Valentine's Math Collaboration

A group of elementary teachers collaborated on this project.  We used Google Docs to share our ideas, re-think ideas, change the initial plan, and then this is what Mrs. Goodwin's class and our class ended up with.  We used Flickr images that are accessible through VoiceThread to inspire student-created word problems with a Valentine's Day and friendship theme.  After the student-creators recorded their problems, other students solved them.  We LOVE math!

ShowMe Some Subtraction Strategies

Today we tried out the ShowMe App to practice our subtraction.  Students picked a strategy to solve their problem and used the app to talk through the subtraction problem as they solved it with the pens.  Check out the "ShowMes" created by each student below.  The different strategies we've discussed are - rewrite vertically, tens/ones, draw a picture, bar model, and decompose. 

Today I wasn't just solely impressed with the overall project, but what went on in the rest of the classroom as well.  There were many aspects that went smoothly.  For example, Mr. Carls came in and called students over to use the iPad2 to one table and I did the same at another table.  As students were patiently waiting their turn to try out something new and exciting, they were practicing math around the room.  At the SMARTboard students were working together to solve problems using Thinking Blocks, one of our new favorite sites that uses the bar model.  Other students were working with Grama Linda on subtraction problems on their dry erase boards.  Lastly, Ashley assisted her classmates at the computer station as they solved student-created word problems on a collaborative VoiceThread. 

It was great to have our grandparent volunteer, a student-leader assisting, as well as our tech integrator joining our class today, since it gave students the opportunity to work one to one with the iPad2s.  Math is so personal.  There's so many ways to solve a problem and each child is unique in their thinking.  I valued the chance to see my students "show me" their thoughts today. 

I'm so glad that Mr. Olson, our middle school math teacher, shared with us this app.  It has a LOT of potential for continued use.  Plus, since it's super user-friendly, the kids can already use it independently after today's introduction. 

Thank you to everyone who made today's "Math Morning" a success.  All of the pieces fit together nicely for a purposeful math morning.  Thank you to all who helped today!  We'd love to hear how you subtract!  What's your strategy of choice?

Compare and Contrast with our Italian Friends

We had three different Skype calls over the past three months with a class in Italy.  Small groups of students took turns sharing and exchanging ideas about the monthly topic.  During November, we shared our favorite foods at school and at home.  We learned that many of them like pasta and pesto sauce.  Many of us didn't know what pesto was!  We both liked clemintines and fruit.  During December, we shared about holiday traditions.  We learned that many of them celebrate similar to us.  But, they make special Christmas cakes or buy them at bakeries.  During January, we shared about our favorite winter activities.  We were surprised that many of them enjoyed shopping.  After talking with their teacher more through email, we learned that many of the Italian parents fear the pollution that's in the air.  The city of Milan recommends that the children and elderly stay indoors when the air quality is poor.  But, the night we Skyped with them, it snowed and they played outside with their teacher.  They made snow angels like we did too!  They were also hoping to try maple syrup on snow, just like Riley shared with them during the Skype call.  This was a wonderful cultural exchange! 



Pumpkins in Winter?

We were viewing another VoiceThread Project of ours and realized we never put this on our blog....
So, here it is.  In the fall, we counted and sorted seeds from our pumpkins to practice place value.  We sorted and rearranged into tens, ones, and hundreds.  WOW!  There were a lot more seeds than we predicted.