Get kids moving during Math

The past week or so, my students have been VERY antsy. They cannot sit still. I feel so bad for them, because I do want them to move around. I try not to make my "lessons" very long, or I let them move while they are watching one of the videos in my class. But they are so excitable, I worry about losing control of the classroom.

This past week, I watched the kids wiggle and squirm as we were trying to do Math warm-ups (flashcards, counting, ten frames, etc.) I kept thinking that my kids really needed to move. They hadn't been outside due to the rain and just couldn't hold still. I remembered that the kids love playing Dance Freeze... kids dance while music is playing, and then they have to freeze when the music stops. So I came up with a quick idea. I played music and let the kids dance. When I paused the music, the kids had to look at me and respond to a "flash card." I wouldn't start the music again until the answer was correct. Now the ones that I was using were Part-Part Whole cards, which are pictured below. But I got to thinking, the game can be used for any type of card... Math, Literacy, Science or Social Studies.

Check out some pictures below:

The kids really love it and ask to play it all the time!

CGI tool kit

As the way of most teachers, you hear about/see cool things in other teacher's classrooms. Throughout my CGI training, I picked up on things that I wanted to try in my classroom. I FINALLY got my "tool kits" together for the kids. These kits are what the kids can use to solve word problems in the classroom. The kit has 20 snap cubes, 10 rods, 20 units, a 100s chart, and 20 counters.

 The problem that the kids are solving is printed out, the kids glue them in their journals, work on solving the problem, and then we come together to discuss the problem and different solutions. Yes, we read and discuss the problem as a class before we start working to make sure the kids understand the information they are being given and the information they are trying to find.

The journal is used for Counting Collections and CGI problems. It is small enough to fit inside the kit as well.

 Here are the pictures I took today.

I just realized that this is not correct. The lines coming down from the 2's should meet at the 4. The "2+2" before it is unnecessary. Oh, well. I'll do better next time.

Partners in Education craft

Every few months or so, we make crafts or write letters for the businesses in the community that support our school. This is what my class made. They are hand print turkeys.