Differentiate!

Today I was reminded how important differentiation is!  Yes, it is a regular practice in my classroom (guided math groups, workshop differentiation, etc), but today the purpose for it was so blatant.  I was doing a small group preassessment for our next learning standard and come to find out that even though I am already differentiating for some students, they still need more instruction on the prequisite skills for the standard.  I have to say that their preassessment actually caught me by surprise EVEN THOUGH I am already differentiating for them and have formative assessments in place.   Why you ask?  I am trying to figure that out myself.  Do I have a new plan in place for them--a plan of attack, so to speak?  ABSOLUTELY!  But that preassessment was a little jolt, a wake up call if you will.  

So, today my message is this...even though you "think" you know where your children are it is so important to keep assessing them AND adjust/change the differentiation in the classroom because their needs are changing EVERY DAY!

I am curious about how everyone else differentiates in their classroom.  What do you do when a child is missing the prerequisite skills for a learning standard you need to teach?

Science

I'M BACK!! THE POWER IS ON:)) I am so happy about that!  Nine days is a long time without power...even WITH a generator!  So, now that I'm back online I just had to share this cute little water cycle video.  It is such a catchy tune and the kids LOVED it!  I linked it to our class blog and the kids couldn't WAIT to go home and play it!  It reminds me to never underestimate the power of the different ways kids learn.  Music is so inspirational and fun and my first graders reinforced that for me today.  They're always teaching me new things and reinforcing what I already know as a teacher.

My Newest Favorite Website for Math!!

Different levels for different grades.  Ten Frames, Rekenreks!  I LOVE this site!

http://www.dreambox.com/teachertools

MATH HOMEWORK BOX!!!

   



What is a Math Homework Box??  Well, it has to be one of the best ideas I have ever seen for Math!!   Do you get tired of running off tons of copies? Wasting all that paper? Is your district limiting your paper?  Well, those are the problems I had when I saw this idea.  The kids each bring in an empty shoe box.  In the beginning of the year, we do a lot of discussions on "What is Math?".  We use Math everyday, all day.  It is after these discussions that they get to "hunt" for Math in magazines and catalogues!  They decorate their shoe boxes with the Math they find and TADAAAAAAAA....they have a Math Homework Box!  What do they use it for you ask?  Together as a class, we make parts for centers that we do in school and keep them in the Math Homework Box.  What is our homework?  That's right! Math centers that we do in school!   We do them in a composition notebook.  No more copies! No more wasted paper!  No more explaining homework to parents!  The kids already know how to do it!  Why??? Because they do it in school first...a LOT of times until I am sure they are proficient in the skill.  Then, the skill continues to get reinforced at home and we can move on to other skills in school where they have my help and guidance!  We put our bean counters from last week in ours to use while doing our first homework!  Their Math Homework Box stays at home in a "safe" place where they always have access to it.  As they are proficient in more skills, we make more centers to go home to put in their box.  They LOVE THIS THING and the parents love that they don't have to worry about their homework:)))))   Check out the pics!  Look at the AWESOME Math they found...money, charts, graphs, equations, time, even the year (boy were they excited to find 2012!).  This is my third year doing Math homework this way and it is one of the BEST changes I have ever made! Enjoy!!

Primary Halloween Math SB file

SmartBoard Halloween Math Addition

Primary Kids will love it!

https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B6n5GXDXOKMnc0ZZQVFYRHJOUEE

Halloween Math

Hey There!  Thought I would share this Halloween Math Notebook file with everyone!  The kids will LOVE it and practice problem solving with addition! Enjoy! 

https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B6n5GXDXOKMnc0ZZQVFYRHJOUEE

Counting those beans in the Math Homework Box center!

Here are a couple of pictures of the kids counting out their beans!  They are having a great time and I love the way they are lining them up like a ten frame.  Reinforcing those standards:) 



Look what I made last night!  That's right!  They're counters for math homework.  The kids were absolutely thrilled that they got to count out five of each color (red, blue, green and yellow) to put in their math homework box!  We start math homework next week and they can't wait to take their boxes home!  I know this idea isn't anywhere near new but it is a manipulative that I can send home and we can use all year for different math standards and strategies.  I only painted one side so we can use them for addition activities later (can you say "shake and spill!).  So excited!

Just two large bags of kidney beans and four cans of (inexpensive) spray paint!

My Newest Educational Conquest

Wow! I can't believe it!  I FINALLY took the plunge and here I am writing my first blog!  I have to give credit where credit is due and thank my friend Dave! Without him I probably wouldn't be here...yet.  I LOVE teaching first grade and seeing the transformation my students make throughout the year.  Challenging....YES but oh, so rewarding.  I am teaming with another teacher this year and am responsible for teaching Math, Social Studies and Science to both of our classes.  I do miss ELA but am a true Mathamaniac at heart!  So, I will be sharing little tid-bits, discoveries and ideas here.  Hope you come back often to check out the latest and greatest that is happening in my classroom!
Laura "The New Blogger"