Problem solving is a such a critical part of math instruction in elementary grades. Have you considered how much time you spend letting students work collaboratively and share their math strategies? Check out this easy math lesson idea! A different approach to word problems This is not a new concept for people who are interested in constructivist thinking, but today's "opening ... Read the Post
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“This isn’t math!” Engaging Math Problem Solving
That quote came out of "math" last Friday as I presented my students with a chance to practice some of the decimal skills we have been refining. Decimals are tricky little buggers for lots of kids...hard to "grasp" the idea that there are numbers between those simple counting numbers they have used their entire lives! One way that students do tend to begin making sense (cents?) ... Read the Post
“The Dot” and Growth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset
The first week of school, I read a book called "The Dot" by Peter Reynolds to my students. If you haven't seen this picture book, I highly recommend that you pick up a copy. In it, a little girl is frustrated when she cannot draw and her teacher gently guides her to "Just make a mark and see where it takes you." The book has so many "big ideas" and is a wonderful way to introduce students to the ... Read the Post
Decimal Thinking!
Decimal Place Value Challenges Today was our first day back to school, and I had a decision to make. We wrapped up our decimal unit before break, and I wasn’t super pleased with the results of our summative assessment. I was pretty disappointed—all the formatives had looked pretty good, I had done lots of small group and one on one work, and I really felt like the students were ... Read the Post
Explicitly Taught Learning Behaviors and Standards for Mathematical Practice
I know I have written about quite a range of topics since the beginning of this little blog, but recently I have seen a number of blog posts (here included!) about goals/resolutions for the new year. Returning to school in January can be a great time for goal setting--and a great time to revisit some of those "back to school" things we do automatically in the fall. Teaching Students What ... Read the Post
Five on Friday: Creativity Counts!
I had a "wee hours" brainstorm when my feline friend woke me up...it frightens me that the first thing I think about when awakened at 3:00 in the morning is my blog but...I think I might try a "Five on Friday" posting on Fridays...a list of 5 "somethings" that are worth thinking about...worth looking into...worth trying in your classroom...or worth doing for yourself. So--we'll see if I can ... Read the Post
Number Lines, Number Sense
Well...it's time to start thinking about upcoming units in my fourth grade studio--and I wanted to share with you something I have been doing more and more of this year with great results. I challenge you to think about how you can incorporate this simple strategy into your math instruction over the upcoming months. Number Sense and Number Lines As you all know, number sense is critical for ... Read the Post