Let's Talk About... Good Math Reads! by Sabrina Blake

Math Matters

Let's Talk About... Good Math Reads!

Congratulations!  You've made it through the year!  Summertime is not only a great opportunity to relax, but it's also a perfect time for reflection on the year that has passed, and look forward to the year ahead. 

Reading is one of my favorite summertime activities, and I'm sure I'm not alone.  During the hustle and bustle of the school year, I find it difficult to squeeze in as much reading as I'd like, especially professional reading.  But summer?  I have the opportunity to not only read, but I also have the time to ponder and think about how to apply the ideas I love to my upcoming school year.  If you are looking for some professional reading to do in the field of mathematics this summer, here are some suggestions for you!  The titles are all linked to the book on Amazon, in case you're feeling inspired.  

Number Talks- Whole Number Computation
This is the original Number Talks book, which is great.  I found the one above more practical to use, but this book comes with a DVD which is helpful.  It gives suggestions for how to have specific number talks in the K-2 classroom and in the 3-5 classroom.  The great thing is that once you get the strategy down on structuring number talks, you can use any curriculum or student misconception to conduct a number talk with your class.  There is also one specifically on Fractions, Decimals, and Percentages which sounds like it would be great for upper grade teachers.

Making Number Talks Matter

This is a great read for teachers of grades 4-10 on conducting number talks.  It is broken down into sections on each of the four operations as well as fractions, and has several chapters on practical advice as well.  Within each section there are methods and strategies for solving problems, and examples to use to start the Number Talk on a specific solution strategy.  This would also dovetail with the strategies taught in our curriculum, or any misconceptions that your students may have that you'd like to correct.  

Beyond Pizzas and Pies
If you teach grades 3-5, and your students typically struggle with fractions, this is the read for you!  It addresses many fraction misconceptions that students have and how to correct them.  The strategies presented can be utilized in an intervention format or in addition to your regular math curriculum.







Minds on Mathematics
This is a great book if you're looking to implement a Math Workshop model in your upper grade classroom, as this is geared for grades 4-8.  It talks about what the workshop looks like and how to set it up, then gives practical and in-depth advice about how it should be structured to gain maximum student learning.










Math Matters

Not a true 'summer read' but this book is great reference material.  It is great for anyone who teaches math in grades K-8.  It will build in the background, conceptual knowledge that you may feel like you are missing when it comes to implementing any math standard or curriculum.  Keep this one in the classroom, you'll use it a lot!








I hope you check one or more of these out and give them a read over the summer or during the next school year.  My summer reads include What's Math Got To Do With It? by Jo Boaler, and Mathematical Mindsets, also by Jo Boaler.  If you'd love to discuss any of the books listed above, I'm happy to talk about them with you.  I hope you have a wonderful, relaxing summer, and come back in August rejuvenated and ready to inspire a new group of students.  Happy Reading! 

Mathematically yours,

Sabrina Blake

sabrina.blake@omsd.net

Empowering Students

Empowering Students!

We’re getting close to the end of the year! Yay! We want the students to have more fun in learning, so we add the fun projects, but how do we do this while continuing to challenge their thinking as well? How do we reflect on the learning that took place with a bit of excitement even though we are all tired? “How do I do this?” you might ask, well the answer is stepping back and letting the students take ownership of their work; you have a variety of learning experiences, in which students are engaged, and you are facilitating the learning that is taking place in your classroom.

The more you let student voices be heard and choices are made,                              the more that students will take responsibility for their learning.

As teachers, we are actively teaching and providing students with opportunities to demonstrate what is learned. There are moments in our classroom when we have to understand it’s time to stop teaching and become “The Facilitator”. It’s not just about providing opportunities to demonstrate what was learned by administering a writing assignment or an assessment. It’s about the students taking ownership, shining through a project of their choice where their talents and creativity shine.

“Tell me and I’ll forget. Show me and I may remember.                           Involve me and I learn.” ~Benjamin Franklin

Here are some project ideas:
In Language Arts I have students pick a genre of their choice and write a story of their own. If a student does not want to write a story of their own, I have them pick a story we read in class and ask them to change the ending of the story (making a small piece of their own).

In Social Studies, we discuss California history targeting a different comprehension strategy each day to understand that in research we have to summarize, form opinions for credible resources, evaluate the source to know if the information was sufficient or if we need to go beyond the current reading. Then students decide what display (PowerPoint Presentation, video, poster board, constructing a California Mission, or an idea of their own) they would like to add as they present their research to the class.

In Science I have students work on an AVID one-pager (a page in which they summarize, question, add art that helped them visualize the concept and still add their own touch that took them beyond the learning, for example adding a poem or a song) or maybe a student will come up with an experiment that sums up his/her learning.

In Math, I have students work collaboratively creating math problems. They take all the concepts learned and choose 2 or more to write a multi-step problem using a Read-Draw-Write. Students work together writing the word problem and make sure they are able to solve it before passing it on for peers to solve it.

Becoming “The Facilitator” is rewarding because it’s exciting to watch them take over and make it very clear learning took place. The engagement and collaboration taking place remind us of the first month of the school year, teaching them “Teamwork makes the Dream Work!”


Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much!
Hilda Sanchez

Ending the School Year Strong!

Ending the School Year Strong!

It's that time of year.  You look at your calendar and begin counting down to the last days of school.  State testing is done, the weather is getting nicer, and we are all getting anxious for vacation.  The end of the school year is right around the corner, but it isn't over quite yet.  Those last few weeks can be challenging, and it is understandable that both teachers and students would be tempted to slow down a bit.  However, it is important for the future of our students that we actually keep going strong.  We always seem to remember how things end rather than how they begin. 

How can I stay energized to help my students finish strong?  What are ways my students can reflect on what they've learned?  How can they take these reflections and grow from them?  

We are running the final lap of the school year.  Everyone is tired!  But, we must keep going.  We are role models. What type of message would we be sending if we just throw in the towel?  We must model for them how to finish strong. You wouldn't join a team and drop out in the middle of the season, would you?  Would you hit a home run and just stand at home plate?  Of course not!  We should finish what we started with the same devotion and zest as we began!  Let's keep them learning until the last bell.  

"Starting Strong is Good, Finishing Strong is Epic."

 -Robin Sharma

How do I end the year on a strong and positive note?

Here are some ways:

Introduce the Idea of a Strong Finish

Have students reflect on questions such as:

What are things you can do to help finish the school year strong academically?
What is one thing you can do to help your classmates finish the year strong academically?

It's fun to have students reflect on their learning for the year and to set goals for the last few weeks.  Activities that involve reflective thinking are so beneficial.You can turn their answers into posters that can be hung around the classroom as a reminder.  

Celebrate Academic and Social Achievements
Have students celebrate their achievements and be excited for what's to come:

It is important to celebrate hard work and learning, living up to class rules and the effort put into collaborating to solve problems together throughout the year.  Rather than counting down the days, I like to start a list of our accomplishments for the year.  Each day we add a different students' accomplishment.  Then we celebrate our growth!  I like to have students do a writing on three new things they tried or learned this school year and one thing they hope to learn in the upcoming school year.  

Practice Positive Mindset
Have your students share something positive about each other:

Model positive mindset always.  Walk into the classroom with a smile daily.  
Have your students brainstorm positive traits about each other and make a list for each student. I like to write their names on top of a paper, then we pass it around and add positive attributes about that student. We do one student a day for the last 26 days of school.  My students love to do one for me on the very last day of school.  

Make Time for Fun
Have fun:

Although the end of the year is packed full of tests, presentations, and stress it's important that your students enjoy the last few weeks of school. I love to do activities such as

• go on virtual field trips
• go on a nature walk
• have theme days 
• have a field day 
• write letters to the incoming class  
• do hands-on science projects  

Though we generally think of the word "end" as a conclusion, we should keep in mind it comes from the Greek word anti, which means "before."  While we might think we're concluding the school year, we are really and much more importantly setting students up for what comes next.   

Positively Teaching,                              

Randi Muehlen