Classroom environment
Math Toolkits k-2 Part 2
Here is a great video showing math toolkits!
Remember that tools are important. They help students to think!
Happy Mathing,
Dr. Nicki
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Math Workshop
Here is Chapter 8!
Happy Mathing,
Dr. Nicki
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )The power of yet!
Let us teach our students the power of yet! This is excellent for k-3! Catchy tune, incredible attitude building!
Happy Mathing,
Dr. Nicki
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Math Toolkits: Part 1
Math toolkits are very important because they provide the tools for students to scaffold their thinking. There are two parts of a math toolkit. Part I is the part with all the physical tools and Part II is the part with all the blackline masters and writing templates. What goes in the toolkit depends on the grade level. At the beginning of the year, the toolkits should have tools that students are familiar with from prior grades and as the year progresses, you add new tools.
There are many ways to house the toolkits. Some teachers use big baggies, others use boxes, others use actual toolboxes. You have to pick what works for you. Some teachers just have a bunch of them in a specific place in the classroom, other teachers have them at the student tables (there should be enough for each student), while other teachers give each individual student a toolkit. Do what works for you. But at any given moment, every student should have access to the tools they need to scaffold their thinking.
Remember that your classroom environment is part of your toolkit. You should have big things- life-sized (ten frames, number lines, fraction strips etc) for students to see and use as they think outloud during public discussions. You should also have a variety of virtual tools that you are using during your whole group instruction and guided math groups.
During the next few days, I will post more specifically about grade level toolkits.
Happy Mathing,
Dr. Nicki
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Math Workshop: A Quick Guide
Here is a great link for seeing what it looks like and examples of doing Math Workshop!
Happy Mathing,
Dr. Nicki
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )How can I charts…
I saw this “How can I chart” on Pinterest. I like the structure. I think it would be great to make a series of math anchor charts about “How can I…” such as “How can I add two digit numbers?” “How can I multiply a fraction by a whole number?” “How can I add single digit numbers quickly?”
Then, the chart lists several different ways to do it…going through the cycle of engagement: concrete ways, pictorial ways and abstract ways.
Then, you should definitely take pictures of these charts and have the students put the copies in their thinking notebooks or store the charts somewhere where they are accessible…or put them in a photo album that is labeled so students can use it as a reference when needed….or have the students copy the charts into their thinking notebooks…
The big point here is that charts should be a tool that is used throughout the year, not just for a moment!
Happy Mathing,
Dr. Nicki
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Flourishing in Math
A community is a place where social bonds are established and individuals can flourish (Bredekamp and Rosegrant 1992, 81).
I love this! What does it look like when everyone in our classroom is flourishing? How do we strive for that as educators?
P.S. As quite as it’s kept….everyone can flourish….it depends on the perseverance of the teacher!
P.S.S. (of a person, animal, or other living organism) grow or develop in a healthy or vigorous way, esp. as the result of a particularly favorable environment.
Wow!—-what a difference a classroom environment can make…a favorable environment helps students to flourish…to thrive…to soar…
Happy Mathing,
Dr. Nicki
Ref. http://www.thefreedictionary.com/flourish
http://www.google.com/#fp=4242ab39c659d856&q=flourish&safe=off
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Guided Math Videos: Part 2
Here is a very interesting guided math video. Look at the student desks and the guided math group table! Wow! These are really great! I haven’t seen these before.
Also, notice the variety of ways this teacher uses technology. You don’t have to use the programs he names, there are plenty of free programs. The idea of using technology for math workshop in all of these different ways is fascinating and shows how engaged and targeted digital workstation practice can be.
Happy Mathing,
Dr. Nicki
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )TEACHING KIDS TO LOVE MATH
“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up people together to collect wood and don’t assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea”
“If you want to teach children to love math, don’t drill them to death with decontextualized skills, don’t give them hundreds of point less word problems, but rather give them interesting projects where they need to use math.”
Dr. Nicki
HAPPY MATHING!
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Question of the Day: Part 2
Here are some more links with ideas for doing question of the day.
Link 1
Link 2
Link 3
Link 4 (Great books)
Link 5
Link 6
Happy Mathing,
Dr. Nicki
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