happy shopping!