Last year, I created simple close reading checklists for my students to use in the classroom. The goal was to help students slow down and think about the process of reading through a passage or text that was new to them. The process of going through "steps" really worked well for them. We only had to use the checklists for a few lessons before the students could mentally go through the process in their heads. The students could verbally talk be through the steps, and it was evident that they were applying the strategy when they looked at a text. A few weeks ago, we began our double-digit subtraction and addition units. The kiddos worked so hard, and really made me proud with their willingness to persevere through the math problems. However, I found that as we began to work on mixed problems(addition and subtraction together) that they would become confused. They were not looking at the math symbols nor thinking about if they should regroup/borrow or just solve. So, I ...
math
Math & Movement
This past winter, I was really lucky to attend an awesome conference session on the program Math & Movement. You can check out their website here. M&M is a math program focused around involving students with a "kinesthetic" approach to learning through movement in the form of jumping, skipping, dancing, and reaching while verbally participating in various math (and now literacy) centered activities. The target age groups for the program are grades Pre-K through 8. The moment I saw this program in action, I knew that it needed to be brought to our school. With the help of grants and Title I funding, our school was able to purchase several of the math and literacy mats as well as receive training in how to incorporate movements into every day classroom learning for our kiddos. There is just something about taking a learning concept, making it BIGGER and giving students a visual and movement to go with it that ignites a desire and a purpose to the learning ...
Something Borrowed- Classroom Calendar
One of my blogging besties, Jen from Sparkling in Second, is embarking on her new journey as a Mrs. That's right! Our Ms. Cullen is getting married! BIG congrats to you girlie! While Jen is away enjoying marriage bliss, some of her blogger peeps are taking over her blog for a special event! My "something borrowed" is Classroom Calendar Math. I "borrowed" this idea and adapted it to meet the needs of my kiddos in my classroom. Hopefully, after this post, you will want to "borrow" it, too! I am a classroom calendar junkie. Yup..even in good ole' second grade. In fact, I think it is safe to say that I would still do calendar if I was an upper elementary or middle school teacher. Do you have/ use a classroom calendar? If you do..I am smiling at you. If not...hop on over to Jen's blog here to read all about how and why I use classroom calendar in my guest post! ...
