Curriculum Mapping: Where to Begin in the Mathematics Classroom:

At a recent curriculum mapping professional development day, math teachers from across my district met to map out their math curriculums.

It was very interesting to disucss thoughts on “Where to Start” with my colleagues.

 

What Is Curriculum Mapping?

http://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-curriculum-mapping.html

http://ctal.udel.edu/assessment/program-support/curriculum-mapping/

How do you plan for next year?  What do you need to consider when planning?  How do you translate the big ideas into lesson plans?

If you are looking at beginning the journey toward curriculum mapping you may wish to visit some of the following free sites:

NRICH:  Under Teachers : free curriculum maps:

https://nrich.maths.org/

Teacher Hub:  How to create a curriculum map.

http://www.teachhub.com/how-create-curriculum-map

What I Have Learned Teaching:  Curriculum Map Planning For a Year

(free resource)

https://www.whatihavelearnedteaching.com/plan-for-next-year-organizing-year/

Mathematical Christmas Cracker Jokes

By Katie Steckles. Posted December 22, 2012 in Blackboard Bold

At Christmas, how will you perform the inverse operation to exponentiation?
Yule log.

What do algebraic geometers study at Christmas?
Holly-nomials.

Where do all of Santa’s maps go to?
The Ho-Ho-Hodomain.

Why does Father Christmas equal minus Christmas Father?
Santa-commutative.

How does Santa solve systems of simultaneous congruences?
Using the Chinese Reindeer Theorem.

Why doesn’t Gödel’s constructible universe exist at Christmas?
Because there’s Nöel.

Why isn’t every man in a red suit with a beard Father Christmas?
Because correlation doesn’t imply Claus-ality.

 

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year!

Back to the Basics-Facts that is!

I have had a lot of parents asking me about how to review basic facts with their children. In my classroom I use a variety of strategies from the traditional flash card method, to mad minutes, to dice and card games, to online games.

Many students still find drill an effective way of learning their basic facts.  Other students find more untraditional methods work better for them. Dice games, card games, oral review, computer games…so many choices.  Regular review is crucial and now more than ever before there are many resources available to help get this review done!

One of my favourite resources is the website engagingstudents.blackgold.ca  that my district has made available for students and parents (and teachers).  This site is rich with resources not only in the area of mathematics, but all other subject areas as well.  It is well organzied by Division, Grade, and Curriculum Strands and Concepts.  Check it out if you haven’t yet had the chance to.

Some other sites to visit include:

Free Printable Traditional Math Flash Cards: (Addition/Subtraction/Multiplication/Division)

http://www.apples4theteacher.com/math/subtraction/flashcards/

http://www.factmonster.com/math/flashcards-explained.html

http://www.memory-improvement-tips.com/printable-math-flash-cards.html

http://www.math4childrenplus.com/

Subtraction Flash Cards:

http://www.math-salamanders.com/free-math-flashcards.html

Games:

http://engagingstudents.blackgold.ca/

http://www.mathplayground.com/ASB_Index.html

http://classroom.jc-schools.net/basic/mathasmd.html

 

Hoping everyone has a wonderful March!

 

 

Multiplication and Division: From Memory and Memorization

We continue to work on trying to increase our basic fact retention of multiplication and division facts in our grade five classroom.

Students are enjoying going back to the old fashioned flash card method like mom’s flashcards!  I recently stumbled across a site that also had flashcards using subitizing and multiplication arrays.

Please check this out at:

Not Your Mom’s Flashcards: Conceptual Understanding of Multiplication

Not Your Mom’s Flashcards: Conceptual Understanding of Multiplication

From Memory and Memorization: There IS a Difference

From Memory and Memorization: There IS a Difference

Some very good reads!

Happy February!

Diving into Division in June

             As our year is beginning to wind down, my students are still busy diving into division and learning many division strategies to help them.

              Many classrooms use the same approach when introducing students to Division.  I found these two visuals on the internet of teacher’s using chart paper examples to help students discover that the world of division can be approached by many different angles.  The key is to find the strategy that makes the most sense to the individual student.

           Some students who find division extremely complicated can even manage to get away with more of a multiplication / subtraction approach.

     Divisibility Rules:  Just a quick visual to review the rules of divisibility.

Divisibility Rules Song Video:

http://www.teachertube.com/video/divisibility-rules-song-135941

Divisibility Rules:  Division by 4 Video  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbzZhx-xZHE

Divisibility Rules:  2,5, and 10 Video  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-SW6URvqqM

              Some of the many strategies that students could choose to explore and use include (but is not limited to) the following:

Number Line

Box Method

Dividing Tens and Hundreds

You can rename numbers to help you divide.

Calculate 800 ÷ 4

Rename 800 as 8 hundrends

8 hundreds ÷ 4 = 2 hundreds

So 800 ÷ 4 = 200

 

Lattice Division

Sketch An Array

Divide by Halving

Divide by Breaking UP The Numbers

Splitting Method (Halving and Halving again…)

Standard Long Division Algorithm

 

Base Ten

Rename as Tens or Hundreds

Estimate using a nearby number

Using Subtraction to Divide

Dividing by Sharing

Dividing with Remainders

 

           Wishing everyone a wonderful June…speedily heading toward a joyful July!

Spring Break- Home math activities to spruce up your holiday.

Spring is in the air …and our school Spring Break is quickly approaching!

If you want to continue to have your child work on mathematics activities while on Spring Break check out some of the fun ideas you could do with them below.

    Spring Break Math Activities pdf format  http://www.sps186.org/downloads/attachments/18296/Spring%20Break%20Math%20Activities.pdf

     20 Questions Fun Activity- found at http://digitallesson.com/20questions

pdf format:   http://www.digitallesson.com/downloads/20Questions.pdf

 

   Spring Themes Math Pages:

http://www.kidzone.ws/Math/spring/#Worksheets5

    16 Spring and Easter Math Ideas:

http://www.teachjunkie.com/holidays/themed-math/

And…

109 Fun Spring Break Activities (not just math and for all ages)

http://www.tipjunkie.com/post/activities-for-children/

Sprucing Up Your Math Class- The Valentine’s Day Way

Here are some ideas that I found on the web that you could incorporate into your Math lessons to tie into the upcoming celebration of Valentine’s Day.

Valentine Day’s Math Lesson Ideas:

http://www.googolpower.com/content/free-learning-resources/seasonal-math/valentines-day

http://www.mathwire.com/seasonal/february.html

http://whattheteacherwants.blogspot.ca/2011/01/valentines-day-math-explosion.html

http://www.teach-nology.com/teachers/lesson_plans/holidays/valentine/

http://www.kumon.com/resources/6-ways-to-use-candy-for-fun-math-games-valentines-day-edition/

Valentine Day’s Worksheets:

http://www.kidzone.ws/math/valentine/#Worksheets5

http://www.superteacherworksheets.com/valentines.html  (some free but some you need a subscription for)

http://edhelper.com/Valentine%27s_Day_Math.htm

https://www.teachervision.com/arithmetic/printable/37276.html  (some free)

http://www.classroomjr.com/printable-valentines-day-multiplication-and-fractions-printable-worksheets/

Valentine Day’s Worksheets/Games/Quizzes:

http://www.softschools.com/themes/valentine/

http://more2.starfall.com/m/math/math-journey/play.htm?f&d=demo&www=main_val_mathjourney_1

Enjoy!

Students Learning In Motion- Motion Geometry!

This month we embark upon the adventure of math learning in motion. (literally).

Students are working through many transformation activities focusing on concepts such as translations (slides), rotations (turns), and reflections (flips).  Although for some the terminology has changed since their younger years they are really enjoying the hands on activities using grid paper, dot paper, and manipulatives.

Interesting sites to further our study this unit include:

Transformations:

http://www.mathsisfun.com/geometry/transformations.html

http://www.virtualnerd.com/middle-math/integers-coordinate-plane/transformations/transformation-definition

Translations (Slides)

http://www.mathsisfun.com/geometry/translation.html

http://www.virtualnerd.com/middle-math/integers-coordinate-plane/transformations/translation-definition

Rotations (Turns)

http://www.mathsisfun.com/geometry/rotation.html

http://www.virtualnerd.com/middle-math/integers-coordinate-plane/transformations/rotation-definition

Reflection (Flips)

http://www.mathsisfun.com/geometry/reflection.html

http://www.virtualnerd.com/middle-math/integers-coordinate-plane/transformations/reflection-definition

http://www.virtualnerd.com/middle-math/integers-coordinate-plane/transformations/line-of-reflection-definition

Reflection, Rotations, & Translation

http://ca.ixl.com/math/grade-5/reflection-rotation-and-translation

http://www.nelson.com/mathfocus/grade5/student/tryout.html  (Chapter 5)

http://msagradesixclass.weebly.com/geometry.html

http://www.tvdsb.ca/webpages/hoym/resources.cfm?subpage=102276

Lines of Symmetry

http://www.mathsisfun.com/geometry/symmetry-reflection.html

http://www.mathsisfun.com/geometry/symmetry.html

http://www.mathsisfun.com/geometry/symmetry-rotational.html

http://ca.ixl.com/math/grade-5/lines-of-symmetry

Math and Art

http://www.mathsisfun.com/geometry/symmetry-artist.html

On-line Game

http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/gamesactivities/math/transformation.html

http://www.innovationslearning.co.uk/subjects/maths/activities/year3/symmetry/shape_game.asp

Gangnam Style Math (Transformation Style)-Video

Christmas Is Coming Fast

Sorry I have been away from my blog for so long- it has been an incredibly busy year…

With the Christmas season quickly approaching I wanted to take a moment and review some of my favorite Christmas mathematical sites.

My students have enjoyed visiting the following math sites this season:

Games and Puzzles:

http://www.coolmath-games.com/holiday-Christmas-games-puzzles/

http://www.topmarks.co.uk/christmas/christmasgames.aspx

Basic Fact Practice:

http://www.abcya.com/christmas_lights_holiday_game_for_kids.htm

http://www.multiplication.com/games/play/holiday-fun

Christmas Math Ideas:

http://www.googolpower.com/content/free-learning-resources/seasonal-math/christmas

Just for fun..not necessarily math oriented games:

http://www.primarygames.com/holidays/christmas/games.php

 

Looking At Division- The New Look

Division from “a different perspective” has helped some of my students to better understand the concept of division.

Some of the methods being experimented with in my classroom this year include (but is not limited to…)

       

               

  

Division Limerick

Division, division, division,
A terribly easy decision,
Lets me just share,
My apple or pear,
With utter and perfect precision….

Here’s some good words of advice,
I think I might say them all twice,
Learn each times table,
And you’ll also be able,
To go and divide really nice…

Young laddie, it won’t make things worse,
Division brings no type of curse,
Repeated subtraction?
Break to a fraction?
Or multiply things in reverse?

Quotients are things that we find,
When division’s how math problem’s signed,
It has the math smarts,
To cut pies in parts,
The inverse of things we combined…

(Limerick borrowed from  Mr. R’s World of Math and Science  http://mathstory.com/poems)

Hope everyone has a great May Long Weekend!

 

Multiplication Strategies Sure Look Different Nowadays!

Wow times have changed!

I am really impressed with how quickly my students are picking up on implementing different strategies when working on their multiplication activities. I remember back in the day when the only strategy used in school for double digit multiplication was the standard algorithm.

To my grade five students this “standard algorithm” often looks like Greek!

Today my students often find some of the newer “strategies” to be easier!  These newer strategies often look like Greek to my parents!

One of my students’ favorite strategies this year is the use of Lattice Multiplication.  I must admit at first I was quite skeptical, but as the years pass, I find that more and more students have taken to this method for quick, easy calculation.

Now students are familiar with numerous approaches when multiplying, and are choosing methods and strategies that make sense to them (although they don’t always make sense to their parents). Here are some of the most common ones I find students using in my classroom.

Why did the student do multiplication problems on the floor?  The teacher told her not to use tables!