Who Else Loves ETA?? {giveaway!}

The other day, while I was hanging out, watching some TV (and doing some professional reading of course) my door bell rang.  When I opened it, I saw a box with this neat little bag inside.

Upon opening it, I realized what a treat I had sitting in front of me.  ETA Hand2Mind had sent me their  Home Team Advantage Kit for Grade 5 to check out and I immediately dug right in!  I was so so excited because going through college Cuisenaire Rods were THE thing...and this is the same company that makes them.  My expectations for this kit were high, and it truly did not disappoint.







Inside this kit are some really great materials. The first thing I pulled out was a summer schedule.  Each day of the week, from Monday to Thursday, was on this schedule.  It is designed to keep the kids on track and learning throughout the summer, without bogging them down.  The organizer in me LOVED this feature :)  I do like to fly by the seat of my pants at times, but having a set roadmap is always nice. It is also in Spanish, which really would be great for many of my parents.



teachinginroom6.blogspot.com
Then, out came the Versatiles.   Have you ever used Versatiles?  They are these really neat tiles that form a picture if you have the correct answers.  They come packaged together with three books, one in math, one in grammar, and one in life science.  These books were perfect because they truly did hit the key standards that we focused on throughout the year.  I know these are going to be used during my actual school year next year...and I am confident they would help to keep the "summer slide" away for my kids going on to middle school.  My own child (not a 5th grader) is loving them!  I have been making up questions for her, but will have to go out and get the kinder version of it so she can work on her own. 

There are also some wonderful reading books, of all different genres.  The books are short and seem to be of high interest.  The schedule has them set for one per week, which is basically the same pace we keep in  class during the year.  Along with it is a writing journal, which encourages the kids to write a bit during their summer.  Great!











These little wrap ups are also fun.  I mean, I do know my division tables, but just doing the wrapping part was really addicting.  My students would definitely love the "game" feel of these.

The last little goodie in the bag are these triangle flash cards.  With multiplication and division fact families on there, the kids are sure to keep these skills on their brain.  Just the fact that they are triangles is interesting enough (sometimes, just changing the shape of an oft-used resource makes the kids go giddy with excitement!)  There are also some great games the kids can make up and use the cards with too.  This will make a great activity to use during Math Workshop in my room come September.

I really think the amount of  review and skills hidden inside this small bag will keep any kid fresh for middle school in the Fall.  I just wish I had them before we went off!  Next year, for sure!  I also am so glad that I will have it to use in my room come this fall.  There are such great independent activities in here for my early finishers or to have as an area during Workshop. 


And here is the best part.  ETA Hand2Mind is going to give one of the lucky readers here a 5th grade kit for themselves!  Fill in the rafflecopter below to enter.  (one little thing, you *have* to be a US resident to enter.  So sorry for those of you not in the US)  Leave me a comment here on the blog about how you think this kit will work its way into your room.  Also, head over to ETA's facebook page and join up (don't forget to tell them Teaching in Room 6 sent you!) and be sure to follow me on Facebook too.  Lots of ways to enter...so get to it!  I will announce the winner Friday afternoon! a Rafflecopter giveaway

77 comments

  1. Wow! These look great for hands-on work. I would love to use them in my cross categorical special education intermediate classroom.
    Sherrie

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  2. This would be great for centers in math!

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  3. I would love to use some of these materials for math center rotations!

    Liliris
    Fourth Grade Garden

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  4. I have used the wrap ups in the past and the kids really do love them! This kit looks fantastic! I am also hosting a giveaway today if you want to stop by! Polka Dots and Teaching Tots

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  5. I LOVE Versatiles - and so do my 5th graders; we just never seem to have enough sets!

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  6. I, too, LOVE ETA! My absolute favorite are the Versatiles. My students have always enjoyed them too.

    Mrs. Lyon's Blog - Teaching: The Art of Possibility

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  7. I would love to use these things with my fifth graders. During band time I still have a large number of students in my classroom---they could reinforce skills. I would also enjoy using these to help prepare for state assessments. :)

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  8. This would be an amazing addition to my classroom as I'm a first year teacher!

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  9. I definitely could use these in my classroom next year! I am starting a workshop method of teaching math and reading and these would be a great addition to my centers!

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  10. I am gearing my instruction to a Math Workshop classroom next year, these manipulatives would be perfect for hands-on learning!

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  11. These would be great for my review centers on Fridays. I do small group work to review tricky concepts from the week and then do other review work and I could DEFINITELY use these! How great! What fun!

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  12. Great opportunity. Thanks for sharing.

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  13. I think I would use this kit for math centers as well as the HW club that I host at lunch. Such a fun and great way to keep the students on top of math.

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  14. I'm going to do guided math in a 3/4 combo class. These would be great to use in that.

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  15. These would be great for fast finishers to reinforce concepts!

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  16. I would love to use this to differentiate instruction in my room. Having a few choices of activities would reinforce essential skills in a fun and engaging way:)

    Stephanieelainecrisp@hotmail.com

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  17. I teach Sp. Ed. and this kit would be awesome for my higher level kiddos that need more practice and review.

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  18. So awesome! I'm looking to do some work with guided math and centers this year. These are skills my kiddos really need. How lucky they would be to win this!

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  19. I would love to use this to help challenge my higher level fourth grade math students with more hands on activities.

    Mindy

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  20. Hands on activities to help reinforce skills in my 4th grade classroom. I have never seen the versatiles before! I'm going to go google them now!

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  21. these would be great for math stations--possibly even differentiated homework for those who have trouble mastering the skills.

    msob123@gmail.com

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  22. This pack is perfect for my Guided Math centers. I've used versatiles in the past, and they are AWESOME. Thank you for the opportunity!

    jadeliu83@yahoo.com

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  23. Great addition to my class.

    Justin Greene
    http://inthegreeneroom.blogspot.com/

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  24. I would use them as additional tools to practice or as a part of a math center.

    fscjc2@yahoo.com

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  25. These would be awesome for my math groups! :)

    polkadotsnpencils@yahoo.com

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  26. I'm awarding you the Versatile Blogger award... Head over to theteachersloop.blogspot.com to check it out.

    Shasta

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  27. All this would go straight to stations. The kids will love it!

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  28. My school is only K-3, so we do not have many in-house resources for my students who are above level in math during small group. This would be PERFECT!

    Meg
    Third Grade in the First State

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  29. I have heard great things about Versatiles and used Wrap-Ups when teaching 3rd Grade. I am implementing Math Workshop in my 5th Grade classes this year and would LOVE to have all of these resources!

    Joyce G.

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  30. I'm moving from 1st to 5th grade this year and would LOVE to have these to start my year off right!! :)

    Jacki

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  31. Super for those kids who still need practice on skills in math but need different materials to do that practice with.

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  32. These would be awesome math stations!

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  33. Always wanted to try the wrap-ups, never felt like I could spend the extra money though!

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  34. OOOhhh! I hope I win! This looks like such a great collection. I am just starting math stations/workshop and really need materials. This would be so great to help my struggling 5er's. I've used addition/subtraction wrap-ups, but my kiddoes would think these are great! Hope my number comes up!

    Meiri

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  35. I am moving from Pre K to 5th grade this year. With my younger kiddos I always sent home fun activity bags to do at home and return the next day so another child gets a chance.
    I think I could do that with 5th graders also, just on a more academic level by practicing skills or to challenge some kids.

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  36. I would use the items in my math centers and send home some of the supplies with students that need extra practice. I love the triangular flash cards- I've heard that it's easier for students to recall the answer to the problem.

    Mary
    Teaching Special Kids

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  37. I would love to use these in some sort of center activity or a free time activity! :)

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  38. I am planning on implementing math workshop this coming up year for my 5th grade kiddos. This would be awesome to have for workshop!

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  39. I am starting a math workshop this year and this would fit right into what I want to include. Crossing my fingers I win :)

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  40. I LOVE Versatiles! I used them during summer school last year, and this last school year during their tier groups. They also have versions via technology! :-)

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  41. My kids absolutely love Versatiles! I would use the great things in this kit during our math rotations. It would provide some nice variety which is important if I want to keep the kids engaged.

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  42. I am a 5th grade supervisor but do not have a budget! I would love to be able to give this to one of my 5th grade teachers! Everyone loves the Versatiles! Thanks for your great posts!

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  43. I am moving from 4th to fith grade and can see how these would help refresh their minds as centers or when work is done. I love the little wraps and the versatiles. I think they are amazing for review and keeping the kids engaged. I also like that the books are high interest and 1 per week. What a great incentive for the summer after school is out. What a great opportunity.

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  44. I would love to have these to use as fast finishers or as part of my math small groups!

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  45. I would love to have these to use as fast finishers or as part of my math small groups!

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  46. I would love to use these items during my guided math time and early finishers!

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  47. I am a fifth grade teacher and these items look great!

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  48. Not only am I moving from 6th to 5th this year, but it has been over 6 years since I have taught math! To top that off I'll be teaching an intervention math group and from what I am told from the previous intervention teacher they need a lot of reinforcement in number sense and basic facts. These items would be great for the small group rotations for my math class this coming year!

    Upper Grades Are Awesome

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  49. These materials would be great for math centers. I have one set of wrap ups for early finishers, additional sets would be awesome!

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  50. I would LOVE having Versatiles for my classroom!

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  52. I think I would use these in small groups or even for early finishers.

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  53. I'm going to be teaching third grade and I am moving up from kindergarten (which I had just started to get the hang of) So I think that this would be helpful maybe. Not sure still becoming familiar with the teks. But I think that it would help with the studetns who are ready for more in math than just the third grade teks

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  54. I'm a first year teacher teaching a 4th/5th split this year! Any extra materials would be wonderful, and these look like they'd fit in great with both curriculums. I'd love to win this kit! Also, I love your blog!

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  55. What an amazing kit! I have Versatiles and LOVE them! It would be so cool to try out all the other goodies in this kit in my centers! The summer schedule component is really neat...I could see using it for one of my incoming students who is quite challenged to help maintain any gains we hopefully make this year. :) Thanks so much for this opportunity!!! :)

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  56. They look like a great idea! Can't wait to try them.

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  57. What a WONDERFUL gift! I would use them with my Guided Math I am going to put into practice this year. I would use them in small groups, for review, for early finishers, as intervention, and during my math conferences. Thanks for the chance to win!!!

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  58. Hi Stephanie:
    I work with some sixth graders after school who would benefit from the hands-on nature of these activities. If you have to go to tutoring after school, it should at least be fun!
    And, I agree, a center in math workshop would be a great option too--especially for sixth graders who have not mastered their fifth grade skills. What a good support to get them there!

    Great post (as always)!

    Kim
    Finding JOY in 6th Grade

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  59. Key wraps are really great -- the students can stay focused for an entire center in math workshop, no matter their age! :-) I'd like the 5th grade pack for review with my 6th grade students.

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  60. These are GREAT! I love how they changed the format of the flash cards (triangles) and the simple wrapping of division skills to teach the same thing. It's a fresh way and the kids would love it! They'd be great in my 5th grade classroom!

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  61. I have many parents who want to keep their kids learning during the summer. What a perfect resource!

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  62. I am always creating and sorting new games for my math time. These would be great new additions. The kids love wrap ups. I only have x, though, so division would be great. I have been wanting to try versa tiles for a while, they look intriguing. Also, I could see this being an excellent resource for a parent who wants, but either cannot afford or cannot work in the time for a tutor over the summer because it provides a roadmap.

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  63. I would love to use these items in my guided math and reading centers!

    Emily
    eah719@hotmail.com

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  64. I teach 4th grade and I would use this kit as enrichment for my higher kids
    ~Lorraine
    Fabulous 4th Grade Froggies
    rainee2011@gmail.com

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  65. I teach special education, this would be great for some independent work in my classroom. A majority of my students are fifith graders who are working on grade level skillsw with extra help, this is a great way for them to have some extra help.

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  66. Hi there! I am a very happy and new follower! I have to add that I was so excited to see VersaTiles on your blog! I am slightly OBSESSED with them, but since I have moved states and my new school does not have them, I haven't seen them in a while! I have got to get them again!

    Bridget
    Little Lovely Leaders

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  67. I, too, love Cuisenaire Rods. It's nice to see that the company is also offering materials for older students. I would love to use this kit for summer learning. I am a 4-5 looping teacher, so summer learning is very important to me. I keep in touch electronically with some students, but there are others that could use a summer learning boost. This would be perfect for getting them ready for grade 5. Thanks for the review.

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  68. I love the wrap ups! Great math center.

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  69. Thank you for all of your wonderful and helpful ideas! I love the Wrap ups!

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  70. I was just hired as my school's math resource teacher (it's a brand-new position). This will come in so handy as I work with those students who need remediation.

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  71. This would be so great to win. This year will be my second year back to teaching and I am trying to rebuild my resources esp math.

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  72. I would love to use this kit during my math stations time! My students would love to this! I would also enjoy the detailed organizer!

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  73. I love how the kit gives students a fun way of practicing math concepts! I would use this during math centers time.

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  74. Congratulations to Mindy! She is the winner of the kit.

    Thank you so much to all of you who entered and shared your ideas with us.

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