It is a great day when everyone gets right to work, knows what they are supposed to be doing, and is getting along with their partners!
Showing posts with label math work stations. Show all posts
Showing posts with label math work stations. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Learning about Shapes!
We've been reviewing the number of sides and vertices that different shapes have. We made this chart (got the idea from Debbie Diller's Math Work Stations) and then went on a walk around the school and found different objects for each shape. We had lots of fun finding things around our school!
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Math Work Stations Ch. 5
Wow! It's only Wednesday and I'm posting! I've been having fun learning how to blog...but boy is it more complex than I thought! Thanks to everyone out there that is posting...I'm inspired by your blogs and am finding things on your blogs that I want to learn how to do!
So, addition and subtraction work stations. We have the Investigations series and I think it is going to be a great resource for games and activities for my workstations.
Did you know?...Investigations has math games online. Many of these games will fit in perfectly with the math station activities. You should check it out..Just click here. Let me know if they will be helpful to you in class. I sure hope so!!!
I'm making this a short post...I want to start reading the next chapter. Thanks soooo much for everyone who is posting such great ideas. You have all been so inspiring and you are really helping me get excited about teaching again!
So, addition and subtraction work stations. We have the Investigations series and I think it is going to be a great resource for games and activities for my workstations.
Did you know?...Investigations has math games online. Many of these games will fit in perfectly with the math station activities. You should check it out..Just click here. Let me know if they will be helpful to you in class. I sure hope so!!!
I'm making this a short post...I want to start reading the next chapter. Thanks soooo much for everyone who is posting such great ideas. You have all been so inspiring and you are really helping me get excited about teaching again!
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Math Work Stations: Ch. 4
I never imagined that when I started reading this book, that I would feel like I would be in the midst of totally revamping my math time! But, I am so excited, and completely busy!
Chapter 4 has really gotten me thinking about the beginning of the school year. Although this chapter has many ideas for a Kindergarten class, it will be a great place to start the beginning of the year for my firsties!
1. How do you support math vocabulary (math talk) at Beginning Number Concepts stations? In my last post, I expressed that I have not done a great job with this. Every year, I have struggled with what to do because I don't hear a lot of math words when my students have been completing center activities. I am looking forward to using the math talk cards and I think that I will be much better about encouraging my students to use more math talk in our stations.
2. How do your students read, write, order, represent, or compare numbers? What activities support that? This past year, I bought a book titled "Magical Math Centers" available at www.helps4teachers.com/. This book has many activities I used that students can complete individually. There are activites for greater than/less than, place value, making numbers, etc. Many of the activities are presented in a game format so students really enjoy using them. There is also an accompanying book titled "Alfie the Alligator" that shows students how to compare numbers.
3. What is your students' favorite number concepts work station/activity? My students have always enjoyed activities that are treated like games.
If you haven't yet, check out all the freebies in the various posts...I have found lots of great ideas! Thanks to everyone who has posted...you all are giving me such great ideas!
On another note, please keep Arizona in your prayers! A wildfire is at the southern edge of our town and is growing. We are having wind gusts up to 50 mph and they have grounded all air support while the wind is up. It started last Sunday and has burned 21,000 acres. 47 homes have been lost. We have not had to evacuate, thank goodness, but there are many families that have had to leave their homes. There is no rain in the forecast...and no timeline as to when they will have it out. We are praying that it doesn't come into town any further than it has. if you are interested, it's called the Monument Fire. Thanks for your prayers!
Chapter 4 has really gotten me thinking about the beginning of the school year. Although this chapter has many ideas for a Kindergarten class, it will be a great place to start the beginning of the year for my firsties!
1. How do you support math vocabulary (math talk) at Beginning Number Concepts stations? In my last post, I expressed that I have not done a great job with this. Every year, I have struggled with what to do because I don't hear a lot of math words when my students have been completing center activities. I am looking forward to using the math talk cards and I think that I will be much better about encouraging my students to use more math talk in our stations.
2. How do your students read, write, order, represent, or compare numbers? What activities support that? This past year, I bought a book titled "Magical Math Centers" available at www.helps4teachers.com/. This book has many activities I used that students can complete individually. There are activites for greater than/less than, place value, making numbers, etc. Many of the activities are presented in a game format so students really enjoy using them. There is also an accompanying book titled "Alfie the Alligator" that shows students how to compare numbers.
3. What is your students' favorite number concepts work station/activity? My students have always enjoyed activities that are treated like games.
If you haven't yet, check out all the freebies in the various posts...I have found lots of great ideas! Thanks to everyone who has posted...you all are giving me such great ideas!
On another note, please keep Arizona in your prayers! A wildfire is at the southern edge of our town and is growing. We are having wind gusts up to 50 mph and they have grounded all air support while the wind is up. It started last Sunday and has burned 21,000 acres. 47 homes have been lost. We have not had to evacuate, thank goodness, but there are many families that have had to leave their homes. There is no rain in the forecast...and no timeline as to when they will have it out. We are praying that it doesn't come into town any further than it has. if you are interested, it's called the Monument Fire. Thanks for your prayers!
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Math Work Stations Ch. 3
Wow! After reading this chapter, I can see that I have a lot to think about in the next 8 weeks. In implementing work stations, I'm going to have to really rework my math time. How scary and exciting at the same time!
There were a lot of great points I took from this chapter:
1. Model, Model, Model! This is something I have not been great about in the past. Reading the examples of management problems in the book sound like Debbie Diller might have been spying on my classroom:) In a rush to get to the next thing we have to do, I have shown students once what to do in a center and then have been frustrated when they haven't followed directions. I must slow down and model a lot more!
2. I Can... lists: It will be so tempting to write these before-hand, but she makes a good point that the students will get more out of them if they help make them. I like how she says to show them the materials in the work station to "plant the seed" and let them help create the activities.
3. Math Talk Cards: What a great idea! I have been thinking about how I am going to move my math area into a corner of the room. I am planning on using the wall to create a math wall...what a great area to post math talk cards after they have been created! On p. 54, she really hooked me when she says "By adding supports like the "I Can" list and math talk cards at stations, you'll find that children's work will by more productive and focused." Love it!!
4. Start slow. The biggest a-ha I've gotten out of this chapter is to slow down. I tend to panic and feel like I'm not doing enough, so then I try to do too much and it always backfires. She really emphasized that you have to take the time to teach procedures and expectations early-on so that as the year goes on, the problems are not overwhelming!
Well, I have a lot to think about in planning for the upcoming year! I'm excited though! I am looking forward to math being fun, productive, and to borrow a word, rigorous! I will keep you all updated to my plans!!!
P. S.: Did you see all the dust in the picture in my last post? How embarassing! Oh well, welcome to teaching in the desert:)
There were a lot of great points I took from this chapter:
1. Model, Model, Model! This is something I have not been great about in the past. Reading the examples of management problems in the book sound like Debbie Diller might have been spying on my classroom:) In a rush to get to the next thing we have to do, I have shown students once what to do in a center and then have been frustrated when they haven't followed directions. I must slow down and model a lot more!
2. I Can... lists: It will be so tempting to write these before-hand, but she makes a good point that the students will get more out of them if they help make them. I like how she says to show them the materials in the work station to "plant the seed" and let them help create the activities.
3. Math Talk Cards: What a great idea! I have been thinking about how I am going to move my math area into a corner of the room. I am planning on using the wall to create a math wall...what a great area to post math talk cards after they have been created! On p. 54, she really hooked me when she says "By adding supports like the "I Can" list and math talk cards at stations, you'll find that children's work will by more productive and focused." Love it!!
4. Start slow. The biggest a-ha I've gotten out of this chapter is to slow down. I tend to panic and feel like I'm not doing enough, so then I try to do too much and it always backfires. She really emphasized that you have to take the time to teach procedures and expectations early-on so that as the year goes on, the problems are not overwhelming!
Well, I have a lot to think about in planning for the upcoming year! I'm excited though! I am looking forward to math being fun, productive, and to borrow a word, rigorous! I will keep you all updated to my plans!!!
P. S.: Did you see all the dust in the picture in my last post? How embarassing! Oh well, welcome to teaching in the desert:)
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