Our Day in Math and Language Arts

I have not posted anything on this poor blog in so long!  I've been so busy with just you know, everything there is.  We actually have a snow day tomorrow.  As you know, in Texas that means 1/8" of snow.  Seriously, we get some pretty bad ice storms, and that is what's happening as I type.  I love knowing the night before that I can sleep in!  I hate it when they "call it" that morning.  You don't know whether you should get up or not.

I have a couple of people who have asked to see how I do my daily stations and plans.  It seemed easiest to show them by asking them to come by my classroom, but that isn't always possible.  I have definitely posted before about the way I run my math and reading stations, but here is a really detailed description for interested parties.

We do morning work daily.  Since I'm self contained, we alternate between math and LA morning work.  Some days we finish up something from the day before.  I'm including a link to a google  form that is a "mock up" of a day in those two subjects. 

Here is our math routine:
Monday- Thursday:
20' whole group lesson (this can be extended if we do something "hands on" included in the lesson.)  During this time, we set our goals for the week and glue that into their math folder.
Four 20' Rotations -
M - "Math Facts" - I have a box of math facts in the form of flash cards, wipe off cards, but usually we are working on a particular multiplication fact.

A - "At Your Seat" = seatwork.  I have a hanging file folder for each student.  In that folder, I put either a page they can all do, or I individualize for a particular student.

T - "Teacher  Time"  I call a group up to me to work in a small needs-based group. It's here I have the opportunity to extend materials for my higher kids and do interventions in the form of reteach/retest/practice with other groups. If I need to work with an individual, I will have the group do iPad apps while I work with someone from that group. I document everything and every bit of time I spend with them!  {Here} is the form for that documentation.

H - "Hands On"  This station is done on the floor and it is usually task cards, a game for two or three or something they can do together.  I teach this game station as part of my whole group time, or on a Friday when we are having a "catch up" day.  Here are a couple of ideas for that station: Part-Part-Whole puzzles and Task Cards with QR codes.
 
During the last 15-20 minutes we discuss our stations, grade something and/or write in journals.  On Fridays, we take an assessment, journal, grade, and have "free choice" stations. They are required to finish anything in their hanging file left over from the week. If they are finished or as they finish, they can choose a station to join.  iPads are usually a top choice, but we have lots of fun games and activities around the room.  One of my favorite Friday activities is to post problems around the room and have the students walk around in pairs to solve the problems together.  I usually have QR codes for grading.  Friday is usually just whatever I need it to be.  We all love a fun Friday, right!?

My favorite Guided Math organizational system comes from The Clutter-Free Classroom.  It is worth the purchase price!!  My kids read it quickly to see where they go.  Here's the link.

Daily 5 goes somewhat the same in that I do a whole group lesson for about twenty minutes (which might be guided practice of some kind,  a foldable, or a reading lesson) and we discuss procedures before I "release them in to the wild." We did lots of practicing at the beginning of the year in each station (for about six weeks) and it was well worth it. We still have to have reminders!

(On the back, I may make a special assignment for the week such as a webquest.)

I run my reading stations in using a "free choice" type of format.  I had to have accountability, however.  I came up with this form for my students to use weekly.  I have blogged about  it before, but this is the updated version I'm sharing.  I like this for reading because I can call a group of four or just one student to work with me since they are all engaged.  My sheet for each week includes "Have to do's" and "Can do's" (for when they complete the "Have to do's.")  I have an outdated SRA kit that I think is fantastic, so we use it! They have to do a Word Work,  Work on Writing, and fiction and nonfiction reading and a response sheet of their choice.  On Friday, they have to turn it all in with the plan sheet on top.  Above are the "choice areas" and the plan sheet image showing "have to do's" and "can do's".  If any of you are interested in a pdf of the plan sheet, email me and I'll send you one!  It's pretty customized, so you might just want it for a guide to make your own.

  

I am sharing the "Snap Centers" link.  {Here} is where you can get those.  There are enough ideas to keep things going for a couple of weeks or more!

I created earlier this year for some friends who were starting stations.

I think about people who haven't ventured into this station thing yet.  There are still some out there who feel it's overwhelming!  I did too.  As soon as I jumped in with both feet, I fell in love and wouldn't do it any other way!!!

Fraction Statements

Writing in math is so important.  Fractions seem to provide a huge opportunity to write aside from writing word problems.  I have collected a variety of objects from the Dollar Tree, Target, Party City, etc... I look for objects that are the same, but in a variety of colors or have a variety of attributes. Party favors are usually a good bet!  I found a set of really cute and colorful buttons, pom-poms work well, plastic sea turtles, and the big favorite...tiny ninjas!

The students write things like: "2/6 of the ninjas are yellow."  "1/6 of the ninjas are blue."

I use these in centers  after we practice quite a bit in a whole group using our math journals.  After I model how to write the statements and they get to see the objects on the document camera, interest is HIGH and they can't wait to get their hands on the little objects I have in their math station.  

Start collecting little things that the kids will like to touch, and you probably have stuff in your classroom already!

Part Part Whole Puzzles

I just finished this product for my store.  I always create out of my own need for something in the classroom (the whole "mother of invention" thing, right?!)  This was something we have to practice and it turned out to be something that I believe will be very challenging for my most gifted students.  It is also a visual representation of the Part Part Whole concept.  I hope it is something you can use!  Click {HERE} to see it.

Part Part Whole Puzzles on TPT

Get yours, download, laminate, cut them apart, ready for stations! Thanks for taking a look!  

Guided Math 2.0

I have been enjoying my guided math stations this year (math workshop).  Here is a snapshot of what we do.  I have four basic stations: Math Facts, At Your Seat(work), Teacher Group, Hands-On.  We have learned about 6-7 of the hands-on games so far. They are really good at them.  Race to 50 or 100 is the favorite right now. Last Friday, I showed them how to use the QR reader on the iPad mini's and do some task cards I bought from Lori Flaglor's TpT store.  She has the best math task cards around, in my opinion.  I chose a second grade version because I knew this early in the year they could be independent with it and enjoy checking it with the QR codes.

 I got my Guided Math Rotation Board from The Clutterfree Classroom {here.}

MATH-WORKSHOP-ROTATION-BOARD

My kids are in various stations in these pictures. One of their favorites is "Hot Dots" from Lakeshore Learning (but you can get them other places as well.) The kids figure out the answer and check their answer using the Hot Dots Pen.  I like that they can be silenced (the pens, not the kids) and they just check with the red or green light that comes on. But if you're in the mood for some noise, then by all means, turn the sound ON! 

Another station (where some serious practice goes on!) is seatwork.  This is my chance to hold them accountable for what they know.  I keep a hanging file for each of them. They know to get their seatwork for that day out of the file, and they put it back in if they don't finish in the 15 minutes or so in that rotation.  If it is "building up" in the file and they are overloaded, then maybe I need to back down on what I'm giving them.  I do individualize this way.  It is an awesome way to allow all of them to practice on their own level.  

Today, in the teacher station we worked on rounding to the nearest 10 using my "rounding machines."  I got this idea from Pinterest, but I couldn't find where when I searched.  These are made from foam core board cut into rectangles.  We poked holes in the board in order to stick a large pipe cleaner (threaded with two beads) into the holes and taping it down on the back to keep it secure. 

Back taped down. 

Next, I created some number lines starting with multiples of 10 (0-10 and going to up to 90-100). The kids have a number to round and find the correct number line to slip under the pipe cleaner. This gives them practice in finding the correct benchmarks to use for rounding.  They place the bead on the number they are rounding and the other bead on the rounded answer. 

We practice with the "rounding machines", I gave them some cards with two digit numbers on them, and off they go!  

Organized Chaos!

The math facts station also involves just good 'ole flashcards.  It's also the noisiest station, but it's part of the excitement of getting the fact right!

That's it!  We do it every day.  We journal on Fridays, and sometimes in between.  Thanks for stopping by! Leave a comment and let me hear how you do math workshop. 

Pinteresting Math: Comparing Numbers

I found these cute little popsicle stick <, > symbols on Pinterest.  Glued them together, painted them, decorated them, love them.  We used all kinds of numbers to compare, starting with two digit,  then money, then worked our way up to four digit numbers.  The kids loved it.  I had them draw two number cards, decide on which symbol to use, then say the number sentence.  One of the reasons I did this in small group, (besides to protect my little "munchers" from harm!) was to get the kids to talk to me about their thinking. I know that most of them know which symbol goes between the numbers (most times), but to articulate the sentences as:  _____ is less than _____, or vice-versa took some thinking time for some of them.  I need to do more "outloud thinking" with them in small groups! Another thing we are working on is telling which place value helps them decide which number is greater or less than.  I am really working on getting them to verbalize their thinking as well as writing about it.

Givin' credit to One Extra Degree: Confessions of a Teach-a-holic.  I absolutely love this <, > idea AND it's one I've actually tried and use often.  So thanks, Amanda, for a great idea!  I have to try "munchers" using arrays like she suggests on her post! Another great use for my little critters. 

Review the Year!

Review skills as you go, or use the whole set at the end of the year with this set of 24 task cards.  The problems are balanced between addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, two-step problems, and geometry.  There are large cards to use with the whole group (I like to tape them up around the room and let the kids go around with clipboards), or there are small ones for small groups.  I created black and white as well as full color depending on your printing preference!  (Maybe you're almost out of color ink this year!?)  I hope you enjoy them!! 

Two ways to find them: TPT or Buy Sell Teach! 

Larger size cards for the whole class to use around the room!

Simple addition as well as more challenging problems.

Smaller cards in colorful chevron borders.

Small cards can be printed in black ink to save money!

Get them at TPT or Buy Sell Teach! 

Task Card and Game Overload? Organize!

     I think my task cards I've made and bought are some of my favorite things in my classroom.  When I started collecting them, I knew I needed a good way to store them along with my one-page games.  At first, I started using a huge binder and protective sheets for everything, but it immediately started getting too fat with all those pieces in there.  I had to come up with a workable system.

Here is how I do it:

• Keep task cards in those accordion coupon files (I have three sizes from Target Dollar Spot.)

  

  Target has such cute files!

• Keep task card originals and answer sheet originals in a small binder in sheet protectors.  I keep these originals even after my task cards are laminated and cut just in case we lose one of them! (and we will lose one sometime!)  I also put a sticky note on the original telling myself where the task cards are kept.
• Some answer sheets are hard to identify as to which task cards they go with, so I also add post-it notes telling myself which task cards the answer sheet matches.
  

  

  small binder for all originals

• Keep single game boards (and worksheets) and wipe-off pages used over and over with dry erase markers in sheet protectors in a BIG binder. These can get bulky, so I use the biggest binder I have.
  
  
  

  

  I use heavy-duty sheet protectors

• Use dividers with tabs to separate wipe-off pages and games into different skills  (e.g. money, measurement, addition/subtraction games)

single page games kept in large binder separated by dividers

a single page bump game by sandyslearningreef.blogspot.com

Do whatever works for you, but this system has kept me somewhat sane!  I have to stop buying task cards, I have to stop buying task cards, I have to stop buying task cards...

A Few of Our Favorite Things

During our Daily 5 time this week, I got to show the kids in my LA class the great things we received from our Donor's Choose box, all from Lakeshore Learning!  The kids were so excited, and I have to say I was too.  

www.teacherfluffandreallygoodstuff.blogspot.com

 This box has 8 "brochures" full of nonfiction facts.  It has 16 wipe-off cards to go with the brochures. 

We also received new stampers- nice bold letters for our word work center.  They love the chunky letters and stamping out spelling words!  

www.teacherfluffandreallygoodstuff.blogspot.com

Here is the last thing we received for our Daily 5 Centers...letter tiles.  I had the individual letters (the cut out kind), but these are tiles and lots great learning is happening when making the challenge words and then sentences as we practice in D5 word work centers!  

www.teacherfluffandreallygoodstuffl.blogspot.com

We just unwrapped the math items yesterday.  The kids in my homeroom/math class were thrilled over what we got!  

Money Puzzles

Money Puzzles

Hot Dots are awesome.  I really thought the little "voice" that says "good job" when they get an answer right would bother me going off constantly, but it hasn't.  We also LOVE the money puzzles activity.  They are really grateful for the gift and are having so much fun in the centers with our new things!  

Hot Dots! 

 We also got these amazing 3-d nets of our solid shapes.  The clear plastic shapes have the nets that fit right inside them and come out so they can count faces. 

I can't say enough about the wonderful donors who give to Donor's Choose.  It is just so cool to me that people care so much about my little ones in 409!!