Think Math...What is it?

We are loving "Think Math!" I originally saw this idea on Deanna Jump's website. Each morning before our math lesson or work stations, the students participate in a Think Math problem. The way this works is that I give the students the answer and they have to create the problem/number sentence during our class discussion. I then write their ideas on the easel or chart paper and we solve them together.

Yesterday's problem was: I have 10 Christmas trees, what are some ways to make the number 10? I then discuss what the difference between addition and subtraction is. We call addition, peanut butter and jelly because we are putting things together. We call subtraction, cracking an egg because we are breaking things apart. The students are really thinking in depth about numbers AND number patterns during these Think Math warm ups. The following are some of there answers for the problems above: 1+9, 9+1 (we always "flip flop" the problems because they are the same numbers just a different order when we add) others were:  5+4+1, 14-4, 13-3, 12-2, 100-90, 15-4-1....the students created 18 different ways to make 10 in a matter of 20 minutes without any help!!

Think Math allows for differentiation to take place for each child and a range of deeper level thinking. I encourage you to try this strategy at home, you can come up with any kind of problem, you will be amazed at what your child can come up with!

Upcoming Activities: Week of December 19-21

Check out the above link to see some of the special classroom activities that are coming up next week!

Impressed!

I am so impressed by our students' progress this year. There were 15 students today who had passed their sight word tests! There are also 15 students who have made it onto the 100 club wall counting by 1's and 10's, others have reached further by counting by 5's and 2's! Keep up the hard work :)

Baggie Books

Reminder! We have a new baggie book routine. I was not receiving many bags and books back on time or at all. I have tweaked the routine a bit. I will send the new baggie books home on Tuesday. They are due back the following day: Wednesday. With each book you receive, please do the following with your child: Read the story 3x, color the illustrations, fill in any missing words/numbers (this depends on the story), and identify any known sight words and circle them in the text!
If your child completes the task correctly and returns the baggie book the following day, then he/she will receive a sticker on the incentive chart (check it out inside your bag!).

The first baggie book was sent home last Tuesday, December 6, 2011: 
Gingerbread Man, Gingerbread Man, What Do You See?
This was due on December 7, 2011.

The next baggie book will be sent home this coming Tuesday, December 13, 2011.

Goodbye Friday Newsletters, Hello Monthly Calendars!

December Class Calendar Updated

The above link is a copy of our classroom calendar for the month of December. It has been recently updated! This calendar provides a list of upcoming themes, sight words/tests, nursery rhymes, school functions and more! Print it off and place it on your fridge.

Challenge Sight Words Lists

Challenge Sight Word Lists

The link above is for the Challenge words. If your child has passed the sight word lists A-R, then you may check these out! There is a mixture of words old and new, 25 per list. Once your child can read each of the words with automaticy, sign the slip and send it in! I will test your child that day :)

Classroom Sight Word Lists A-R

Classroom Sight Word Lists A-R

Each Monday, I test the students on their sight words. The sight word lists are individually paced per student. If a student passes the sight word test with immediate recognition of the words in the list, he/she is moved onto the next list. The students start at list A and move their way through list R. Once they reach list R, they are given additional challenge lists that each include 25 words that are previous and brand new!

The above link is great for families of students in my class who may have lost their flashcards, would like to review prior sight word lists or to work ahead to upcoming lists!

Enjoy and good luck :)