Preparing the classroom is only a small part of what we teachers do. It is important to set the stage for learning, but the bulk of our thinking is focused on what and how we are going to teach.
Our first grade teachers participated in Math Circles last year. We wanted more teaching strategies to obtain the deep understanding the common core was demanding. I believe I work with a very talented group of teachers. It was nice to work and learn with them. The opportunity helped me to develop more insight into how to teach for deep understanding. Now...to achieve more!
With thoughts going to the first few days, I am planning on making days 1-9 focus on finger patterns and ten frame patterns for each, as well as games from Developing Number Concepts books, by Kathy Richardson, for exploring combinations for each.
The tenth day of school will be a big celebration! I know how important numbers to 100 and even 120 are to the standards. However, in order to reach a deep understanding of 100, 1 to 10 are most important! On the tenth day, I will do an activity we did last year that will be an experience to build on throughout the year. We made a circle with a pipe cleaner. Counted out ten pieces of macaroni, placing them inside the circle. Then, we glued them to a popsicle stick. We did this at my station during math rotations. I had my aide take pictures of the kids with the smiling "Queen of Ten," as they held their ten. This was the first day I pulled my crown out! It hung near the "Days in School" chart the rest of the year, to be pulled out when we counted by tens, discussed the teens (a ten and ___), practiced adding by making a ten, and many, many other math lessons.
Celebrating TEN on the tenth day...hmmm...a crown, macaroni, glue, and pipe cleaners. Any other suggestions on making it a super day to remember?
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