Number Forms: Nebraska standards stress standard, expanded, and word (written) form for numbers. To help students differentiate these forms, we used sticky notes to write each form out.
To help understand expanded form, we cut 3 sticky notes into 1" vertical strips [make sure there's sticky on the ends]. Stick them down with the sticky on the right. Write the value of each number on each strip, lining them up so the digit shows, but the zeros are hidden.
I have thrown myself into several brand new projects this year in class. One of them is my interactive math journals. I have to give a huge shout-out to http://www.rundesroom.com/ for all of the excellent ideas! I purchased her guide from teacherspayteachers.com and am using it as a guide and inspiration as I dive head first into this project.
Since I teach grades 3rd-7th Math and Algebra, I will post the journals by topic rather than grade.
Following http://www.rundesroom.com/ format for journals, I use the left side/right side method for the journals. The left side is always student thinking and reflection. The right side is completed in class and is always my words.
To start the journals, I had students create a table of contents. This is where the title of each entry is listed, along with the page it appears on.
Each entry is then given the same title on the top of the page that is found in the table of contents. I then have students write down a learning goal. On the right side, the learning goal is in my words (I tend to use the objective from their book or from their standards.) On the left side, they have to put the learning goal in their own words. After they have their learning goal written, they then have to write down what they already know about that topic.
We then complete the concept on the right side of the page. After we complete the concept and have worked with the concept in class, I direct them back to their journals to complete the left side of the page. They then have to complete 'What I Learned,' 'Proof' [a problem and its solution w/ and explanation], and a 'Reflection' [which can be virtually anything as long as it reflects their learning].
To grade the journals, I am using a rubric written by http://www.rundesroom.com/ from her Interactive Math Journals Guide that I purchased from www.teacherspayteachers.com.
As much as I am trying to desperately keep up with this thing called blogging, it appears that I am currently failing miserably. We just started week three of the school year and I am still scrabbling to get things accomplished! I wanted to post a few more pictures of the Minion Madness that is continuing in and around my classroom. I Googled a few Minions, blew them up and printed them to make locker signs for my 4th graders. I had them cut their minion of choice out & glue it on card-stock. I then laminated the minions & wrote each students name on them. For a couple of our bulletin boards, I cut out the phrase "CPS Patriots are One in a Minion" and "Minion Mischief." On the first said bulletin board, we have first-day-of-school snapshots posted. For the latter bulletin board, I am creating a school wide seek-and-find for a minion. I'm planning on taking the minion's picture in various spots around the school & having students guess where he is. More posts on that down the road.
Locker Signs
"One in a Minion"
"Minion Mischief"
One week down! A lot more to go! Each year I use different avatar's to create an interactive lunch count. I have used Mii's, M&M's, & Clay figures. This year, with 10 boys in the room, I decided to use the minions from Despicable Me. The minions are a BIG hit and the ideas keep pouring in! [Thank YOU Pinterest!] I wanted to share our lunch count (created using http://minionslovebananas.com/minion-maker/ & SmartBoard Notebook software) and my door that I used my artsy side to create!
Mii's were created using: http://www.makewee.com/
M&M avatars are no longer available :(
Clay figures are also no longer available :(
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| Minion Lunch Count |
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| Classroom Door |
First post ... Oh, boy; here we go!
Starting my 5th year at CPS, I am excited to plunge into the year with brand new books! Yay! However, with new books, comes new learning. Eek! I'm am treading water pretty rapidly in order to stay afloat as we take off on this journey called the school year. I'm not going to lie - I'm pretty overwhelmed with it all!
To accompany my learn-the-new-text-books-and-everything-that-goes-with-them anxiety; I'm also introducing and implementing for the first time, interactive math journals! Started the Algebra and 7th grade journals this week - pictures to come!
So much to do and so little time! I need two weeks of pre-service days rather than 3; to get me ready for the year! Argh! Let the roller coaster ride begin ...
