Deconstructing the MATH BOOK

I  LOVE my kids!
We had a great week so far...kids have been on task and really working to understand the strategies for 3-digit addition with regrouping.
So today we C-U-T apart our math text book...yep they ripped out a page and cut out the strategy of how to regroup the ones! Then they cut out three example problems too!

Here you can see, she has cut out the strategy page (Hasn't glued it on yet) but is already working on the example problems.

 

In this activity, I told them that they had to do the example problem using the "adult" strategy, the old fashioned way! (Carrying). Then NEXT to it they had to show the  "Kid Work" (with Math Tools)  and prove that they know how to do the math!

In this picture you can see another one of my Worker Bees, drawing out the problem to make sure the "Adult" way was right.

 

 

 

I love the look on her face, you can just get a glimpse of her thinking in this photo....she really understood the concept of why we regroup!

 



 

In fact, I had them tell me why we regroup the ones  in addition...as a class this is what they came up with:

 

"You regroup the ones in  an addition problem when the sum of the ones column is a 2-digit number."

 

 

I was so in shock of the Math vocabulary and how well they collaborated to get this definition...can't wait for tomorrow's lesson on how to regroup the tens in a 3-digit addition problem!

Here you can see how I modeled the set up on the top! (Using a child's Math Journal, he was absent) and on the bottom is another child's journal...oh do you see that quick assessment on there?

 

On Monday we were discussing problem solving strategies...and I found this cute quick assessment/ helper for key words ( I call them 'code' words , as in 'how many more' is code for subtraction.).....I had them divide a piece of  paper in their Math Journals and label one side "Addition" the other side "Subtraction"...then I gave them a half sheet of paper with 'code' words for addition and subtraction...they had to  "sort, sort sort" then "choose, choose, choose" and finally "glue, glue, glue" (you should be singing it now)

...we checked it before we glued it....

 

I modeled a few choices first.......

 

Here you can see she is choosing where the "code" words go.

 

 

"Glue, glue, glue"

 

I have really been trying to acclimate myself and my kids to the new Common Core State Standards this year, a year ahead of the switch in our grade level. I want my kids to be ready for next year...for the NEW way of writing down your strategy and be able to debate your thinking! I know the more I do this year, will make the transition next year so much easier!!

 

Oh did I tell you, the kids now say to me ..."Ms. Dyer, don't forget to take pictures for your blog!"

 

They are so precious!

 

Stay tuned, I think I am going to start really blabbing about what I'm doing to get CCSS ready!

 

 



 

 

 

MATH-aliscious! (TOOL TIME revisited)

Recently I posted about our school's new  (Math )TOOL TIME!
On Wednesday we had our first Professional Learning Community (PLC) featuring the Math Manipulatives. We are grouped together for this PLC as: K-1; 2-3 and 4-5...I like the pairing but hope that at the end of the year we can meet with 1st grade too, so we can discuss what they need to be doing to help bridge the Math gap.
At our first meeting, the 3rd grade team made a list of Math deficiencies, or concepts that seem to be problematic, and I must say I agreed with the list. They listed things such as : Basic Math facts, subtracting across zero, problem solving...
As a team we also made a list: place value, basic math facts, transposing numbers, following directions (problem solving)... but I felt that our list wasn't as helpful to the 3rd grade team as it would have been to the 1st grade team!
 I wonder if we can articulate these needs sometime during the year?? No I don't want ANOTHER PLC, just maybe visit with our colleagues and have a math discussion now and one at the end of the year...at least we know what to fix for our 3rd grade teachers and they see what our issues are.

During our time together on Wednesday we had a lesson presented to us using manipulatives. They used buttons. We sorted them by categories that we had to come up with. Then we were challenged to use this manipulative or idea in a lesson during our TOOL TIME. Easy enough...we were also asked who would like to teach a lesson using manipulatives for next month's meeting...yes I did volunteer first...but I also have the intern remember...funny thing is I have to work with a 3rd grade teacher on this lesson. My friend in 3rd who also happens to have an intern volunteered first too...we are thinking the new kids on the block can handle this challenge! L.O.L

If you know me then you know I already have an idea that I want to share- (Place Value of course). ...  the Math Coach posted a base 10 block math mat  and someone else posted "Mystery Number" build the number and solve the mystery...yeah for my fellow blogging buddies and Pinterest...lesson done! (It's not even due until October something!)

If you are wondering how my Guided Math time is going...it's FINALLY taking a turn in the right direction. I think I was over thinking it! I wanted to do it exactly like in the book:

 

...but then I really like the T.I.M.E idea that has been flying around Pinterest...I was trying to make BOTH of these ideas work at the same time and decided to STOP and re-group! I am using the "system" I used last year AND making it fit into the structure of Guided Math...so much better...I feel like I know how to function in this zone. After 19 years of teaching you would think I would know better than to try and re-invent the wheel!!!!!

 

All's well that ends well!

 

Now that I have a good handle on Math, I am still struggling to find adequate writing time...I started a Reading Response Journal as part of the Daily 5- (keep tract of your CAFE lessons type idea)...so I am hoping this will let me find a little writing time with-in the 90 minute reading block....not too worried about this YET...next week I need to tackle FAIR testing!!!

Wish me Luck! 

Guess what time it is? ...It's TOOL TIME!

The first week is D-O-N-E!
I feel like I've been in school for at least three weeks...I finally moved things around to where it works for me. I have a girl driven class this year too.{ I have 13 girls and only 7 boys.}
I am going to have to get it together for this crowd!
I started my Guided Math routine, kinda! I forgot I had DUTY at 8:00 am Monday morning.
 (If I had turned on my e-mail sooner my calendar program would have given me a heads up~Thanks Kristin) It was a Monday, so I didn't go to my e-mail first. I was going to set my self up for a the premier of my  Guided Math lessons...<insert laugh/snort here>....well one thing led to another and while I was flitting around the room my intern might have reminded me I have duty..it was 10 minutes until 8 when it kicked in I have to go and can't be back to my room until 8:30 and yep, at 8:30 is when I start Math...yikes, I didn't have my Math vocabulary page printed off, yikes I didn't have my charts ready to Anchor the lesson..yikes I had 10 minutes to pee and run to the office to sign in and grab my attendance folder and make sure I had coffee..oh Monday, you are so cruel!
 My neighbor says casually, "I stay late on Fridays, so I don't have this issue on Mondays" OK... lesson learned! (but in my defense I didn't make those lesson plans until Saturday....)

Our school has started a new Math initiative.."Math Manipulative Time" Every grade level in addition to a scheduled Math time has to set aside 35 minutes (pre-determined) to incorporate math manipulatives(I call them tools) into a lesson. I know what you are thinking, "But I use math tools everyday in every math lesson I teach"...here's the punch line, not all teachers know HOW to use the tools, or EVERY tool. Some teachers (blaspheme) don't even use Math Tools! (yikes, hello..it's 2012!) BUT I'm not judging just putting it out there. I was shocked it has come to this. Obviously, to me, that means enough teachers are either not using them, or don't know how or aren't comfortable teaching with Math tools.

 Can I clep out of this 35 minutes ? I NEED to teach writing ...

.......but I can tell you this, the kids L-O-V-E this time, it reinforces the morning Math lesson, PLUS it saved the grand opening of Guided Math!
Tomorrow is Day 3 of my Guided Math time, and I haven't even met with a small group yet, which means I think I will be using Math Tool Time to catch up and start groups while the rest of the class uses the tools independently to finish up their Math problems, games and fluency! I think I might actually like this Tool Time after all....now if only I could find another 35 minutes to teach writing..oh I'll save that for another post!
See you soon!