Fractions:
I love it when other teacher bloggers let me have a glimpse into their world. Here is a glimpse into our math lesson today. I used the Fraction Fun worksheet that Lory Evans posted on her blog here. (You will have to scroll down some to find it, it is after Easter, this will make sense after you click!)
We have been studying fractions this week. Today we were covering fractions of a set. This is SO tricky for my kiddos. This worksheet was PERFECT. We all got 20 counting chips and a partner and went to work. Here is a sneak peek of what this looked like in my classroom!
I love how in this last picture two of my kiddos started labeling the counting chips with the names of the students from the problems. One of my sweetums said that this helped her explain the problem to her partner. Love, love, love, my kids. I mostly love how they love and take care of each other. Sigh. And yes, I probably could have taken better pictures but I was TEACHING! :)
Guided Math:
I also need some advice. I bought this book tonight at my FAVORITE used book store. (If your local you should check it out.)
Anyway. I REALLY would love to try some kind of Daily 5 Math/Guided Math thing? I have been following this Guided Math blog. And too be honest I'm a little overwhelmed.
Does any one use either of these in their classrooms?? I would love ANY advice you have. I already pull small groups but I would love to have a more organized math lesson with less whole group.
You see . . . I have this theory that the closer the students are to your person the more they absorb. I truly believe this. I think that it has proven true after almost a whole quarter of teaching math at "the carpet." I always put the kids that need me the most the closest to my chair. They have been doing much better in math since I started doing this. But there are those kids at the back . . . don't they deserve some special attention too? I would LOVE to be able to pull them into a group! But . . . my current math adoption doesn't really lend itself to small groups. I am thinking about going rogue. :)
I will probably keep you updated as I work through this book. I am zooming off of here to start on it right after this post.
So . . again. . . does anyone use Guided Math. Does it work for you? How do you make it work? I would love to hear ANYTHING that you have to say about this. :)
If you go rouge, I'll go with you!!! :) Thanks for sharing all of the fractions resources this week.
ReplyDelete~Jen
Hello Mrs Sykes
I am sort of doing guided math...sort of....
ReplyDeleteI run three groups of abot 8 in each group. One group works on specific computer games. One group does seat work, which could be workbook pages, a worksheet, or some center activities. The last group works with me. We meet for thirty minutes each on most days. Some days it might be twenty minutes each. We use Everyday Math. When I work with them I can teach a specific skill, or reinforce something they need more work on.
I hope this helps you.
Patty
Second In Line
I just went to see Debbie Diller talk about her math work stations yesterday, I want to implement work stations ASAP, but I'm also very curious about guided math...the book you found was recommended to me yesterday by another teacher. Keep us updated!
ReplyDeleteLaura
Mrs. Castro's Class 2nd Grade...Spanglish Style
I just started following your blog!!
ReplyDeleteI have been reading/referring to Debbie Dillar's Math Workstations book. I do work with small groups but I find many times when I pull kids to work with, I'm pulling the ones who are my strugglers that need that extra help. My higher kids do well during whole group that I don't pull them as much. Check out my blog post with my rotation chart
http://tiggerific2ndgraders.blogspot.com/2011/08/attempting-organization-and-new.html
I don't have lesson plans for each group--I look at where kids are struggling or need help on and go from there. I know I don't do it exactly right, but it works for now. I like the kids to get the game interactions and use math talk with their partners, so I don't like kids to miss out on stations all the time. I like them to be able to play the games too!
Good luck! I hope you find what works for you!
Stacee
Thanks for all of your fraction links. I teach first grade and we have done several of them this week. The kids have really enjoyed them. Tou saved me a lot of time searching for ideas! : ) Thanks!
ReplyDeleteKelly @ I'm Not Your Grandpa, I'm Your Teacher
You seriously READ MY MIND. I was planning on using the red/yellow chips for fractions on Monday. I'm thinking of putting them into a cup and them pouring them into a box or something and writing the fraction of red and the fraction of yellow. I'll have to try it out, though, and see how it works!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your ideas. Seriously, it has been SO helpful for my fractions unit. Your froggy fractions pack was PERFECT, too, with my class!
I've thought about trying Guided Math too! When I have a pretty short lesson, I have tried it. I have Envision Math. I would do the task on the front together and them split into groups. I had four basic rotations- Envisions lesson video, small group instruction with me to do the guided practice, seatwork to finish the independent practice (and review math games for when they finish it), and then a math game from our current unit. It worked well- but you have to make sure your lesson won't take longer than the video, which was hard (those things are short!)
What series do you use? I want to try to figure out groups, too, even if it's more like how I teach reading- full group and then time for centers/small groups.
Let us know what you think of the book!
Jenny
Luckeyfrog's Lilypad
I am kind of doing Guided Math as well. I have four stations my students filter throughout our math time. I start with a whole group mini-lesson, then my students break out for Rocket Math (timed math fact practice), Computers (I try to find some type of fun review game or enrichment activity), Independent Work, and Work with the Teacher. Each station is 15 minutes and I try to meet with every group. There are some kinks I still need to work out, so I'm hoping to do some research over the summer and test out some new ideas. I hope this is helpful!
ReplyDeleteAlso... if/when you have some time, I tagged you in my blog! Boogie on over and check it out!
Josh
Mr. B's Beach Brains
Hi! I just came across your blog and love it! I will be moving from first grade to second next year, so I might need to borrow some of your ideas!
ReplyDeleteThis year I do a combination of independent work and math centers, but next year I am going to dive into Guided Math. I saw some teachers in my division doing it, and they're classrooms look amazing! I would love to do more small group teaching and I think this will be a good fit.
Amanda
First Grade Garden