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.

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