Money! Money! Money!

So...my kids like most struggle with learning how to count money.  I grabbed a small group of my fourth graders of various skill levels to test out my next PLC activity.  After piloting my unit with these fourth graders, I have already made some revisions and editing.  Those who have won, or bought the unit - you'll need to download it again.  I basically added about three variations of ways to differentiate for different levels of learners, as well as made the coins smaller (they'll fit better on the assessment page). 

I use the 5-E model to lesson planning.  I have no pic of my engage piece because it was too difficult to play with the kids and take pics.  So...I'll explain it.  I got the cutest little dice erasers from the $1 Target bin.  I poured out all my coin manipulatives.  Each student (groups of 4) rolled their die.  I picked one person to roll for quarters, a different student for dimes, and so on.  Every student had to model the amount and come up with the total amount.  We discuss..."What if we had no dimes, but had to make the same amount?" 

I explain the center.  Btw...this is what I edited in the directions.  The sets are made up of four cards (pictorial representation, counting by denomination, total amount, and word form).  The first activity for the center, I would have students match the pictorial representation with the word form.  Let them practice that for a few days.  The next activity, we would match the pictorial with adding the various denominations for a few days.  We would move on to matching the pictorial with the total amount.  Lastly, they would match the entire set of four.  A challenge option is taking away the pictorial model and having students match the word form and total. 

So here's the pictures....

He's making a match and recording it on his recording sheet.  But you can see the manipulatives we used to do our Engage piece.

This is all the cards, which was overwhelming for some kids.  That's why, I suggest matching two cards, then move on to the entire set (4 cards) after they master the others.

Checking her set of four. 

Assessment piece.  I've included three different pages, to help with differentiation.  I always like to give everyone in the group a different test/assessment so that I can tell whether every student got it.  It's the middle school teacher in me. hahaha  Here, you see her cutting out her coins to make her given amounts.  Sometimes, I "accidently" don't run off enough of a certain denomination.  This helps me to see who REALLY knows it. 

Like I said, I made some quick changes to unit based on using it.  The coins are smaller, closer to exact real-life size and should now fit on the assessment page.  I added more descriptors in the directions to help break down the four set to help the center last longer and not too challenging for struggling learners.  I also added a page for the TEKS correlations for my Texas teachers.  Here is the link...

I'm also planning a raffle for reaching 100 Followers!  Only a few more folks!  And I have lots of great folks donating Awesome products!!!!

pssst....I'm doing a giveaway this week for my primary teachers.  It is my On The Case, The Hunt for Tens Addition Center.  It's focus is using Singapore Math strategies of number bonds to look for tens.  Click on the picture to enter.....Good Luck! 



Spring Break and Counting Money!

Ok...I am thinking that we need Spring Break at least once a month.  I could actually get some work/fun done.  I know it wouldn't be called Spring Break if it were every month, but I'm sure we could come up with names, right? 

I am really enjoying my break.  Did I mention that I've been somewhat stressed?  Here's a secret....I chewed my nails off (I haven't bitten my nails since I was a junior in high school).  And my eye was twitching non-stop for a week.  That happens when I get super stressed and tired.  Not sure why I would be tired with two girls who get up at the butt-crack of dawn EVERY morning, including weekends.  Anyway...(squirrel moment) I have done absolutely NOTHING!  It has been awesome!  Ok...I did some work.  I have been designing a T-shirt for our testing days.  Woo Hoo!!!!!  Here's a pic
Front (I realize that STAR is spelled wrong, but that's how Texas spells it for our state test) Silly, I know.

We always tell our kids to "Show What You Know!"
I'm super excited to have a shirt that isn't green or gray.  Just sayin....I love green, gray, and gold, but I get tired of the same ol' thing. 

I still need to prep my test training session....I try to throw in some funny slides to keep my audience somewhat entertained.  ok...usually I'm the only one laughing since most are math jokes, but still.  Going to throw in some....

This one is by far my favorite....

Not sure if y'all can see that, but basically this was a true/false test and the student put "C" down for EVERY answer so the professor wrote him a note stating that he had never had a student do so poorly and basically - see ya next semester.  lol

I've been spending lots of time with my girls... 

I did sneak in and work on a new math unit too.  Gosh...it's alot easier to get something done when work is not in the way.  lol.  I used to think kids understood money.  Most often kids had some background on coins and counting money, however recently I realized why this is now a struggle for most students.  HELLO - debit/credit cards.  I realized this when my 3 (going on 30) daughter told me to just use my card when I told her that I had no money to buy her something.  Insert long conversation to explain how money has to be in your account to use the card.  But at last, there is hope because anytime I leave my wallet around, both my girls will scream "MONEY" and open the coin slot to steal all my change to put in their piggy banks.  So...I decided to work on activities to put in centers to help reinforce counting like and various coins.  I try to do matching activity cards because students seem to be able to do this with little assistance.  I try to keep it simple and the same, usually four cards (usually pictorial, numeric, word form, and operation).  Activity #1 - Counting like coins

Then move on to various coins

Included a recording sheet, which can be used for both activities.

Lastly, the "Did they get it?"

This evaluate piece is a cut, sort, and glue activity.  My goal is to help kids realize there are lots of ways to make the given amounts, and we spend the needed time to show various ways to make the amounts.  Sometimes, I purposely forget to give them one or two of a denomination.  If you want to snag a copy, I'm doing a giveaway on TN (click the picture to enter the giveaway)

 

 

Hope you enjoy your break!  Off to veg on my couch!

Shannon