I got my Analog and Digital Schedule Cards finally posted. I've been using them since the beginning of the year and was able to tweak them a bit to make them perfect!
I also finally finished the 2nd grade version of my Learning Targets unit. I updated everything, then expanded the unit to include sample I Can statements, standards checklists for your planning, and also labels for organizing all your resources. I started using the labels last year and I love how easy they make my planning!
I also updated the fonts on my Turkey Talk Graphic Organizers and added one more G.O. If you own those, make sure to go re-download.
To top off all this work, I finally finished my Math Problem Solving posters and worksheets!
When I taught 3rd grade a couple years ago, I had to get my students ready to take the Oregon state test. I knew a lot of the math test would involve them solving story problems and choosing the correct multiple choice letter.
To get my students ready for that, we had to practice story problems - A LOT! We started out by focusing on what the question was actually asking. Some questions throw in too much information and trip kids up. My team used this 4 step problem solving method: 1. Find Out (what is the question asking) 2. Strategy (what problem solving strategy will you use to answer the question?) 3. Solve (show your work) and 4. Verify (solve it another way to ensure your are correct). We liked this method because the kids would fold their scrap papers into fourths and could do this method during the test on their own.
This is what it looked like:
I really like this method. In the "Find Out" box, we could also write or underline those key words that tell us which operation it will be. I made The Teacher Wife's giant plus and minus signs and also made some division and multiplication ones to match. We used these everyday while we found out what the problem was asking.
Then on to "Pick a Strategy". This is the box that I always struggled with. And I still struggle with it 2 years later! I know that a strategy is making a graph or drawing a picture, but how do you get the kids to understand those strategies when your math curriculum doesn't teach or foster those skills? I struggled. Struuuuhhhhh-ggled. We would end up writing which operation we were going to do and call it a day.
That is why I made these posters. I knew what the strategies were, but I wanted an easy way for my students to know what they are. My posters include 9 strategies in both color and black and white (true blackline that will copy well on colored paper for you). On each poster is the strategy, a picture, a sample problem, and a description of the strategy. I wanted something common for me to say while teaching and for the kids to refer back to. As I teach each strategy, we are adding these to our math wall.
Next is "Solve", I taught the kids they can show their thinking in words, numbers, or pictures. I have this poster up on my whiteboard:
Last, on "Verify" we either use an inverse operation, plug the answer into the problem to see if it's right (guess and check), or solve it using a different operational strategy (for example, if you counted on, try making ten this time to see if you get the same answer). I didn't include Guess and Check in the strategy posters because I do not want this to be a student's go-to strategy. It's great to help verify, but I want them to use math to solve it in the first place.
This is what the sheets in my pack look like:
I included one with "Plan" instead of "Strategy" because I know some teachers like the kids to make a list of things they will do to get the solution. I also included small pages that can be cut and glued in an interactive notebook (that's what my class does).
What this pack does not include is the actual problems. I did that on purpose, because there are so many amazing options out there! My math curriculum has a Problem a Day (although, not all of them are that good). I know that Lakeshore has Problem Solving Cards
, along with other teacher stores. You could write these on the board or project them with a document camera.
, along with other teacher stores. You could write these on the board or project them with a document camera.| My favorites to use are Corinna Gandara's from Surfin Through Second. She has some for each month that correlate with 2nd grade standards. Click the picture below to see her December word problems, or go here to see her November ones. |
And now for your FREEBIE! (I didn't forget!) Today I made a Fan Freebie on my FB page! Click over to FB, like my page, click on the teal "Fan Freebie" button just under my Cover Photo, and download from Google Drive!
What unfinished projects have you completed lately?
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