Showing posts with label 3-5 Math. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 3-5 Math. Show all posts

Thursday, November 17, 2016

10 Fun Mannequin Challenges for the Classroom



This is going to be fun!  You have most likely heard of the mannequin challenge.  This is when someone or a group of people freeze in place, and someone snaps a picture.  There are some really cool challenges out there. Singers and other notable figures have gotten involved in the craze.

The mannequin challenge can also be implemented in the classroom.  Students can freeze in place to show their reaction to what they have learned.  Look at these 10 fun mannequin challenges you can use in your classroom.

What is Needed:
  • A Camera
  • Creative Poses
Students can:
1.  Show the response to a reading passage.  A finger to a temple could show questioning, a surprised look could show one understands, etc.
2.  Freeze as they work in a group to solve a math problem.
3.  Use frozen gestures to show how they feel about what they have just read.
4.  Act out a scene from Westward Expansion, early colonialism, etc.
5.  Act out the parts of speech in language arts.
6.  Freeze to show what should be done or proper behavior when working in a group.
7.  Act out what has been learned about simple machines.
8.  Act out the laws of motion in science.
9.  Act out the different weather patterns.


10.  Act out a math principle.  For example, They can act out the properties of multiplication, addition, or exponents as a group.

 

--Daily Reading Comprehension Practice--- These high-interest passages review the Common Core Reading Standards in just five minutes per day.  Historical fiction, realistic fiction, poetry, informational text,drama/plays, fantasy, and science fiction passages are all included to give your students quick, daily practice at your grade level. Common Core Standards are written right next to each short passage for easy progress monitoring. Best of all, the passages are thematic so each week, students build important reading, science, and social studies knowledge as they review each standard.  

Monday, July 13, 2015

Use Cups to Teach Measurement



Getting students to line up their rulers properly can be challenging.  Cups are a great tool to use to teach this.  Visit my blog for how-to directions.

Click Here


Literacy and Math Ideas
www.literacymathideas.blogspot.com




Sunday, February 22, 2015

Math Key Words Freebie


Knowing specific math key words can make understanding word problems or translating words into equations so much easier.  I am back with a freebie.  I recently released a chart that students can keep in their folders as a handy guide.

Literacy and Math Ideas

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Freebie February -- Have You Heard the Buzz?



Now that Valentine's Day and Presidents' Day have been crossed off the calendar, it's about time to think about March and spring. Even if it never got out of the teens in temperature today here in the Midwest. Or, maybe BECAUSE it never got out of the teens today. Regardless, here's the buzz about Freebie February for today.


Grab your copy of How Many Ways? -- March Edition and prepare to watch your students think more deeply, more fluently, and more flexibly. If How Many Ways? are new to you, you are in for a treat.  

Treat #1: This activity is an interactive bulletin board that stays up ALL month. All you have to change are the target numbers and math operations you would like your students to use.


Treat #2: This activity provides instant differentiation.  Yay!  Your highest functioning students can use the operations appropriate for them, while those who need more practice with a particular operation, can focus on that. You can  increase the challenge by requiring that the numbers used touch each other, as in Boggle(TM). Algebraic expressions are applicable.  It even works for pre-K and K students since 1 option is to simply count to the target number. One set of shamrocks includes counting dots just for this purpose.

Treat #3: Students can work on this activity in many ways. It's absolutely perfect for fast finishers because it's open-ended and on-going. Use it for an anchor activity as students arrive each day. They can be engaged while still at their seats so you can get attendance, lunch count, and other necessary chores completed. As a sponge activity, it is simply superb. Spend those odd few minutes checking the equations your students have created. You can stuff lots of great learning into your discussions of the equations; not just checking their accuracy, but the uniqueness, creativity, and complexity. Magnificent as a math center, students can readily work independently at this center, freeing you to work with small groups.  Or, a small group could work under your tutelage for intervention and/or review at this center.

Treat #4: It's CCSS aligned for you with standards applicable to every elementary grade level. Even the description of the standard is included.

Treat #5: Inherent in this activity are higher order thinking skills. Your students must think critically and creatively. The best treat of all is that your students will be challenged in multiple ways.  

Treat #6: Children love it.


If you love this activity, you can use it throughout the year.  These are the versions available:










Sunday, November 16, 2014

Solve a Math Problem in Different Ways



Learning how to solve a math problem in different ways has many benefits.
1.  It helps students understand the underlying principles of a math topic.
2.  It leads students to think about which approach is the fastest or most efficient way to solve a math problem.
3.  It also leads students to understand that math questions can be posed in a variety of ways just like math problems can be solved in a variety of ways.

Let us begin with the third benefit.  Some students can solve a math problem when it is presented in one way.  When the same idea is presented in a different way, they are completely lost.  Not only would this be a nightmare on the day of state assessments, this misunderstanding undermines the entire point of a math lesson.

This chart shows the different ways that multiplication can be presented.  Many students just know of multiplication as being represented as "groups".  Each example shows multiplication in a different context.   It is important for students to understand the different ways that a math topic can be presented.  It is also just as important for students to know that a math problem can be solve in a number of ways.

I can remember walking past a student that had not memorized his multiplication facts. He drew tiny circles on the corner of his paper to find the answer to a math problem. This leads to point two on our list.  Using multiple approaches to solve a math problem helps students determine which one is the most efficient as well as fastest.    There is a place for drawing tiny circles to determine the answer to a problem.  Using this method is not the most efficient because it takes so much time.  Showing how to solve the same math problem in multiple ways helps the student determine the best approach to solve a math problem.


 Use the four box or two box approach.  The math problem is written in the center of the page.  The larger box can be divided into two or four parts.  Each part can show a different way to solve the math problem. 

To Access Math Task Cards That Teach And Review A Variety Of Math Concepts Click Here and Scroll Down













Wednesday, November 12, 2014

What is Math RTI, and How Can I Use It In The Classroom?



Do you use RTI in math?  I recently did a blog post about implementing response to intervention (RTI) for math.  For ideas, click here.

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Create Take-Home Bags For Reading Or Math

During my first year of teaching, I looked for a way to reinforce lessons at home, so I began to create take-home bags.  Book buddies were common with the kindergarten teachers, but I wanted to do something a little different for my third graders.
These are some of my math task cards (click the link and scroll down to view them)

Wear and tear has gotten the best of my first bags.  I use both plastic containers from Dollar Tree and book bags now.  This bag only cost me $1.00 at my local discount store.

During off season time periods, book bags can be purchased at a really good price.  If you cannot find any within your target range, Dollar Tree sometimes has the long plastic containers like these.  Target also has plastic containers. They are usually just above $6 for the longer containers.  

Featured are the Text Feature Playing Cards and the Text Structure Playing Cards.  (Each comes with a printable box)


Each container or bag contains games or task cards that cover one specific topic.  With it organized this way, I can easily assign a specific bag or box to a group of students or assign one to go home with a student that needs extra review.

Dry Erase Close Reading Task Cards are shown in this image.

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Inside of a Math Notebook






I am back to show pictures from my math notes.  My students use colored pencils and sometimes crayons to take colorful notes. This helps them retain the information and draws their attention.







To Access Math Task Cards That Teach And Review or Interactive Notebooks

(They come with printable boxes.  Place a box in a math center station.  Or, send home a box with a student that needs extra review.)

Monday, September 15, 2014

Note Taking in Math


Taking illustrated as well as coloring notes during math helps students organize their thoughts and remember information.  To see pictures of the notes that my students recently took during math time and for ideas, Click Here To See It

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Grade 3 Common Core Interactive Notebook Literature and Informational Text


These 19 short Common Core reading passages plus vocabulary terms in addition to interactive notebook inserts to accompany the Common Core Reading Standards are designed to make the transition to Common Core as easy as pie.  I absolutely love interactive notebooks and have been using them with students across the grade levels for five years.Click Here For More Information





Wednesday, June 25, 2014

The Different Types of Multiplication Problems



Word problems can be so much easier for students when they learn about the different ways that multiplication problems can be worded.  This chart shows the different types of multiplication problems and a visual plus verbal example of each one.  Making students aware of these differences in wording is one way to help them improve in this area.  More more information on this topic, visit my recent blog post Click Here

Friday, April 25, 2014

Use Cups To Teach Math




Cups can be used to teach and review many math topics.  Stop by my blog to learn ideas about how cups can be used to teach a variety of math skills.Click Here To See Illustrated Teaching Ideas



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