Problem of the Day - Aligned with Engage NY's 4th Grade Math Module Application Problems

Do you use Engage NY's 4th Grade Math Modules?

If so, then I have a product that you will LOVE!

My Problem of the Day Problem Solving packs!

I rewrote each of Engage NY's Math Module Application Problems into 3 fun formats.

The Cut Out versions contain four of the same problem on one page.  Have students cut them out and paste them into their very own Problem of the Day Journal.

The full page layout contains just one problem per page with lots of work space for students to draw a picture or diagram, show their work, and write an answer statement.

Projectable pages are also included.  One slide contains the problem and work space.  Have a Smart Board?  Students can come up and show their peers how to solve the problem.  Then flip to the next slide to see another possible solution.

There are a million and one uses for Engage NY's Application Problems.  Engage NY suggests in their lessons that the Application Problem be completed right after that day's fluency activities and before the Concept Development.

This year, I plan on having students complete this daily problem in their Problem of the Day Journals for morning work.

 Not every lesson contains an Application Problem.  Sometimes I want to expand a lesson across 2 days, instead of just 1.  There isn't an Application Problem on review or test days.

But, I would still like students to complete a problem for morning work.

So, I created an add-on pack with 35 extra problems.  There are 5 problems for each of the 7 fourth grade modules.

You can purchase the Add On Pack here in my TPT store.

You can find an individual pack for each module here for FREE!

Math Problem Solving Journals for Engage NY's Math Module Application Problems

Do you use Engage NY's Math Modules?

We use them in my 4th grade classroom.

I love the Application Problems that are included with almost every lesson.  They are great for spiral review and help students to prepare for the NYS test.

However, the modules do not include worksheets for the application problems...and they take a lot of time to write out.

So, I decided that this year I wanted each of my students to have their own Problem Solving Journal.

Every day students will glue their Application Problem to the top of their page.  They will solve the problem independently.  Then I will have them discuss their solutions and answers with a table partner.  Lastly, I will call a few students up to the Smart Board to model how they solved the problem.

I have been working hard all weekend to finalize the materials for this and to publish them so that you can use them too....for FREE!

 Don't have time for cutting and pasting?  I've also created a whole page version.  You can print them individually.  Or, print them in a little booklet that students pull out each day.

You can download all the Application Problems for the 4th Grade Math Module 1 here in my Teachers Pay Teachers Store.

It includes each Module 1 Application Problem in 3 versions:
- 4 of the same problem on 1 page (to cut out and glue into journals)
- 1 problem on each page (to print individually or in a booklet)
- A colorful / projectable file with answers
As well as name tags for your Problem of the Day Journals, if you choose to make them.

Check out all the other Monday Made It's at Tara's blog, Fourth Grade Frolics.

Happy Monday!

A Day in ELA (Using Engage NY's ELA Modules)

As the school year comes to an end many districts may be contemplating curriculum changes for next year.  Throughout my eight years teaching fourth grade I've had experience with various combinations of language arts programs ranging from Harcourt Trophies to Fountas and Pinnell's Balanced Literacy and Guided Reading to Lucy Calkins Writing and Daily 5 from the 2 Sisters.

This year my district decided to adopt Engage NY's ELA Modules in hopes to increase rigor and provide students with opportunities to dissect challenging and engaging text throughout the content areas.

What does a typical day in ELA look like?

Here is how we spend an hour working through one of Engage NY's ELA Module lessons.

Students come to the carpet with their ELA binder at the start of each lesson.  Their binder houses the worksheets and books needed for the unit we are currently working on.

Each lesson contains a nice combination of teacher modeling, partner and small group work, as well as independent practice.

After discussing our goals for the lesson, and examining some of the new vocabulary we may run into, we begin.  Students read, and then re-read, text closely to dig deeper into the content, make inferences, and synthesize new knowledge.

Each module integrates social studies of science content.  We are currently working through Module 3A: Simple Machines.   After reading about an experiment and determining the gist students split into groups and collect a few simple materials to begin the experiment.

Today students are making a lever by using a water bottle as the fulcrum and a ruler as the lever arm.  The text called to use dimes as the load but we substituted them for yellow and red counters.  Students experimented with placing different amounts of counters at the ends of the lever arm and trying to balance the arm.

While working through the experiment students began to notice that in order to balance the lever arm, the heavier load needed to be placed closer to the fulcrum and the lighter load needed to be placed further away.

After our experiment, students read more information in their text about levers.  They learned the science behind their results.  While reading we placed post-it notes on a chart containing our gist statements, important vocabulary, and examples of levers in real life.

Since our post-it notes have a tendency to fall off easily, we summed up each section and wrote our ideas in marker.  This poster was added to our wall display that will soon contain facts about each type of simple machine.

Students will refer to these charts throughout the remainder of our module.

Throughout the school year we have started to adapt the module lesson slightly to best fit the needs of our students.  We have looked for ways to squeeze in multiple choice questions, extended response writing, and skills practice.  We have purchased, tweaked, and even created our own Power Point presentations and Smart Notebook files to accompany each lesson.  Most importantly, we have searched for ways to make sure that each lesson is engaging and fun for our students.

I am lucky to teach in a district where we also have an additional hour allotted for guided reading groups and centers as well as an AIS block 3 times a week which we have frequently used to add in additional time for explicit writing instruction.

Have you tried out Engage NY's ELA Modules?  If so, how do you like them so far?

Tips for Implementing Engage NY's Math Modules in 60 Minutes

Are you struggling to adapt or adopt Engage NY's math modules?  You are not alone....and these tips may help!

Last year, my school adopted Engage NY's Math Modules (Eureka Math).  This is my second year teaching the 4th grade Math Modules.  I am frequently asked how I manage to squeeze in a whole module in 60 minutes.  Trust me, it is hard...and there really is no short answer for how to make it work.  However, here are a few tips to make implementing the math modules easier in 4th grade:

**Clipart in the image above is from Krista Wallden and Ramona Maidis***

Break up the Lesson - If the whole module lesson from Application Problem to Exit Ticket seems overwhelming to both you and your students try breaking it up.  Complete half the lesson before lunch or special and half after.  Try completing the fluency during morning meeting.  Activities like skip counting can be done while lining up throughout the day.  Sprints sometimes fit perfectly between the awkward break between lunch and recess.

I have students keep a Problem of the Day Journal for the Application Problems.  You can download them for free here.

Use Exit Tickets for Review - Rather than use an Exit Ticket to assess students daily, use a problem or two from the Problem Set to look over after each lesson and save the Exit Ticket to review for the Mid-Module and End-Module Assessments.  The modules (as of now) don't contain any review materials to prepare for their tests.  However, the Exit Tickets are short and sweet.  Combine a few to create a review packet or use the questions to make a class Jeopardy game!

Highlight Problems - Does the Problem Set take your students too long to complete?  Do they struggle with the front side and have little to no time to complete the back side?  Highlight the problems you'd like them to focus on.  If they finish early, they can always go back and work on the rest.  This way students get a variety of problems to solve.  No time to highlight?  Write down the letter or numbers you want students to complete on your whiteboard.  Don't skip the word problems at the end.  Chances are, those are the problems that will best prepare your students for the state test.

Send Home Problem Set Answer Keys - Are your parents confused as to how to complete this "new math"?  Download the Word document of the lesson from Engage NY's website.  Copy and paste the Problem Set Answer Keys from the teacher directions.  I like to enlarge them, print & copy them, and send them home in a packet for parents to use to assist students with their homework.

Prepare the Concept Development Problems in Advance - Look over the lesson ahead of time, select which problems you would like students to focus on, and create a Power Point or a Smart Notebook file with the problems.  That way, when you teach, the problems are already written out for you and you won't have to hold on to the script and continually refer back to it.  Teachers Pay Teachers has a wealth of pre-made resources that you can use.

Last, but not least, make it fun!  Add some review games or keep a record of student math knowledge with an Interactive Notebook.  Don't be afraid to add, modify, or tweak the curriculum to best meet your individual students' needs.  After all, you know them best!

What other tips do you have for making the Math Modules more user friendly and easy to implement?

*

How Do You Review for Engage NY Module Assessments?

Do you use Engage NY's Math Modules?

How do you review for the Mid-Module and End-Module Assessments?

How do you prepare students for State Assessments?

Last year was the first year my district adopted Engage NY's 4th Grade Math Modules.  Although I was skeptical at first, the modules proved to be a wonderful math program.  You can download the lessons, worksheets, and assessments for FREE on Engage NY's website.

However, the one thing the modules lack (in my opinion) is review materials.

I spent a whole school year creating materials to use for small group instruction, needs groups, and review for various assessments throughout the year.

This summer, I've begun packaging my creations for you to use too!

Each pack has taken me about 2 months to complete.  So far, I've created a pack for Module 1:  Place Value, Addition, & Subtraction and Module 3:  Multiplication & Division.

Here is a little peek at my Module 1 Review pack. . .

Teacher directions are included.  Print them out and pop them into a binder for safe keeping.

I created a multiple choice and short response worksheet for each topic in the module.  I use these for . . .

- needs groups
- morning work
- AIS support
- extra credit

I also have 2 Mid-Module and End-Module review worksheets.  I use one for whole group review.  It provides me with an opportunity for modeling and guided practice with students.  I use the 2nd version for independent work or homework the night before an assessment.

I love to incorporate games as often as possible.  They provide students with an opportunity to collaborate with peers and study previously learned concepts while having fun.  I have 12 playing cards for each topic.  I put them out for students to use during center rotations after the completion of each topic.  I lease these out throughout the rest of the school year for continuous review and preparation for the State Test.

I love giving students the opportunity to move around the room.  Another way I help students review for our assessments is with an activity called Around the Room.  I simply print out the problem cards and place them around the room.  Students grab a clipboard and move around to each problem while solving them on their worksheet.   I have one for Mid-Module and End-Module review.

For Mid-Module review I've created a Tic-Tac-Toe Power Point game to play as a whole class.  I divide students into two teams, Xs and Os.  They select a problem, solve it on white boards, and select a spokesperson to share the answer.  If they answer correctly, they place an X or O in the box.  The first team to get 3 in a row wins.  If no one gets 3 in a row the team with the most correct answers wins.

I have a Jeopardy-ish game for End Module review.  I split students into smaller teams and they select a question to solve.  If they answer correctly they earn the corresponding points.  These games are an engaging way to review previously learned concepts.

You can snag the Module 1 Review Pack and the Module 3 Review Pack in my TPT store.

How do you review for math assessments?

****July 2015 UPDATE:  All fourth grade module review packs are complete and can be purchased here.  I have begun creating third grade module review packs.  Check them out here.

1st Day Frame and Interactive Math Notebook

Last year I made a 1st Day of 4th Grade Frame for Monday Made It.  This year I decided to make another, with a fish theme.

I also decided to do a little math work.  Our district is adopting the new Common Core Modules that New York State is in the process of putting out.

You can download the first module from New York State on place value, rounding, and algorithms for addition and subtraction here.  It is chocked full of lesson ideas, teacher talk, fluency practice, review, worksheets, homework, etc....

However, one thing that it was missing was any details or real mention of how to incorporate an interactive notebook for math.  This was a little upsetting to me at first because that is exactly what I had hoped to add to my curriculum this year. 

So what did I do...I made one myself!  You can download it today here at my TPT store.

Inside you will find all the materials you will need to kick of a Math Notebook this school year with your fourth graders....starting with Place Value, Comparing, Rounding, Adding, and Subtracting.  I have provided samples of what each page in the notebook could look like to introduce the various Common Core standards, as well as the necessary materials, clipart, and cut-outs that students will need to assembly their books.

This year I will be out for a few months on maternity leave.  Between substitutes in and out of the room and trying to implement a new math program, I was worried I might be missing something important ... time!

So, I've also included a quick print version in this pack for the teacher on the run.  Simply print and go!  No notebook necessary.  Just throw a staple in the top, possibly a few pieces of plain paper between each standard (for notes and showing work) and your notebook can be up and running immediately.

The nice thing about the Quick Print version is that not only is it in ink saving black/white but at the end of each module (or unit) students can bring their notebook home to share with parents.  If they loose it.....I plan on creating a new one with them for the next module.

Look for a new, Common Core aligned, Interactive Math Notebook for each math module.  I will continue creating the resource as each module is posted!

Don't forget to link up with Tara for Monday Made It!

Common Core Modules

NY has been pretty busy this past year putting together some materials for teachers to use in their Common Core Classrooms.

All you have to do to view them is visit the Engage NY website.

Free lessons, worksheets, and activities have been created for YOU to use with the Common Core Standards at mind.

So far, our first 2 modules are posted for fourth grade math.  However, there are modules for ELA and for other grade levels.  I'm hoping all the modules will all be up and running over the next few months.  Our school is adopting these modules for the school year.

Check them out and let me know what you think.  You can't go wrong with free!  What curriculum materials is your state providing you with so that you are prepared for the Common Core Standards?