This week the Cedars enthusiastically began our first student created picture story problems.
We are branching into larger numbers to work extensively with numbers above ten. Using presents (ones) and parcels (sets of tens), students create a challenging and interesting problem for their classmates to solve. and develop place value counting skills. Students who are adept at counting by 10's and 1's to solve are encouraged to pose and solve problems that involve more complex thinking.
Watch for your Cedar's picture problem on this blog near the end of the week!
Monday, December 13, 2010
Monday, December 6, 2010
Cedar News: December 6, 2010
Q: Why didn't the two 4's want any dinner?A: Because they already 8!
This week, our addition, subtraction and probability study continues. Last week, Cedars worked together to create a chart of basic addition facts to 30 and basic subtraction facts to 18. These charts will help students see patterns and important relationships between fact families and addition and subtraction.
Whole group and partner games will introduce and support practice of computational strategies, such as counting on and counting backward. We will also explore the various models for subtraction: finding differences and comparing sets.
Work at Home this week highlights fact families with the Make a Sum game and the counting back strategy with a number line. Please support your mathematician by finding time and space to share the home support materials. Work at Home "toolkits" should come back to me (with any completed work) on Thursday. I will have new work each Monday.
I wanna know: How does First In Math work for you? Please take a moment to add a comment at the end of this post or drop me an email about how the First in Math program is working (or not working) for your Cedar. Your feedback helps me better meet the needs of all learners.
l
This week, our addition, subtraction and probability study continues. Last week, Cedars worked together to create a chart of basic addition facts to 30 and basic subtraction facts to 18. These charts will help students see patterns and important relationships between fact families and addition and subtraction.
Whole group and partner games will introduce and support practice of computational strategies, such as counting on and counting backward. We will also explore the various models for subtraction: finding differences and comparing sets.
Work at Home this week highlights fact families with the Make a Sum game and the counting back strategy with a number line. Please support your mathematician by finding time and space to share the home support materials. Work at Home "toolkits" should come back to me (with any completed work) on Thursday. I will have new work each Monday.
I wanna know: How does First In Math work for you? Please take a moment to add a comment at the end of this post or drop me an email about how the First in Math program is working (or not working) for your Cedar. Your feedback helps me better meet the needs of all learners.
l
Monday, November 29, 2010
Cedar News: November 29, 2010
Teacher: "Now class, whatever I ask, I want you to all answer at once. How much is six plus 4 ?"
Class: "At once !"
This week, we begin a unit focusing on addition, subtraction and probability. This unit will support fluency of basic operations and standard notation. We will develop strategies for solving facts, from counting on and counting backwards to using known facts to solve the unknown. This unit helps students develop strategies by presenting certain collections of facts in relation to one another rather than random bits of information to be memorized.
This week we will construct a class chart of addition and subtraction facts. Whole group games will introduce fact families and strategies. These games will resurface in our first round of Work Places (independent practice).
Class: "At once !"
This week, we begin a unit focusing on addition, subtraction and probability. This unit will support fluency of basic operations and standard notation. We will develop strategies for solving facts, from counting on and counting backwards to using known facts to solve the unknown. This unit helps students develop strategies by presenting certain collections of facts in relation to one another rather than random bits of information to be memorized.
This week we will construct a class chart of addition and subtraction facts. Whole group games will introduce fact families and strategies. These games will resurface in our first round of Work Places (independent practice).
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Cedar News: November 15, 2010
This week we will explore growing patterns and work to identify the "rule" or operation creating the pattern. We will also explore our base ten system and "trading up" with a Race to 1.00.
Fluency with math, like reading, takes practice, practice, practice.
Your mathematician will be bringing a "toolkit" home this week. This packet contains some information about supporting your mathematician at home and some ideas for practice in everyday home activities. This packet also contains practice pages and some games for your Swallow to play with you.
Your Swallow will return his or her Toolkit to me on Thursday with completed work. Please keep unfinished games/pages for over-the-weekend practice. I will return the toolkit on Monday with new practice pages and/or games to take home.
Monday, November 8, 2010
November 8, 2010
This week we will explore forming 3-digit "house numbers" to meet specific requirements. Students will experiment with numbers to find all possible ways to add three different digits to obtain a given sum. Careful reading of information and understanding of mathematical language are important to finding appropriate solutions. Using the problem-solving strategies of looking for patterns and establishing an organized list will aid students in finding all the possible solution sets.
We will visit the computer lab for First In Math where I will introduce a new game focused on skip counting by 1s, 2s, 3s and 5s to add and subtract.
The Cedars received a homework sheet exploring creating the smallest and largest numbers from a given set.
We will visit the computer lab for First In Math where I will introduce a new game focused on skip counting by 1s, 2s, 3s and 5s to add and subtract.
The Cedars received a homework sheet exploring creating the smallest and largest numbers from a given set.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Cedar News: October 25-27
This week our mathematician's heads are filled with thoughts of mummies, princesses and bountiful bags of treats! We are going to use that brain-power this week by creating story problems from our solved equations. The Cedars will create two story problems from a solved equation and then create an equation by rolling dice and compose an unsolved story problem for their classmates.
We will spend some time in the computer lab for First in Math. Please share feedback about how this program is working at home, your child's success with it or any questions or comments.
This week we will have goal-setting conferences. Today your Cedar brought home an Initial PLP that included a check-in about where your child is in relation to grade-level math expectations. Cedars were given a baseline assessment that covered fundamentals learned in first grade. We also took a pre-assessment of basic fact fluency to 20. This is a core benchmark for second grade.
I am yet getting to know your child as a mathematician and will continue to communicate both whole group and one-on-one when necessary of any concerns. If the Initial PLP indicated that your Cedar will need additional support, you will receive further information at the conferences.
Of course, I would be happy to meet you and talk more about any concerns or questions you may have.
I feel so fortunate to work with you and your kids.
We will spend some time in the computer lab for First in Math. Please share feedback about how this program is working at home, your child's success with it or any questions or comments.
This week we will have goal-setting conferences. Today your Cedar brought home an Initial PLP that included a check-in about where your child is in relation to grade-level math expectations. Cedars were given a baseline assessment that covered fundamentals learned in first grade. We also took a pre-assessment of basic fact fluency to 20. This is a core benchmark for second grade.
I am yet getting to know your child as a mathematician and will continue to communicate both whole group and one-on-one when necessary of any concerns. If the Initial PLP indicated that your Cedar will need additional support, you will receive further information at the conferences.
Of course, I would be happy to meet you and talk more about any concerns or questions you may have.
I feel so fortunate to work with you and your kids.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Cedar News: October 18-22
We are nearing the end of our playful exploration with algebra and Zero the Hero! We have been exploring ways of comparing numbers with particular focus on quantity using the symbolic notations for "greater than", "less than" and "equal to."
Last week we began looking at equations with an unknown quantity and the concept of "equality" (both sides of the equation being equal) was introduced.
This week, we will explore solving equations with unknowns using equality up and down the number line. We will end this week creating equations and writing a story problem to go with it.
Tile Math: Last week, I introduced the first packet for tile math. This is a self-correcting Suduko-like puzzle that uses the numbers 0-9 once each in a given set of equations. Tile Math provides students with practice visualizing operations, problem-solving, and mental math. Students will move through packets at their own rate and each packet is sequentially more of a challenge. The initial packets have one unknown for each set of equations. The next packet has some problems with two unknowns. These are great "home support" because they are self-correcting. Please let me know if you and your Cedar would like a set fro home. We will be sharing more about support at home during Goal Setting Conferences.
First In Math: The Cedar's are on fire in First In Math! Congratulations Connor, Kylee and Sydney for completing Skill Set 1. I know that not all Cedars have time and/or access to a computer outside of school. We will spend at least 20 minutes a week in the computer lab for the next several weeks. Sometimes I will have a First In Math assignment (a skill-check).
Please feel free to contact me with questions or comments. Check out new additions to Support at Home!
Last week we began looking at equations with an unknown quantity and the concept of "equality" (both sides of the equation being equal) was introduced.
This week, we will explore solving equations with unknowns using equality up and down the number line. We will end this week creating equations and writing a story problem to go with it.
Tile Math: Last week, I introduced the first packet for tile math. This is a self-correcting Suduko-like puzzle that uses the numbers 0-9 once each in a given set of equations. Tile Math provides students with practice visualizing operations, problem-solving, and mental math. Students will move through packets at their own rate and each packet is sequentially more of a challenge. The initial packets have one unknown for each set of equations. The next packet has some problems with two unknowns. These are great "home support" because they are self-correcting. Please let me know if you and your Cedar would like a set fro home. We will be sharing more about support at home during Goal Setting Conferences.
First In Math: The Cedar's are on fire in First In Math! Congratulations Connor, Kylee and Sydney for completing Skill Set 1. I know that not all Cedars have time and/or access to a computer outside of school. We will spend at least 20 minutes a week in the computer lab for the next several weeks. Sometimes I will have a First In Math assignment (a skill-check).
Please feel free to contact me with questions or comments. Check out new additions to Support at Home!
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