Friday, June 27, 2008

SMARTBoard TOOLBOX

Pin It To quote Julie Andrews in the Sound of Music, " Start at the very beginning. It's a very good place to start!"


Subtraction is essentially the beginning of WORKING BACKWARDS! Just think NUMBER LINE!

I've started on SMARTBoard files for problem solving. The house stands for the FACT FAMILY. I teach the components with a story that ends with a chant: Window plus Window equals Door. Door minus window equals window. I also add hand motions as I move around the house while chanting. The key word and operation symbol are added to the roof. (On the SMARTBoard, the two windows combine to cover the same space as the door!) More on the introductory lesson later!




The screen shots show several of the templates I'm developing to teach "drawing" components for word problems. Here are several features to look for:

  • Large Format
  • Pull Tabs for Solutions or Further Explanation
  • Math Thinking (suitable for repeated readings)
  • Focused on Problem Solving Skills (i.e., MAKE A TABLE, WORK BACKWARDS, etc.)
  • Standardized colors and shapes for individual elements of word problems. For instance, the key words are highlighted with blue matching the operation symbols in the equation.
After each sample question (SCREEN SHOTS), I'm going to create 10 practice problems with interactive features for the SMARTBoard lesson. Finally, I'll make a Senteo quiz with a printable student handout.


Thursday, June 26, 2008

Super Maths

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Super Maths is a very engaging, large format math game site. Games are fast-paced and timed. Access all of the games from the flash supported main page.


The first preview image appears in the DATA Basic Training Level (Pie Charts: Medium).


The next screen shot shows the HARD level of Pie Charts.



Another preview shot shows an example from the NUMBER group. Find this game under PLACE VALUE.


This site is worth the time to explore, with our main focus on the BASIC TRAINING levels. However, the INTERIOR ANGLES GAME is found under EXPERT!


Enjoy exploring this activity site. Please post comments on individual game application to our lessons.

Character Traits

Pin It This blog is in response to Team Teaching meeting with SMARTBoard Training.

Several sites to help with CHARACTER VOCABULARY words:

More ideas, activities and lessons at READ, WRITE & THINK!

Cloze Passage Generator and More: Download the trial version.

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Supplemental Materials

Pin It Here are some publications that offer supplemental materials:

Everyday Math
:
Singapore Math:
Saxon Math:
Excel Math K-6 Curriculum:
Math Learning Center

SRA Number Worlds

What other supplemental materials are available to review?

Sunday, June 22, 2008

SMARTBoard Workshop June 25th

Pin It Reminder:

Workshop Wednesday June 25th

8:30 - 2:30

Planet Bell and Lab

Lunch: (Bring suggestions!)

  • There are many new activities and games included in the Version 10 that will be appropriate for vocabulary study.
  • I will have a CD with files for everyone that attends.
  • Bring your labptop and a jump drive to save files created. We will discuss ways to share and save our files at the workshop.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

E-mail any questions or post comments here on the blog.


Saturday, June 21, 2008

Fractions

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Look at this video using KidSpiration to teach Fractions!

These program components are new to me.




Here a site to use for Equivalent Fractions.

Function Tables

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How long does it take a tomato to drop from the top of a building? This FLASH activity from MathRealm provides an interesting function table exercise.

Friday, June 20, 2008

Pan Balance

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What steps do you teach for a pan balance problem?

Below is an explanation of "math thinking" needed to solve for a pictorial variable. The passage is a good example of a "repeated reading" sample to build math vocabulary fluency.

Steps:

  • First, I looked at the balance to compare the numerals. I saw the squares were not congruent. They were not the same size even though they were the same shape.



  • The balance is the same as an equal mark. I can write a number sentence using the digits on the scale. They are the addend that will give an even sum.



  • On the right side of the scale, the addend 1 is odd. I know that the mystery number must be odd to make an even answer.



  • If I add the two numbers on the left, the total is 6. (2 + 4 = 6). The value of the right side must be the same! If I make a subtraction problem using the digits, it would be 6 – 1 = ____. So, the difference is 5!

Resources:

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

XP Math Games

Pin It XP Math Games

These links have games for 4th and 5th grade in large scale, just perfect for the SMARTBoard. Topic areas - Number & Operations, Algebra, Geometry, Measurement, and Data and Probability. Here are some examples. Many more quality games are included on the site.



Metroid Coordinates - practice coordinates in four quadrants




Comparing Fractions - practice equivalents and improper fractions





Flip Angles - memory game to match pictures and names of angles







XP Math has more than games. The site has been featured on PBS Teacher Source and Sites for Teachers. There are worksheets, discussion boards, plus videos and e-books to download for FREE! The e-books are pdf files. Here's a sample from the Fast Ideas for Busy Teachers (Both grades 4 and 5).



Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Math Gopher

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This is a math trick that reviews vocabulary and computation: two digits, add together, subtract, original number, symbol.
What a great introductory activity!
NOTE: This game will be blocked by TSS because of the "GAME" notation in the URL. An unblock request will be sent.

GETTING STUCK

Pin It The "I'm stuck!" wall that stops students in their tracks may be a teacher's greatest obstacle. How do we know how high or wide? How do we coach them to get over it, if the origin and depth are hidden?

This article explains the "stuck" problem in problem solving!


GETTING STUCK, GETTING UNSTUCK—COACHING AND QUESTIONING
Problem-solving involves being "stuck." If a task does not puzzle us at all, then it is not a problem; it is an exercise. Sometimes it is appropriate to congratulate a student for being stuck—it means the student has tackled a worthwhile challenge and gotten to a meaningful point.
One way to get stuck is to ask questions that are beyond our background to solve or are not entirely clear. Progress can also halt when we are unable to determine what knowledge would be useful to apply at a particular point. The most common form of "stuck-ness" faced by students stems from their failure to identify the obstacle to their progress. They are stuck because they believe that being stuck is an amorphous and hopeless situation. Teachers and mentors need to help students understand that there are many specific ways to be stuck, and that, for each barrier, there are associated methods for becoming unstuck. The challenge, when stuck, is determining why one is stuck.


Read the whole article: http://www2.edc.org/makingmath/handbook/teacher/StuckAndUnstuck/StuckAndUnstuck.asp

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Mixing in Math

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Mixing in Math is a program for "other" subject areas to mix in math, but the ideas are great for introductory and review activities:


Just for Fun!


Here's a chart of all the activities sorted by content: http://mixinginmath.terc.edu/MiM_Content_Chart.pdf



Resources for Test Items

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Singapore Math, Thinking Blocks and Drawing for Problem Solving

Pin It While searching for templates to place in our toolbox, I found sites that demonstrate "drawing" math problems.



Worksheet Generators

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Here's a list of sites that offer FREE worksheet and exercise generators :
  • Math Kangaroo http://www.kangurusa.com/clark/pdb/Tools to make exercises and worksheets with Word Search, Crossword, Bingo, Label the Picture, Fill in the Blank, Flashcards, Matching, Board Game, Word Spiral, Multiple Choice, Scrambled Sentences, Missing Words, Split Words, True or false, Lined, and Categories. No-stress lesson preparation; an easy way of creating your own exercises. Complement your teaching with pictures and ready-to-print materials from THE LANGUAGE MAKER. (Free Registration)
  • Wordsmyth - Crossword, Quiz, Anagrams plus online dictionary tools
  • Word Learner - Click ONLINE in the top bar interactive flashcards, matching, hangman, and printable flash cards.


Mama Cats

Pin It I'm not a cat person! My mom was chased by a rabid cat that lunged at her just as she slammed the screen door of the old home place. A traumatic memory of claws hanging in the mesh with both the mangy critter and the child screaming to high heaven for help foreshadowed a perpetuated fear and disgust of all felines.



Early in our marriage, Gene and I moved to Fuquay Varina in a "hand's" house in the middle of a dairy farm. The peaceful rural setting coupled with Green Acres comedy at times. Once, while I was enjoying a cool breeze from an opened bedroom window, I turned to see that a cow was critiquing my decorating skills. I screamed, she bumped her head, and both of us wheeled around in a burst of surprise.

The farm, loaded with all types of four-legged creatures, included three yellow, tabby cats abandoned by the previous tenant. Three female cats. Shortly after we moved in, they all "found" kittens within a few days of each other. My excitement and curiosity was overwhelming. There’s so much secrecy with cats. They hide those babies and spit and snarl at you if you get too close. Yet, I continued to pry and observe.

Just as the kittens eyes began to open, I made my trek early one morning to check on them. Lo and behold, I spotted one of the mother cats sneaking across the yard with a whining kitten's neck gripped in her teeth. The horror was as traumatic for me as I'm sure the rapid cat experience was for my mother. "Ahhhh! She's eating it!" My inexperienced nervousness seems so laughable now, but in that moment I almost dropped to my knees in fear. Images of blood and gore raced through my mind along with flashes of guilt. Had I pushed her over the edge with my interference? Nevertheless, my legs found the fortitude to follow that cat. To my surprise, she deposited the wailing kitten in a pile . . . of ALL the kittens. Those mama cats combined efforts and gathered all the babies in one nest.

During the next two weeks, the three tabbies took turns feeding and caring for the constantly churning mass. One of the mother cats was hit by a car, and her babies survived just fine. This nest stayed put as I enjoyed playing nursemaid and housekeeper for the brood with the two remaining cats watching over their growing pride.


Those poverty driven tabbies discovered that even though their DNA drove them to secrecy and seclusion, their babies were better off with a big dose of cooperation. They made a daring move that saved one litter.

Friday, June 13, 2008

Math Slice

Pin It These games are just the right size for SMART board projection.

Review for Test Prep Online Practice and Games

Many games and materials including a WHEEL and MATH MATCH that support vocabulary.

http://www.mathslice.com/index.html

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Teachers Using Technology and Smart Board Tools

Pin It You must register for this site:

http://teachustech.ning.com/



Teachers First Smart Board Tools: http://www.teachersfirst.com/getsource.cfm?id=9304

Tool Box

Pin It Do you have any ideas for tools that are necessary for students to be able to draw such as the multiplication grid, place value chart, and measurement function table?

Sites to preview:

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

3D for Smart Board

Pin It Smart Board and Edusim

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LN5JRl8_sU and another with students using this new tool http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVFsxev-2sk.

More at http://www.edusim3d.com/

WOW!

Math Vids

Pin It Remember what Bilbo used to say: "It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to!"

This forum supports the growing idea of Team Teaching for our school. Both management and strategies will be discussed and researched.

06/11/08
Week 1: Please visit this site and click on some of the Quicktime videos. Of particular interest are the language enrichment activities. We have already identified vocabulary instruction as an area of importance.

http://coe.jmu.edu/mathvids2/

This is the link to the videos:
http://coe.jmu.edu/mathvids2/videos/videos.html (Scroll down to structured language experiences! )

Post your comments.

Quote

"Those that are burdened to believe in the impossible need to get out of the way of those that are breathing reality into exceptions!"---V. S. Bell

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