Valentine's Day in the Classroom

Valentine's Day in the classroom can be really fun or a sugar coma induced situation!  While I love candy and chocolate as much as the next person, I really don't love my students to be hyped up on sugar all day long - NO THANK YOU!

Actual footage from the actual sugar load aftermath of Valentine's Day in my classroom

Here are some ideas for celebrating Valentine's Day in the Classroom with a little less craziness and stress!

This post contains affiliate links. I earn a small commission each time someone makes a purchase using one of my links, which helps to support the blog.  All opinions are my own and I only promote brands and products that I have used myself and truly love.  

1. Valentine's Day Read Alouds

I always use holidays as an excuse to squeeze in just a few more read alouds, because honestly, you can never have TOO Many read alouds!  Here are a few of my favorites!

Love Monster

Love From the Crayons

A Crankenstein Valentine

This is Not a Valentine

2. Plan Your Class Party

I always send out a party sign-up letter so that I am not inundated with only sweets. You can grab this freebie here. I also ask for volunteers to help me set-up and most importantly clean up!

3. Build Relationships

Relationship building is so important when you are teaching students!  Valentine's Day is a great time to build on the relationships you have already created by telling your students all the reasons why you love your class! You can find this freebie here.


4. Practice Math Facts

Color by number activities are a great way to practice some math facts and celebrate Valentine's Day.  Bonus - coloring is a very calming activity! I have these Valentine's Day math facts activities in both addition and multiplication in my Teachers pay Teachers store.


5. Add Valentine Flair to Your Lessons

Add a little Valentine flair to your lessons by using Valentine's Day themed colors or decorations.

• Print out worksheets on Valentine's Day themed colored paper (reds, pinks, and purples).   
• Use red dice or heart dice for math games and centers
• Use heart counters from the Dollar Tree for games and centers.
• Use Valentine's Day themed erasers from Target.

I hope these ideas help you to celebrate Valentine's Day in the Classroom without all of the craziness!  If you need even more ideas, check out my Valentine's Day in the Classroom Pinterest board with over 200 more ideas and resources!

Before you go, head on over to our giveaway page to enter our current giveaway!  Every week one lucky winner gets a $25 Teachers pay Teachers gift card! 

 

Monthly $100 Teachers pay Teachers Gift Card Giveaway - February 2020

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Celebrate Presidents Day with Color by Number Activities

Presidents Day is a time to honor the leaders who have shaped our country. If you're looking for a fun and educational way to celebrate, try these color by number activities featuring famous presidents and symbols of America. Not only will you have a blast coloring, but you'll also learn more about the history and significance of this important holiday.

This post contains affiliate links. I earn a small commission each time someone makes a purchase using one of my links, which helps to support the blog.  All opinions are my own and I only promote brands and products that I have used myself and truly love.  

I currently have  the following versions of these resources.  If you have a request for different skills, let me know!

Each math facts set comes with (6) Presidents' Day themed color by number pages and answer keys.

George Washington Color by Number

The Presidents' Day Color by Number worksheet set includes a page featuring George Washington, the first president of the United States.  This coloring page provides a fun way for students to practice addition and multiplication skills as they color in the numbered spaces to reveal a picture of George Washington!

Abraham Lincoln Color by Number

Included in this Presidents' Day Color by Number Worksheet set is this coloring page featuring the iconic 16th president himself!  Students will practice their math skills as they color in the numbered spaces to reveal a picture of Abraham Lincoln.

                                                                                

These Presidents' Day color by code pages are also available (with just about every other holiday) in my money saving color by number bundles.

Get 18 holidays for under $10!

 Color By Number Multiplication Facts Holidays Growing Bundle

 Color By Number Addition Facts Holidays Growing Bundle 

Buy now and save by getting all additional versions for FREE!

Pull out the crayons or markers and help make Presidents' Day in the classroom a bit calmer and more productive with these Presidents' Day of School printables!

Other Holiday Color By Number Sets Available

New Year's Color By Number
Christmas Color By Number
100th Day of School Color By Number

Martin Luther King Jr. Color By Number
Valentine's Day Color By Number
Groundhog Day Color By Number
Mardi Gras Color By Number
St. Patrick's Day Color By Number
Easter Color By Number

5 Ways to Make Fact Fluency Fun

How do you teach math facts in a fun way?

As teachers, we know how important it is for students to know their math facts fluently. Without this skill, it is difficult for them to learn higher level math concepts.

 The best way for student to learn these facts is to practice, practice, and practice. Unfortunately, students don’t always want to do what is best for them. 

 The best way that I have found to get kids to practice their math facts is by making it fun! Here are five ways to make math fact fluency fun:

This post contains affiliate links. I earn a small commission each time someone makes a purchase using one of my links, which helps to support the blog.  All opinions are my own and I only promote brands and products that I have used myself and truly love.

5 Super-Fun Ways to Learn Math Facts

1.  Fly Swatter/Flashlight Tag    

These games are relatively the same, but depend on your noise level tolerance.  On those crazier days, I will often use the flashlight tag version because it is played with the lights off and silent, but still fun. 

To play either game, list several numbers on the board. Divide the class into two teams (my students love playing boys vs. girls, but I have also done the right and left side of the room).  

One player from each team comes close to the board.  Ask a math fact question.  The first person to tag the correct answer (either with their flashlight or fly swatter) earns a point for their team.

You can see a version of this game played on a table with a small group in the video below:

 2.  Quiz, Quiz, Trade

This game is a common Kagan style game that can be played with any set of flash cards.  You could even create your own cards using index cards.  

Each player gets one flash card and then walks around the room quizzing their classmates.  If the players both answer correctly, they swap cards and repeat the process.  If either player gets the answer wrong, have the student holding that flashcard give the correct answer before trading.

You can find the cards my students are using for the game here.



 3.  Kaboom Type Games

I have made several of these types of games for my students including the water balloon version in the picture above, but you can make them very simply using index cards or popsicle sticks.  

Write math facts on the cards or sticks (without the answers).  In addition, write KABOOM on two of the cards or sticks. 

Players choose a card or stick and if they can answer it correctly, they get to keep it.  If they get it incorrect, they put the card back in and it becomes the next player’s turn.  However, if they draw the KABOOM card, they have to put ALL of their cards back in.  

The winner is the player with the most cards.

 4.  Take Away Game

This game can be made with a paint stir stick.  Simply use a sharpie to section off parts, and number each one.  The picture above shows an addition version.  

I have my students use red/yellow disks, but you could use any manipulative that you have two different colors of.  Each student chooses a color and then lines up their pieces around the paint stick as seen in the picture.

Students then take turns rolling the dice.  They find the sum (if they are using the addition version) or product (with the multiplication version) and then take their opponent’s piece away from that number.  The object of the game is to take as many of the other player’s pieces as you can.  If they roll a number that has already been removed, they simply lose that turn and it is the next player’s turn.

 5.  Computer Games

If your students are anything like mine, they love getting a chance to be on the computer.  Use that to your advantage by having them play computer game that involve practicing their math facts.  Some of my favorite sites are:

Baseball Math ( FunBrain.com)  

 xtramath.com

multiplication.com

Incorporate the fun factor, and your students will have their math facts memorized in no time!

If you are looking for more ideas for helping your students master their math facts, read more about my Kicking it Math program.     


You can also subscribe to my YouTube channel where I share lots of math fact games and more teaching ideas!

And... before you go, be sure to enter our current giveaway to win a Teachers pay Teachers gift card!

Weekly $25 Teachers pay Teachers Gift Card Giveaway January 27, 2019

Teacher Giveaway!

This Giveaway is Over!  Please visit our Giveaway page to enter our current giveaway.   Sign up HERE to be alerted about all of our future giveaways!

$25 Teachers pay Teachers Gift Card Giveaway

Every week one lucky teacher gets to go on a Teachers pay Teachers shopping spree!  Will it be you this week?

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:  

Prize: $25 Teachers Pay Teachers Gift Card 

Rules: Use the Rafflecopter to enter.  Giveaway ends 2/3/20 and is open worldwide.  

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Valentine's Day Color By Number Addition and Multiplication Facts

Valentine's Day is just around the corner and we know that it can be challenging to keep your students engaged while still sticking to the curriculum. But, fear not, because we have the perfect solution for you - Valentine's Day Color by Number Addition and Multiplication worksheets!

These Valentine's Day Color by Number worksheets are not only a blast for your students, but they also provide them with the opportunity to practice their math facts. With just a simple download and print, your students will be ready to learn in no time.

It's important to keep in mind that Valentine's Day can be a bit chaotic in the classroom, with all the sugar and excitement in the air. That's why incorporating fun and educational activities like these Valentine's Day Color by Number Addition and Multiplication worksheets can be the perfect way to celebrate the holiday with a little academic purpose.

Valentine's Day Color By Number

This post contains affiliate links. I earn a small commission each time someone makes a purchase using one of my links, which helps to support the blog.  All opinions are my own and I only promote brands and products that I have used myself and truly love. 

Valentine's Day Worksheets

Simply print the Valentine Color by Number printables you want and have your students color them using the code at the top of the worksheet.

Students can use crayons, markers, or colored pencils to color in the spaces. These colored by number Valentine's Day worksheets are perfect for math centers, homework, homeschool, or seasonal Valentine's Day fun!

These low-prep Valentine's Day color-by-number pictures are filled with Valentine's Day items such as hearts, balloons, candies, flowers, cakes, and cards.

I currently have addition and multiplication math facts versions of these Valentine's Day Color by Number worksheets.  If you have a request for additional skills, leave a comment below!

Each math facts set comes with (8) Valentine's Day  color by number pages and answer keys.

And... I would be absolutely remiss if I did not share my favorite crayons ever! They color so vibrantly and no more broken crayons!

These Valentine's Day color by code pages are also available (with just about every other holiday) in my money saving color by number bundles.

 Color By Number Multiplication Facts Holidays Growing Bundle

 Color By Number Addition Facts Holidays Growing Bundle 

Buy now and save by getting all additional versions for FREE!

Pull out the crayons or markers and help make Valentine's Day in the classroom a bit calmer and more productive with these Valentine's Day printables!

Other Holiday Color By Number Sets Available

Halloween Color By Number

New Year's Color By Number
Christmas Color By Number
100th Day of School Color By Number

Martin Luther King Jr. Color By Number
Groundhog's Day Color By Number

If you are looking for another way to celebrate Valentine's Day in your classroom, check out this post I wrote about sharing the Reasons I Love My Class.