Archive for July, 2011
Free Digital Fraction Math Tools to teach Math Common Core!
This is a great FREE resource for digital fraction math tools. Fractions is a difficult concept according to all the research. In the new math common core it has its own domain starting in 3rd grade. Students are expected to illustrate visual representations of fraction concepts. These tools help them to do just that!
Happy Mathing,
Dr. Nicki
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( 2 so far )Common Core Math Progressions: Detailed Guided Math and Center Activities
The Common Core folks have put up Math Progressions, which describe each domain in detail. They only have progressions up for Operations and Algebraic Thinking and Place Value right now. There are pictures, diagrams and lots of good information. This is a must read for everybody!
Operations and Algebraic Thinking Progressions
Happy Mathing,
Dr. Nicki
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( 5 so far )Even More Great Place Value Games: Great Centers
There are some great place value games on this site! Be sure to try the numberline game! It’s great for ordering numbers! These games are great to play on an interactive whiteboard with the entire class and talk through the moves the students select. It is also good to do these games in small groups and have the students justify their choices. Of course, these games are also great center practice activities.
Happy Mathing,
Dr. Nicki
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Rich Math for July: Great Center Activities
This is a great site for rich math activities. Here is what they are doing in July! These are great thinking activities for kids. Be sure to make the students talk through what they are doing and why they are doing it! We need to do more of this type of stuff where our students really have to problem solve rather than just calculate!
Happy Mathing,
Dr. Nicki
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Great RTI Math Resource: Strategies for Guided Math Groups
RTI is a great structure for planning differentiated interventions! I do a great deal of workshops on it around the country. I find that people struggle with really knowing what research based math interventions look like. As a nation we are really good at knowing and talking about research based literacy interventions! We have to spruce up our knowledge on RESEARCH BASED MATH INTERVENTIONS! Math research is alive and well (as quiet) as it is kept.
Here is a great resource by the Federal Government about how to implement research based math interventions called Doing What Works!
Following the recommendations of the National Mathematics Advisory Panel they state that RTI interventions should:
• For K–5, focus on whole numbers, including place value and addition and subtraction operations with whole numbers
• For 4–8, focus on rational numbers and operations with fractions, decimals, ratios, and percents and complex operations with whole numbers
• Explicitly teaching how to solve word problems using problem types with examples and information about teaching students to identify irrelevant information
• Daily practice on fluency with math facts during interventions and cumulative review
• Strategy approaches to fact teaching, including counting on, deriving facts using properties
This website is filled with resources such as powerpoints and videos. It also has a great deal of information about screening and monitoring as well as actual implementation at all 3 levels.
Happy Mathing,
Dr. Nicki
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( 2 so far )A Great Vocabulary Powerpoint
Here is a great vocabulary powerpoint that really illustrates how complicated math vocabulary can be!
Happy Mathing,
Dr. Nicki
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( 4 so far )Math Riddles: Great Critical Thinking Activities for Small Guided Math Groups
Riddles are a great motivation for learning math. Here are several links to place value riddles that can get your students thinking. Definitely allow your students to use concrete materials for solving the problems. After much work with the riddles, move the children to becoming problem posers as well as problem solvers
Resource 7 (great article for scaffolding riddles by grade level)
Happy Mathing,
Dr. Nicki
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Dividing Decimals at the Pictorial Level – Making it Visual in Guided Math Groups
Something everybody needs to know how to do! Here are some great resources that I am encouraging everybody (including the primary teachers) to look at. We all have to step up our game. Every elementary teacher needs to know and be comfortable with solving math problems at least through 8th grade math!!!:) Notice the modeling—this is key. The idea that we conceptually illustrate what is happening is of utmost importance. We need to take this idea of conceptually modeling the math…and do it with whatever we are teaching. Watch how well this is done in the following videos!
Resource 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjIQgR3ardM
Resource 2
http://www.youtube.com/user/nsvolley28#p/u/35/RFATkRcj79Q
Resource 3
http://www.youtube.com/user/nsvolley28#p/u/36/gPB541V-AK0
Resource 4
http://www.youtube.com/user/nsvolley28#p/u/37/n6nK-iIGaEo
Resource 5
http://www.youtube.com/user/nsvolley28#p/u/38/KEosc-2tSM0
Resource 6
http://www.youtube.com/user/nsvolley28#p/u/39/DjIQgR3ardM
Resource 7
http://www.youtube.com/user/nsvolley28#p/u/40/YLvA5zk5q_E
Happy Mathing,
Dr. Nicki
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Dividing Decimals at a Concrete Level: Great Guided Math Lessons
The new Math Common Core states that 5th grade students will
Perform operations with multi-digit whole numbers and with decimals to hundredths.
5.NBT.7. Add, subtract, multiply, and divide decimals to hundredths, using concrete models or drawings and strategies based on place value, properties of operations, and/or the relationship between addition and subtraction; relate the strategy to a written method and explain the reasoning used.
So, we need too make sure our students understand decimals thoroughly. We need to teach it at a concrete, pictorial and THEN abstract level. This is the first post of a series that deals with decimals. Here are some resources to teach dividing decimals at a concrete level.
Happy Mathing,
Dr. Nicki
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Dr. Nicki's Guided Math Blog 