My Top Picks for New Year's Games

Can you believe it - all that planning for Christmas (both in and out of the classroom), and now it's over!?  I guess there's only one thing left to do (other than eat the leftover Christmas cookies ASAP)...

Get ready for the new year!  It wouldn't be the new year here on the Classroom Game Nook blog if we didn't have some fun games and activities lined up for that first week back at school.

Here are my top picks for games to play as you welcome your students back in 2016!

{Note:  The first two games show 2015 in the image, but have been updated by the author to be used for 2016!}

This game is great for older students.  The students simply use all 4 operations to show different ways to make 2016.  Put a timer on and see how fast students can come up with several number sentences equaling 2016!  You can download the printable here, courtesy of lalymom.com

The next game by itself is perfectly fine...but if you want to make it more educational for your students, add just little extra prep.

As written, students roll the printable die (shown above).  They then cover up the number they land on.  The first student to cover up every digit in the year wins.  However, make this game fit your classroom needs by prepping some question cards.  The cards can be for any skill and any content area.  Students first pick a card and answer the question.  If they get the question right, THEN they get to roll the die.  If not, the card is put back into the pile to be answered by another student.  Provide your students with an answer key for easy checking!  You can find the printable here.

The last two are my own games that you can snag for free!  The both make great games for the first week back.  Take a peak:

The first one is a "New Year's SCOOT."  The SCOOT cards ask questions about their goals for the new year and reflections of the year just past.  There are also a few educational ones thrown in there as well.

Grab your free copy here.

The second game is ideal for small groups.  Print off and assemble one die per small group and allow students to reflect on their goals for the new year.  There is a different prompt on each side of the die.

This die is available right here on the blog!

And if that isn't enough for you - you can find even more math and literacy centers and activities with this New Year's themed pack available in my store.

You can even snag a free door display just by checking out the product preview.

Enjoy everyone and relax on your week off!

"The Classroom Game Nook" Steps Out Onto The Big Stage!

I have been sitting on this little piece of news for quite some time and now I am SOOO excited to shout it out!  I was asked to write a guest blog post for the official Teachers Pay Teachers Blog!  They are the big dogs, and little ol' me is running with them!  Holy cow!  When they asked me to write for them I was stunned!  But now, it's live and ready for you to read!  I hope you enjoy!

Easy {& CHEAP!} Christmas Gifts for Your Students: FREEBIE ALERT!

Is Christmas really less than two weeks away???  Holy cow!  It's even harder to believe considering it was almost 70 degrees outside today here in Rochester, NY.  Unheard of here this time of year!

I'm sure by now your classrooms  are filled with all sorts of holiday crafts, books, and decor as you celebrate the season with your class.  Maybe you've even played a game or two for my holiday games collection.

I've got one more holiday tip for you!  Every year it can be such a pain deciding what to give your kiddos for Christmas that you won't just end up picking up off the floor when they leave for holiday break.  It can also be terribly annoying to think that your students may go a whole week or more and do nothing learning-related and come back to you with mush-brain!

Solution:  Take home math games!  Cheap, quick to assemble, and fun for the whole family over break!

With just one easy printout you have gifts for your entire class!

You can download a Christmas bag topper for FREE here!  Use it for any gift!

Put it all together and whatta you got?

Bippity-Boppity-CHRISTMAS!  You can see all the details here.

Here's a little free goodie exclusively for my readers!  Download the Christmas die to use for any games in your classroom this season:

If you like this idea, you may also like my "Take Home Science Experiments" that also work great as holiday (or anytime) gifts!

Ten on Ten {December}

I can't believe this is the last "Ten on Ten" of 2015!  Wow!

Here are my final 10 pictures on the 10th of the month!  Enjoy and feel free to link up your own 10 pictures to share what you've been up to this month!

Your turn!

Here are the rules to participate:

1)  Choose ten pictures that show your readers what's been going on in your life lately (classroom happenings, fall activities, family fun...).  The pictures can be both teacher and non-teacher related.
2)  Place the pictures in post on the tenth of each month. You can include a small caption with each picture if you'd like.  You must include my blog button (found on my side bar) somewhere in your post)
3)  Come to the Classroom Game Nook and link up your post to the linky party.  Check out other bloggers who have linked up and leave a comment or two on their blogs to share the love!

Happy Holidays from The Classroom Game Nook!