Getting Ready for Spring

Aloha friends!  Welcome to Spring! hopefully you are enjoying your Spring Break or it's very close!! I just returned from a wonderful trip to Seattle and loved it!!!

I am back at home now and doing a little prep work for my classroom.  I finally finished some math centers that I have been working on.

I love have new activities each month for my students to use during our Math rotations.  These centers include 10 different skills to keep everyone engaged and challenged. Skills include Place Value, 3 Digit Addition and Subtraction, Measurement, Time, Money, Fractions, Arrays, 2D and 3D shapes.

I copy, cut and laminate each center and place them in manilla envelopes for easy storage.  I also include a laminated copy of the skill sheet to save on paper.  Students can do the work right on the laminated cards/sheets and wipe off with a dry erase marker.  I have also included a black and white version to save on ink!

I also had a request from a teacher who uses Class Dojo in her classroom. She wanted a money system like my Beach Bucks to use in her classroom with a Monster theme.

I had a lot of fun making these and they came out so cute!! I kind of want to use these instead!  I'm pretty sure my friend and her class are going to love these!!

You can check out both of these items in my TpT shop.

I am off the do a bit of Spring Cleaning today and hopefully a bit of napping too!

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Math Rotations

Aloha everyone!  I have been wanting to share how my math rotations have been going this year.  This is the first time I have ever done them thanks to Debbie Diller and her fantastic book.

Math Work Stations: Independent Learning You Can Count On, K-2

I read the book this summer and was so inspired to try it out in my class.  I purged a lot of my math manipulatives and set up my math tubs.

Each container has a number and has a variety of activities that cover a certain skill.  I change them out each month to keep it interesting.

This last month the skills included, place value, working with tens, basic fact fluency, skip counting and number sense.

This year I also received a grant for the Reflex Math Program.  This is a fact fluency online program that many teachers had been raving about.  

I applied for their grant and received it for my class for a full year!  I was so excited, but each child needs to access the program at least 3x a week.  I only have 4 computers in my class and this program is not accessible on i Pads.  So this is how I set up my rotations.

All I do is change out the Computer, Meet With Teacher and Centers Tags.

4 times per week I have rotations so that each student can have time to get online.  So far it has been working out really well.

Our school uses the Go Math program.  I meet with my students on the carpet before we begin our rotations and share what we will be working on in our small groups.  I teach the same lesson to three different groups and differentiate for each of their needs.  

I meet with my struggling group first to make sure they have enough time to get through the lesson. The following groups are able to pick up new concepts quickly and usually have not problems.  My accelerated learners are able to get through the lesson with minimal help.  They work on enrichment activities and games if they complete their assignment before their time with me is up. I would say each group is around 15-20 minutes.

The students at Centers start out with Calendar Math before they choose their box of activities.

In their math journals they write down the date, the number of the day, 2 number sentences, base ten model, coins, expanded form and word form.

Most of my students are able to get through this very quickly.  I am so happy to see how much they have progressed.

Once they finish this they grab their rotation menu and head to a center of their choosing.

They cannot repeat a center until they have completed all of them.  It's an easy way to keep everyone on track and practicing all of their skills. Click on the picture if you would like a copy.

It took a lot of planning and prep, but I have to tell you it has all been worth it.  I am able to focus on the lessons and differentiate for each group.  My students really like it and they are progressing so well with the Reflex Math program.  I was actually alerted today that one of my students has achieved mastery and is now ready to move onto multiplication!

My only problem now is time!  I just can't get through my rotations in an hour.  I honestly need another half hour to really make this flow, but sometimes you just have take what you can get.

Do you have math rotations or follow a routine you really like?  I would love to hear about it.

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Math Ideas Anyone??

Aloha friends!  I wanted to post today to ask for your help.  This year my classroom organization and management of many things has been fantastic.  I am loving my Daily 5,  Writer's Workshop has been wonderful and many other areas have just been flowing.  Then comes Math....

This year I have a student who is far and above all the rest of my students in this area.  He is literally finished with anything I give him in 5 minutes.  I teach a lesson, practice with the students, assign the task and BAM,  he is done!!  Little Sally doesn't even have her name on the paper and he is finished!  His "To Do Folder" is always empty, and no worksheet can hold him for more than a minute.  I have an iPad and computers, but I am not sure what to put on there for him.

So what I need to organize in my class is a Math Workshop, Math Tubs, something to meet his needs and all my other little guys.  I feel overwhelmed and I just don't know where to begin.  This is what I need from you.  What do you do in your class??  What resources should I check out first?  Books, websites, links to great Posts.  I know Debbie Diller has a book out and I love her, but it is sooo pricey!  Is it worth it??

I would love to hear all of your ideas and who or what I should google to help me get started.  My math time is definitely in need of a Makeover!!

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