Spin and Add

This is a version that I made last year...very similar to Fran Kramer's idea.  What do you think?  Use a pencil and paper clip to spin a number.    The students can use small manipulatives such as novelty erasers or beans.  Personally, I use these foam beads from Oriental Trading, which are the perfect size and have many variations for themes.

SPIN _ ADD

MATH WORK STATIONS - CHAPTER 5

After many years of not formally introducing the concept of addition and subtraction till Spring and realizing the complexity of actually understanding it, I now start introducing this skill earlier.  I have noticed a significant difference in the student's ability in understanding the meaning of putting together and taking apart.  I use many hands-on activities, especially involving food.  Who wouldn't like eating the manipulatives?!

Here's a game, SPIDER LEGS, using pretzel sticks for legs.  There are different versions depending on your students' abilities.  If there is a food allergy concern, you could use pipe cleaners for legs.

SPIDER LEGS MATH MATS_ RECORDING SHEETS_ _ MATH TALK CARDS

Fran from Kindergarten Crayons suggested using those animal paper plates for adding and subtracting.  What a wonderful idea!  Below is a Mouse Mat with recording sheet that is similar to the plate concept.  This is a great visual for joining and decomposing numbers.  It's in black and white.  I thought it would look great copied on bright colored paper. Enjoy!

Mouse Mat

Don't forget to hop on over and visit Mrs. Saoud who's hosting Math Work Stations Chapter 5. She has posted a lot of good information and freebies.

MATH WORK STATIONS - CHAPTER 4

First of all - THANK YOU, Fran for a wonderful post.  Be sure to hop on over and check out her awesome ideas and freebies.  Don't forget to check out others who linked up at her blog for more great posts.

One activity my students enjoy is Egg Carton Spin & Count Game.  I put a green sticker in the top left egg cup so the children know where to begin.  I use both the 12 and 18 count cartons.  To keep the student's interest just change the objects used for counting.  I like to use commercial items and seasonal items.  Also, for another change I'll introduce 2 ways to win.   The first way is by filling up the carton and the second way is emptying the carton.  The children never tire of playing this counting game. 

Below are some spinners and math talk cards to use for 

Egg Carton Spin & Count.

EGG CARTON SPIN _ COUNT GAME

Here's two versions of a number writing game using two-sided counters to help with number writing practice.  It's called Red Hot Dots.

Red Hot Dots - Outline

Red Hot Dots

Check out  Math Their Way for some more 

great ideas and blackline masters.

 I just saw a post for highlighter pointers from Always First Grade -  cute idea!  But, look what I found from Hobby Lobby's clearance aisle - they are stirring sticks for drinks!!!

  

BUT that's not all!  When cleaning up at home I came across these!  JACKPOT!!!!

I can't wait for my froggy friends to use these for reading next year!!!

MATH WORK STATIONS - CHAPTER 3

I will be implementing math work stations for the first time next year, but the students did partner reading last year and I envision the preparation to be similar. We discussed what should happen at partner reading time and modeled what was expected. If there was a particular problem or I observed inappropriate behavior then we'd get together to model some more. I like the idea of an anchor chart to reinforce expectations so I will work on creating this using pictures and simple text.

One of the concepts I stressed and modeled with my students was how to be a helper and not a teller. I want to do this with math work stations as well. I think the "I Can" cards and the anchor/resource charts will be helpful with this. I hang all my anchor/resource charts from arm extensions on a pocket chart stand where a student is welcome to use them when needed. If we are focusing on a particular concept, the chart may be hanging around the room for a reference. This year I will add math vocabulary cards to use as a resource, too.

I got a document camera in January and LOVE it! In addition to modeling expectations together at large group time, I will use the document camera as another way to model.  Repetition (in all its forms) is GREAT!!! Also, the document camera is a wonderful tool for sharing and reflecting. The children absolutely love to share their learning and ideas using this camera. I noticed that it inspired students to stay on task and do their best so they would get an opportunity to share with their froggy friends.

I really liked the Work Stations Chart from Really Good Stuff, but I didn't really like the price. I love using pocket charts and have one I can use for this purpose. I'm thinking a numbered stations system will work for me instead of picture task cards. I'm going to use the 3 drawer sterilite containers. I'm planning on having 12 math work stations.
Last year I had an equal amount of boys and girls so I partnered a boy with a girl for partner reading time. I switched partners each week. This worked out great! The children started figuring out who they would be partnered with next week, 2 weeks later and so on... If someone was absent and didn't have a partner - no problem, Tad (our class mascot) was their partner for the day. As far as who went first, we'd take turns between the boys and girls, but without knowing next year's class roster I like the suggestion from Heidi Samuelson using high/low numbers for the day. This will work for me because I number my students alphabetically by first name. I also pick numbered sticks on occasion.

Since I'm using the 3 drawer containers for my math work stations I will not have a lid to attach "I Can" charts to sooooo I thought maybe I would make "I Can" cards that would be held together with a metal ring.  Also, this might be a good way to differentiate the stations and as we brainstorm ideas, we could add more cards.  Here are some "I Can" cards, blank sorting mats and labels for sorting I put together real quick.  Let me know what you think?

I Can - Sorting Cards

BLANK SORTING MATS

LABEL CARDS

Hop on over to Mrs. Parker's blog for more tips and ideas.

MATH WORK STATIONS BLOG PARTY CHAPTERS 1 & 2

I'm excited about participating in this blog party.  I apologize for joining in kind of late, but I've been cleaning and packing up my room.  I took a few pictures of what I could.

1.  How do you (or will you) differentiate your math stations? 

This will be my first time using math stations.  I'm excited about this approach as this past year the students did a lot of partner reading and it was a huge success! 

2.  How and where do you keep your math stations?

I will have my math stations located above the math shelf where all the math manipulatives are stored.

3.  How do you keep your math materials organized?

On the top of these wire cubes there are sorting trays and scales which I take down when needed.  I use empty tissue boxes for randomly choosing cards/pieces for math games.  I have several bowls for sorting, counting, holding game pieces.  The egg cartons are for counting activities.  The red container holds math mats and the green holds our calendar math folders.  The basket holds our Zero the Hero number scrolls.

 This is the math shelf where all the math manipulatives are stored.  Most of the containers are labeled.  The students have easy access, but are not allowed to use manipulatives that have not been introduced.  This system has worked well as the children eventually will be able to use everything on this shelf.  I've had great success with the 3 drawer units so I'm probably going to use these units for my math stations.

  These are the containers I store my math activities and games in.  I will need to reorganize and figure out what/how I can differentiate.