Who you gonna call? Standards Busters! We’re not afraid of Core Standards!
The past two months I have focused on Reading Standards and have tried my best to give you simple and practical applications for the classroom.
This month will explore math activities. I recently ran into my friend Char Forsten (Queen of Singapore Math) at an airport. We were discussing standards and I expressed my concern about some of the math concepts (such as patterning) that were not included in the K standards.
Char reminded me that these are STANDARDS. They are not your curriculum and they do not dictate what you can and cannot do in your classroom. Think of the CCSS as “my plate” in terms of nutrition. You need fruits, vegetables, grains, proteins, and dairy. “My plate” doesn’t dictate specifics and it doesn’t mean you can’t have a cupcake on your birthday. The Standards are meant as guidelines to insure all children in America get the basics they need. So, let’s start busting those math standards with games, songs, and hands-on activities!
MATHEMATICAL PRACTICES
These standards appear at every grade level.
COUNTING AND CARDINALITY
Know number names and the count sequence.
Count to tell the number of objects.
Compare Numbers
OPERATIONS AND ALGEBRAIC THINKING
Understand addition as putting together and adding to, and understand subtraction as taking apart and taking from.
Number and Operations in Base Ten
Measurement and Data
Classify objects and count the number of objects in each category.
GEOMETRY
Identify and describe shapes (squares, circles, triangles, rectangles, hexagons, cubes, cones, cylinders, and spheres).
Analyze, compare, create, and compose shapes.
Web Resources:
http://www.corestandards.org/
http://www.ixl.com/math/kindergarten
These websites have practice skills aligned to each state’s standards and grade level.
TEACHABLE MOMENTS
Math doesn’t occur just at “math time.” Children learn math as you:
…it’s a part of our daily lives.
When you are familiar with the standards, you can take advantage of those “teachable moments” throughout the day.
MATH FEVER
A teacher at a workshop years ago said she goes around her classroom and places her palm on children’s foreheads as she says, “I think you’ve got it!” “I think you’ve got it!” “I think you’ve got it, too!” Soon all of the children are asking, “Do I have it?” After touching all of their foreheads and confirming they have “it” she explains that it’s MATH FEVER! “Everyone in our room is excited about math and good at math! That’s why you’ve all got MATH FEVER!” I hope you and your students will catch a little math fever with these ideas and activities!
MATH MUST HAVES!
Here are two “must haves” that will help you accomplish your math goals. And the good news is that they are simple, free, and can be adapted to multiple standards.
Number Vests
Why? counting and cardinality, operations, geometry
What? large copies of numerals and signs, clear sheet protectors, hole punch, string
*Note! You can download highway numerals and highway shapes free at Making Learning Fun.
How? Write numerals and math signs on paper and insert in the clear sheet protectors. Punch holes at the top and tie on string so they can easily fit over the children’s heads.
Counting - Have children get in numerical order according to the number they are wearing.
Songs - Wear number vests as you sing “Five Little Monkeys,” “I Know An Old Lady Who Swallowed a One,” and other songs.
Writing Numerals – Children can trace over numerals with toy cars or they can roll play dough and place it on top of the numerals. They can also trace over numerals with a dry erase marker and erase.
Inequalities - Put up two numbers and have children choose “<” or “>” to go between them.
Addition and Subtraction - Have children make number sentences using the numbers and signs on the vests.
Fact Families – Move numbers around to demonstrate different fact families.
Word Problems – Use number vests to engage children in solving word problems.
Dot to Dot - Pass out numbers and have children scatter around the room. Give one child a large pointer. That child takes the pointer and goes from “0” through “10” by “connecting the dots.”
Number Words – Write number words on the back of the numerals.
Show Me Cards
Why? counting and cardinality, operations and algebraic thinking
What? heavy paper cut in 3” squares (11 for each child), zip bag
How? Make a set of “show me” cards for each child by writing the numerals 0-10 on the squares. Have children store
their cards in a zip bag in their desk. When you have a few extra minutes, ask the children to get their cards and arrange them on the floor or table in numerical order from 0-10.
Use the cards for some of the games below.
How Many? Clap, snap, or stomp a set. Show me how many. How many toes do you have? Show me.
Sets - Make a set with felt pieces on the flannel board. Show me how many.
Mystery Number - I’m thinking of a number between 4 and 6. Show me.
I’m thinking of a number two more than seven. Show me.
Math Facts - 4 plus 2. Show me.
9 minus 3. Show me.
Number Stories - I had four pennies. I found three more. Show me how many I have in all.
Fact Families - Call out numbers in a fact family. Can children write the equations in that fact family?
Number Bonds – How many ways can you make seven?
Expanded Notation - Put 3 in the tens spot and two in the ones spot. What’s the number?
Odd and Even – Sort the odd and even numbers.
Slap Happy Math – Children get a partner and lay a set of numeral cards on the floor between them. The teacher calls out different math problems. The first child to slap the correct numeral gets a point.
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