Math Strategies

We've been working hard on our addition and subtraction fluency in class!  It's such a big part of first grade's learning!  We have been playing games to help us practice!  In addition to partner games, we love Around the World!

In addition to daily practice, I introduce my kids to strategies.  This lets them know that they can use whatever strategy best fits their needs.  I also tell them that by the end of first grade, they are expected to be using mental math...I teach them about the word "fluency," because Math fact fluency is a building-wide goal.

The way I introduce strategies each year is by setting up stations.  I have the following materials out in groups around the room: number lines, dry erase boards/markers/erasers {or pencils/paper}, two-sided chips or manipulatives of some sort, and number grids.  At each station there is a coordinating sign to remind kids of the strategy they are trying.  I place kids in groups and give out addition or subtraction sentences.  Each group solves them using their designated strategy.  We rotate around and try them all.  We talk about how each group got the same answer and that it doesn't matter which strategy we use!  After the lesson, I give out strategy bookmarks to the kids.  They can take these home or you can tape them down to their desks.  I think they are helpful reminders for parents at home.  Grab the strategy set below!  I've also linked to my favorite tools for this below.

                               

 xo
Megan

*This post contains affiliate links.  I own and use the three items recommended often in my classroom.  

NEW "On the Fly" Games!!

Hi!  I'm finally getting around to blogging about three of my newest "On the Fly" games!  You loved the Number Sense set, so I figured why not make more?  These On the Fly games are intended to be used for those times when you need a filler/game but don't have time to prep it.  They are also great for early finishers, centers {when you don't have time to make something}, or a substitute.  I keep stacks of mine copied in organized folders by title so I always have them ready!  

The original set, Number Sense, is a great resource to have on hand for the beginning of the year.  I don't like to start our Math curriculum {we use Go Math} for the first two weeks or so of school.  I'd rather get kids acclimated to our classroom and play some general number sense games to wake their brains up from summer before diving into the program.  This pack includes 18 simple games and covers skills such as number ID, number words, counting, tally marks, and more.  It's great for first grade or kindergarten.  What's great about this and all of my On the Fly packs is the fact that it's differentiated.  Each game in this particular has 1 or 2 differentiated options so you can meet the needs of the kids in your room.

Next up is my second On the Fly pack, which is devoted to Spelling practice!  These printables are intended to be used with any words--spelling, sight words, word family/word pattern words, etc...Each activity has 2 options--one for 5 words and one for 10 words.  These are great to keep copied for literacy centers, substitutes, or Spelling practice before a test.  They would also make great homework activities.

I recently completed my Place Value On the Fly game pack.  I don't have photographs of it yet because we obviously don't get into place value until much later in the year.  You can check it out below.  It follows the same format of having two, differentiated options for each game.  This set contains 8 games and covers skills such as number ID to 120 {and beyond for the advanced games}, number order, and tens/ones practice.

And finally, my Addition on the Fly pack is complete!  I just finished it up Saturday.  I'm looking forward to using these because we are working on addition in class right now.  I mentioned Go Math. While I don't mind the program now that I have taught it for almost three years, I do mind the fact that the games in there are horrible!  Just about every day, I like to supplement the end of the lesson with a quick game.   My On the Fly games are perfect for that!

These packs are all available individually by clicking the covers above.  You can also get ALL THE MATH GAMES IN A BUNDLE FOR A DISCOUNT BY CLICKING THE COVER BELOW.  It is a growing bundle, and so far only contains Number Sense, Place Value, Addition, and Subtraction. Geometry and Measurement/Data will come later.  Right now, the bundle is discounted to $17.00. The price will go up to $30 when it's complete.  *Subtraction coming soon!*

xo
Megan

Missing Addend

We've been working hard on finding the missing addend in an addition fact.  This is such an important skill for fact fluency.  One game that my kids absolutely adore is the missing addend monster game.  This is a game included in my "Missing Addend Monsters" Math pack.

To play, partners take turns.  One player is the "hider" and the other person the "guesser."  The hider hides some monsters under a paper plate while the guesser covers his/her eyes.  He/she is sure to leave some monsters on the top.  When the hider is ready, the guesser opens their eyes and counts the monsters on the top.  They must figure out how many monsters are under the plate by counting up to whatever number you had the children start with.  I usually start with 10 for most of my kids and give my higher kids more.  The kids get SO excited to figure out how many monsters are under the plate! Definitely a huge hit!

To check this game and more out, click below!

xo
Megan 

Math Mish-Mash & Freebies!

Hello!  As I was looking through photos from before winter break, I came across quite a few Math ones.  I figured I would whip up a post to share what we've been doing in Math!  I will first start by saying that we are "piloting" Go Math.  At first I was super annoyed b/c I liked how I had taught Math prior...using Everyday Math and incorporating tons of games and Math tubs with it.  Now, it seems like we are doing constant workbook pages, which I hate.  I've tried to slow down and incorporate fun things within it but then I feel "behind" my team and/or other first grade teachers in the district.  #teacherproblems  I have managed to get a little better at it, which makes me happy!  I have about 1 hour for Math.  We do Math right after our read aloud in the afternoon {after recess}. To see my morning schedule click here.  To see my afternoon schedule click here.

We learned about using a 10-frame as a tool for addition.  These free 10-frames are available here from my friend Jen and you can get them here.  I love my gigantic 10-frames!  They are magnetic...So perfect for whole-group lessons.  I wish the colors of the chips matched, but oh well! These are from Learning Resources and you can find them here.

We learned about doubles facts.  I showed Harry Kindergarten's youtube video every day for several days.  The kids love it so much each year!

I found these great doubles 'cheat sheet' cards on TpT here.  They worked out as great references for doubles games.

We played a few doubles games.  This one below is from my "Math Games on the Fly" pack.  I love this pack b/c the games can be quickly printed out and used in class immediately. No need to laminate/cut!   Click here for a freebie from the pack!!!

We also played this frog doubles game, which you can find here.

We began working on 3-addend addition using these mats and game from Susan at TGIF.  She has a great little pack which you can find here.

Because we were learning about holidays around the world, we did this fun 3-addend/poinsettia scoot that you can snag for free here.

And as always, we did some exit slips from my "Math Exit Slips" volume 1 and volume 2 packs! Love having these at my fingertips!!  These are great for a quick check!

Have a great week!

xo
Megan

Beginning Addition

Hi everyone!  Happy Fall!  I'm glad some cooler weather is finally here for us in Ohio.  It was SO HOT during back to school time!  Now it finally feels like fall {even if we go from 55 degree days to 85 degree days overnight}.  I've been getting out my fall decor and am happy with how everything is looking!  Below is a picture of my table!

Today's post is all about beginning addition.  If you read my post about number sense a couple weeks ago, you'll see how much I value making sure my kids are secure with their numbers.  Although they learned numbers to 100 in kindergarten, lots of my students do not practice during the summer months and I typically have to spend a good 3-4 weeks reviewing number ID, before/after, etc...at the start of the year.  Regardless of where you work, it's always great to review!

Once we finished our 4 week review, we began with addition!  Addition/Subtraction are such a huge part of Common Core.  It is important to get right to it early on!  This past summer, during one of many trips to Lakeshore Learning, I picked up these GIANT MAGNETIC TEN FRAMES.  I love all of their GIANT magnet sets, so of course I had to have this one!  These came in very handy when we were practicing combining sets.  It's always tricky modeling when you don't have a Smartboard!  I do have a doc camera, but when I use it, I have to stand away from my kids and I can't really observe how they are doing.  The kids had their cups of chips and I had my magnetic ones and we practiced combining sets by telling simple number stories aloud.

We did this type of practice along with some practice pages in our Math workbook for 2 days.  Then it was time to move onto learning about the good 'ole plus and equals sign!

I began by showing a Brain Pop Jr. video and then introducing the vocabulary.with kids on an anchor chart.  They came up with a lot of them, which shows me they retained this from kindergarten!  It also showed that they were really listening to the vocabulary I'd been using the past two days.

We practiced writing the plus and equals sign with our chips to form number sentences.

The following day, I introduced the part-part-total model to the kids and we practiced putting our chips in them.  Having a hands on experience with addition is very important, especially in the beginning stages of learning to add.  Concrete is key!

Having manipulatives out is always tricky as far as listening/behavior goes.  I like letting kids come up and "help" on the white board.  This always helps control behavior during these types of lessons. To snag some part-part-total mats for your students, click below.  Just print and place in clear plastic sleeves or print on card stock and laminate!  *Missing addend mats included*  So we spent two more days on combining sets and writing the number sentence to match.

The next 5 days, we reviewed ways to make 5,6,7,8,and 9 {addition to 10 is a kinder CCSS}.  We used my "Beginning Addition" set and our chips to come up with ways to make the sums.  After, the kids completed the worksheet.  I'll be giving an addition quick check this week to see who still needs help in this area.  We will also be playing the game included in this set.

We also spent some time on strategies.  I love Valerie's Addition Strategy Pack!  Lots of good practice pages and some nice posters to use in your classroom.  I like to set up stations with a different strategy choice at each table group and then we rotate around.  I really stress that the kids can use whatever method fits them best.

As a wrap-up to our learning, we made some cute little addition scarecrows.  The students got to choose how many patches the scarecrow had on his shirt and how many he had on his pants.  Then they had to fill in the numbers for a number story and number model.  This was a lot of fun!

Have a great weekend, friends!
xo
Megan