Magic Squares (Giveaway!!!!)

Have you tried the Magic Squares from HoJo's Teaching Adventures yet?   

They are so much fun! 

 I introduced them this week in my Literacy Centers.

I tried the capital/lowercase match set and the kids LOVED them!  They even. . . gasp. . .asked to "play with them" during Choice Time!!!

I put them in my magnet center (although they can be used without magnets too.)

I put a finished square at the top so they knew what the finished shape would look like.

I put each magic square in it's own bag and numbered them on the back (I didn't want the pieces from different puzzles getting mixed up.)

The best part about this activity is that it's not just 

matching capital and lowercase- it's also problem solving where each piece goes so it matches up to other pieces.  

HoJo makes these for a variety of grade levels for both literacy and math AND she's agree to let me give away 1 (of your choice) to 10 lucky winners!

To sign up for a chance to win one all you  need to do is visit her TPT store, become a follower and check out her Magic Squares.  If you win you get to pick which Magic Square you would like for your classroom!

Here's a free Thanksgiving Magic Square from HoJo's TPT store for you to try!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Handwriting/Writing Center Idea

One of my consistent centers is my Handwriting Bucket.  In the bucket are 26 envelopes (one for every letter of the alphabet!)  The kids write each of the words from the envelope into their dictionaries during center time.  

Their goal is to practice and perfect their handwriting but also to expand their vocabulary (hopefully!)

I've been using this as as Handwriting Center for YEARS and decided it needs an update for next year!

I kept the "easy" pages with the lines like you see in the pictures:

But I also added a little bit more challenging version where the kids have to use the 3 handwriting lines:

AND and even more challenging page with a writing component (kids pick one of the words from the envelope and write a sentence/draw a picture about it):

I also added some fun picture cards (8 for each letter of the alphabet):

And there are also labels for the envelopes to keep the cards in:

Check it out here on TPT!

Normally $6.00 on sale through September for $4.00!

Once this center is set up it will last the whole year!  Love simplicity!