Kid President

This is a great video to watch and to share with your students. It is very inspirational and worth watching!

Subtraction Cards

These wonderful subtraction cards can help with subtraction word problems. Put a picture of something that interest the children on them. A standard template for the "smiley cards" can be found on the following pdf. The smiley card idea is from Anita Burris' text. http://wps.prenhall.com/wps/media/objects/1295/1326999/blackline/bm09.pdf

First Grade Math Standard: Represent and solve problems involving addition and subtraction
-Use addition and subtraction within 20 to solve word problems involving situations of adding to, taking from, putting together, taking apart, and comparing with unknowns n all positions e.g. by using objects, drawings, and equations with a symbol for the unknown number to represent the problem.

There are 6 sponge bobs in the room.

2 Sponge Bobs leave the room. How many Sponge Bobs are left? Flip over 2 cards to show that two Sponge Bobs left.  The 4 cards still facing up represent the answer to the subtraction problem: 6-2=?

Groovy Boards

Groovy Boards are a great way to show the commutative property and to show fact families. The commutative property says that "if a and b are whole numbers, then a +b = b+a" (Burris). A fact family describes the set of whole number addition facts with a common sum (Burris).

A pdf of the template for the groovy boards can be found at: http://wps.prenhall.com/wps/media/objects/1295/1326999/blackline/bm06.pdf

example of the commutative property:

The rubber band can be moved around to show ways to add to 6.

 2+4=64+2=6

Example of a fact family:
4-fact family
0+4=4
1+3=4
2+2=4
3+1=4
4+0=4
The rubber band can be moved around on the groovy board to show the different ways you can add to make 4.

 1+3=4

2+2=4

First Grade- Commutative Property

Check out this link for my tutorial on the commutative property that can be shown to parents: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B3TccfO1yWqZeGF4c1I0eUNKY1E/edit . Making videos are a great tool for involving parents! Be sure to include your contact information so parents can contact you with any questions. 

Dominoes can be used to help kids understand the commutative property of addition! 

This supports the 1st grade common core standard: apply properties of operations as strategies to add and subtract such as commutative property of addition. 

Have your children pick a domino and copy it on a piece of construction paper. Have them fold the paper in half and then write the equation below it. Then flip it over and write that equation that corresponds with it. Even when you switch the two numbers that you are adding the sum is still the same.  Below is an example I made to show 4+3=7 and 3+4=7.

Got the idea from: http://www.proteacher.net/discussions/showthread.php?t=364819

Third Grade Fraction Tutorial

Check out this power point tutorial on third grade fractions: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B3TccfO1yWqZSXJFb0pHV0RqdGc/edit. 

Power point tutorials are a great way to let parents know what you are doing in the classroom and what they could do at home to help their child. Be sure to include contact information!

The Multiplication Fact Machine

Game Title: The MFM (Multiplication Fact Machine)

Grade Level: 3^rd grade

Math Domain: Operations and Algebraic Thinking

Standard: 3.0A7 Multiply and divide within 100. Fluently multiply and divide within 100, using strategies such as the relationship between multiplication and division (e.g., knowing that 8 ×5 = 40, one knows 40 ÷ 5 = 8) or properties of operations. By the end of Grade 3, know from memory all products of two one-digit numbers.

Number of Players: 1 or more

Materials:

1.      egg carton

2.       2 coins

3.      squared paper- 1 per player

4.      markers

Object of the Game: multiply the numbers correctly and fill up your squares

How to Play the Game:

1.      Place 2 coins in the egg carton.

2.       Shake the egg carton then open it. Multiply the two numbers together that the coins land on. If both coins land in the same spot, multiply that number against itself (ex. 2 coins on 6 would be 6 x 6= 36).

3.      Color in that many of squares on your paper (rows and columns). Ex. If my coins landed on a 4 and 5 I would color in 4 rows of 5 squares to show that 20 is the answer for 4x5. See picture 3.

4.      Then write the multiplication equation in the square (example: 4 x 5=20).

5.      Take turns between players. If you land on a double, 2 coins land in the same spot (6x6), you get to go again.

6.      Keep going until your paper is filled up.

7.      If there is no room for your number, lose your turn and the next player takes their turn.

8.      Have fun multiplying!

How to Recreate the Game

1.      You need an egg carton and 2 coins.

2.    Number the spots with any color marker in the egg carton 1-12 in order. See attached            p           picture 2.

3.    Print the attached document on pg 3 (squared paper) or use graph paper.

4.      Title your game the MFM (multiplication fact machine) or your child may come up with a different name.

5.      Print out the how to play directions and glue on the lid of the carton so they are easily accessible.

6.      This is a great game for your child to play by themselves or for the whole family to be involved! Multiplication facts are an important and useful skill.

I got this idea from an egg carton game I saw online for addition. I decided it would also be a great game for multiplication. Egg cartons are a readily available item at home. To add to the game, I came up with the idea of coloring in the squares. The squares have to be colored so they create a larger square to show the number of rows and columns that represent the multiplication fact. This helps students visually see the multiplication. I made the object of the game to fill up the sheet because this makes the students think a little more about where they decide to color the squares. As your paper fills up it begins to be like a puzzle.

For the complete handout go to: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B3TccfO1yWqZcW1zUVJzX2hXbzQ/edit

Welcome to My Blog!

Hi, my name is Rachel Trubiani. I created this blog to communicate with my colleagues what I plan to do to be an effective math educator for prek-3. I am currently learning to become a teacher and have learned many great methods and strategies that I would like to share. You can contact me through here or by email at rtrubian@ashland.edu.