 Recent Postings:
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Cindy, - Torrance, CA
I'll be teaching fractions next week so I'm glad to have everyone's input and thoughts before I do. The concept of the whole can be hard for my 2nd graders and as mentioned by others, I have to use a lot of hands on activities and practice to he...[[read more]
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Frank Lucero, flucero77@yahoo.com, Clark Middle School - San Diego, CA
Judy's comment reflects only part of the issue with struggling students at middle school. I have differentiated my instruction, implemented research-based strategies, taught to the standards, attended professional development, and completed speci...[[read more]
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Kathy Wolfe, wolfek@granby.k12.ct.us - Granby, CT
Here is an activity that helps kids understand fractions. Have the whole class stand equally spaced around the room. Discuss how each of them is one part of the whole. For example, if there are 24 students, each is 1 twenty-fourths of the whole, ...[[read more]
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Susan Hannah, sullyh66@yahoo.com, Sonoma School - Modesto, CA
Are you looking for great 'hands-on' activities to teach Number Concepts to your Primary students? Young children need to see and feel math. Kathy Richardson has written several books that can be of tremendous help. Developing Number Concepts- B...[[read more]
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Wendy Murdoch, dnwmurdoch@yahoo.com, - Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
In response to Britt's suggestion for using the Accelerated Math program, there is also an Accelerated Reading program. It has the students take a pre-test to determine their reading level and zone level to read in. The students then read books a...[[read more]
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Amy, - Torrance, CA
I also enjoyed the Wacky Web Tales website that Wendy recommended. It is great that you input the information before you see the story, and you have the option to see the parts of speech as a reference. I noticed when you click on the kids' pla...[[read more]
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Judy Pierce, jzpierce@sbcglobal.net, Sonoma School - Modesto, CA
It was interesting to read Frank's comments on fractions. It saddened, but didn't surprise me, that students in junior high still don't understand major fractional concepts like a whole or the relationship of numerator/denominator. It is so cru...[[read more]
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melissa, - gardena, CA
Thanks, Wendy, for the Wacky Web Tales site. I've used Mad Libs with my 3rd grade ELD group to reinforce parts of speech and the students always get a kick out of them. We usually do one story together on the overhead partially so I can guide s...[[read more]
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Britt Fullerton, brittfullerton@hotmail.com, - Costa Mesa, CA
In teaching math it is hard to keep the previously mastered or taught skills current. Without daily or weekly practice many students forget and need to be retaught some of these concepts every year or just before the year end tests. To help comba...[[read more]
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Cindy, ckbell1@juno.com, - Torrance, CA
This year our school tried a new approach to helping our parents understand the academic goals their students would work on each trimester. We got together in grade level teams and created a one page brochure w/specific goals, by subject, for ea...[[read more]
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melissa, - gardena, CA
I can't agree more with Cindy about how important the arts are in education. I know most teachers do not have the freedom to commit a portion of each day or week to art...and that is why it's a beautiful idea to incorporate art into all subject ...[[read more]
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Frank Lucero, flucero77@yahoo.com, - El Cajon, CA
I have a kindergarten-aged daughter and I am always amazed at what she is learning. Although she is an EL, she can read and spell numerous English words. I know that part of her success is the school district emphasis on explicit phonics-based pr...[[read more]
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Frank Lucero, flucero77@yahoo.com, Clark Middle School - San Diego, CA
Jill, regarding the fraction lesson, I noticed that my middle school students struggle with the definition for one whole. Prior to the lesson you mentioned, I've had to teach numerous concrete fraction lessons using manipulatives before I can get...[[read more]
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Wendy Murdoch, dnwmurdoch@yahoo.com, - Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
Another great web site for kids is Wacky Web Tales, (www.eduplace.com/tales). Kids love doing mad libs and they enjoy it even more when it is done on the computer. My jr. highers enjoy this activity, and some of my more reluctant students even we...[[read more]
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Jill Manning, jmann3@lausd.k12.ca.us, Logan ES - Los Angeles, CA
Curtis, I am intrigued by the idea that Chicago Public School students have to ‘test into the best high school' that they can. I think that goal setting would actually work in this type of system though because if students can attach a value to ...[[read more]
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Jill Manning, jmann3@lausd.k12.ca.us, Logan ES - Los Angeles, CA
I am back on fractions, again. I was watching one of my fifth grade students solve a problem involving operations with fractions and instead of using fractions he went straight to percentages. The problem asked students to determine which of th...[[read more]
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judy a pierce, jzpierce@sbcglobal.net, sonoma school - modesto, CA
A teacher in my district shared a great idea that I thought I'd pass along to you. Her name is Amy Neall and she uses the activity to reinforce measurement and to review concepts. Before using this activity , you must prepare the worksheet. Stu...[[read more]
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Kathy Wolfe, wolfek@granby.k12.ct.us - Granby, CT
A co-teacher of mine just came across this web site, Read-Write-Think. The site was established in April of 2002 through a partnership between the International Reading Association (IRA), the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), and th...[[read more]
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judy pierce, jzpierce@sbcgloblal.net, sonoma elementary - modesto, CA
In our standards based and pushed curriculum finding meaningful and exciting activities can at times be a real challenge. Looking back at Curtis' original entry about using cookbooks to teach math made me stop and really think about how else I c...[[read more]
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Amy, - Torrance, CA
I really enjoyed the cook book ideas for math, and wanted to suggest a book that has been very useful in science lessons. While we have our science books that we need to teach the curriculum from, nothing grabs a student's attention like conduct...[[read more]
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Amy , - Torrance, CA
I know many people have talked about the use of journals in math, language arts, and even daily goal setting, but I wanted to suggest a way to use them in science. I have been using Moon Journals as a link to our space unit from the fifth grade ...[[read more]
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Britt Fullerton, brittfullerton@hotmail.com, - Costa Mesa, CA
Both Susan and Melissa mentioned having students from different classes reading to each other. In several schools where I have taught the classes have 'study buddies' pairing a lower elementary class with an upper elementary grade class (such as ...[[read more]
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Cindy, - Torrance, CA
Our school has been a part of several arts grants & one of the things I've loved most about them are the strategies and tools I've learned to incorporate art throughout the curriculum. For my teaching team, art is an end itself but it is also th...[[read more]
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Curtis J Batman, cjbatdude@ameritech.net, Palmer School - Chicago, IL
I was just rereading Melissa's thoughts on setting goals. Chicago does not have unified school district(s) so the students test into as good a high school as they can attend; thus the common goal is to test as high as possible so that you have m...[[read more]
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Britt Fullerton, brittfullerton@hotmail.com, - Costa Mesa, CA
Here is a fabulous resource for educators wishing to incorporate more science standards into their everyday curriculum. The website is http://www.creec.org/region9b/. Teachers can also sign up to receive their newsletters by email and can visit t...[[read more]
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Susan Hannah, sullyh66@yahoo.com, Sonoma - Modesto, CA
I would like to discuss the value of estimation, again. The great thing about it is that you can do it time and time again, depending where your students are. As our 5 and 6 year olds are becoming more secure at recognizing and writing numbers to...[[read more]
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Wendy Murdoch, dnwmurdoch@yahoo.com, - Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
A great math resource for various topics is Marcy Cook Math. She has a ton of resources to buy for using tiles that are numbered from 1-9. The activities require students to arrange the tiles in the appropriate spot. For example, 7 + __ = 1__ (6,...[[read more]
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melissa, - gardena, CA
Susan shared about having first grade students come read with her kindergarteners...it's great to partner up with other classes - especially in different grade levels and/or from different communities. Another teacher friend of mine recently tol...[[read more]
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Jill Manning, jmann3@lausd.k12.ca.us, Logan ES - Los Angeles, CA
Curtis, I also think cooking is a good way to bring students together and help improve their math skills. I am constantly on the look out for cookbooks that don't actually require cooking since my classrooms have never had a stove or oven. That...[[read more]
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Cindy, - Torrance, CA
I'm no expert here, but I commonly get pull out (RSP) & full day (SDC) spec. ed. students in my room - mostly the latter and usually 1 - 2 each year. Our school has a mild/moderate spec. ed. prog. so the numbers, ages, and disabilities of my st...[[read more]
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A Teacher, brittfullerton@hotmail.com, - Costa Mesa, CA
I loved Curtis's suggestion to use cookbooks for word problems involving mixed numbers. Making learning relevant to the students' lives is so important. For many students if they know why they need to learn something and where to apply what they ...[[read more]
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Frank Lucero, flucero77@yahoo.com, Clark Middle School - San Diego, CA
Britt's TPR activity for learning letters through hand gestures combined with phonics review is an example of an important lesson that the students can use to acquire academic language.
Research provided by the American Education Researc...[[read more]
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Kathy Wolfe, wolfek@granby.k12.ct.us - Granby, CT
This week, two high school science teachers asked me about the availability of software that will allow them to easily create tests that are matched to objectives. Both of them use a variety of resources to teach, and like to create their own tes...[[read more]
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Amy, - Torrance , CA
I wanted to praise Melissa for her use of goal setting in her classroom. Due to standardized tests, we are trained to expect a measurable outcome we can put a grade on for a specific assignment. We sometimes forget that there are other importan...[[read more]
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Kathy Wolfe, wolfek@granby.k12.ct.us - Granby, CT
Here is another idea for integrating technology into a middle school project.. This creative activity provides practice in both expository and persuasive writing. Students pretend they own a business of their choice, and need to produce an advert...[[read more]
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Jill Manning, jmann3@lausd.k12.ca.us, Logan ES - Los Angeles, CA
Living Southern California makes it difficult to teacher children weather concepts and make them stick. An activity that I have always done with my kindergarten students in conjunction with our daily calendar activities is “What's the Weather Li...[[read more]
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Susan Hannah, sullyh66@yahoo.com, Sonoma - Modesto, CA
Our Kindergartners have been in school for 4 months. Our goal is to make sure they believe they are readers. Some are reading books of some length and some are still reading very short patterned books that they seem to have memorized. It is so im...[[read more]
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Wendy Murdoch, dnwmurdoch@yahoo.com, - Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
I agree with Brit that teaching spelling is a difficult task. One strategy that I used was to have a strip of letters each week that the students cut apart. The letters formed their spelling words for the week. I then would give clues about the w...[[read more]
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judy a pierce, jzpierce@sbcglobal.net, sonoma - modesto, CA
I decided it was time to clean a cupboard that contained lots of books and material I hadn't looked at for a while. I really thought this would be a quick look and then toss or return to my files. One hour later I was still sitting on the floor t...[[read more]
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melissa, - gardena, CA
A variation on Britt's spelling idea:
We do the same spelling activity, but we call it 'cheering the words' because we look and sound like cheerleaders when we do it! The only difference is we put our hands in fists - straight up for tall le...[[read more]
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Cindy, - Torrance, CA
Amy, our district has websites for teachers so I can't answer your questions. But, I asked my husband and he can. He is a high school physics teacher and he created his own website for his students and their parents - for free. He said most IS...[[read more]
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Frank Lucero, flucero77@yahoo.com, Clark Middle School - San Diego, CA
What strategies do you all have with resource specialist students and/or Special Day students enrolled in your classroom? The most recent trend in my district is to mainstream all resource specialist students with IEPs and Special Day students in...[[read more]
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Curtis J Batman, cjbatdude@ameritech.net, Palmer School - Chicago, IL
Trying to figure out a challenging word problem that uses mixed numbers? Looking for kids to estimate how much time? How much in terms of expense, would you like your students to use proportional reasoning? Convert from metric to standard? I'm...[[read more]
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Kathy Wolfe, wolfek@granby.k12.ct.us - Granby, CT
I agree with Curtis when he says that students are often frustrated by estimation. Here is one game that provides estimation practice in a fun way. Collect several samples or pictures of different inexpensive items. These could include paperclips...[[read more]
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Britt Fullerton, brittfullerton@hotmail.com, - Costa Mesa, CA
Teaching spelling is difficult. It seems that most children are either good spellers or they are not. I have struggled with trying to find ways to help poor spellers become better ones. Recently, I came across a method being used in a 3rd grade c...[[read more]
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Wendy Murdoch, dnwmurdoch@yahoo.com, - Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
I couldn't agree more with Curtis and Judy about getting the kids excited to read. I had a similar story about my son and Charlotte's Web as Curtis did with Ergon. My son is only in kindergarten, and he enjoys me reading to him, as long as it is ...[[read more]
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judy pierce, jzpierce@sbcglobal.net, sonoma school - modesto, CA
I enjoyed your commentary on reading over the winter break, Curtis. I can just visualize the pile of books next to the bed for your daughter and your son's 'huh' response to his reading goals. It is hard to think what we do as parents or educat...[[read more]
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melissa, - gardena, CA
Being a goal-oriented person, I decided several years ago to teach my students about goal-setting and started using students' personal goals as part of a classroom management technique. Each morning, our students select and record a personal goa...[[read more]
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Amy, - Torrance, CA
I know several people talked about technology, and I have a question for anyone that can answer it. I like to have my students create websites for a science project we do each year, but I have had trouble with our district helping us get them (a...[[read more]
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Susan Hannah, sullyh66@yahoo.com, Sonoma - Modesto, CA
We make it a point in our Kindergarten classroom to celebrate good work. It is quite simple. When a child has completed a project, according to the directions, or has made an above average attempt, we celebrate. Instead of pointing out mistakes, ...[[read more]
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Jill Manning, jmann3@lausd.k12.ca.us, Logan ES - Los Angeles, CA
The work with primary students and algebra continues. My kindergarten students all took a crack at the Caterpillars lesson from Lessons for Algebraic Thinking, Grades K-2 and the results were good. Students were asked to predict the number of bl...[[read more]
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Jill Manning, jmann3@lausd.k12.ca.us, Logan ES - Los Angeles, CA
Melissa, I like this approach to thinking about volume and since my school is actually on the LAX flight path, they can relate to it. Another activity I have used with my students and that seems to have helped them is ‘Volume in a Box'. You tak...[[read more]
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Curtis J Batman, cjbatdude@ameritech.net, Palmer School - chicago, IL
With vacation time so near; How do I get my students to read over vacation? As a parent and a teacher, I was looking at the differences between my son & daughter and what they planned on reading over vacation. My daughter had a stack of books a...[[read more]
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Amy, - Torrance, CA
I agree with Curtis' points about reading in a circle. I think it is a great way to have a small group interactive experience with literature. Another way I like to use this concept is in ‘literature circles'. I usually introduce these reading...[[read more]
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Britt Fullerton, brittfullerton@hotmail.com, - Costa Mesa, CA
I really liked Susan's approach to getting children comfortable with and understanding estimation. In this day of calculators it is an important skill for students to understand. The more we can encourage students to think daily in their lives ab...[[read more]
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Frank Lucero, flucero77@yahoo.com, Clark Middle School - El Cajon, CA
Cindy, here is an idea for a graphic organizer (GO) that has really helped my students to understand the equal symbol. The concept I've instilled is that the quantity on one side of the equation/number sentence is the same as the quantity on the...[[read more]
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Kathy Wolfe, wolfek@granby.k12.ct.us - Granby, CT
I agree with Wendy that technology activities should be integrated with other learning objectives, not just tacked on as an ‘extra'. In our middle school and high school, the computer skills teachers work closely with both the content teachers an...[[read more]
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Susan Hannah, sullyh66@yahoo.com, Sonoma - Modesto, CA
Home Connections-is a great source for Homework Activities that children can do with their parents. A very good way to communicate with families. We also use these activities for small group instruction in our Kindergarten classroom. There are 3 ...[[read more]
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Cindy, - Torrance, CA
I meant to submit this earlier in response to A Teacher, but forgot. Regarding modifications in classroom management systems, I use a system of cards with die cut flowers on popsicle sticks. There are two kinds of flowers: learning flowers and...[[read more]
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Wendy Murdoch, dnwmurdoch@yahoo.com, - Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
I agree with Kathy about the importance of doing a big project, but breaking it down into small steps. By breaking it down it allows you, as the teacher, to think outside the box, and do fantastic projects that the students will get excited about...[[read more]
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melissa, - gardena, CA
Last week we were working on volume of cubes and rectangular prisms...some of my students struggled, especially when doing homework and not able to use manipulatives. The concept of volume is difficult when students cannot see all sides of a fig...[[read more]
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melissa, - gardena, CA
I love Britt's idea of having students think about and share what they've learned or enjoyed at the end of each day. It seems it would help students: make connections across different content areas; perhaps realize the rationale behind some less...[[read more]
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judy pierce, jzpierce@sbcglobal.net, sonoma - modesto, CA
The use of compare and contrast is a major standard in the language arts area for CA 4th graders. Using T charts, Venn diagrams, and more organizational ideas has really helped the students feel comfortable with finding similarities and differen...[[read more]
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Kathy Wolfe, wolfek@granby.k12.ct.us - Granby, CT
I recently found a great graphing program called GRAPH that is available free from www.padowan.dk. Initially created in 2001, GRAPH can plot functions and equations, calculate values, plot lines of best fit, shade areas and inequalities, and many...[[read more]
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Cindy, - Torrance, CA
I find that teaching algebraic concepts in the younger grades needs to be strategic and continual (not a one shot lesson kind of thing, but something woven into the curriculum throughout the year). One of the things we've talked about in our cla...[[read more]
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Curtis J Batman, cjbatdude@ameritech.net, Palmer School - Chicago, IL
The benefits of a reading circle with your class can't be overstated. It is very helpful in terms of class management; you know who is listening and who is not. I particularly like the novel, The Most Beautiful Place in the World by Ann Cameron....[[read more]
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Frank Lucero, flucero77@yahoo.com, Clark Middle School - San Diego, CA
I've taught different classes such as Sheltered English Immersion, GATE,
and Newcomer. When differentiating activites to meet the needs of the specific class, I teach the same content (mathematics) but I've always had to modify Graphic Organ...[[read more]
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Amy , - Torrance, CA
I thought Melissa's method of math assessment logs to test proficiency in areas they are working was a great tool. I thought her daily informal assessment log could be used in so many different ways. It would also be great for the students to k...[[read more]
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Britt Fullerton, brittfullerton@hotmail.com, - Costa Mesa, CA
A great way to close each day is to review with the students everything that we did that day highlighting the important concepts or ideas of the day. I start by asking the students to think about and then share their favorite part of the day. Thi...[[read more]
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Wendy Murdoch, dnwmurdoch@yahoo.com, - Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
Integration of technology is sometimes a hard concept to do. We tend to just do a 'technology' idea, but not necessarily part of our standards, just something extra. The best way to integrate technology is to first look at the standard we are tea...[[read more]
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Jill Manning, jmann3@lausd.k12.ca.us, Logan ES - Los Angeles, CA
Even though A Teacher talks about 8th graders, I think the idea of students using elections to track trends in government is a great one. Waiting until middle school to have students discuss elections and politics is almost too late. My element...[[read more]
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judy a pierce, jzpierce@sbcglobal.net, sonoma elementary - modesto, CA
I would like to share a wonderful resource book called Hot Words Hot Topics (Creative Publications 1998 ISBN 0-7622-0629-2). This fantastic book is a mathematical handbook written to refresh your memory of concepts and skills. It is divided into...[[read more]
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Susan Hannah, sullyh66@yahoo.com, Sonoma - Modesto, CA
As I read Curtis's comments about estimation, it reminded me of something we do with our 5 and 6 year olds. They love to talk about how many and are not afraid to estimate. With practice they become better at estimating and realize that an estima...[[read more]
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Curtis J Batman, cjbatdude@ameritech.net, Palmer School - Chicago, IL
Wendy Murdoch has some good ideas for novice teachers. New teachers are constantly trying to figure out what direction to go in and how best to help their class. New teachers need to realize that they bring energy to the profession and help to ...[[read more]
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Kathy Wolfe, wolfek@granby.k12.ct.us, - Granby, CT
Each year, our 6th grade students do a six-week Animal Project that helps them develop research skills. The work is done in small daily assignments. The first week, they locate five sources from different types of media. Given a list of informati...[[read more]
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Britt Fullerton, brittfullerton@hotmail.com, - Costa Mesa, CA
Melissa, your 'Daily Informal Assessment' log is a stroke of genius. In many of the schools where I teach there are volunteers and paid aids who come in to help the regular teachers. They are there to provide small group or individual extra help ...[[read more]
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Frank Lucero, flucero77@yahoo.com, Clark Middle School - San Diego, CA
With the influx of English Learners (EL), I've had to differentiate instruction and the curriculum to make it more accessible to my students. Differentiated instruction allows me to present the material that matches the learning styles of my stud...[[read more]
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melissa, - gardena, CA
GATE students - I really like Amy's idea of having a series of 'challenge activities' to engage her gifted students. I especially like that these assignments are open to all students who would like a challenge. It seems that, given the opportun...[[read more]
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Wendy Murdoch, dnwmurdoch@yahoo.com, - Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
Author of the Month
In the younger grades, it is a good idea to have an 'Author of the Month'. I used to have a basket of books that just contained these special books. The students looked forward to having new books to read each month. To ki...[[read more]
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Amy, - Torrance, CA
When you're in your first years of teaching, very high achieving students (GATE) can be difficult to appropriately challenge. It is important not to just give them busy work or they begin to feel like they are being punished. I have a series of “...[[read more]
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Curtis J Batman, cjbatdude@ameritech.net, Palmer School - chicago, IL
Estimation, the most frequent and hated form of mathematics. “I don't know how many there are," many students reply with absolute exasperation that you asked them. Even things they are comfortable with, “How many M&M's in a package, how many ch...[[read more]
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A Teacher - Chicago, IL
The election of the new congress provides a great opportunity to unite 8th grade math and social studies curriculum. 435 & 101 have been important numbers for Americans for a number of years. Students will have the ability to discuss: "How we,...[[read more]
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judy pierce, jzpierce@sbcglobal.net, sonoma - modesto, CA
Thanks, Frank, for the ideas of multiple representations. So many adults don't understand the idea of zero pairs and find them confusing and difficult--I certainly did at first. Yet they are the most visual representation we have in our arsenal...[[read more]
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Susan Hannah, sullyh66@yahoo.com, Sonoma - Modesto, CA
Amy, here is another homework idea that involves parents and students. Send home a math game in a big laminated manilla envelope, with the game directions on the front. Include in the envelope all the items needed for the game and a response jou...[[read more]
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Jill Manning, jmann3@lausd.k12.ca.us, Logan ES - Los Angeles, CA
Well, I have taken the plunge and started pushing my primary students to do more algebra and think about functions and the results have been interesting. In one first grade class we did a lesson called Pattern Block Fish from, Lessons for Algebr...[[read more]
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Cindy, - Torrance, CA
I couldn't agree more w/Jill & Amy about team teaching. I have been teaching w/the same team (3 teachers, 60 kids, one big room) for 5 years now. Whenever we sit down to plan lessons or review new curriculum & assessments, I always come out w/b...[[read more]
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melissa, - gardena, CA
The need for frequent assessment in mathematics is essential...espcially when faced with an impacted pacing plan. A little tool I use that helps me keep track of student performance is a 'daily informal assessment log.' I just write down the da...[[read more]
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Britt Fullerton, brittfullerton@hotmail.com, - Costa Mesa, CA
Jill, when making your number line prototypes I recommend putting fractions, decimals, and percentages all on the same number line. I have found that many students don't realize that these are 3 different ways for representing the same value. Hav...[[read more]
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Frank Lucero, flucero77@yahoo.com, Clark Middle School - San Diego, CA
Jill's statement about representation in algebra is known as multiple representations. For a successful algebra experience, students must know that some concepts can be expressed in multiple ways.
For example, take the problem 5 - 9. One...[[read more]
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Kathy Wolfe, wolfek@granby.k12.ct.us, - Granby, CT
I really liked the science class rotation idea from Amy in Torrance. Our middle school takes this same idea and applies it to reading classes. The subject area teachers each teach a short session on reading in their subject area. In order to do t...[[read more]
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judy pierce, jzpierce@sbcglobal.net, sonoma elementary - modesto, CA
I have found a great classroom resource that can be used in K-6. The resource is DOUBLE DICE. They are die inside die and can be used in a multitude of ways. Roll one die and see two numbers that can be added, subtracted, multiplied, made into...[[read more]
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Amy , - Torrance, CA
I love Susan Hannah's idea of linking reading and math. I think sending books home and asking specific math questions and expecting a response in writing is great. I especially like that the parents are involved. I have been looking for ways t...[[read more]
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Susan, sullyh66@yahoo.com, Hannah - Modesto, CA
Recognizing and identifying coins is so difficult for K-1 students. As we learned the letter and sound for N, we had all the children sit in a circle. A small can was passed around the circle and each child took a nickel. We asked the children to...[[read more]
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Wendy Murdoch, dnwmurdoch@yahoo.com, - Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
I agree with Kathy Wolfe that teaching students to understand classical works in literature is very challenging. Another idea to get your students involved with a story is to have them pretend that they are one of the characters. They then can ei...[[read more]
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Jill Manning, jmann3@lausd.k12.ca.us, Logan - Los Angeles, CA
Individualized number lines
Judy, I think the idea of individualized number lines is a great one, but given all that you can use number lines for, especially in the upper grades, you are going to need several different ones for students ...[[read more]
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Jill Manning, jmann3@lausd.k12.ca.us, Logan ES - Los Angeles, CA
I like Amy's idea of team teaching the curriculum to allow students to see different teaching styles as well spending time with someone who is an 'expert' in the part of the curriculum that they are teaching.
The fourth grade team at my ...[[read more]
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Cindy, - Torrance, CA
Here's another TPR activity: Flying Saucers. In it, kids practice how to read numbers in various ways & how to compare their values. There are 2 groups of kids for this activity: flying saucers & aliens (2 flying saucers for every 1 alien). ...[[read more]
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Frank Lucero, flucero77@yahoo.com, Clark Middle School - San Diego, CA
Using manipulatives is a common practice in elementary math instruction. Although not as common, secondary math teachers also use manipulatives such as algebra tiles, the algebra lab gear, and integer tiles to use concrete models to teach abstrac...[[read more]
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Amy, - Torrance, CA
As a fifth grade teacher, a primary focus for the year is to prepare my students for the transition from elementary school to middle school. We have taken a new approach the last two years with how we teach science as a grade level. Rather than t...[[read more]
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Britt Fullerton, brittfullerton@hotmail.com, - Costa Mesa, CA
I also really like Jill's idea of using the number line to help students with the concept of rounding. Not only does it make rounding more understandable, it also helps visual learners to create a mental picture. To this I would like to add a Rou...[[read more]
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Kathy Wolfe, wolfek@granby.k12.ct.us - Granby, CT
One of the most difficult skills in middle and high school English classes is for students to understand classical works of literature such as Romeo and Juliet or The Odyssey. Both of these are required texts in my school district. Here is one ac...[[read more]
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melissa, - gardena, CA
Using music is such a great way to teach and reinforce math skills and strategies. I'd like to share a couple of songs my team partners and I created to teach EVEN and ODD numbers (and of course we add dance moves...TPR!). The Even Song is to t...[[read more]
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Jill Manning, jmann3@lausd.k12.ca.us, Logan Elementary School - Los Angeles, CA
Representation in algebra is a big deal. Most of my students in the upper grades are used to seeing an equation as the only representation of a function in algebra but you can express functions graphically, linguistically, and with tables. I hav...[[read more]
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Susan Hannah, sullyh66@yahoo.com, Sonoma - Modesto, CA
Melissa wrote about getting her students physically involved in Geometry. I couldn't agree more. Here's an activity you can do in Kindergarten that is engaging for all children. I also use it as an informal means of assessment. Divide your class ...[[read more]
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judy pierce, jzpierce@sbcglobal.net, sonoma elementary - modesto, CA
As a springboard to Melissa's idea of students using their bodies to review geometry vocabulary, I'd like to share another successful idea along the same vein. When I am teaching division, the students use the pneumonic 'Does McDonalds Sell Chee...[[read more]
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Wendy Murdoch, dnwmurdoch@yahoo.com, - Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
I agree with Curtis Batman that newspapers are an excellent classroom resource. They are great to use, not only for content, but for grammar lessons as well. I used them when I was teaching the different parts of speech. The students would underl...[[read more]
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Cindy, - Torrance, CA
Kathy, I LOVE the 'Night Trader' idea! It's funny how even though I'm doing so much concept understanding (w/place value, number sense,+/-, etc.) and problem solving, my kids still need to practice the concept of regrouping to completely underst...[[read more]
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Frank Lucero, flucero77@yahoo.com, Clark Middle School - San Diego, CA
Melissa's idea about reinforcing geometry vocabulary by having her students use their body parts is a strategy called Total Physical Response.
Another vocabulary strategy is the use of graphic organizers (GO). Graphic organizers are esp...[[read more]
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Curtis J Batman, cjbatdude@ameritech.net, Palmer School - Chicago, IL
I don't think I can more strongly agree with what Wendy Murdoch has stressed aboout encouraging middle school students to read aloud. I ask each of my 8th graders to read aloud their favorite Dr. Seuss book, to read it as a performance and to en...[[read more]
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Amy , - Torrance, CA
An area where students frequently get frustrated in math and really score poorly on tests is working with word problems. The moment my lower achieving students see a word problem a moan escapes from them. However, a great way to teach students ...[[read more]
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A Teacher - Costa Mesa, CA
Classroom management is an area for which teachers are constantly trying to develop effective techniques. Over the past couple years I have been in dozens of classrooms and seen a lot of different strategies for classroom management used. In only...[[read more]
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Kathy Wolfe, wolfek@granby.k12.ct.us, Granby Memorial Middle & High Schools - Granby, CT
When I read the post from Cindy in Torrance, CA, I thought of another version of her ‘Day Trader' game that will let the kids practice regrouping for subtraction. With the same supplies, each student starts with a full 100's flat, using nine 10's...[[read more]
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Wendy Murdoch, dnwmurdoch@yahoo.com, - Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
My best advice to beginning teachers is 'just say no'. As a new teacher, you have lots of things going on--learning the curriculum, managing the paper work, learning the dynamics of the staff, etc. You may be asked to be on certain committees, he...[[read more]
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Susan Hannah, sullyh66@yahoo.com, Sonoma - Modesto, CA
Here is a GREAT homework idea linking reading and math. We know it is important for children to respond to literature. We send home a math-related book. Ex: "10 Black Dots," or "Five Little Ducks". We put the book and a journal for responses (com...[[read more]
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Judy Pierce, jzpierce@sbcglobal.net, - Modesto, CA
To Jill Manning--thanks for the great idea on using the number line. I agree that is a very valuable and strong tool to use in elementary school. Wouldn't it be great to have several painted on the playground for kids to use during math or at r...[[read more]
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melissa, - gardena, CA
It's so neat to see what students come up with when given the chance to share the way their 'math brains' work! While working on addition and subtraction with numbers up to 10,000 (in 3rd grade), a student shared a strategy no one else in the cl...[[read more]
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Frank Lucero, flucero77@yahoo.com, Clark Middle School - San Diego, CA
With the influx of English Learners (EL), I've had to differentiate instruction and the curriculum to make it more accessible to my students. Differentiated instruction allows me to present the material that matches the learning styles of my st...[[read more]
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Cindy, - Torrance, CA
Susan, I think your bean bag lesson is great - especially for English language learners. Correct use of prepositional phrases is difficult and the inside/outside vocabulary you could infuse into the lesson are great hands on experiences and mean...[[read more]
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Jill Manning, jmann3@lausd.k12.ca.us, Logan Es - Los Angeles, CA
As a mathematics coach at a Title I school in an urban area, I have been thinking a lot about number lines and their use as a tool in mathematics. With third grade students I have been using number lines to help them better understand the concept...[[read more]
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Cindy, - Torrance, CA
As a 2nd grade teacher, I loved the game 'Day Trader' that I learned at the last training I went to. It is a great and fun way to engage kids in practicing their regrouping skills. Additionally, it requires minimal preparation and maintenance. ...[[read more]
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Curtis J Batman, cjbatdude@ameritech.net, Palmer School - Chicago, IL
Have you noticed that your upper grade elementary students don't read news. They may have watched a little news on TV or heard some on the radio, but they don't read newspapers. Newspapers are a fantastic classroom resource that allows you to k...[[read more]
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A Teacher, - Costa Mesa, CA
As a K-6 substitute teacher, I have been looking for ways that the teachers for whom I substitute make learning math more accessible to all their students. There are several schools that have made Math Journals with graph paper pages. This is esp...[[read more]
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Wendy Murdoch, dnwmurdoch@yahoo.com, - Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
I have found that reading aloud is one of the best strategies to encourage my students to read and enhance their vocabulary. Motivating middle school students to read is not always easy, but I found that reading aloud several days a week kept my ...[[read more]
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Kathy Wolfe, wolfek@granby.k12.ct.us , Granby Memorial Middle & High Schools - Granby, CT
One great jr. high or high school website I've found uses both investigation and journaling to explore why ancient civilizations fell. The website is called “Collapse: Why Do Civilizations Fall?" (www.learner.org/exhibits/collapse/index.html). Th...[[read more]
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Judy Pierce, jzpierce@sbcglobal.net, Sonoma Elementary - Modesto, CA
A GREAT ENGAGING ACTIVITY! Quotient Cross-out is a game for 2 to 4 players. They each need 1 die and a game sheet. On the game sheet each player writes: 1,2,3,4,5,6,8,9,10,12,15,16,18,20,24,25,30,36. The first player rolls the die and crosses...[[read more]
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melissa, - gardena, CA
For the last 2 weeks, my third graders have been studying geometry. At the last training I went to, we brainstormed ways to engage students when there's so much new vocabulary in geometry (especially difficult for English Language Learners). We...[[read more]
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Susan Hannah, sullyh66@yahoo.com, Sonoma - Modesto, CA
When teaching math skills in Kindergarten, I always try to incorporate more than one concept and curriculum area.
Here's a way to work on gross motor skills and learn geometric shapes at the same time.
Make the 4 basic shapes on t...[[read more]
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A Teacher - Torrance, CA
I am always looking for exciting and educational science lessons that connect with the text, curriculum, and content standards. It is important to incorporate hands-on experience in an effort to offer varied methods of instruction and to bring a ...[[read more]
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