Learning Math is like learning a new language.

All languages have their own vocabulary and 

Mathematics is no exception. 

I read this and could not agree more! Math is so much more than just being able to compute numbers. We need to understand what is happening with the numbers and why we add/subtract/multiply or divide them. I read a professional book over the summer called Number Talks by Sherry Parrish. After reading this book, I am now even more conscious of having students talk about their math thinking. This is not only beneficial to them but also to the others in the group that hear their great thinking! I have posted the following in my room:

A Mathematician:

* talks about math

* shares ideas

* explains their answers

* looks for patterns and solves problems

and most importantly...a mathematician makes mistakes!

I tell the students over and over again that it is ok to make mistakes. That we are all learning and that is what is most important!!

It has been so nice meeting many of you these past few weeks. If I did not get to meet you and you would like to call me or schedule a conference, please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you for the opportunity to work with your children. I learn from them every day!

Summer time math!!

Classroom teachers always encourage their students to keep up their reading over the summer but it is also important for children to keep up their math skills as well. The good thing is that there are so many ways to do this, and it doesn't involve sitting down with a textbook or worksheets. The following are some ideas and activities that you can try. There is really no right or wrong way for any of these activities. The key is to have fun and just keeping thinking about and working with numbers!

Grocery store math - with all those prices and numbers the opportunities are endless. Kids love looking through the fliers! Great way to practice addition, subtraction, decimals and rounding numbers. 

Road trip math - Turn road trips into math lessons. Calculate distances between cities. A good way to practice elapsed time.

Turn children's collections into math lessons - What does 100 look like? Group objects into tens.

Outdoor scavenger hunt - Sort and count items found.

Cook up a math game - How many carrots would you need if you double the recipe?

If there are five people in a family and 35 strawberries to divide equally, how many strawberries will each person get for dessert?

Use take out menus  - What is least/most expensive item on menu? Find all the items that cost between $5 and $10.

2,4,6,8, now it's time to estimate - Estimation is one way to increase number sense. Estimate how many shirts will fit in a drawer or how many games will fit on a shelf? Ask if their answer is reasonable?

Money/coin trade - Give child an assortment of coins. Put a piece of fruit on table and tell child it costs .45 cents. Have them fin 5 coin combinations that equal .45 cents.

Fraction sundaes - Introduce benchmark fractions and have them make a sundae that is 1/2 vanilla and 1/2 chocolate. Or 1/3 vanilla, 1/3 strawberry and 1/3 chocolate.

The following are some Apps that you can check out as well:

Operation Math

Sushi Monster

Quick Math - Arithmetic + Times Tables

Pet Bingo by Duck Duck Moose

Meerkat Math

Math Flash Cards

10Monkeys Multiplication

Math Monsters

Math vs. Zombies

YodelOh Math Mountain

Have a wonderful fun-filled and relaxing summer!!

Math and Reading

"Both reading and math have the same goal -
bringing meaning to black marks on pages" 

(Marilyn Burns)

Recently I was reading Marilyn Burns' (math guru extraordinaire) blog and she was talking about how she incorporated literature into her math lessons when she was a math instructor. I have done this myself and have found it to be a wonderful way to help students understand the math concept. I do not tell the students what the book is about, but rather, have them come up with what math concept is being explored in the book themselves. They always get so excited when they figure this out! Most recently, I used the book The Doorbell Rang by Pat Hutchins to introduce the concept of division to third graders. This year I also used Odd Todd, Even Steven by Kathryn Cristaldi with second graders and Mouse Counts by Ellen Stoll Walsh with first graders. I love using literature because I can refer back to it time and time again with the students and they ALWAYS remember the book! 

Here are just a few books that can be used to help with various math concepts:

One is a snail, ten is a crab by April Pulley Sayre and Jeff Sayre (early numeracy and place value).

Ten Friends by Bruce Goldstone (ways to make 10).

How Big is a Foot by Rolf Myller (using standard units when measuring lengths).

Spaghetti and Meatballs For All by Marilyn Burns (area and perimeter).

Thank you for all you do at home and I look forward to working with the new students that have just started in our small groups this month!