Repeated Addition: Introduction to Multiplication

1st grade student solved a repeated addition word problem.  These kinds of word problems are good to practice in the classroom.  This will make for a good transition into the introduction of multiplication.

A Square and A Rectangle: Student Work #3

A Square and A Rectangle: Student Work #2

A Square and Rectangle, What is the Difference?

1st Grade Bilingual students take a leap at finding out the difference between a square and rectangle using graphic paper.  Students design different sizes of squares and rectangles.  The squares have 4 sides of equal length and a rectangle has 2 pairs of sides of equal lengths.

Geometry: Student Work Design #3

Geometry: Student Work Design #2

1st Grade Students: Creating Different Designs With 2-D Shapes

1st grade bilingual students were given different shapes to create different real-life geometric designs.  Later, students shared and reflected their new designs with the entire class.

Student Work: Ferris Wheel Subtraction

Ferris Wheel Subtraction

Remember the most popular ride of ALL, the ferris wheel!!!  This is a great object to use to help children understand subtraction.  The class (1st grade) used the ferris wheel to solve real-life math problems.  Some student work is displayed.  (*Note orange cubes = # of children, blue cubes = # of adults)

Kibo

One of my students took Kibo home this past weekend!  This student met all the math objectives for the week.  Other students also deserved to take Kibo home for the weekend but, unfortunately, there is only one Kibo.  The students actually liked Kibo alot!  As soon as I placed Kibo on the student's desk about 5 other students immediately went over to the student's desk and hugged Kibo.  Wow!  Surprising to me! :)  Kibo, the flying math dragon, is looking forward to going home with another student for the weekend this coming Labor Day Weekend! 

Another important skill: Reflecting on Math Solutions

When elementary students have solved a math problem it is critical that they reflect on the steps they took to solve it. Allowing time for reflection in the classroom should not be viewed as "wasting time", but as an opportunity to make connections with the information or to innovate other ways to solve past, present or future math problems.  

Creative Word Problems by Students

To add some creativity to word problems, have students write their own math problems.  This could be a great small group activity (group of 3 or 4 students). Later, have them share their math creativity with their peers.


A. Have student come up with 2 or 3 words that have nothing in common.
B. Have student write a math problem using those words.

*Model those two steps before having students write their own word problems.

Example:
A.    dog    tomatoes

B. As the dog, Pirate, ran through the market, he took 7 tomatoes and 6 bananas from Mr. Smith's stand. Karla, the owner of the dog, stopped Pirate and took away 3 tomatoes and 5 bananas from him. How many tomatoes and bananas did Pirate eat?

Kibo, The Flying Math Dragon

In the 2010-2011 school year, my new 1st grade students are going to be a little surprise when they meet my new sidekick, Kibo, the flying dragon.  Yup, Kibo is a stuffed animal!!!  I thought it would be fun to add a new element to my teaching technique.  My lovely niece, Emily Rose, helped stuffed Kibo at Build-A-Bear.  We selected overall jeans as his main outfit because we want him to appear a down-to-earth friendly dragon.  Kibo's main job is to positively encourage students to excel in math.  Kibo means hope in Japanese.  Presenting Kibo, the flying math dragon!!!  

Fractions Sample Work #2

1st Grade Fractions: Using Graph Paper To Understand Fractions

1st Grade student draws a figure that represents 3/6 on graph paper. 

Area Work Sample #2

1st Grade Math: DISCOVERING Area With Square Tiles

1st Grade student draws his shoe and investigates how many tiles it will take to cover his shoe.  Then, he draws his foot and investigates how many tiles it takes to cover his foot. Find the difference of area between the shoe and foot.

Thank You Letter #2

Thank You Letter #1

We all make a positive contribution in a child's education!

The Bilingual 1st graders wrote thank you letters to the cafeteria ladies, janitor and bilingual aid.  The students personally gave the letters to the ladies.  By the ladies smiles, we could tell they enjoyed receiving these thank you letters from the kiddos.  The following are some of student's letters: 

Work Sample #3

Work Sample #2

Work Sample #1

Work Samples from 6 and 7 years old's in understanding the concept of multiplication

1st grade students were assigned different multiplication equations.  They formulized the understaning that multiplication is repeated addition.  To get to this understanding at 1st grade is a totally different story.  Enjoy, the students' work samples!

Fluent in a Second Language makes you a Gifted Student

Students who speak, write, read, and understand a second language ARE gifted students.  These students have assess to solve various kinds of problems by using two different languages.  It is a huge benefit and students continue to reap rewards of a second language on towards adulthood.

Graphic Notebook

K-5th grade should have a graphic notebook.  Children can draw different shapes, study fractions through models, base-10 drawings, number lines, problem-solving, etc...

Don't be Shy: Ask more from your students

Reaching and going beyond their mathematical goals for the school year is essential to the dynamics of a successful classroom environment. When teaching a lesson, state what each student should be able to do at the end of the lesson. Monitor, monitor, and monitor! We want to do this to make sure each student understands the lesson and ask questions to evaluate their understanding of the mathematical skill being taught. 

The Value of a Bilingual Citizen

Elementary students, especially Pre-K through 3rd grade, need to understand the value of being a bilingual citizen. Being bilingual is a tremendous asset to have in today’s economic and diversified environment. Elementary teachers (educators) must ingrain this important concept at a very young age. Being specialized in both languages can open many doors of opportunities to bilingual students. Sure maintaining and continuing to learn both languages as they progress through their academic years is hard work but the rewards are far greater. You can help them realize how being a bilingual student is an asset by addressing some of the following topics:


*provide real-life examples of how being bilingual has helped you

*how they will be able to help many people when they grow older

*what they must do to maintain both languages and continue to grow stronger in both languages (subscribe to a favorite magazine, listen to their favorite music in the language they need to practice, family can be a big influence in maintaining their native language etc…)

*be proud of being a bilingual student which ultimately means they like who they are as a person

*they are intelligent because they know two languages and they have access to learn a third language if they choose to do so

Be a Silly Math Teacher

Be a fun math teacher by sharing real stories about real math situations.  You can make up a silly math song just out of the blue and have your students be the ones to create the math song to whatever skill you are teaching.  Remember it does not have to be perfect... but your math students will remember it forever.  Do something kinetically.  For example, when learning about time and students want to know how long a minute is?  Why not let them do jumping jacks for one minute!  This will help get their hearts going and learn a math skill.  Give it a try and have fun doing math everyday!

Order Matters

I did not learn this very small concept until a bit later in my education because my math teachers forgot to mention this important detail.  ORDER MATTERS!!
It is imperative that elementary students know that there is a specific order in numbers and or in the overall process of doing mathematics.  Where did I discover this?  While doing proofs in Geometry.  Explain to your students that there is order in everything throughout our universe.  Math is a perfect language.  The way we proceed in solving problems has a certain order. It is like building a house.  You don't start building a roof without building a strong foundation first.  This small concept can open doors for struggling students that are still having problems calculating or having a weak grasp about what mathematics is all about.  Share with your students that ORDER MATTERS in mathematics!!!

Number lines: An Asset in the Classroom

My 1st grade students are taught to design their very own number lines.  Students need to fully understand what is happening when using number lines.  Teaching them what the arrows at the end of each side of the number line mean can help them grasp the never ending concept of order, sequence, and patterns in numbers.  How can I use number lines in my classroom?  The following are 10 mathematical skills that students can use number lines to helped them understand how numbers work:

1. Subtraction
2. Addition
3. Patterns
4. Decimals
5. Concept of Zero
6. Integers (temperature, etc...)
7.  Word Problems
8.  Time
9.  Fractions
10. Length, width and other types of measurement

We danced (my students and I) to the Macarena this past week.  Afterwards, we were ready to go back to learning!  So much fun!  :)

Can Multiplying at 6 and 7 years of age happen?

It has been quite some time since my last post.  Lots of good things have happened since then and I am so thankful for that period of time.  So, I am now back to blog about Elementary Mathematics!  :)

Multiplying, can it happen at 6 or 7 years of age in a student's life?  Most certainly!  Teach your students to get comfortable with patterns, how to see patterns in real life objects (flowers, seasons, roller costers) and making up their own patterns.  Grab a 100-Chart and begin to skip count 2s, 3s, 4s, 5s, etc... Discuss the pattern taken place while moving forward and backwards on the 100-Chart.  Keep practicing this concept for about 3 or 4 months.  Then, introduce multiplication along with the meaning of the different mathematical symbols.  There are other steps involved to get your students multiplying in 1st grade but this will help get you started.

Math Terminology for English Language Learners

Using the formal terminology in teaching the different math concepts is always the right way to go!  Trying to change the terminology to informal math language for fear that the English Language Learner (Bilingual/ESL student) will not understand it is a definitely not good for the student.

Cow Story Problem Student Work Results

This a student's math journal and response to story problem.

Top 10 statements about English Language Learners

10.  1 out 4 children come to school speaking 63 other languages.

9.  Information is a chemical.

8.  When you teach, you are actually changing the structure of the student's brain.

7.  5-10 years of age is the optimal time for second language learning to occur.  It is not detrimental to a child if they start to learn a new language early.

6.  Elementary and Middle School is the best time to learn a second language.

5.  Individuals can make cognitive and linguistic gains exceeding that of their monolingual peers.

4.  The two hardest things in life to handle is success and failure.

3.  Create educational programs to accelerate not remediate the learner.

2.  What is learning?  It is a biological process invented for survival.

1.  Being bilingual is a great asset to all students!

Developing A Story Problem For Your Students To Solve

When presenting math concepts to elementary students, I always try to make as many real connections as possible.  One of the math strategies I apply when developing a story problem for my students is to use the real names of my students in the story problem.  Students form a mental picture of an actual student in their classroom being part of a math story problem.  This helps students understand this whole meaning of how numbers are used in everyday situations.

The following is a 1st grade math story problem I developed using that strategy.  :

Karen is the owner of 18 cows.  She has 7 brown cows, 3 black cows, 2 white cows and the rest of the cows are both brown and black.  How many cows are both brown and black?

Yall come back now to view student work on this math story problem!!!

National Bilingual Education Conference Feb. 3 - 6, 2010

The National Association of Bilingual Education Conference 2010 is just around the corner!  Attending this conference is highly recommended.  It is always such a great event because Educators from all over the US come together to gather the latest information and research.  Come see me present a math bilingual workshop called:  Geometry and Your Bright Bilingual Students.   It will be a two hour math workshop with real-world projects to take back to your classrooms.  Then come see me at my booth as I will be exhibiting my work.  I look forward to meeting you Feb. 3 - 6, 2010 in Denver, CO!  

Math Work Table

Look at our math work table!! This is what I call, 'organized chaos'! Students get to choose from different arrays of pencils, markers, highlighters, sticky notes, dry erase markers, and erasers to complete their performance assessment. Also, students write on the table using dry erase markers to jot down their thoughts, calculations, etc. After we are finished with our math project, we simply clean the work table with cleaning wipes so it can be ready for our next math project.

What will money transactions look like in 100 years from now?

HAPPY NEW YEAR MATH ENTHUSIASTS!!!

In Elementary Mathematics, students study this important concept and its many uses in the real-world.  How about adding one more lesson to your math curriculum? Students can use this time to discover what money transactions would look like in the real-world in 2110.  Students get to apply what they already know about math and money and innovate new ideas about money in an 2110 world.  Students will be free to use their creativity and who knows you might discover a future Chief Financial Analyst or Artist.  Discuss the work created and display it.  E-mail me if you need assistance in the formation of this lesson.