Hello Teachers!
Happy Saturday! I'm on Fall Break so I'm excited to actually have a little time to catch up on some blogging, and have some "me" time this weekend. This is a photo I took a couple of months ago and then realized I'd never shared it. {Sigh} How is it already nearly November?!?!
Anyway....
Just a quick tip today about how to quickly jazz up your pointers. I picked up these pointers in the Target Dollar Spot just before school started this year. They had boring white handles. My teenage daughter knew just how to spice them up using her collection of Duck Tape!
Wrap some fun, coordinating Duck Tape around the handle for an instant makeover! With so many colors and designs available these days, you are sure to find a color and pattern you love. {Oh geez, now I sound like a commercial.}
My students love using these to read big books or those large copies of Scholastic News that come with your bundle each month.
This is an older pointer we wrapped with tie dye Duck Tape a few years back. The tape has held up beautifully!
So, grab some Duck Tape and get wrapping!
We have begun our study of Math Facts. I like to begin only after we have begun our unit of study on addition and subtraction strategies. Once we know some strategies, we can then begin to learn specific math facts.
You can read about the program I follow for teaching math facts here and here.
Last week, we concluded our study of +1 and +2 facts and began working with -1 and -2.
Here you can see my kiddos practicing during math stations with Math Facts Cards.
These kids are working with my Addition +1 & +2 Math Facts Cards. They include missing addends, which ramps up the challenge. My kids love to spread out on the floor and try to complete the whole set, matching addends and sums, before our time is up.
These two are beginning to work with the Subraction -1 & -2 Math Facts Cards.
Typically, each new set of math facts begins with an investigation and mini-lessons to teach strategies. I'm a firm believer in kids learning strategies, rather than just memorizing facts. Once they have some strategies in place, they can better understand addition and subtraction and develop their number sense.
Once we have some strategies in place, we practice our math facts at math stations. These Math Facts Cards are their favorite. They love the challenge of it and being able to collaborate with a partner.
To see all the Math Facts Cards sets I have available, click here. They are available as individual sets, as well as a bundled set.
Check them out!
