Friday, April 20, 2012

Fractional Parts of a Set, Cute Freebie!

As you have probably already figured out we have been studying fractions this week. My little dreamscicles S-T-R-U-G-G-L-E with fractional parts of a set. 

"What do you MEAN that 1/2 of the circles are shaded but also that 2/4 of the circles are shaded, Ms. T?" 

I know. I get it. I am telling you its one thing and then telling you its another. I am crazy.

I am giving it one more shot with a group of little sunshines on Monday. I HAVE to assess on Thursday after also reviewing thermometers, shapes, and measurement so they really HAVE to get it on Monday.

First we will play this interactive game together. Probably on my laptop in a small group.  It is by Smart Tutor and explains this concept VERY well.  It says Level 4 (which would translate to fourth grade in Smart Tutor language) BUT those are the types of questions that may be on our second grade assessment. 



THEN, we are going to review using some quick task cards I made up . . . AND I am sharing them with you. For FREE. You can have them. There are 6 cards in the set. I hope that they help your kiddos. I plan to use them in a small group and we will write the fractions on white boards. I may also put them in page protectors so that they can circle the equal groups. 



I also wanted to thank all of you for your comments about Guided Math. It looks like a lot of you use it in some type of modified manner. I realized after reading the book that I already use this in my classroom, just not on a daily basis. I even had a chat with our Math Coach about using this today and was left with a lot to think about. I will keep you posted but for now I think that I am going to finish out my last 30 days doing what has been working all along for this group of kiddos.

 AND . .  .I also want to thank Mr. B from Mr. B's Beach Bums for tagging me. I decided to just answer 2 questions so that I can go to bed. I ALWAYS appreciate being tagged but I may not always respond because I would really like for you to keep coming back to my blog for quality math resources. :) 

3. What adjectives would your students use to describe you?
Fun. Friendly. Clumsy.  :)
 
10. What is your biggest pet peeve in the classroom? 
I was just thinking about this today. I HATE learned helplessness! It breaks my heart when kids say that they can't do it and they really feel that way. I had one kiddo SWEATING today when we were studying fractions. He gets like that whenever we do something he thinks is too hard for him. It is SO difficult to dig kids out of the pit once they have thrown in the towel. (Not that I ever quit trying!) Any thoughts?

While you think about that, I am going to go to the land of nod!

12 comments:

  1. Thanks for the Freebie Casey~ Fractions have been a challenge for my friends as well!

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  2. Thanks for the fraction freebie!
    As for learned helplessness...I can't stand it either...especially when they really can do it if they just shake those "I can't(s)" out of their heads. :) I sometimes wonder if their "I can't(s)" take over because they hear it at home too much...or parents sweep in and do things for them at home too quickly without giving their kiddo the time to think through a problem and solve it for themselves and then celebrating that moment.
    Jenn

    A Pirates Life for Us

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  3. PS - I love the fraction resources! I've been working on fractions with my kiddos too. :)

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  4. I love your fractions and I'm going to grab them. I have some on my blog too that you or anyone else might like. They have really helped my kids and they are free too!
    I agree about the learned helplessness. I have a sign in my room that says, "Instead of saying, I can't, say, I'm having a hard time." this allows kids the right words to use when they need help on something instead of giving up. We repeat this a lot!

    But we have a teacher in our building who uses this strategy when she doesn't want to do something and she tries to get others to do it FOR her! This is truly exasperating!


    Patty

    Second In Line

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  5. I am SO glad to stumble across your blog...

    First, because I am ALWAYS looking for more math ideas and second, because it seems to be harder to find 2nd grade blogs as compared to k and 1st.

    I look forward to reading your math ideas! :-) (I am your newest follower.)

    Cynthia
    2nd Grade Pad

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  6. Thanks for the freebie! This will make such a super review for my kids!

    I just did equivalent fractions with my kids! I drew a circle and colored in 2/4. I told them one of my brothers said it was 1/2 and the other brother said it was 2/4, and asked them to talk to their neighbor about who was right.

    Another way is to draw a 'pizza' and I gave them the option of eating 1/2 or 3/6. I asked them which they would pick and why.

    I think it also really helps to draw one of the circles on a transparency so you can slide it right over the other one and show that they are the same!

    It's a tough thing to learn, though.

    We talk a lot in my class about how challenges make your brain stronger. I'll have to post about that soon! :)

    Jenny
    Luckeyfrog's Lilypad

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  7. This blog is my absolute favorite discovery in the past 6 months...more than coconut M&Ms...and I was pretty excited about those too!

    Thanks so much for sharing your resources...the ones you found, and made!

    Your rock!

    Halle
    Across the Hall in 2nd

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  8. Officially became your latest follower using Google friend.
    My Second Sense

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  9. Love your ideas! I am your newest follower! Stop by and visit me...

    learnplayandhavefun.blogspot.com

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  10. Thanks for all the wonderful fraction ideas! We will be begin our study of fractions soon, so they will be so helpful! :)
    I am hosting a second grade math giveaway and I'd love to have to stop by and check it out!
    Lisa
    Stories From Second

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  11. Fraction of a discrete set idea: I think kids' usual first visualization of fractions is in fraction circles, and you can use that to get to fractions of a discrete set by...
    Providing a circle divided into the fraction you want (sixths?)
    Providing counters (12?)
    Sharing the counters onto the sections of the fraction circle.
    Voila--2 counters on each sixth!

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  12. Are these task cards still available in your TPT store?

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