Five for Friday - on Saturday

I'm linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for Five for 
Friday... a day late!
  

This week was our first week of school and we had a four day week.  Typically we have a two or three day week so this four day week was LONG!  Here are a few quick highlights from our week.  

ONE: Jungle Theme 
Our classroom has a jungle theme this year and to get my kiddos excited about the "jungle" we created jungle animals using paper plates.  I love this craft for the first week of school because there isn't a ton of prep involved and the kids can easily assemble their animals.  It's also simple enough that I can have 4 groups of kids make four different jungle animals.


I have a rather large bulletin board as your walk into my room so I will keep these animals up all year.  I have four other bulletin boards to display student work so it's nice not having to worry about this one. 

TWO: First Day of School Book

Each year I love to do a predictable chart about how the kids are feeling on the first day of school.  We create this chart after reading First Day Jitters and it sparks some great conversation among the kids.  Then as each of my kiddos discuss how they are feeling, I have them come up to write how their feelings on the chart.  Typically I have them write the first letter of the word but a few of my kiddos were able to write the whole word.  


After creating the predictable chart on the first day we create a class book on the second day.  My class was so excited to see their work in our classroom library!  

  THREE: Calendar
We were finally able to begin our calendar/morning meeting routines on Thursday and it seems like I always need to take a step back at the beginning of the year to remember I'm working with 6 year-olds during the first days of school.  When our kids leave us in June they are second graders, so independent and adjusted to the routines.  When we get a new bunch of kids each year I always forget how difficult it is for them to sit and listen the first few days!  We didn't get to every aspect of the calendar routine this week... little by little we'll build up our stamina.  

FOUR: Read Alouds 

These books are hilarious!!  They came in the mail at the beginning of the week and I was reading them one night before I brought them to school. I couldn't help laugh at the writing.  I even had to share some of it with my husband... even he thought it was funny!  This week I used them as read alouds and the kids LOVED them!!  One day during our share time at the end of the day a few kids named these read alouds as their favorite part of the day!  

Five: Math Manipulatives
This week for math we worked on number sense, naming numbers and then building them.  I wanted to get the kids working in groups and working with manipulatives to begin setting the groundwork for our math workshop time.  We used manipulatives two days this week and for the first two days the kids did an awesome job!  They took turns with their buddies and for the most part used the manipulatives as "tools not toys".  A huge success for us this week.  Can't wait to get more practice in next week!  

Have a great weekend.  Don't forget to visit Doodle Bugs Teaching!

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Math Workshop Must Haves

Math workshop is probably my favorite time of our day.  This 75 minute block allows for a ton of math skills to be practiced each day.  There are a few materials that I go to again and again and I wanted to share them so perhaps you can use them for the upcoming school year.  

Problem Solving Work Mat:

Our workshop block always begins with a word problem and I typically have the kids solve the problem on these work mats.  I like to see their math thinking and this work mat allows me to circulate and take notes for individual students. I can also do some reteaching or provide extra help as the class is solving the problem on their mat.

 To save paper I put the work mats in page protectors.  I use page protectors rather than laminate the pages because it's easier to erase expo marker from the page protectors than the lamination. Instead of whiteboard erasers I use socks.  They work just as well and they're a lot cheaper.  

Math Tub Storage:

I purchased these tubs from Walmart two years ago and it was a great investment.  The tops snap on which is great because if the tub is dropped the materials don't go flying everywhere.  The tubs are also big enough to place papers in without bending the pages.  They're also deep enough to store manipulatives that need to be included.  I love placing all the materials in one tub for the kids because it's easier for them to know exactly what they'll be using. The best part... they only cost $3.88 a piece!    

When we've finished using a tub I put the materials in a manila clasp envelope and label the envelope so it's easy to access it later on.  I tried storing tub games in a filing cabinet but a full filing cabinet is a nightmare to open and close so I decided on a crate.  It works perfectly and allows me easy access to all the tub games. 

I also place a list of tub games in my planner so I know exactly what tubs I can pull from when I'm planning from week to week.

Math Game Materials:  
Dice:  There are so many great ways to use dice during math workshop.  You can add, subtract, figure out what number comes next, determine if a number is odd or even as well as many other activities.  I love using dice because all the kids need is a different recording sheet and the dice can be used in multiple ways! 

I purchased these dice (38 dice) on Amazon for $10 a few weeks ago and I picked up this nail storage container at Lowe's for $3.  

These polyhedral dice were purchased by the PTO at my school at the end of this past school year and I can't wait to use them during my math block as well.  I think these would be great for partner games as well as some whole group fluency games we play during math block transitions.    

I also got these foam dice on Amazon this summer... sometimes it's nice to have the kids use "quiet" dice when the room gets a little too loud!

Dominoes: Dominoes are also a must have in my classroom.  They can be used much like dice during math block... all you need are different recording sheets.

Playing Cards:  Probably my kids favorite game from last year was a game called "Addition Battle".  Any time I set this game out the kids went nuts.  The game is simple but a great way to practice addition skills all year.  

I set out a deck of cards and each player draws two cards.  Each player finds the sum of their two cards and then the player with the higher sums takes all the cards.   With some kids I have them record their sums on a work mat before determining who has the higher sum.  

The winner is the player with the most cards at the end of the game!  This is a game that's easy to differentiate as well.  The kids can add three numbers before comparing, they can record and sort their sums based on whether the sum is odd or even, they can even build two digit numbers to add before comparing the sums.  

Playing cards can also be used to compare numbers, subtract numbers, and find what numbers come before and after.  There are so many options for playing cards and the games don't require a ton of prep!!

Independent Problem Solving Printables:
To give my kiddos independent problem solving practice each day we used these themed printables.  The printables include all three types of word problems (result unknown, change unknown, start unknown) and when printed back to back, offer two days of problem solving practice that I can look at and make notes if necessary for individual students. 

Thanks for letting me share with you some of my math workshop must haves!! 

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Math Workshop: How does it work?

Math workshop might be my favorite time of the day.  I love to see the enthusiasm with which kids approach math.  Throw in some math tub games and its a recipe for a heck of a good time!   As I begin prepping my Back to School materials, I wanted to share some information about my math block and how it works in my classroom.  While this is what worked last year I'm sure I'll be changing some things just a bit this year to meet the needs of my new kiddos... I'm always tweaking to make things better!

Why Math Workshop?

I first decided to teach math in a small group setting about two and a half years ago.  I was frustrated, my kiddos were frustrated, and I felt like no one was getting what they needed.  I remember reading blog post after blog post from other teachers that loved teaching math.  I was jealous because I was just not feeling this way at all.  

My motto for math time each day was "just get through it".  I  felt as though I was running around my room trying to check papers rather than stopping to "talk math" with each of my kiddos or reteach a concept that a student just didn't get.

Math workshop allows me to work with small groups to better meet the needs of all my kids.  Using assessments throughout the year, I'm able to group the kids based on the abilities and needs and this has worked wonders.  Much like guided reading, the lessons are differentiated to meet the needs of the students in each group.  

But math workshop isn't all about being able to work with kids in small groups.  It's about the same structured block of time each day (about 75 minutes) that allows for spiraled review and practicing important math skills like fact fluency and problem solving.  My math workshop block has several components and I'd love to share with you what each component entails.  I have included a short outline of my math workshop block should you want to download it for reference.  

One: Application Problem

We begin every math workshop with an application problem.  The kids are gathered on the carpet and I typically display the word problem on our Promethean Board.  We always read the problem two times and during the second time we circle what we know and underline the question.  This is what I teach my kids to do early in the year and I expect them to do it on all the work they complete throughout the year. (Sorry for the pictures... I don't have any pictures of application problems displayed on my Promethean Board!)

The word problems I include during this time typically lead into the mini-lesson I'll teach in a few minutes.  I also make an effort to include all three types of word problems; result unknown, change unknown, and start unknown.  I want my kiddos to be able to solve any word problem I give them!  I also typically use my kiddos names in these problems... there's no better way to motivate kids than using heir names in word problems!  Sometimes I even use my two dogs as problem solving inspiration... the kids love this too!

After reading the word problem twice we use a model to draw it out, using either a tape diagram or a number bond.  Some days I decide what model we'll use, other days I let the kids decide. But the critical part here is the use of the model... this transforms problem solving because once the kids fill in the model, they know how to solve the problem.

When solving the word problems we have a few options.  Some days we solve it together on the board.  Other days the kids solve it on their own work mat and this allows me to do some assessing and note taking during this time.  I also have the kids work with a buddy to solve the problem on their work mat and then have a team come up to the board to explain their answer.  This is a great chance to include some "math talk" during our workshop block.  

If the kids are solving the problem independently on their work mats I circulate around the carpet to get a sense of who may need some problem solving reteaching or may need additional help during the mini-lesson and small group rotations. 

Two: Fluency Checks

We all know fact fluency is a huge part of the Common Core in first grade.  We also know how hard it can be for some kids to truly master these facts.  That's why every day I do some sort of fluency check.   

Fluency checks can be anything from a counting game, a number song on you tube, mad minute/bubblegum addition and subtraction pages, or sprints.  Sprints stress the use of mental math and/or strategies to solve problems.  Sprint pages include number bonds, number patterns, friends of ten, addition and subtraction, and missing addends.  As you can see there are a ton of options.  I typically collect any pencil/paper activities we do to analyze them and take notes.  If we're playing a game or using a video/song, I also take some notes in a math folder I have to help me group students and understand their strengths and weaknesses.  

Three: Mini-Lesson

My mini-lesson for the day does not last more than 8-10 minutes.  I use this time more as the "I Do" phase of the workshop block and I really don't want me kids listening to my talk for longer than this.  And honestly, they don't want to hear me talk for longer than this... they want to get up and use the math tools I've set out for the day! 

I typically use our Promethean Board to introduce the lesson and often times refer back to the word problem we solved at the beginning.  Using the board is great because it's large enough for all the kids to see it and there are so many options to keep the kids engaged.     

Four: Rotations

We do three rotations each day and I use a page on the Promethean Board so the kids always know where they need to be and what they will be doing.  The three rotations include math with the teacher, math tubs, and math journals.  I have three groups rotating during each of the three rotations and it really works well.  Each rotation lasts about 10-12 minutes, but I'm flexible if a group needs a few more minutes.  No names on this flipchart means I've already prepared it for the upcoming school year!  

I ring a bell when it's time to switch and the kids know to meet me on the carpet.  When meeting on the carpet I try to squeeze in a few more fluency activities.  Sometimes we spend 3-4 minutes skip counting, practicing doubles facts or playing a quick game before the next rotation begins.  

This also allows for bathroom/water breaks and gives a few minutes for clean up before the next rotation.  It also gives kids a few extra minutes to finish any work from their journal or math tub game.  

Math with Teacher: during this time I work with small groups to continue the mini-lesson I began a few minutes earlier.  This is where the "We do" and "You do" come in.  Using manipulatives we do a few problems together.  Then I have the kids work independently to complete a worksheet or solve a problem using the manipulatives.  While I did differentiate these lessons last year based on student needs, I'd love to do even more differentiating this year to really hit what each group needs out of that days lesson.

Math Tubs: This is probably the favorite part of rotations.  I have three math tub games going each day and usually two kids are at each tub.  Kids learn from others and I think it's important to have the kids work in pairs here. This is another opportunity for differentiation.  I label tubs using numbers and each pair knows what numbered tub they need to complete.  This allows me to make different tubs or harder tubs for different learners.   

Math Journals: We use our math explorer journals almost every day.  However, some days instead of having the kids glue an activity into the journal I'll have them complete a worksheet or finish the independent work they didn't finish during small groups either that day or the day before.  The work varies from day to day and week to week but I try to include practice with the current skills we're working on as well as spiraled review.  The important thing here is that the kids are working independently.  This really gives me a sense of where they are and what they may need help with.   

Five: Share
After our three rotations we have a quick 4-5 minute share each day.  Some days we review that days lesson with an exit ticket completed independently or together on the Promethean Board.  Other days we reflect on our work and learning from that day.  Either way it's a nice way to end the lesson.  

Six: Independent Problem Solving Practice
During this time each day I use problem solving printables to give my kiddos some more problem solving practice.  While the application problem at the beginning of the session is a bit more guided, this part of our day is used more for independent practice.  I use themed printables and print them double sided so we do one question each day.  The routines are the same from the application problem and I collect the pages each day to assess and take notes. 

As you can see our math workshop block is jam packed with math work each day.  I can honestly say it's the best decision I've made for my classroom.  The kids LOVE math and they have a much deeper understanding of math concepts because of all the work we do during this time.  I hope this will help you create a meaningful and productive math block in you classroom during the upcoming school year!

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Problem Solving Practice: Part 2

I've been blogging about my attempts to add more meaningful problem solving practice into our daily routines.  On Tuesday I blogged about the whole group problem solving practice we do each day.  Today I'll be showing you how I incorporate independent problem solving practice into our math workshop block.  

I love the whole group practice we get each day because it allows for some great modeling and math talk as we work through various word problems.  However, I wanted a more individualized way to assess where kids are.  I wanted to see how each student was progressing as we tackled more complex word problems throughout the year.  I wanted to see what each child's strengths and weaknesses were related to problem solving and I wasn't sure I was getting a true sense of their abilities during the whole group time.

So I decided to create some problem solving printables that I could use at the end of each workshop block to see how my kids were doing.  I saw how motivated the kids were by word problems that included their names and interests so I knew I needed to incorporate that some how.  

Knowing I wanted to put these printables on TPT I knew using the names of my kiddos might not be that meaningful to others so I decided that I could incorporate themes and scenarios any first grader could relate to and would be by motivated by.  I began looking through my clip art collections and came up with some different themes I thought could work as problem solving printables.  

Thanks to the wonderfully talented artists on TPT I was able to create these printables that my kiddos have enjoyed using at the end of our math block.  The kids know to grab an office and find a place to work independently to solve a word problem each day.

.  Typically I have the kids solve on problem per day.  I check the word problem right away and I like the instant feedback... I can send kids back to their seats to make corrections right away or I can pull some kids to the side if they need some extra help.  If we need to finish the other side the next day I'll save the worksheet for the the following day.  

The same steps are used as they work through these problem independently... they read the problem twice, circling what they know and underlining what they need to solve for.  This strategy has really worked for them this ear.    

Each printable has a question as well as a work space box, number sentence box, and an answer box.  Some of the printables have either a number bond or part-part-whole model.  I have also included some word problems without a model to allow my kids to choose the model they want to use.  They know that if there isn't a model they need to draw one and fill it out correctly.  

In each problem solving pack I have included a table of contents indicating which pages include the different kinds of word problems... result unknown, part unknown, or start unknown.  I have found this helpful because it is easy to print and copy exactly the pages my kiddos need practice with.  

While I typically print out the black and white versions of the word problems and then copy them back to back, there are other ways to use these printables aside from end of workshop block mini-assessments/practice.  

The colored version of these printables could be printed and laminated or put in page protectors.  Then the pages can be put in a tub for math tub time.  The colored version can also be displayed on the Promethean board for whole group problem solving practice.  There are many different ways to utilize these printables.

Some of the themes currently in my TPT store include Construction, Pet Shop, and Rainy Day.  I have a ton of ideas for new problem solving printables that I'm hoping to get to over the summer!  

If you are interested in these printables and would like to try them, I have two freebies available in my TPT store.  The Rainy Day Printables as well as a small Construction Pack are available in my store to try.  

Happy Problem Solving!!

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Problem Solving Practice: Part 1

We all know that problem solving is a large part of common core and this year I made it my mission to add as much problem solving practice into our daily routines as I could.  As we have progressed through the year I have been impressed by my kiddos ability to problem solve in math and I'm so excited to share with you the different ways I incorporate problem solving into our daily math workshop block!

Today I will show you the daily whole group practice that I incorporate into our math block.  On Thursday I'll show you the independent practice my kids get each day with some problem solving printables I have created!!

Each day we begin our math workshop with problem solving practice.  Even if our math block has to be shortened I always include a word problem at the beginning of the lesson.  

On a good day we do two word problems... the first word problem we solve together as a class.  I like to use the first word problem to model "math talk" or "math thinking" and I try to make sure the word problems match what we've been working on in previous days.  For example, if we learned about doubles the day before then the word problem would includes a doubles fact in it.  The second word problem is used for independent practice.  The kids either work on it independently or in a small group.  

To begin we read each problem twice, the first time to get the "gist" and the second time to determine what we know. Then we go through the word problem to circle what we know as well as underline the question.  We do this every time and I expect the kids to do it when they are working independently as well.  

We are lucky enough to have Promethean boards in our classrooms and this allows me to display our daily word problems on the board. If you don't have a Promethean board you can always write the word problems on a white board or even chart paper.  Any way to make it big so your kiddos can see it and interact with it is a good idea!

After reading the word problem twice we use what we know (what we circled) to fill in a model.  We have been using both a part-part-whole model as well as a number bond model. This has transformed problem solving this year!  The kids really "get" how to solve the word problem when they see what they have... whether they have two parts and need to solve for the whole, or have the whole and a part and need to find the other part.  When they are working independently at this point in the year I let them pick which model they want to use.  During the beginning of the year I have them use what we introduced to give them some practice with both before allowing them to choose.      

After filling in a model we solve the word problem.  If this is the first problem we solve it together on the board.  If it's the second problem there are few different ways we go about working on it.  

Sometimes I have the kids turn and tell their learning partner how to solve the problem.  I love hearing the "math talk" during this time.  We used this especially when we were adding and subtracting tens.  The mental math was easy for the kids and I loved hearing them talk about the different ways to solve the problem.  

Other times I have the kids use their work mats to solve the problem.  This allows me to visit the few kids I think may need some help.  My fast finishers know to turn their work mat over and practice doubles facts or other addition and subtraction number sentences.  

After I can see everyone is finished we review it on the board.  I usually have a kid come up to "teach" the class.  Then I ask for other ways to solve the problem... the kids are always fascinated by the fact that the word problem can be solved in different ways.

When it comes time to label the answer we always go back to the question we underlined ... this has helped my kids understand how they need to answer the question and how they need to label their answer.  

This work mat is available in my Teachers Pay Teachers store for free.  I print the mats on card stock and then put them in sheet protectors so they can be reused.  I like using the sheet protectors rather than laminating because expo marker erases much easier from sheet protectors than from lamination.  To erase expo marker from lamination the eraser needs to be wet... this gets messy!!

 The word problems I create always include a students' name or our class in some way and I make sure the scenarios in the word problem are related to something the kids know or something that could happen at home or at school.  The kids love seeing their names in word problems and it keeps all the kids engaged and involved.

I have truly enjoyed this time during our math block each day.  It's the culmination of everything we've done and learned each day and I truly believe this daily practice has helped them become strong problem solvers.  

Check back on Thursday for the second part of this post... independent problem solving practice!

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