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Happy Thanksgiving BREAK!!!!

My kids LOVE to use Animoto and it is very user friendly.  Here are some tips to using Animoto in the classroom:

1. Make sure you sign up for the FREE EDUCATOR Animoto! That’s right FREE!!!! Here is the link to get your free version of Animoto! It says apply, but really, if you are an educator, you will receive a promo code for a free year of unlimited videos!

2. Make your Animoto account have an easy user name and password.  This will allow students to sign in to your Animoto and create their own videos.  For example: make your user name your last name, then make your password, Password.

3.  When students log onto your Animoto account, have students save their name as the title of their video.  This will allow you to find their work, and grade it accordingly.  Students can save their work and come back another day and work on it some more.  We only have 30 minutes a day for enrichment time, so this feature is awesome.  It allows the students to save and then pick up where they left off the next day.

4.  Talk with your students about behavior and being considerate of other’s work.  Since the students are all using the same account, they can technically delete other students’ work.  This has never happened to me, and I have used Animoto for three years.  I always tell the students that if they like Animoto and want to keep using it, they will need to respect other’s work.

5. Create a rubric! Make sure to tell the students exactly what you expect in their finished project.  It is easy to get swept up in all the cool things Animoto does, and students can forget what and why they are actually doing the Animoto.
Here is a copy of my Financial Terms Animoto Rubric

I would love to hear new ideas on how to use Animoto in the classroom! If you already use it, please comment below and tell me how you love to use Animoto!
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!!

Peace, Love, Math-
Jennifer

Happy FRIDAY!!!
It is almost time for Thanksgiving break! I know I can’t wait to rest and recharge.
This week I signed my students up for a computer game, Prodigy.  My students LOVE this game! You can set assignments, differentiate grade levels and it is ALL FREE!!! There is a paid version for students but it is not necessary.  Every thing for the teacher is FREE!!! The game provides them with questions, and even allows them to use aids such as base ten blocks or markers to help them solve the questions. If you would like to check it out here is the link!  Let me know what you all think about it!

I started out the week with Types of Taxes.  In our state, the standard calls for all students to understand these four types of taxes, property, payroll, income and sales tax.  I first had students research and define each type of tax.  We then put our definitions on to a Padlet.  From those definitions, we developed our own definition.

Hello Everyone!
The last two weeks have been very crazy.  If you were not able to catch my webinar, check it out HERE for the next 90 days or so.  It was so fun doing this webinar with Google For Education!
Every year, during the last week of October, we take our kids to Camp Grady Spruce at Possum Kingdom Lake.  This is an amazing experience and teaches the kids so many science skills that cannot be brought into the classroom.  It also allows us a chance to get to know our kids in a non-academic setting! We hike, ride horses, canoes and learn how to shoot an arrow.

Created with Padlet

You can buy all the cards and recording sheets, by visiting my Teachers Pay Teachers store: Income and Expenses- Working With A Simple Budget

Next Week: Gross and Net Income, Types of Taxes and the Start of Multiplying Decimals! 

Follow me on Twitter, I almost have 100 followers!! and Don’t forget to post questions or comments below 🙂
Peace, Love, Math-
Jenn

I am excited to share that I was asked to co-host a webinar about Google for Education! I will be asked to share and discuss how I use Google within my classroom.  I am looking forward to sharing my ideas and I would love for you all to join the discussion! Here is a link that will allow you to register for the event.

This week we took curriculum assessments.  In my district these tests are used as a summative assessment.  Summative data is great to look at and analyze, but seems to shut down my class for a few days.  I have shared all of my activities and lessons thus far and I would like to share the results of those lessons.

Next week, I will be headed to Camp Grady Spruce with my 5th graders! We take all of our 5th graders to camp to learn about many science experiences that we cannot bring into the classroom.

Until next week!
Peace Love and Math
Jennifer

Before I share my activities from this week, I am excited to share that I was asked to co-host a webinar about Google for Education! I will be asked to share and discuss how I use Google within my classroom.  I am looking forward to sharing my ideas and I would love for you all to join the discussion! Here is a link that will allow you to register for the event.

Review of Decimals and Using Base Ten Blocks
To activate prior knowledge and to review what students learned in fourth grade, we started off the week making decimals using base ten blocks.  I started making baggies with bits and pieces of each type of block and then quickly realized, there has to be a better way! And there is! I created a Google Doc that I shared with my students on Google Drive.  Students were able to work together to make decimals using the document I created.  I could toggle back and forth between groups, making  comments and suggestions, all in real time.  I could also see misconceptions and observe students who were not recalling the information from fourth grade.

I allowed the students to work on this for about 10 minutes then we went onto whole group, where we reviewed the base ten blocks and how to make decimals using the blocks.  We took notes in our journals and afterwards students could go back to their groups and apply the knowledge to fix their decimal documents.

Expanded Notation

The next day we moved onto expanded notation.  Students knew that each place has a value, but I knew they would have trouble connecting that each number is composed of that place value times the digit.  For example: 3.45 would be written as (3×1) + (4 x 0.1) + (5 x 0.01)
I wanted a hands-on way to visually see the process of multiplying the digit by the place value.  I made a set of cards for each place value, from the tens to the thousandths.  I copied the cards using colored paper.  I also made an activity mat that allowed students to record a number and then construct the number using cards.  At the end, students would record the expanded notation at the bottom.  To save paper, I laminated the activity mats and had students use dry erase markers.  To add a fun element, I had students generate numbers using dice.

Happy Weekend Everyone!

This week I have a lot to share with you! First off, during our Enrichment and Intervention time, students worked on an All About Me project using Google Slides.

Order of Operations: All About Me Project Using Google Slides
I love the idea of taking facts about yourself and turning them into equations.  I saw this idea on pinterest but the product was on poster board or chart paper.  So I decided to turn it into a digital presentation using Google Slides.  Students were to create equations using at least three steps including parentheses or brackets to represent the numbers that are about them.   Here are a couple of examples:

Students followed a simple guideline and rubric.  To get your own copy of the rubric and guideline sheet click HERE. 

I love how students are so great at using Google Slides.  The students love to add graphics, transitions and animations! It also makes grading so easy too! I cannot imagine taking 68 poster boards home!

Prime and Composite Activities

Last Friday, we had an introduction to Prime and Composite numbers.  You can check out the introduction activity in last weeks blog.
On Monday, we learned about Eratosthenes and his sieve process for finding prime numbers.  We colored a blank chart that I pulled from the internet on worksheets.com.  Click HERE for a blank chart.
On Tuesday, we looked at the sieve and we created generalizations.  Students used Padlet to share their conclusions.  These are just a couple screen shots that I took while we were completing the activity.

I like using Padlet, because it is an easy, colorful way to share ideas.  The board is live and students can get immediate feedback from me.  Reluctant students can be supported by looking at others before typing their ideas.

After we formed our ideas, we created and journaled our Rules for Composite numbers.  The rules that we came up with use multiplies and divisibility.

We used those rules the next day to test numbers.  Students worked in pairs to test numbers to see if the number was prime or composite.  Students used a checklist that had the Rules of Composite numbers listed.  Using a QR code reader students received immediate feedback.

If you would like your own copy of the checklist and number cards including QR codes, click HERE to visit my TpT store!

Two very fun Ipad Apps that I love to practice Prime and Composite numbers are Panasonic Prime Smash and Ninja Chicken.  Students love these apps! So much FUN!!!

I would love to hear from any one who uses the activities listed here! Please comment when you can or give me feedback 🙂

Until next week!

Peace, Love and Math-
Jennifer

What a busy week this week! I had a meeting every conference period, and while the meetings are 100% necessary and worth every minute, missing prep time really sets you back.  But I am all caught up and very proud of my students this week.

During Enrichment and Intervention time, my students worked on a Haiku Deck Variable Project.  This project allowed students to take another look at Greg Tang’s book, Math Appeal, and produce a haiku deck that showed each student’s ability to make equations using variables.  The beauty of this project was that students could create an equation that made sense to them and sometimes their equation was different from another student’s equation.  Some students used parenthesis and brackets while others made sure to use the order of operations they have learned.  Here are a few examples.

Using Variables while writing Equations – Created with Haiku Deck, presentation software that inspires
Writing Equations using Variable – Created with Haiku Deck, presentation software that inspires
Variables Project Katie Pham – Created with Haiku Deck, presentation software that inspires

If you would like a copy of the project requirements and scoring rubric, you can click here.

To use Haiku Deck, I created a very simple log in and password and shared my log in and password with the students.  This makes grading very easy.  I just log in and can access every deck that has been created.

I love the simplicity of Haiku Deck and how student friendly it is to use!

ORDER OF OPERATIONS!!!! 

I always start with an equation like 2 + (6 x 3) x 4
I ask students to write and solve the equation on post its.  We look at all the different answers on the post its and how students solved the equation in a variety of ways.  We then focus on the steps it takes to bake a cake, and how if the steps are not followed correctly, you will not get a properly made cake.  We then journal and take notes on the order of operations.

After creating a foldable and journaling, we spent several days practicing.  One extremely fun way to practice is KAHOOT!!! I created several different Kahoot games for students to use while practicing.  If you have never used Kahoot, you should try it! It is free and the kids LOVE it!  I encourage the students to write down the problem and solve, before answering.  I do not like guessing!

Order of Operations: Sack of Truths and Lies

This activity is an error analysis of several equations solved using order of operations.  I made 18 cards that had multi-step problems that I solved using order of operations.  Some cards are correctly done, Truths, and some are not solved correctly, Lies.  I put the cards into a sack.   Students worked with a partner to analyze each card.  Students put the cards on a sorting mat.  After all cards were sorted, students used a QR code reader to see if they sorted the cards correctly.  Students worked together well and I really enjoyed hearing their conversations. 

To get your own copy of this activity check it out in my TpT store! HERE! 

Introduction to Prime and Composite Numbers

On Friday, we moved onto Prime and Composite.  I never just give away the definitions at the beginning of a lesson, what’s the fun in that??  Whenever possible, I try to have my students discover the math before I give the students the answers. We start by creating number arrays for each number 1-25.
We use blocks and we journal our findings.  Students hold up the arrays they find as we go.

As we move along, almost always a student says “Look, all the odd numbers can only be made using a stick” or “all the evens can be made in more than one way”, to which I reply, “All of them??”  As we keep building I refer back to their predictions.  We soon get to 9, which is an odd number, and then suddenly their A-HA moment occurs.  “9 is odd and it has more than one array”, which makes them more skeptical about every odd number we encounter.   The dialog between the students and I is so rich and it really makes them look at each number in more than one way.  After we have journaled and drawn each number to 25, I pose three questions to them…

1. What do you notice about the sticks? (Sticks is what we call the array made with 1 row of ___)
2. What do you notice about the EVEN numbers?
3. What do you notice about the ODD numbers?

I ask students to talk with their shoulder partners about these questions.  I encourage that they look back at each number we drew.

Their answers are spot on every time!!!
1. Sticks can be made with every number except for the number 1
2. Even numbers have multiple representations except for the number 2
3.  Odd numbers, some can only be made with a stick, and some can be made multiple ways, except for 1, it cannot be made with any array.

Afterwards I give them the definition for prime and composite, we also talk about how 1 is neither prime nor composite.

When students generate their own learning, the concept is so much more meaningful to them!

Next week we will focus more on prime and composite numbers, so stay tuned for more activities!

Until then…
Peace, Love, Math
Jennifer

I am excited to share two new activities that my students completed this week.  I have been teaching division using the standard algorithm for the past week or two.  This week we moved onto writing equations using variables to solve for the unknown.

While I was small grouping with students who needed a bit more instruction on division, I had students complete a division project using ThingLink.  This is the first time I have used ThingLink and I LOVE IT!
ThingLink has a free version for teachers.  It allows the teacher to create a group or a class.  Then you can invite students to join your group with a specific invite code.  This allows you to have all of their projects in one place.  It makes grading so easy! ThingLink is also an App for Ipads.
Before the students got started, I made sure all the students became a part of my “group” or “class”.  Then I gave each student a step by step handout that explained my expectations for this project.  You can download your own copy of the handout by clicking HERE.
Here is a couple of examples of projects that were submitted by my students.

I used a rubric when grading each of the projects.  Here is a copy of the rubric.

I really loved using this tool, this week. THANKS THINGLINK!!!

I use many different activities to practice writing equations using variables.  One of my favorite ways to get students excited about writing equations is by using any of Greg Tang’s books.  I used Math Appeal.  Together we use the pictures and poems to quickly count the number of items on the page.  We formulate equations together as a class and collect them in our journals.

Wow,  I have been busy!  The start of the school year is always so challenging.  Routines to establish, classroom management to control and not to mention, all the Math TEKS I have to squeeze in before our first major assessment.
Here are a couple of wonderful activities I have done this past few weeks.

Multiplication Detectives-  This activity has students focusing in on the standard algorithm of multi digit multiplication.  I created 12 different cards.  Each card has a multiplication problem that is incorrect.  Students work in partners to determine the error in each problem.  After wards the partners work together to solve the problem correctly.  This really allows students a chance to evaluate the process of multiplication.  To get your own copy of the Multiplication Detective handout click HERE

Who Needs Division Anyway??- This activity was great and it refreshed their memory about division.  I knew they already knew how to divide, but I really wanted to slow down and have them really think about how we use division in the real world.  I put students into groups of 4.  Within these groups students were given a real world problem.  With this problem students used blocks to act out what is happening in each problem.  I did not want students to use pencil and paper, instead I wanted the groups to act out what is happening in each problem.  When students were done.  I videoed each group present or act out their situation using the blocks.  Afterwards I showed the videos to the entire class so that everyone was able to see everyone else’s problem and solution. To get a copy of the division problems click HERE

Happy Long Weekend! I love long weekends because you get to rest and relax and there is NO MONDAY to dread.

Last week my class assessed their knowledge on interpreting graphs, started to review multi digit multiplication and constructed a tower made out of spaghetti!

Assessing Graph Knowledge:
I first called over students four at a time.  I gave each child a sheet with 9 problems that assessed their graphing knowledge.  Here is a copy of the quick check I used. We assessed stem and leaf, line plot or dot plot, and double bar graphs.  While I was “quick checking” students, the class used blendspace to watch videos and games that I had planned ahead of time.

Blendspace is amazing! You can have blendspace as a stand alone application or you can link your blendspace through your edmodo.  If you use edmodo, look at the app store in edmodo.  Blendspace is a free app and it links up your classes into the blendspace for easy sharing.  If you are using a stand alone application, then you will just share your blendspace using a url.  To learn more about blendspace visit the site: https://www.blendspace.com/
Here is a copy of the blendspace that my students worked on while I assessed students: https://www.blendspace.com/lessons/z21SbhPulkk6cA/monday-august-31st

After I assessed students I looked at the data and decided who needed reteaching.  While I was small grouping and reteaching this week, students worked on a Graphing Slide Show Project.  They worked on this for about 20-30min a day for 4 days. Here is a copy of the project outline.  I used this outline to also create a rubric to grade the projects with, you can access the rubric HERE.

Multiplication Using Literature:

In a previous post I wrote about my love for using literature to teach or reinforce multiplication. Reluctant mathematicians often feel more comfortable with story books than a 20 question worksheet.  We explore the math within these books, using our interactive math journals.

I have used Multiplying Menace by Pam Calvert to reinforce multiplication.  This book even hits on multiplying by fractions.   So we will revisit this book when we learn multiplying fractions with whole numbers. I have developed a board game that uses the problems in the book as a way to have fun while multiplying. 
To purchase: Click Here

I love Minnie’s Diner by Dayle Ann Dodds, it allows us to focus on doubles and how quickly numbers increase as you double the numbers. Next we explored how quickly numbers increase as we triple them.
To purchase: Click Here