Math Workshop

Math Workshop was introduced to the students this past week. The Math Workshop framework allows for students to be engaged during all of math time and to work on goals designed to meet their learning needs. Rather than working on an assignment that may be too easy or too hard, students are challenged by working on a skill that is their "next step" in learning. For example, the first grade math goal we are currently working on is adding numbers to 20. Students have been taught how to use several "tools" to help them add, including a number line, touch points, a part-part-whole mat, and a ten frame. Some students are using these tools to add to 10. Others, however, are using these tools to help them add to 20 and beyond. Through having different "stations," the students are given the opportunity to experience a variety of activities, while staying engaged and on-task at each "station."    The students are divided into small groups of 4-5 students, and they move through each of the "stations" with their group. Some of the times they are working with another student in their group, but other times, they are working independently.

The video above shows a little piece of each of the stations. The acronym MATH tells students where to go for each rotation. The "M" stands for "Math Fact Practice." The end-of-the-year goal for first grade in addition and subtraction is to be able to correctly solve 40 problems in 2 minutes. Through allowing students to practice their math facts daily during Math Workshop, this end-of-the-year goal is easily reachable. The "A" stands for "At Your Seat Work." This includes worksheet-type activities for students to practice the skill we are working on in math. This will change throughout the year based on the topic we are learning in math. Some of the topics we will learn about in first grade include: addition, subtraction, word problems, telling time to the hour and half-hour, measurement using non-standard units, and identifying 2-D and 3-D shapes. The "T" stands for "Teacher's Choice" or "Teacher Time." During this part of Math Workshop, students will meet with the teacher to continue to practice and improve upon their skills to meet their end-of-the-year goals in math. For students that have already met those goals, they will be challenged with more critical thinking and problem-solving skills related to the topic being learning. The "H" stands for "Hands-On Activities." This includes game-type activities that allow students to practice their math skills with a partner. 

Finding the Missing Part

In our Math Program, EnVisions, we teach the students the part-part-whole method. In this method, students learn that in addition and subtraction, there are 2 parts and a whole. When adding, you add the two parts, such as 5+5, to get the whole, 10. In subtraction, you start with the whole, 10, and take away one of the parts, 5, to find the other part, 5. In this video, the students describe how they find the missing part. Enjoy! They did such a nice job explaining their thinking!

Math Maniacs

Every day our math lesson consists of a brief game or hands-on workshop. When we do this, the helper for the day, the VIP, sits under our document camera and displays his or her paper. Then, the other students can look to that paper for help if they need it. This gives the VIP ownership over his or her work, and the other students can stay on track with us. 

After the game or hands-on workshop, we do a part of the page together, and then the students work independently to solve their own problems. Sometimes, when we have extra time at the end of our math time, we play a game that focuses on our skill for the unit. Each new unit we start also has a game that we can play at school or at home. When you see these games come home, you may definitely play it at home with your child to promote progress in that skill.

Measurement Maniacs!!!

We have been measuring up a storm in our classroom!  The Math Investigations Unit we are working on suggests introducing different units of measurement to kids in a way they understand....by using materials they are already familiar with.  We started with using connecting cubes, paper clips, and inch tiles.  After measuring several items with these "units," the students were able to conclude that the size of the unit affects the number of units long that item is.  For example, an object that was 3 paper clips long could also be 5 connecting cubes long.  The numbers were different because connecting cubes are smaller, and therefore, you have to use more cubes to measure the object.  

After measuring with smaller units, we moved into measuring longer distances or lengths with bigger units.  We measured using baby steps, kids steps, craft sticks, and basketball player steps. 

Students have really seemed to enjoy measurement and using the different units!

Our unit test will ask the student to explain why different units give different measurements for the same length.

--Ms. Brandt

Off to a GOOD START!

Wow!  It's hard to believe that this school year is well under way!  We have been BUSY, BUSY, BUSY learning!  Here are a few pictures to give you an idea of what we have been doing!

This is the first component of Daily 5 that the students learn--"Read to Self." 

The second component is "Work on Writing."  The students have all sort of fun writings they can do: letters, lists, stories, books, cards, postcards, and even text messages! :)  I will post pictures soon! 

The third component of Daily 5 is "Read to Someone."  This part really reinforces cooperative learning.  It helps students develop the confidence to read to others, as well as being mentors for each other in figuring out difficult words and comprehending what the story is about.  

We have been playing a lot of games during Math Workshop that focus on the skills of comparing the values of numbers and combining numbers to form a total.  The game the students in this picture are playing is called "Double Compare Dots."  Each student pulls 2 cards from his/her stack, adds the amounts together, and compares their total to their partner's total.  The person with the greater value wins!  The students really enjoy it...and from comments about the homework, parents and siblings do too! ;)

This is probably one of the most exciting things we have done yet!  FACETIME!!!  As part of our project about Labor Day and occupations, the students have had the opportunity to listen and talk with people from all sorts of professions: teaching, military, law enforcement, construction, martial arts, and much more!  We were very lucky (and very grateful) that most of our guests could come into our classroom and talk to us.  However, this guest, an Air National Guard veteran from Colorado, shared information about her profession via FaceTime.  The students loved it!  Hopefully with some more tech work we can soon FaceTime or Skype our guests using our Smartboard.  Very exciting! 

I will post more pictures soon!  :) 

Enjoy your weekend and the beautiful weather!

--Ms. Brandt

Math Workshop & Investigations

We have a new math curriculum that aligns with the Common Core Standards.  It is similar to our Investigation's curriculum that we had last year--only modified a little. :)  The first few sessions gives students the opportunity to explore the materials they will be using throughout the school year.  I was AMAZED by the creations the students made!  They also did very well working together with the others at their group!  Needless to say, it has been a very fun, eventful first full week of school! I am very excited for all that lies ahead!  :)

--Ms. Brandt