Hello and welcome to Making Number Sense Makes Sense, a podcast for elementary teachers,
specifically early elementary teachers, looking to really make an impact in the number sense
of their students. Before I jump into the wish list, I just want to give out this little
disclaimer that I don't think in any way shape or form that you as a teacher should
have to buy things for your classroom. I think that it's a problem in the system that teachers
have to spend so much on their own classrooms, but I have had an increase in parents asking me
if I have an Amazon wish list or PTAs wanting to collect teachers Amazon wish lists so that families
who would like to contribute to the classroom know what the teacher actually wants and what may
be useful for their students. There are times where you have a few extra dollars to spend or
the PTA gave you like a hundred dollars spent in your classroom and you're thinking what do I get?
Well I'm going to share with you five Amazon finds that are amazing for that exact purpose that can
be used in lots and lots of different contexts. The first thing is numeral dice. Now I know that
you probably use normal dice in your classroom all the time, but numeral dice are something that you
should definitely consider. Now with numeral dice or dice with numbers on, they have sets that go up
to 20. There's lots of different ranges so it can be used for so many different math stations or
centers that you're doing or even language art centers if you just need a dice that has more
options to it. A little tip when you're searching, I will link below some dice that I really like, but
when you're searching you need to look for the Dungeons and Dragons style dice instead of the
Education style dice for some reason. For some reason the Education dice are more expensive
than the Dungeons and Dragons one and they have fun colors which your kids will really really enjoy.
And along the same vein of dice, there are the 10 frame foam dice or 5 frame 10 frame and 20
frame foam dice. Another great great resource for your students to use and they can be used in lots
and lots of different contexts for lots and lots of different stations. One of my go-tos for using
those kinds of dice are is simply a roll and write with a whiteboard or a dry erase sleeve. The kids
absolutely love it. Bonus if you get to use a colorful marker just to add that engagement
into what you're doing. Usually in my class I only let them use the black marker so if we're in a
small group and they get to use the colorful ones they're into it. The next thing that you should
consider getting is a spinner specifically those suction cup spinners that can be put onto anything
and the reason why is because a lot of times if you don't have a dice that has exactly what you
need on it you can create a spinner really really easily that you just print off and then use one
of those spinners for for mass stations, language art stations. There are so so many choices you
can make a number spinner if you need one you can put wrecking wrecks on there you can put shapes
you can put letters there's so many different things you can put just on a spinner and use
and then you have a little suction cup arrow spinner you can use it over and over again and
your kids will love it. My students in the past have really enjoyed using spinners in any context.
Next item I mentioned briefly is dry erase sleeves. What I like about dry erase sleeves is you can put
anything into the sleeve and have it be something that the kids write on and then erase if they need
to refer back to it. It has been here since I've been able to get a full class set of like many
whiteboards so this is a great workaround that can be used for a whiteboard it can also be used
when you're doing problem solving tasks especially if you're doing a building thinking classroom style
problem and you don't have vertical whiteboards dry erase sleeves or something you can definitely
use in that context. And the last thing is not specifically for math but it has been a time saver
for me now I don't remember exactly who I saw it from but I definitely saw it on socials and it's
this double-sided tape and this double-sided tape is amazing. You need the tiniest tiniest little bit
and then stuff stays up all year like if there's something that you know that you're going to put
up on your walls for the whole year that stuff will keep it up there all year long. Now a specific
example we have I make name tags for my students specific name tags for my students and those
they play with them all the time. Those things stay coming off and even if we put masking tape
underneath and then cover it with packing tape it just didn't stay. It's pick at the corner pick at
the corner pick at the corner and then all of a sudden we have to tape it and tape it and tape it.
Since I started using double-sided tape again a teeny tiny square on each corner they haven't
messed with them since like they have not come off since we put those little squares on. The one
thing is since it's a little bit thicker it does give it a little bit of rise so stuff has the
potential to get stuck under there like a double-sided counter but the kids usually find it easier and
hey if I don't have to mess with name tags all the time it's a win. It's a win and it has saved me
tons of time and headaches and reminders about not to play with the name tags. So again quick
recap numeral dice get the Dungeons and Dragons version for cheaper. Ten frame dice spinners
dry erase sleeves and double-sided tape. Those things are game changers things that you can use
over and over again in tons of different contexts in your classroom and I do not think you will
regret any of those purchases. So you have some ideas for what to add to your classroom wish list
or if you have a little extra from somewhere here in there just to spend on amazon those are some
great options. Everybody knows that teaching is not for the weak and sometimes you just need a
little humor you need to laugh it off so I found a thread that definitely resonated with me and I'd
like to share it with you. The theme of the thread is I'd happily go to staff meetings if
here we go I'd happily go to staff meetings if there was a point I'd happily go to staff meetings
if there were margaritas if there were no questions if it was differentiated to meet the needs of all
teachers just like they like to preach about meeting the needs of all students if there was
an open bar if I got the same amount of time off if it couldn't have been an email if there were no
icebreakers if they offered massages slash manicures or pedicures if it actually helped me
become a better teacher last but not least if the principal just went around and gave a shout out to
every single staff member about what a great job they're doing so let me know which one resonated
with you some of them definitely resonated with me and I hope that these amazon finds really help
you and your students in the classroom.