Math Rotations

Last week I began using Math Rotations in my classroom during my math block and even though we only did it for a couple of days I love it and so do my students. I was looking for a way to tweak my rotations so that the students could get more out of them and they would have a center that would allow them time to practice independently with the required workbook pages. Many of you suggested I check out Clutter-Free classroom's Math Rotation set and I am SO glad I did. I purchased the math rotation set from TpT and put together everything I would need to set up my Math rotation board first thing in the morning. I actually have an empty bulletin board in my classroom that I have been trying to fill up and I think this will be perfect! I bought a piece of black foam board for the rotation set-up, and I used glue stick and double sided tape to put it together:

Then when I get to school tomorrow I will hang this on the bulletin board (after I add some cute border). Since it is foam board and not poster board I am a little perplexed as to how I can hand it on the bulletin board. I think it will be too thick for staples. I may have to use wax or maybe go buy some Command strips. Any other ideas on how to hang this would be greatly appreciated.

Then, for the groups, I took 4 pieces of purple paper and laminated it and put the group number at the top, I am going to use post it notes to identify group members (this will make so easy to change them if I see that the groups need to be tweaked) - another idea I got from Clutter-Free Classroom.

Finally, I took the header for each of the 4 rotations and I laminated that and attached it to a laminated piece of white card stock and I will use that to write the center activities for the day on it. CFC uses a pocket chart for hers but I don't think my bulletin board is big enough for that. We have small bulletin boards.

I can't wait to introduce this to my students so I am hoping I have it all up and in place before they arrive tomorrow morning. I am actually getting up 30 minutes early soI can get to school a little earlier to get the board al set up.

On a side note, I absolutely LOVE music and I listen to my iPhone all the time. So today, as I was busy working my behind off today making everything for my math rotations I was listening to my music when a song by Rascal Flatts came on and it's called "Stand." I have heard this song many many times and its one of my favorites (which is why its on my iPhone) but as I was singing along today I realized that the first verse and the chorus fit perfectly with my mood/situation/feelings about teaching lately. SO I wanted to share those first few lyrics with you all because they really lit a fire in me and believe me I plan to stand:

You feel like a candle in a hurricane
Just like a picture with a broken frame
Alone and helpless
Like you've lost your fight
But you'll be alright, you'll be alright

[Chorus:]
Cause when push comes to shove
You taste what you're made of
You might bend, till you break
Cause its all you can take
On your knees you look up
Decide you've had enough
You get mad you get strong
Wipe your hands shake it off
Then you stand, Then you stand