Math

In this first part of the new year students have become very interested in the task cards. First graders began with the Add a Dot task cards and are assiduously working their way towards the First Count, then Add task cards. 2nd graders each are working on a set that matches each student’s skill level with one working on multiplication, another on balancing addition equations, and others on tangram task cards.

The 2nd graders embarked upon the 4 Toothpick Investigation and it was really fun because they joined with their friends in the 1/2 to share their findings. We learned about equivalent names for numbers and how to show a number in as many ways possible using addition, subtraction, drawings, tally marks, words, multiplication, etc. This was followed by broken calculator problems in which a student must find ways to create a number such as 20, if the 2 key is broken. Students revisited relation symbols: =, greater than, less than. Students also completed Grid and Graph It graphing activities and followed auditory math clues with a partner in Skillboard Math. There was a lot of excitement in using subtraction to play the game Get to Zero and students requested copies to take home and challenged themselves by starting with 999 instead of 99. A next step could be to use a nine sided die.

First grade students continued to practice addition by playing Domino Top It, Shut the Box, and Roll to 100. Roll to 100 is played on a 100s chart and we practiced adding and subtracting on the 100s chart and a number line. Students completed the Mouse Count investigation involving complements of 10. They continued to practice complements of 10 by playing 10 Go Fish at home and at school. They practiced writing the number 5 and we spoke of its significance historically and within our personal lives. Remember, pencil grip and writing sky to earth. Students played Your Choice Tic Tac Toe and we completed graphs from the Grid and Bear It series. I introduced the 30s chart and students followed a set of clues to color in and create a design on the 30s chart.

Together, students created potstickers for our Asian New Year celebration, practicing fine motor control. All students practiced time and we used the times written down in students’ homework in our use of the Judy clocks. For Bring Your Favorite Toy to School Day, students described their toys and created t graphs.