Helping kids develop number relationships

I heard about this app today and thought I would share!  It looks like a great extension/challenge for firsties, but also has a great way to build number sense and relationships in your other kiddos!

This is talking about the free Lite version, and I am not sure what the paid version will offer you.  If you don't have access to tablets, the concept remains the same and could be something you do in your classroom on the SMARTBoard or some other, more flexible number grid.

The basic version involves students finding a number on a blank number grid.  The trick there is that the other boxes are empty until clicked.  The child can click to help orient themselves to the grid.

In the advanced version, the student is again given a number to locate on the grid, but the orientation of the grid has been changed.  The child must use his/her knowledge of numbers in order to locate the number on the grid.  Each orientation will have 10 different numbers for students to place.  I think it would be a powerful tool for building student's problem-solving and number sense relationships!

Let me know if you would like help figuring out a way to develop a less-techy version to use in your classroom.

The following video is a student's review of the basic app.  

Increasing math talk

It sometimes takes a while to get kids to feel comfortable talking math.  They can find it hard to defend their answer, use the correct vocabulary, and have confidence in their thinking.

This website might help with that!  It is called Which One Doesn't Belong? , and it follows the idea of the great Sesame Street clip "One of these things isn't like the other..."  The trick is there are many correct answers.  Students choose their reason that one doesn't fit and then defends it to the group.  Others might choose a whole different answer and be able to defend it as well,

There are puzzles on here for K-5.  I think they might make a great opening activity, math station, or small group activity. Can your students make an argument for each of the four numbers?

I'd love to hear how you use it!  If you make new puzzles to use in your classroom, please consider sharing in your grade level folder and/or with me.  People are always looking for new ways to challenge their students.  

Which of these doesn't belong?

Plickers--Have you tried them?

Hopefully, you have heard about Plickers.  If not, go to the website to learn more.

Plickers are cards that students use to respond to multiple choice questions presented by you on the SMARTBoard.  Once the child has an answer, you use your smartphone or Ipad to scan the room and "pick up" their answers.  Each person's card is individualized so that they can't compare it to someone else's for a right answer.  Individualization also helps you to see who is getting the right answer and who isn't.

The site will tell you how many had the right answer for each question both at the time and after you are done.  You feed the program the questions you want to ask.  You can ask all of the questions at once, or you can just ask one or two to get feedback on the day's lesson.

Last year, when I used this site, I emailed the Plickers people to ask if teachers could share question sets.  They told me that capability would come in the near future.  It looks like to me that it is not ready for that yet.  However, if you create a question set in word, then other people who want the questions just need to copy and paste it into their own account to use it.  Once the question set is in, the questions can be used as often as desired.

Your IMC specialist should be able to help you with this program if you would like, but I am also happy to help you figure out ways to use this in your math class.

I have made a question set for U2--4th grade, U2--1st grade, U3--2nd grade, and U3--5th grade.  You can copy and paste these into your Plicker account to use if you wish.  Good luck!

U2 Plickers--1st grade

U2 Plickers--4th grade

U3 Plickers--2nd grade

U3 Plickers--5th grade

Extension Activities for Unit 2 and Unit Targets

It is often challenging to find ways to enrich our students who have already shown mastery of skills in each unit.  It is tempting to teach them skills beyond the grade level, but we should really work to build more depth of understanding of the grade level skills.  This can be done in many ways, but my examples for you for Unit 2 of EM are problem-solving based.

Nrich math has many problems to challenge all of your students.  These I have pulled to align with Unit 2. They may take your students multiple days to complete--and that is fine!  They may still be trying to solve or explain this problem in Unit 4.  That is fine, too.  It is okay for them to struggle a little.  If you think these aren't enough of a challenge for your kiddos, explore the site a little--maybe you'll find something that will work better in your classroom.

Unit 2--Grade 1: 2,4,6,8: Students explore making number sentences
                              4 Dom: A number puzzle involving dominoes
                              One Big Triangle:  a puzzle for looking at sums of 10
                               Flower Petal Puzzles:  puzzles with sums of 10
                               

Unit 2--Grade 2: Ladybirds in the Garden:  Finding sums with specific addends
                               Tug of War:  A battle of addition and subtraction
                               Would you rather:  Halloween themed problem where students choose and 
                                justify
                               Big Magic:  Magic Square Puzzle
                               Nine Squares Puzzle:  Addition puzzle which requires perseverance

Unit 2--Grade 3:  Let us Divide: Different division story problems  
                                 True Scale Multiplication Table: Table that uses area arrays to show facts. 
                                Baking Cookies: Depth of Knowledge problem from Open Middle involving arrays.
                                The Kite:  multiplication word problem


Unit 2--Grade 4:  Inside Seven Squares : Finding area challenge
                                Why 24?: A problem that looks deeper at divisibility and prime numbers
                                Would you rather?:  Which income property is the better deal?
                                 Multiplication Table Sums:  A deeper dive into the multiplication table

Unit 2--Grade 5:  Thousands & Millions: Questions that make children look closer at a 
                                 million.
                                 Would you rather:  Children choose their choice of shopping sprees
                                 Genius Blocks:  Puzzles for addition of particular sums
                                 Pyramid Puzzle:  Logic Puzzle
                                 What is a Happy Number?:  Computation Puzzle

Finally, as we work to make our targets clear to our students, someone suggested a page of targets for each unit might help to keep our kiddos focused.  Each grade level's document has the target standards for each unit.  You may already have something like this that you use to focus your students, but, if not, feel free to use this in whichever way you find best.  I made them with 2 copies on a page to save a few trees.  :)

Grade 3  Standards per unit

Grade 4  Standards per unit

Grade 5  Standards per unit


If you have special enrichment activities for this unit that you would like to share with your colleagues, please do!  If you have a friend who might benefit from this post, please share it with them.  If you have something special you are looking for, please reach out to me, and I'll see what I can do!

Make Ten Resources

Making ten is  an important addition strategy for primary grades.  Here are some resources to help your students comprehend the concept as well as develop some automaticity of facts.  When working on facts, always try to have your students first involved concretely, then pictorially, then numerically/abstractly.  Fact fluency involves good understanding of the concept--not just rote memory. I have labeled each activity with a C, P,or an A.  

Most of these would make great math stations! (Many of the examples have links to PDFs, SMART Notebooks or other things you might need)

This picture shows a life-size idea for ten frames.  You might also consider having your students stand in the spaces of the ten frame for a more kinesthetic experience.  Dr. Nicki recommends using a shower curtain and duct tape.  I have found that plastic tablecloths hold up pretty well to kiddos standing/walking on them, too.   C

Number Bowling:  This game comes from What the Teacher Wants.  Students bowl the tennis ball and then figure out the combination that made 10.  I think you could play it with an addition or subtraction number sheet. Here is a recording sheet to help with subitizing and recording their game. C

Make Ten Bracelets:  This idea comes from Kindergarten Doodles.  You could use pipe cleaners as bracelets or beaded number lines of ten... C

Ten Frames Puzzles:  These ten frame puzzles are from FirstGradeTeacherLady.  P

Visualizing/Modeling Template:  This template has kids show the fact in a variety of ways.  Maybe you make a book of them for Make Ten facts...P

Make Ten games:  This doc contains three different "games" for making ten.  Each game requires a 10 sided die.  They can be played as an individual or with a partner.  A (but could be Concrete if you provided manipulatives)

Number Bonds Game: I have shared the number bonds link before, but this one focuses on making ten.  A great online challenge.  A

This video uses pictures, numbers, and music to teach.  P  

SMARTBoard Games: This doc has two different pages that you could use as a whole class to practice Make Ten Facts.  A

Once you think that a fact strategy has been conceptualized, try it out with story problems. This page is a start to some Make Ten story problems for your children to solve.  Consider including manipulatives and encourage drawings or number lines to show their thinking! P/A

In the end, our goal is to help kids see the relationship between a number and ten.  If you are interested in using subitizing in your classroom in a more systematic way, consider registering for these 3 free videos for some great professional development.  You can do them at a time that works for you. They are presented by Christina Tondevold, the Recovering Traditionalist.

If you have a colleague you think would like this post, please share. Do you have other ways you work to teach Make Ten facts?  Share in the comments.  :)

Developing a Growth Mindset

Looking to build that growth mindset in your students or even yourself?  Here are some ideas to help you get started... (some of them even come from right here in our own bulidings)

   

5B at Glenn Elementary

Student activity at Grove Elementary

Finally--Check out this  article by Valerie Strauss that was in the Washington Post in April.  It is called Stop telling kids you're bad at math.  You are spreading math anxiety 'like a virus.'

Show me the Money!

With the adoption of the CCSS, we are finding that some skills do not come up as often in our new curriculum.  Many grade levels have no standards for money.  This does not mean that it should be ignored at these levels--in fact, we need to work together to find some ways to integrate money into our games and activities at every level. 

In the CCSS, 2nd grade is the first grade with a specific standard that focuses on money.

2.MD.8:  Solve word problems involving dollar bills, quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies, using $ and ¢ symbols appropriately.

The next time we see mention of money in the CCSS is 4th grade.

4.MD.2:  Use the four operations to solve word problems involving distances, intervals of time, liquid volumes, masses of objects, and money, including problems involving simple fractions or decimals, and problems that require expressing measurements given in a larger unit in terms of a smaller unit. Represent measurement quantities using diagrams such as number line diagrams that feature a measurement scale.

EM4 does present problems with money at different grade levels, but students are expected to have mastery of counting and writing money by the end of 2nd.  We are finding that all students are not achieving mastery by the end of Grade 2.

I know that you do a lot with money already, but I also know that you are busy teaching the standards for your grade level and that money is not as prevalent in EM4 in grades other than 2nd.  Here are some ideas and resources to encourage more work with money in our classrooms which should be able to meld into your grade level's standards.  Please  add more ways that you integrate money into your students' learning in the comments at the bottom of this post.

IDEAS:

K-2:

+Use coins in your calendar work.

+When teaching counting by 5's, have students use nickels so that they make the connection between coin and its value.
+Have students  use coins as objects while learning tally marks or sorting.
+Play games that work on identification and values of coins. 
+Use coins as playing pieces in games.  
+Label your math groups as the pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters.
+Make parents aware of the need to expose their children to coins and their values.

3-5:
+Use story problems which involve the use of money.
+Use coins to represent multiplication and division facts.
+Use coins and bills to represent place value.
+Use coins to represent fractions and decimals.

++There are many books that involve money in our math literature resources we received last year as well.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
These resources from EngageNY are very good.  I think they are good to use for extra practice and some enrichment.  They are leveled by grade, but some of them could be used in more grades than the intended one. (EngageNY has great modules for all CCSS skills--these just have money as their primary focus.)

Grade 1:  Identify and Decompose P, N, and D  Identify and Decompose Q    More identify coins   Count on using pennies    Use P and D to represent numbers to 120  Adding 10s and 1s

Grade 2: Problems with money

Grade 4: Money as decimals    Problems with money

Grade 5:  Patterns using money



GAMES/PUZZLES:

Fiddlesticks: Glue images of coins or play coins onto the ends of tongue depressors.  Label on the end of one of the sticks, write BANKRUPT.  Sticks go into a plastic cup with the coins at the bottom of the cup.  Students take turns pulling a stick and identifying the coin. If the coin is correctly identified, the student keeps the stick.  Play keeps going back and forth...if a child pulls the BANKRUPT stick, that student has to put all of his/her sticks back into the cup.  This game is great practice and it works well in a station, because it never ends.  I recommend about 20-25 sticks per set. If your students are able, you might have them total how much money they have at the end of the station...

Clean Up the Money: Follow this link to get the PDF of this game. Great for money practice and coordinate pairs.

Coin Clue Puzzles:  This SMART document blends logic with money... especially good for Grades 2-4.  Download the SMART doc and save with your other docs.  There are currently 15 puzzles in this document.

Online games:
    Menu of games from Sheppard Software: A variety of online games at different levels.
     The Piggy Bank Game:  This game involves counting coins.
    Bank it!:  This game involves counting coins and simple word problems.
    Cash out!:  This game simulates making change.  Difficulty levels vary.

If you have an Ipad or Ipod for use in your classroom, ConnectSums and Sumstacker are great games and have a mode that involves coins!  They can be played on your computer, but they can only be opened in Internet Explorer.

So...I hope that some of these ideas and resources help your students to build their skills with money.  If you have a great money resource or link to share for any grade level, please consider commenting below.

Some Fun Online games

Looking for some different online games to try with your class?  Games are a great way to get students excited while practicing math concepts.  Practice sites like IXL, Xtra Math, and Front Row are okay for drill practice, but sometimes you might want to mix it up.  Kids love Sumdog which practices many skills using many games, but sometimes I know you are looking for games that pinpoint specific skills.

Here is a list of just a few.  You might use them as a station, play them as a class, or share with parents as a way to practice skills at home.

Many of the games come from sites that have a multitude of great games available.  I am only spotlighting a few.

Curious George Hide and Seek: This game follows George through other settings.  Students are asked to identify digits, number words, and sets of objects.  Appropriate for K.

Sum Links:  Students match addition and subtraction statements to make target numbers. This site becomes more difficult as students progress through the levels.  This game is appropriate for Grades  1-2.

Number Bonds:  Players shoot little pinballs as moving targets to make a total of 20.  Requires quick eyes and good aim!  Fun.  Appropriate for Grades 1-2.

Bang on Time:  This clock game has adjustable speeds.  Students try to stop the clock at the time written on the screen.  This game provides good practice of time language.  It works great on the SMART Board.  Appropriate for Grades 2-3, but 4-5 might like for review.

2D Shape Jeopardy:  Little Jeopardy game that reviews the basics.  Appropriate for Grades 2-3.

Multiplication Blocks: This is a race game. Students try to find factors of the target number falling down the side of the screen.  The goal is to hit the factors before the number hits the bottom. Levels become progressively harder.  Appropriate for Grades 3-4.  Good review for 5.

Speedway Fractions:  Another race game. Student answer addition and subtraction problems of fractions with like denominators.  Answers are sometimes in simplest form.  Student moves across the track faster when he answers quickly and correctly.  Appropriate for Grade 4.

Weigh the Wangdoodles:  What a great challenge game!  This game uses pre-algebra and logical reasoning to have students determine the weight of each of the little wangdoodle monsters.  Cute!  Appropriate for Higher students in Grades 3 and 4 and Grade 5.

Let me know if you are looking for a game for a specific skill or grade level.  I will be happy to help you find one that fits your needs!