Valentine's Day

Friday, as we all know, is Valentine's Day.  I honestly don't have very much planned.  I tend not to get wrapped up in the holidays (that is a product of my year-round years....I was always off-track for the major holidays!)  But I do have three Valentine's Day mini-projects planned.

Of course, the students will pass out valentines to their classmates.  I am not into spending a ton, so I made these Valentine's Day Homework passes.  I know my kids will love them, and they didn't cost me a dime :)  Win-win!  Feel free to print out a copy for yourself.  The download includes a "Love, Your Teacher" AND a blank one for you to sign, or just keep as is!


We are beginning our study of solid shapes, including surface area.  I am going to have the students do an introduction concept lesson on this skill, using Valentine's Day as my hook.  The students will have to figure out how much wrapping paper will be needed to cover their valentine box.

The basic idea of the concept lesson is to allow the students to explore this big concept of surface area without a formal lesson.  It is to give them a chance to discover for themselves what the big idea of the skill is before I simply tell them.  So for this lesson, the students will be given a box, and some tissue paper (the wrapping paper), as well as a ruler, scissors, pencil and paper.  The will be asked to figure out EXACTLY how much paper is needed to cover the box with no overlap.

This is a HARD lesson, but doable.  The students will struggle, but there are some ways they can figure it all out.  They will be frustrated, but if they use some of the problem solving skills they have, they should be able to tackle this.  It is "backwards" from the normal teaching, but that is the idea.  I want them to see what they can do before I simply tell them.  It helps them to internalize the idea before I just give them an algorithm.  This is what I did with the fraction concept lesson and the students are all the better for it.

Though, as a teacher, it is really, really tough to see the kids get frustrated.  It makes me frustrated.  However, the end result is worth it.  I will report back and let you know how it goes!

We also are going to continue with our poetry lessons and do this fun little Love Note Poet-Tree.  Should be fun....and fast!  Only three different types of poems this time, and my kids are really loving the Poet-Trees in general.  Cute huh?  And the best part is that it is standards based :)

36 comments

  1. I follow you on both!
    Name: Mrs. Mohammed
    email: jcmoha@gmail.com

    Thanks! I bought my kids glowstick bracelets (100 for $10) on Amazon and putting "you make my heart glow". Got idea from pinterest!!!!
    Thanks for the freebie!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What a great idea (the glowsticks!) I LOVE pinterest. What did we do without it??? :)

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  2. meredith.whaley@knoxschools.org
    Please send me the valentine's passes with Love, Mrs. Whaley
    THANK YOU!!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. These are so cute! I absolutey love your blog and your ideas! e_solis1030@hotmail.com Please send me the Valentine's homework passes with Love, Mrs. Adamec and one that says Love, Ms. Chaffin. 2 separate ones! Thanks so much

    ReplyDelete
  4. Love your passes. Please send me a copy with Love, Mrs. Campbell. I follow your blog and facebook.
    Tamara
    Tccam71@comcast.net

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tamara, do you have another email address? I can't get this one to work :( It keeps coming back to me.

      Delete
  5. Love this! Thanks for the freebie and what a great idea.

    Selina

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  6. Love, Ms. Coon

    send to mindycoon@gmail.com

    thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I love your things! Always clever and practical. Of course I follow both your blog and FB.
    My students call me Mrs. T. (because Simoneaux is too long!)
    Each day when we dismiss, I say, "Mrs. T. loves you." Could you put THAT on the cards?? =)
    My email is tee273@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  8. OK...I have everyone! Thank you so much for your interest in the Homework Passes. Please come back and let me know how they went over in your class :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Your blog is amazing!! Thanks so much for your wonderful ideas!

    Could I please have the homework passes Love, Mrs. DeLuca? kayounkin@gmail.com

    Thank you!!

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  10. Hi Stephanie:
    I don't have a Facebook page, so I downloaded the passes, skipped to Scrappin' Doodles and then did a little recreating. Your passes are cuter, but I got mine done--thanks to your inspiration!

    Happy Day!
    Kim
    Finding JOY in 6th Grade

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am glad they could inspire you (ps, you are totally a loyal follower -- and I just love your blog too -- and even without FB I would have sent them to you ;) )

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  11. I like to start with some sort of problem solving activity too, so they can try to work through the process and understand what is actually going on. Usually someone happens on something worth discussing with the whole class. Then they have background knowledge for learning the specific mathematical processes. Awesome idea about the box!

    Buzzing with Ms. B

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It really is a great way to get the thinking about the process of math. I find that it helps too with the questions in other subjects. They are more apt to figure things out and problem solve for themselves if I am not always giving them the answers!

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  12. Thanks! For the homework passes. It will save me checking papers!!
    Pat

    A Time to Share & Create


    MY WEBSITE

    Fabulous 4th Grade

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pat, would you like the customizable ones? I can't find your email address on the blogs.

      Delete
  13. Thanks for your generosity. I follow you on both!
    Ms. King
    orangepeonee@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hi, I have been watching your site for some time now. I just want to say as a new teacher your site has helped me so much! I am long term subbing (hoping for a full time job soon!) and your ideas are great and creative.

    Thank you for all you do!

    Email: Katiebell173@gmail.com

    Name: Miss. Lambert

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am so happy to hear that Katie! Anything I can do to make that career beginning easier :) It is such a hard time...boy do I remember that!

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  15. OK...I have everyone up to here! :)

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    Replies
    1. I too would love a copy. My students call me
      Mme F-B (Madame Ferguson-Brown), as it's quite a mouthful in English, let alone French! Great work with these!
      joannamaureen@yahoo.com

      Delete
  16. Thank you so much for sharing your cute Valentines Homework passes. I am following you on FB and your blog. Jenniffer

    Teacher name: Mrs. Pope
    jlpope@bryanisd.org

    ReplyDelete
  17. Would love to give these to my students! I've done some similar cards but would love to save on the colored ink! Thanks for sharing,

    Mrs Holder
    Michelle.holder@evsc.k12.in.us

    ReplyDelete
  18. LOVE your FB page and your blog! As of today I am following both. :-) I would love a personalized copy of your Valentines homework passes signed Love, Mrs. Paquette
    emailed to tpaquette@bwsd.k12.wi.us

    Thank you so much for the freebie! Happy Valentines Day to you!

    Tracy Paquette

    ReplyDelete
  19. Thanks for sharing your homework passes. I know my students will love them.

    Love, Mrs. Smith

    smithmo@wilkes.k12.nc.us

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  20. Thank you so much everyone! I have everyone up to here :)

    ReplyDelete
  21. I would love a personalized copy. My kiddos will love it.

    Mrs. Albertson and my email is jackiealbertson@yahoo.com

    Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  22. I also would LOVE LOVE LOVE my name on the homework pass.

    Mrs. Ruiz

    jodiruiz@gmail.com

    Thank you very much!

    ReplyDelete
  23. I know it is the last minute but I just found your blog and I love your homework passes!!! If you have time could you send me a copy with my name? Mrs. Bower

    pbower@montoursville.k12.pa.us

    THANKS!

    ReplyDelete
  24. OK...I have sent them all out. :) I am off to bed. Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Ok, so I just found this on Pinterest and was wondering if you could personalize it for me for this year!
    My email is sfeist@stmarymagdalen.net (Mrs. Feist)

    Thanks soooo much!

    Sharon Feist

    ReplyDelete
  26. Hey,
    I follow you in both places. Please add
    Love,
    Mrs. Kristin

    We use our first names - Thanks
    krast@windstream.net

    ReplyDelete
  27. Not sure if you're still doing this or not. I follow you in both places & would love the cute customized homework passes. Please add: Love, Mrs. Larcher

    My email is: slh425@aol.com

    Thanks!!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  28. Hello I follow both!

    I would love a set with Love, Mrs. Bassett
    lovebug82@msn.com

    ReplyDelete

Please leave a comment! I love to hear what you think about what is posted :)