Math Thinking Skills can be strengthened when solving problems
Some students in the Primary Grades need additional math activities that goes beyond calculation skills. For those kids we need to nurture a love of math while challenging them to deepen their mathematical understanding and thinking skills. This month we’ll look at some problem solving involving counting body parts. (really, we’re looking at early multiplication which is repeated addition)
Math Thinking Skills:
Don’t forget to use 1 of your 6 problem solving strategies
Draw a picture
Guess and Check
Use a table or list
Find a pattern
Logical reasoning
Draw a picture Working backwards (try a simpler version first)
Why not add some Christmas jokes to your Christmas celebration this year?
As I sit watching the first snowfall of the year, I’m reminded of the snow days that my kids and I would enjoy together. Yes, there was some shoveling with hot chocolate afterwards, but we also played games, hung out in our pajamas and enjoyed the SNOWDAY!
With Thanksgiving behind us we look forward to Christmas a short 24 days away. Why not use some holiday time to teach your kids some Christmas/winter jokes? Joke telling helps kids learn new vocabulary, strengthens comprehension and helps communication skills. Best of all, the holidays are a great opportunity to laugh together as a family. Why not take some time to be silly this Christmas season and enjoy a laugh (or eye roll)? Merry Christmas!
Q.What Christmas song do wild animals sing at Christmas? Answer: Jungle Bells
Q. What happens if you eat Christmas decorations? Answer: You get tinselitus
Q. What do you call Santa when he stops moving? Answer: Santa Pause
Q.What comes at the end of Christmas Day? Answer: The letter “Y!”
Q.What do snowmen eat for breakfast? Answer: Snowflakes. (or Frosted Flakes!)
Q. What does an elf study in school? Answer: The elfabet.
Q. What do you get if you mix a vampire with a snowman? Answer: Frostbite!
Q. What does Santa suffer from whenever he gets stuck in a chimney? Answer: Santa Claustrophobia
Q. How do sheep wish each other happy holidays? Answer: Merry Christmas to ewe.
Q. What does Mrs. Claus say when there are clouds in the sky? Answer: It looks like rain, deer.
Q, What do you call a greedy elf? Answer: Elfish!
Q. Why wouldn’t the Christmas tree stand up? Answer: It had no legs.
Q. What kind of ball doesn’t bounce? Answer: A snowball.
Q. What did one snowman say another snowman? Answer: You’re cool.
Q.What is every parent’s favorite Christmas carol?Answer: Silent Night.
Q, What do you get when Santa plays detective? Answer: Santa clues!
Q. What falls but never gets hurt? Answer: Snow.
Q. What do you call a shark that delivers toys at Christmas? Answer: “Santa Jaws!”
Q. Where do snowmen keep their money? Answer: In a snow bank.
Q. What do snowmen like to do on the weekend? Answer: Chill out.
Q. What does Jack Frost like best about school? Answer: Snow and tell.
Kid: Knock, knock. Adult: Who’s there? Kid: Murray. Adult: Murray who? Kid: Murray Christmas, one and all!
Kid: Knock, knock. Adult: Who’s there? Kid: Pizza. Adult: Pizza, who? Kid: Pizza on earth, good will toward men!
As parents and educators, we know we must teach our kids skills to support scientific thinking. But, how do we encourage kids to explore science? Why not, share stories about Marie Curie? Scientists, like most kids, are curious and want to know answers. The great thing about studying scientists is there are many branches; so there surely is a topic to motivate all kids. Seems like a perfect match!
Hello Marie Curie! – December 2019
1867-1934
Marie was a scientist who grew up in Poland and went to school at the Sorbonne in Paris, France. She became very interested in X-rays and did experiments on an element called uranium. Marie named the term radioactivity. The two elements that she named were: Polonium after the country where she was born (Poland) and radium because of its strong ray. In 1903 Marie Curie was the first woman to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics. She died in 1934 from overexposure to radiation from her experiments. Today, there are lots of safety measures to keep people safe from overexposure from x-rays.
Facts about Marie Curie
Marie was good friends with Albert Einstein, another famous scientist.
The first woman to be a professor of Physics at the Sorbonne
Marie’s daughter, Irene, also won a Nobel Prize for her work studying radiation.
The Curie Institute in Paris is a major research facility in cancer research. It was found by Marie almost 100 years ago (1921).
Scientific studies have shown that kindness has a great number of physical and emotional benefits. So what can we do at home and school to promote kindness? Remember, for kids to learn it’s a combination of what we say and do. Sometimes for kids to learn they just need a few simple words to promote an action. Quotes about Kindness give students “the words”. Kindness is best learned by feeling the emotion of caring for someone else and feeling cared for by others.
My local friends the closest location is Danbury, Ct. (Approximately 40 mins. from Fishkill area.
Scholastic Books Warehouse offers for a limited a limited time only deep discounts on books. This holiday you can purchase “Buy One, Get One Box” from hundreds of books, gifts, and school supplies. There is even a Build a Box opportunity! Refresh your school, home, and classroom libraries, and stock up on gifts for everyone.
For every item you buy, choose an item of equal or lesser value for FREE
Shop from a large assortment of already reduced items
No limits on how many items you can buy
Build-a-Box is included with the BOGO offer (yes, Danbury has it)
Perfect way to maximize school purchase orders, grants, and Title 1 funds
Coupon is $10.00 off a purchase of $100.00. OR $25.00 off a purchase of $100.00 using Scholastic Dollars.
Danbury, CT Warehouse Sale:
Weekday Hours: 10:00 am – 8:00 pm Saturday Hours: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm Closed Sundays
The Danbury location is a Build-a-Box event. As many books as you can fit in a box for less than $29.95.
Positive thoughts that Most People Are Good can help get us through a tough day.
Thank you Luke Byran for performing this song and David Frasier, Ed Hill & Josh Kear for writing the song. Some days you just need to be reminded that “Most People Are Good”. Even if you don’t break into song; take a look at these lyrics and make it a good day!
I believe kids oughta stay kids as long as they can Turn off the screen, go climb a tree, get dirt on their hands I believe we gotta forgive and make amends ‘Cause nobody gets a second chance to make new old friends I believe in working hard for what you’ve got Even if it don’t add up to a hell of a lot
I believe most people are good And most mama’s oughta qualify for sainthood I believe most Friday nights look better under neon or stadium lights I believe you love who you love Ain’t nothing you should ever be ashamed of I believe this world ain’t half as bad as it looks I believe most people are good
I believe them streets of gold are worth the work But I still wanna go even if they were paved in dirt I believe that youth is spent well on the young ‘Cause wisdom in your teens would be a lot less fun I believe if you just go by the nightly news Your faith in all mankind would be the first thing you lose
I believe most people are good And most mama’s oughta qualify for sainthood I believe most Friday nights look better under neon or stadium lights I believe you love who you love Ain’t nothing you should ever be ashamed of I believe this world ain’t half as bad as it looks I believe most people are good
I believe that days go slow and years go fast And every breath’s a gift, the first one to the last
I believe most people are good And most mama’s oughta qualify for sainthood I believe most Friday nights look better under neon or stadium lights I believe you love who you love Ain’t nothing you should ever be ashamed of I believe this world ain’t half as bad as it looks
I believe most people are good I believe most people are good
Motivating kids to learn? Here’s what I learned a long time ago. Kids don’t always do what you want them to do. I’m hearing parents all over the world saying “that’s certainly true”. Yes, folks and you might experience it from birth to adulthood!
So, getting kids motivated to learn is sometimes a combination of timing, strategies and luck. Check out some of the strategies below that might get them motivated to learn. They may even think it’s their idea!
Show a Love of Learning – Be enthusiastic about learning by showing interest in your child’s interests and learning new things.
Make a Game Out of It – Kids love games, so why not learn something in a game format. You can sing it, dance it out or just play a game. Add a bit of whimsy will make you both smile.
Learn Something New Every Day – Try to teach your child at least one thing new every day. It doesn’t have to be big, just something. That’s at least 365 things!
Give up control (sort of) – Power struggles can start at an early age so try giving your child choices of what they want and how they want to learn it. Remember, you goal is to get them to learn, why not guide them some choice? You’ve already limited their choices, so it becomes a win-win!
Encourage learning styles – Kids have different preferences and styles of how they like to learn. Knowing your child’s preferences can help engage them in learning. For young kids it’s good to give them experiences in all the different learning styles. There are 7 basic learning styles
Kinesthetic/Physical – Learning through movement
Verbal – Learning through language activities
Auditory – Learn best through listening
Solitary – Learn best alone
Social – Learn best in a group
Visual – Learn best through seeing things
Mathematical/Logical – Problem solving using hands on items.
Learning becomes fun when kids are interested in learning. It doesn’t really matter if it’s dinosaurs, trucks or skyscrapers. If kids are reading, talking and asking questions they are building background knowledge and learning. Getting them to want to learn is the trick.
Thanksgiving jokes can add some fun to your celebration.
Why not add some Thanksgiving jokes to your Thanksgiving celebration this year?
Teaching kids to appreciate jokes is a great opportunity to laugh together as a family. Why not take some time to be silly this Thanksgiving and enjoy a laugh (or eye roll). Happy Thanksgiving!
As parents and educators, we know we must teach our kids skills to support scientific thinking. But, how do we encourage kids to explore science? Why not, share stories about a scientist? Why not Benjamin Franklin? Scientists, like most kids, are curious and want to know answers. The great thing about studying scientists is there are many branches; so there surely is a topic to motivate all kids. Seems like a perfect match!
Hello Benjamin Franklin! – November 2019
Benjamin Franklin was famous for many things but especially for being a scientist.
One of Franklin’s greatest accomplishments was his careers as a scientist. Some of his inventions included bifocal lenses, the lightning rod, and the Franklin stove. Some of the scientific terms he coined were; battery, conductor, positively and negatively. Many of his scientific experiments involved electricity. His most famous experiment was his Kite Experiment where he flew a kite in a storm and received an electric shock. This proved that lightning is a heavily charged spark of electricity.
Benjamin Franklin was an American author, printer, political theorist, politician, Freemason, postmaster, scientist, inventor, humorist, civic activist, statesman and diplomat. He was the 6th president of the United States and is known as one of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America. WOW! He was a busy guy!
Quotes Made Famous by Benjamin Franklin
“Never leave that till tomorrow which you can do today.”
“Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.”
“It takes many good deeds to build a good reputation, and only one bad one to lose it.”
“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.”
Math Thinking Skills can be strengthened when solving problems.
Some students in the Primary Grades need additional math activities that goes beyond calculation skills. For those kids we need to nurture a love of math while challenging them to deepen their mathematical understanding and thinking skills. This month we’ll look at some problem solving involving counting body parts. (really, we’re looking at early multiplication which is repeated addition)
Don’t forget to use 1 of your 6 problem solving strategies
Draw a picture
Guess and Check
Use a table or list
Find a pattern
Logical reasoning
Draw a picture Working backwards (try a simpler version first)
Math Thinking Skills: What Comes Next?
Question One: 3, 6, 9, ___, ___. ___ What numbers go on the lines?
Question Two: 8,10,12, ____, ____, ____ What numbers go on the lines?
Question Three: Declan started his trip to Poughkeepsie on Sunday with spending money of $20.00. Each day of his vacation he spent $3.00. On Thursday morning, he boarded the train to go back to NYC. He had not spent any money that morning. How much money does he have remaining from his original $20.00? Since he had not spent any money on Thursday, how much money does he have left?
Question Four: 2, 5, 9, 14, ____, ____, ____. What numbers go on the lines?
Question Five: 5, 50, 500, 5000, 50000 ____ What is the next number in this sequence?
MATH THINKING ANSWERS
Question One: 12, 15, 18, Counting by 3’s starting at 12.
Question Two: 14, 16 18. Counting by 2’s starting at 8.
Question Three: $8.00 remaining. He spent $3.00 on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday for a total spent of $12.00.
Question Four: 20, 27, 35 The difference between each number on the line increases by 1, starting with a difference of 3 between 2 and 5.
Question Five: Each number is multiplied by 10. Look carefully and you’ll see that each number adds another 0.
Parents can review reading strategies taught at school at home.
The State of Tennessee believes that by teaching reading strategies to parents, parents can help their child at home. They’ve got it right. Of course, parents want to help their kids. Why not give them some basic information? Yeah Tennessee!
When the state of Tennessee set a goal in 2007, to increase literacy skills for children across the state, they decided to enlist the help of parents. The Tennessee State Improvement Grant document was created to support family members to help their children at home. The document outlines reading strategies for parents to use with their child at home.
Although this document was created over 10 years ago, it is still a good document to help families. The information has good ideas and is user-friendly. It is also a great refresher for new teachers, student teachers and classroom substitutes. The overview includes:
Five Areas of Reading Instruction
How to Choose the Right Book at the Right Reading Level
Vocabulary Building Strategies
Reading Comprehension Strategies
Sometimes, we just need a little help from our friends. Thank you Tennessee!
Used Bookstore at Poughkeepsie Library: Boardman Road branch
Great opportunity to fill your bookshelves at home or in your classroom. The book store has a selection of over 20,000 high-quality used books, cds, dvds and audiobooks. Books are organized and sorted to make shopping a breeze.
Entrance to the Friends’ Book Store is on the south side of the building – just look for the blue awning.
Store hours: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 10 am to 4 pm.
Telephone: 845-485-3445 x 3423
Cash, checks (with valid ID) and MasterCard, Visa, and
Discover cards are accepted.
Follow them on Facebook too to check out special sales and events:
Thinking is the hardest work any one can do – Henry Ford
Ten months down in 2019, how are you doing on those New Years Resolutions? If you are still working on catching up on professional development, take a look at this month’s newsletter. All 12 October posts are below, as well as ALL the posts since I started the blog in September 2018. My New Year’s Resolution to get the Threeringsconnections’ newsletter out on a timely, consistent schedule is accomplished: 10 down and 2 more to go! Have a great month!
ThreeRingsConnections’ Blog Content Sept./Oct. 2018
October’s Most Popular Posts
As regular readers know, at the end of each month I share the three most popular posts from the last month. I thought people might find it interesting to see what everyone else was looking at. Enjoy!
I choose my favorites each month for different reasons. Sometimes it’s timeliness, a hot education topic, student teacher needs or as a family and friends resource. Sometimes, it’s just, BECAUSE. Enjoy!
The Concepts of Print (COP) assessment was created by Marie Clay (1993), The assessment includes items to assess a child’s knowledge of both print and written language skills. These two skills work together to help children learn to read and write.
Many students entering kindergarten understand that a book tells a story (the print has meaning). However, very few understand “how print works”. Concepts of Print (COP) skills involves kids knowing parts of a book (using the correct terms) and understanding the letter/writing concepts included. Since many parents and teachers read to children daily; why not add a few of the COP skills.
Concepts of Print (COP) in Daily Reading
Point to the Following Parts of the Book
Front and back of the book.
Binding.
Top and bottom of a picture.
Title Page.
Author’s Name (define that the author writes the book).
Illustrator’s name (define that the illustrator draws the pictures).
Show How to Read a Book
A sentence is read from left to right.
Pages are read from left to right.
Point to each word while you read.
Read pages from left to right.
A story has a beginning and end.
Words and Writing in Books: Basics
A capital letter is at the beginning of a sentence.
Words and sentences have capital letters and lower case letters.
Point out 1 word in a sentence, Point out 2 words.
Point out that a word is made up of a group of letters.
A comma explains to the reader that it tells the reader to pause or slowdown.
There are punctuation marks at the end of a sentences (period, question mark, exclamation mark) Explain that the marks tell the reader how to read.
Research: Clay, M. M. (1993). An observation survey of early literacy achievement. Heinemann, 361 Hanover St., Portsmouth, NH 03801-3912.
As parents and educators, we know we must teach our kids skills to support scientific thinking. But, how do we encourage kids to explore science? Why not, share stories about Jane Goodall? Scientists, like most kids, are curious and want to know answers. The great thing about studying scientists is there are many branches. So, there surely is a topic to motivate all kids. Seems like a perfect match!
October Scientist of the Month: Jane Goodall
1934-present
Jane Goodall is an anthropologist that is best known for studying chimpanzees in the wild. Growing up, she loved animals. One of her favorite toys was a toy chimpanzee. Jane started studying chimpanzees in 1960 and continues to do it today. Jane made some important discoveries.
Personalities were seen in chimpanzees, just like people.
People aren’t the only ones that make tools. So do chimpanzees! Jane observed them using a piece of grass as a tool.
Chimpanzees are meat eaters.
Chimpanzees communicate through various ways including through sounds, touch, body language, calls and facial expressions.
Quotes Made Famous by Ms. Goodall
Above all we must realize that each of us makes a difference with our life. Each of us impacts the world around us every single day. We have a choice to use the gift of our life to make the world a better place – or not to bother.
Every individual matters. Every individual has a role to play. Every individual makes a difference.
What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.
Jane continues to study chimpanzees in Africa. She has won many awards and has written many articles and books. There have also been documentaries made about Jane’s work with chimpanzees.
How do you meet the reading needs of a child that is 2 full grade levels above the rest of your students in class? It doesn’t happen often, but when it does, it can be very difficult for a classroom teacher. Of course, you must differentiate for the advanced reader, but how do you do that for 1 child when the others are at least 8 levels below your precocious reader? Here are some ideas to help you and your advanced readers.
4 Ways to Help Advanced Readers
Find their interests- The sooner than you find their interests, the sooner you can help them find appropriate books for themselves. Like all readers, it is important that they be encouraged to read books that they will find challenging but approachable.
Guided Reading Group of 1 – One person does not a group make! So, how can you engage your advanced reader in a discussion group? Putting them in a regular guided reading group with students reading multiple grade levels lower than them will be of limited value to them. Perhaps there are other children in another class that can help form a group. A classroom volunteer can also be a wonderful reading buddy.
Student Driven Independent Reading–TheSchoolwide Enhanced Model Reading (SEM-R) approach allows a student to read a book at their own interest and reading level and check in with the teacher during scheduled reading conferences. The SEM-R approach is flexible enough to be used with individual students or a small group of students as needed.
Skill-based groups – A popular way of meeting the needs of your gifted reader is to consider using some skill-based groups. Although the reading level may be different, a skills group can review and reinforce skills that your gifted reader may find valuable. In order to become even better readers skill development is necessary.
As a teacher, your gifted readers need you just as much as the other students in the class. They just may need your attention in a different way.
An Exit Slip (ticket) can be used at all grade levels and every subject.
An Exit Slip (Ticket) is a formative assessment tool used to assess student learning and to plan future lessons. Typically, a prompt or a question, it is given to students at the end of a class that is tied to the objective of the lesson taught that day. They can be in a multiple-choice format or an open response. These mini assessments are meant to be no more than 1-5 minutes and not graded.
5 Exit Ticket Ideas
3-2-1 Tickets
3 things I learned today
2 things I found interesting
1 question I still have
And the Survey Says…
Use the Exit Slip to survey a class on a topic. It can be used to launch a new topic or build class culture.
Activate Prior Knowledge
What do you know about _______?
All About You
What is your favorite __________? This helps to build a shared community.
Give me a number?
Simply asking students to self-assess their learning. This could be as easy as #3 – I get it, #2- I don’t totally understand it or #3 – I don’t get it and I need some help.
Exit Slip Prompts
Some basic prompts can be used for many different types of lessons. Having a collection of prompts at your fingertips will ensure that you are engaging student voice in every lesson. For plan book ease, number your prompts and just add the number to your plan book. Try some of the basic prompts below and modify as needed.
Did you enjoy working with your group today? Explain why?
Write one positive and one negative thing about working with your group today?
Did you enjoy working with your partner today? Explain why?
Name 1 thing that you learned in today’s lesson that you didn’t know?
From today’s lesson, what question would you like to see on the next test?
What was the main idea of today’s lesson? Can you write one sentence about it?
I didn’t understand ________ in the lesson today.
What was the 1 thing that you learned in today’s lesson that you didn’t know?
What was the 1 thing that you learned in today’s lesson that made you go “WOW”?
I would like to learn more about….
THINK of Exit Slips as giving you the answer to 2 Big Mysteries. How YOU (the teacher) taught the lesson and where are you going next in the curriculum. Why wait until the “official” test results are in to know how kids scored and how we did?
A movement to introduce students to the basics of computer science.
I’ve heard about it. I’ve supported the teachers in my school to try it. Now… it’s time for me to sit down for an “Hour of Code”. OK friends, maybe longer than an hour!
The Hour of Code movement is a grassroots movement that has already introduced over 100 million students worldwide to the basics of computer science. The program was started to give every student an opportunity to try computer science for one hour. In an hour anybody can learn the basics of “code” by participating in computer science activities. Computer science helps nurture problem-solving skills, logic and creativity. All skills that are important to pursue a 21st century career path. Our elementary school first participated in an Hour of Code in 2015 during Computer Science Education Week (held in early December each year).
Today, Hour of Code activities are available year-round (tutorials and activities). The one-hour tutorials are available in over 45 languages. The tutorials are self-guided, and all materials are free of charge. Planning guides are easy to read and available for every age and experience-level, from kindergarten and up. Schools can enroll their class and enjoy the fun. The tutorials work on all devices and browsers and there are also unplugged activities for groups that can’t accommodate the tutorials! Code.org is the ultimate resource if you are learning about an Hour of Code or you are already working on it with your kids.
Hour of Code: One Hour Later….
Well, it was longer than an hour but……I worked on an activity to code my characters to dance! See Dance Party. No experience necessary, easy to do and fun! Can’t wait to have my grandkids try it!
Thinking about giving it a try? Computer Science Education Week 2019 will be held December 9-15. Be part of the largest learning event in history. Certainly, worth a look. However, it you can’t wait until December, try some of the links. Have fun!
Exit Tickets are a quick and easy student assessment
Recently while observing student teacher lessons I realized that each of them used Exit Tickets as their closure activity. Although they each teach different grades and subjects, they all used Exit Tickets as the “go-to” strategy to check for understanding. And it worked!
What are Exit Tickets (slips)
An exit ticket is a formative assessment tool used to assess student learning and to plan future lessons. Typically, a prompt or a question, it is given to students at the end of a class that is tied to the objective of the lesson taught that day. They are usually in a multiple-choice format or an open response. These mini assessments are meant to be no more than 1-5 minutes and not graded.
10 Exit Ticket Benefits
Allows students to self-assess
Clarifies main concept of the lesson
Keeps students engaged in the lesson
Assesses student understanding
Creates an additional review and reinforcement opportunity
Invites students to ask questions or clarify thoughts
Guides teacher lesson design based on student understanding
Helps organize small group instruction
Provides data on student progress.
Opens a communication channel between teacher and student
Exit slips are easy to use for teachers and students. They can be used at every grade level. So, why not give them a try?
