Product Spotlight: October Prep

My calendar tells me that today is the first day of October, and I am SO excited.  October is one of my favorite months.  I dig the cooler weather, pumpkins, and promise of Halloween candy!

Here are a couple October products that might help you out in the coming weeks!

First up, my October Math Mats.  I use these at least a couple times a week.  Basically, the students fill in the blanks to create their own word problems, then use the provided clip-art to illustrate their work.

There are four different themes for the month -- pumpkins, bats, candy corn, and ghosts.  I use one theme each week, but you could certainly mix them up.  Each theme has seven word problems that address the adding/subtracting situations addressed in Common Core Standards 1.OA.1 and 1.OA.2.  That would be... adding to, adding to with three numbers, putting together, putting together with three numbers, taking from, taking part, and comparing.  (I feel like I need to take a deep breath after typing that.. what a mouthful!)

Here's a little more info:

I also have the Halloween-themed Trick or Treat, which is a game for nonsense word practice.  This goes into my Word Work station for the month.

This game works like "BAM!" or "Kaboom!" if you have ever used those.  The students pick a nonsense word card, read it, and keep it.  If a Trick or Treat card is pulled, then all the cards go back into the bag. It's easy for the kids to play, but they never seem to get tired of it!

BTW, I picked up the cute Frankenstein bag in the Target dollar section.

I hope these might make your October a little bit brighter!  I'm just hoping that we get out of the 80 degree temps down here the tropics of the South.  I want to wear my boots!