Take Academic Advantage of a Snow Day!

No need to set the alarm....you are about to have a SNOW DAY!!!

But, wait . . . you can take academic advantage of this day!

Provide your 3rd and 4th grade students, in advance, with a packet of Solve & Color Math worksheets.

Simply print them out and pass them out when anticipating a snow day.  Students will keep the packet at home, only to open on one of these special days.

Answers along the bottom contain a quick self-check for students working independently.

What are you waiting for?

Print a few math worksheets now and you will be prepared for a snow day later!

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.

Math Workshop

Here's a quick peek at our math workshop this year.

Our district has adopted Engage NY's Math Modules.  These modules have scripted teacher talk, fluency, review of previously learned concepts, concept development with teacher modeling, guided & independent practice, quick checks for each lesson, and assessments.

Each day, the module takes up at least an hour of our time.  To make the module more manageable, I have moved the application problem to be completed as morning work and discussed at our morning meeting and the fluency practice to be completed during our brief 10 minute break in-between specials and lunch.

After the module, students record what they have learned in their interactive math notebook.  For the first module I used the quick print version to save time.  I am now out on maternity leave. However, when I return, I plan on having students create a math notebook like this.

You can find my math notebook materials here at my TPT store.

After recording our new learning into our notebooks, I have students complete the quick check for the day.  I use this as a dipstick to assess their learning.

When the quick check is complete, students move on to math centers.  This provides me with some time to pull needs groups and work with individual students.

We use a center wheel for math centers.  Each students has been placed into a different colored group.  They look at the center wheel each day to determine which center they are responsible for.

Since taking this picture, I've had to switch the Smart Table center for a Mystery center since the Smart Table is currently out of commission.

This year we have started out with the following centers:

Computer - Students start out with practicing their math facts with the program XtraMath and then move on to reviewing important concepts with games and practice questions on Study Island.

Math Facts - Students practice their math fact fluency with a variety of materials and games.  The most popular are our hot dot pens, flashcards, electronic math fact triangles, and a board game called Math Dash.

Smart Board - I have received a variety of educational software from Donors Choose.  My favorite are these Smart Board games from Lakeshore Learning.

Mystery - Each week our mystery center changes.  I usually use this as a review of previously learned concepts.  This center usually contains a project, craft, sorting activity, partner activity, or game.  Here is an example of an ordering numbers display students created during their mystery center last year.

Game - Our game center usually focuses on a skill learned throughout the week.  Many of our games have also come from Lakeshore Learning as a donation through Donors Choose, like this one that focuses on place value.

Brain Teasers - Last but not least, we have a variety of brain teaser activities that students use to develop their problem solving skills.  I usually have students work on these activities independently.

What does math workshop look like in your classroom?

Tune into Technology: Integrating Technology into Math

One of my favorite blogs, iTeach1:1, is hosting an amazing link-up:  Tune into Technology.

This week I couldn't resist...I just had to link up to discuss the topic:  Integrating Technology into Math.

To start off, two of my favorite websites to find quick, fun, and educational videos are Brain Pop and Brain Pop JR. 

Brain Pop and Brain Pop JR are educational websites with short animated videos for students in grades K-12.  Also included are quizzes, supplemental information and related materials, and games covering science, social studies, English, technology, health, art, music, and today's topic: math!

Although Brain Pop and Brain Pop JR are websites you need to pay to use they do have some videos and free materials that you can check out.  I'm lucky to have our district pay for our subscription because I use this site frequently.  The videos are quick and comical.  Students love them and they provide a quick review of a previously learned topic, or a great intro into something new.

I like to integrate technology into my math center rotations.  I use a center wheel to organize my math center rotations.  Some of the technology based rotations include classroom computers, our Smart Board, Smart Table, and Kindles (to name a few).

Students use the computer to play games such as XtraMath or Study Island Math.

XtraMath is a free website that I've raved about in a previous blog post that you can check out here.  Study Island is funded by our district.  Students love the quick and fun lessons that are standards based.  They are also obsessed with the games.  Students get quick skill and drill practice of Common Core or state specific math standards while playing fun games.  Best of all, it keeps track of student progress for teacher record.

Students use the Smart Board to play games that I received from Lakeshore Learning through a funded project on Donors Choose.

A student favorite is Math Quiz Game Show.  We project this game with our Smart Board so that students can play as a whole class, in small groups, or with partners.  This games has all the sights and sounds of a real-life game show.  It's perfect for math review or extra practice as it includes 200 level-appropriate questions in 11 key categories.

Another student favorite for math center rotations is our Smart Table.  Smart Exchange has free downloads for the Smart Table that you can search for based on grade level and topic.  I usually check out this site first before heading out and creating my own file since creating files for a Smart Table can become time consuming.  I love the interactive feel of a Smart Table.  Students are provided with activities that build teamwork skills and help students learn to work effectively with partners and in small groups.

Students use Kindles during our math center rotations to practice math facts with free APPS such as Arithmemouse, Telling Time, math Bingo, and Butterfly Math.  Every few weeks I always check out Amazon to see which apps are free.  Free apps change often.  I also save up Amazon gift cards to use to purchase apps and books for our class Kindles.

Want to learn more about integrating technology into math?  Pop on over to iTeach1:1 today.