Math
Math is a journey of discovery and I believe all students can be a math person! It is so important for students to have confidence in their current skills and build on that with a mindset that mistakes are part of the learning process. In fact, your brain grows when you make mistakes in mathematics. Studies show that certain synapsis fire each time you make a mistake. So let's have some fun growing our brains and making mistakes! Check out this Ted Talk by Jo Bohler if you would like to hear more about this concept.
How I Run My Math Class:
I believe in allowing children to explore math concepts in class as a learning community. If you walk into my math class you will see student collaborating and solving problems, teaching their knowledge to other students, and applying their learning to real world situations. Often students will be given a problem like 3 1/4 - 1 1/2. Rather than telling them how to solve they will work together to create models, diagrams, use measuring cups, and other manipulative to explain how to solve this problem. The goal in class is to create students who have a growth mindset, who understand the why behind the math and to challenge them each day. The rote math and procedures are still taught, but they are taught in conjunction with conceptual learning. Students also have the opportunity to teach others using technology and through collaboration. Check out some of the student videos to see the beauty in action!
For students to practice rote problems they will bring homed a cycle day sheet. Homework is given on cycle day 1. Students will also be asked to use Khan Academy to refresh any math skills they are still having difficulty with. Please practice math facts at home on a daily basis - Students need to be fluent in their math facts!
Homework - All homework is in Schoology - You can view here if it is late or missing. All daily homework is given on cycle day 1. The students answer all questions in the cycle day column. They have cycle days 1 - 6 on their homework sheet. I encourage students to do about 20 minutes of math each night. If the questions can be done quickly they should practice other skills on IXL or Khan Academy. They also should pick one reflection question each night to answer as part of their homework. There may be added homework if extra practice on a skill is needed or at the end of a unit when a study guide is given.
Khan Academy - Practice skills based on MAP results. Log into your google account first. then click on the Khan Academy link. Once in Khan academy you will put your curser behind the web address and type /mappers.