Rev Up Your Grey Matter Pages & A First Day Place Value Freebie!

I had a few folks request some more pictures of how I set up my Rev Up notebook.  There are numerous ways to set it up but here's how I did it. 

Monday - I plan to put a few different manipulatives in their pocket throughout the year.  I put buttons in today just to change up the pictures for patterning to show another way to utilize the page.

This page (left) is hard to see, the glare is bad (Sorry).  This page focuses on place value of specific digit, estimating sum/difference, and rounding.  The page on the right is completing a number line with the given number in two different spaces.  I use the number line to teach numerous skills (rounding, adding, subtracting, etc) and feel it's essential.  I included the pattern of multiplying by 10 and 100 because I want my students to learn the pattern.

The final page for Monday is ordering given numbers least to greatest and greatest to least.  They are two different sets of numbers, therefore they can't just write it the opposite way the second time....muhahaha

 

Tuesday's activities focus on patterns, rules, and operations.  You can use numbers and/or shapes/colors depending on your level of students.  I used buttons today just to show how you can change it up.

The back of the patterning page, I put a work space page to help with their operations practice.  I have included numerous given problems, but also blank cards in case you want to write your own - depending on your level or specific student need.  Glare is bad again (sorry)  We use Singapore math strategies, which focuses on the value of the tens and ones - in case you are wondering...what the heck is that work.

Like I said, your students may not be ready for division right away but you can make your own problems on the blank cards if needed.  The robots are my and the kids favorite activity - it focuses on understanding place value.  The students manipulate the cards to form the largest possible number, next largest, and then smallest.  That next largest always tries to trick them.  I also do this with paper plates and four digit numbers. 

Wednesdays - is a mix of skills.  I chose comparing number sentences, pictorial representations (dominos), and coins.  I included same coin cards and mixed coin cards. 

The following page is comparing fractions, which can be adding fractional parts with like denominators and unlike, or ordering fractional parts.  The possibilities are endless.  I started with what is the fraction eaten? fraction left?
Comparing two like fractions
Adding two like fractions (without reducing) 
On the right, I have a venn diagram that I use for various tasks...this picture shows the multiples/skip counting of 2s and 3s.

This page has a triple venn, which I use for comparing and ordering three fractions amongst other things. 

The last page on my orange day is comparing three fractions by converting them to have like denominators.  You can adjust this to suit your needs.  If you don't need this page, replace it with another activity or leave it out completely. 

Green Day - my favorite This page focuses on input/output tables - the rule and missing value.  I made the input/output tables where the students really had to understand the rule and not just see a pattern vertically.  They will have to calculate the actual output.  I included some blank ones as well so that you can make your own if needed.  Elapsed time is included (here it is currently a fourth grade skill, but it previously was a third grade skill and it will likely be back to third when the TEKS change again)  I also gave mine a given time and I ask if it's before, during, or after the elapsed time.  Just trying to get their grey matter thinking.

On the back, I have finding the sum of given times and comparing them.  Time on a digital clock, which should be an easy skill but still need the practice.  Temperature change over time is the last skill.  I included blank thermometers so that the teacher or students can fill in the intervals and the temp.  glare is really bad (again...I'm sorry)

The next two are just quick check for understanding.  First, I will give a time on the board and they will put it on their clock.  We need lots of practice since students struggle with that hour hand moving.  You know what I'm talking about.

Input/output table - I get my students to make up their own input/output tables and trade with a tablemate and the partner has to write the rule at the bottom. 

Friday - is my quick activities since it's mainly assessment day.  Here's my pages, but again you can mix and match whatever pages work best for you.  I did include a quadrant with all four areas. 

I'm sure you're wondering about my little graphic down here.  I use it to teach multi-step conversions. 

I hope this helped.  I need to see it to understand.  I think I printed about 30 extra pages before I finally decided what to put in.  Don't tell my hubby, we need ink!

Here's the preview if you want to see all that's included

First Day Freebie

I play this game daily as a wrap up.  The students beg to play and this can be used in any grade level.  My middle school kids LOVED it too. 

You will need one ten-sided die.  Looks like this and you can click on the picture if you need to order some.  I grabbed mine from my local comic book store.

Next print off a class set and laminate these puppies you'll use them a lot.

I also have a game board without the place value if your students don't need the labels.    Here's the directions.  Click on the directions to go get your copy for FREE!  You won't be disappointed. 

 

Hit me back if you have any questions or comments!

Thanks, friends.

Shannon

 

CAMT

Yesterday was an exciting adventure presenting with my team at CAMT.  We met so many interesting teachers, I hope all the teachers got something from our presentation.  Pictures are better than me blabbing on and on. 
Here's my team - we presented at the Math-A-Rama session.  This session is geared toward elementary math teachers. 

Left to Right (me, Melinda Shinn (Math Intervention Teacher), and Reagan from Tunstall's Teaching Tidbits)
This is my second opportunity to present at CAMT, but previously our names never appeared in the program. So I was excited to see my name in print!

The focus of all the Math-A-Rama sessions is to provide hands-on activities focused on Numbers, Operations, and Quantitative Reasoning (each year the objective rotates - that was this years) for elementary teachers.  Our activity was called Place Value Is A Picnic. Our engage activity was to have two volunteers grab a handful of insects and come to the front.  Without speaking or counting, the volunteers determine who has more.  Then we asked for two more volunteers and we ordered the four amounts.  This is an exercise in subitizing.  Many teachers haven't heard of this new buzz word I only heard it last semester but now I feel super smart  To subitize is the latest buzz word that refers to a person's quickness in looking at a group of objects and knowing (without counting) the amount of items that is there.  We had our volunteers, one at a time, place their pile of insects under the document camera.  Our class would estimate by looking, then we ask the class how to organize the insects in such a way that they could easily see how many without counting.  We arranged them in a ten-frame.  We discussed the importance of subitizing and how that helps our students build number sense.  There is an ipad app that the kids love to play and it has three levels and various objects to work on this skill. 

Here's some pics of the game play

Then the door opens for a brief time...no counting

The door shuts quickly and the student has to select the correct answer in the lanterns

It's a great app ($0.99) and would be great in a center. 

This activity leads into our place value activity.  Next our teachers/students will have a stack of hotdogs with two numbers (we used 0-100) since Reagan created this for her class (1st grade).  Students will draw a hotdog from the stack.  They must build both numbers with base-ten blocks to prove their answers.  Then write with an expo marker the symbol (<, >, or =) and put them under the corresponding bottle (Katsup, Mustard, and Relish) I never know if it's Katsup or Catsup Here's some pics from the sessions

These were the big hit.  Folks loved that the kids can lock them together to make the regrouping unit. We didn't do any regrouping but they loved them anyway.

Then putting the hotdogs under the corresponding bottle

I didn't get a picture, but you can see the evaluate piece in the far right part of the above picture.  It is a sort and glue activity.  Like I said, this activity was created by Reagan, and can be found here.

We had a great time and met some friendly math teachers, I enjoy visiting with my fellow math nerds.  I enjoyed talking to few folks from far away spots in Texas, like my friends near Louisiana.  We gave away some prizes and had lots of fun.   

All this math has got me inspired to work on a class starter activity.  I'm going to attempt to work on my class starter and math journaling.  Hope this ADD won't get the best of me.!

Shannon

Ticket Out the door!

use every minute possible!

Another strategy i use is to use every single minute i have with my students.  math is a difficult subject for most students, and they need multiple examples before the concept sticks.  there is never a down minute in my class.  As a middle school math teacher, it is natural that the kids start packing up five minutes before the bell.....grrrrr!  to counter this, i tried numerous tactics....the threat (more homework folks), covering up the clock or taking it down altogether (hehehe), and then gave up and read to them the last five minutes.  Which I know...you are thinking...why?  she's a math teacher.  Well, let's face it, even adults enjoy being read to.  many of them are not read to at home as a child, and they sat there soaking up every word (even ones i stubbled on - i was never the best reader).  I eventually got to the point where i only read on fridays during the last five minutes of class.  So...what did i do the rest of the week you ask.  that those few minutes when kiddos pack up and are gearing up to move to their next class, I prepped my ticket out the door.  most folks who use ticket out the door give the entire class a math problem, students solve it on a slip of paper, and hand it to the teacher on their way out.  Well, i changed mine up.  I knew vocabulary was a big struggle for many students, as well as applying the vocabulary.  So I made about 30 ticket out the door cards, which ask various questions.  I leveled them with stars to remind me of which questions are easy, medium, and hard.  Therefore, every student gets a different question on their way out (and I purposely ask different students different questions based on their level).  Here is what one set looks like...

 

 

 

You can't see the stars for levels on this one because I added it after I printed these.  These questions focus on place value, rounding, greater/less than, expanded form, prime/composite, factors, multiples, odd/even, and doubling numbers.  I plan to make one bundle per objective, place value, geometry, measurement, probability, and patterns.  I use this as a ticket out the door, but it can also be used for a restroom break if you go as a class or any transition time. hope you find a good use for them.

~Shannon~ 

 

Everyone Loves a Deal!!!!

Since I’m a newbie, let’s try this linky party thing!  I have a few freebies to contribute.  Most of my freebies are fun math games to get students to enjoy the math (while secretly learning...wink, wink).  My first freebie is called Four Square Math Game

It helps build number sense.  it includes two game boards for both primary and intermediate grades!

Here's a picture of the game board!

 

I recently posted about my other two freebies. but here they are for new followers.  Let's Play Pig!  It's a great brain break or transition activity. 

Last Freebie is my newest creation, which is Place Value Circus Game!  This will become a daily activity and the kids will beg you to play.  It helps build their understanding of place value and greater than/less than.  Want more freebies

 

~Shannon~

Flying Pigs & Circus animals…What?

Flying Pigs & Circus animals…What?

 

So this weekend started off a little crazy.  I thought I’d spend Friday (Fair day) working on some goodies for my math teachers.  Well, daughter #2 ran fever from shots, so Friday ended up being a mommy-daughter shopping day.  Btw…grandma came too.  Fun for all the girls! 

I have a few teachers who ask me for the games we play in my room, so I’ve been working on them.  Here’s the first one that my kids beg me to play on a daily basis.  We call it – Let’s play pig!

I have the game boards laminated so that every student has one.  we use expo markers to keep track of our score.  This is a whole class game, which I use as a brain break or those last five minutes that no one (including myself) wants to do anything.  You'll need to 6-sided dice, and I roll under a document camera (keeps us all honest :) The entire class stands up.  Each round the students choose when to sit (which signifies that they are taking those points).  Did I mention this is great to get the wiggles out???

 

So now (Round one) I roll both dice.  If the dice are different, we add the digits.  If the dice are the same, we multiply.  For Example, let's say I roll 3 and 4.  Different so the score is 7.  If I rolled 4 and 4, the score is 16.  Ok...so the kids sit and write their score or they can choose to stand and try to more points (hints the name...being piggy!)  So...what signifies the end of the round you ask?  If I roll a 1, whomever is standing gets zero points for that round.  That round is over.  Yes..this can happen to everyone on the first roll of the round.  Here's the doozy, whomever is standing and i roll snake eyes (double ones), they lose all the points from every previous round.  Yikes!  I make my kids keep a running total (as to not take Forever at the end).  The student with the highest score wins (they usually get to roll the next time we play).  This is a great freebie! 

 

Place value Circus

The kids always love this game too.  I say it looks like a circus because it's fun and everyone has a different strategy to win.  we play this one before math warm up daily!  Yes...I said daily, did I mention they love it??? You'll need a ten-sided die for this one.  it's a great way to review place value and probability.  So, like Pig, I laminate the game boards and use expo markers.  I roll the die and the first roll (round one) must be placed in the ones place at the top of the game board.  See

 

Then on to round two.  I roll again (let's say 8).  Now each student has to decide whether to put the 8 in the ones or tens place.  The goal is to make the largest number.  this is a great opprotunity to bring in some probability.  i roll again (let's say 9)...hehehehe.  Most kids put that 8 in the tens.  Discuss what would be the largest/smallest number we could have made?  I make my students put a star by the round/row if they made the largest possible number.  After the five rounds, they total all the rounds (this can take awhile since there will be regrouping).  I ask the kids to raise their hands if they believe they have the largest sum.  we write their sums on the board and discuss why they do or do not have the largest sum using our place value knowledge. 

Both these games are freebies so go grab them.....here !

have a great week!  more games to come!
~shannon~