Hidden Figures

I recently saw the movie Hidden Figures, which is a must see for everyone. These stories of how black woman were an integral part of NASA and the space race of the 1960's are not just tales but stories that must be told for all young woman with interest math and science  that you can make an impact.


Check out this article, "The True Story of "hidden Figures," the Forgotten Woman Who Helped Win the Space Race". 

And go see the movie!

Rekenreks

I seen a rekenrek before, but have no clue what I would do with it. Yesterday I was lucky to meet a primary math coach from a neighboring district and she shared so many ways to use a rekenrek.

What is a Rekenrek?

Resources:

Math Learning Center Apps (Apps for iPad/iPhone & Web-Versions):

The Math Learning Center has free apps and online versions of their apps available for many math manipulatives. Virtual manipulatives can be an easy way to have access to a variety of concrete models for mathematics. The complete list can be found here. Each virtual manipulative has a tutorial video, so check it out and explore!

Number Rack

The Number Rack has rows of moveable, colored beads that encourage learners to think in groups of fives and tens, helping them to explore and discover a variety of addition and subtraction strategies.
This virtual version of the manipulative is an open-ended educational tool, ideal for elementary classrooms. (from Math Learning Center catalog).

The one-minute tutorial video here.
The web version is available here.

Number Frames

The Number Frames app or web-version from Math Learning Center allows you to explore number frames: 5-Frames, 10-Frames, 20-Frames or even 100-Frames. You can use various counters and colors to support the addition and subtraction strategies you are working on.  The calculator allows you to write equations to match your number frame model.

Check out the one-minute tutorial video, download the app, click  here.
To open the web-version or to learn more, click here.


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For more Apps & online math manipulatives from Math Learning Center visit: http://catalog.mathlearningcenter.org/apps

Here is a list of other Math Learning Center Apps:
Geo Board
Pattern Shapes
Number Line
Number Pieces
Number Pieces Basic

Managing Manipulatives

Managing Manipulatives Workshop

In a recent training with Elementary teachers, I shared with teachers the importance of using manipulatives as well as tips and tricks for managing manipulatives. Our district has adopted a math curriculum, Pearson Investigations3, that uses manipulatives on a regular basis. The importance of manipulatives is crucial to students exploring math and discovering the patterns and rules of mathematics. In general, there is very little attention given to why and how to use manipulatives, and any attention to these topics is typically very brief. I designed this workshop to provide some information on why to use manipulatives and then delve into the practical side of it - how to organize manipulatives for daily math instruction. Understanding the "why" is very important and a great motivator to continue to persevere to find solutions to any problems that might occur with organization or management.

A note before we continue ... this workshop was originally done through YouTube Live and you can watch the recording here. I am continuing to explore ways to deliver professional development for our teachers that make content easy to access. It might also help the problem of travel time after school :) Also, I used a HyperDoc to deliver the content and to allow teacher reflection. The lesson design for this workshop was an "Explore - Explain - Apply" design. I will include the "apply" questions in this post as a way for you to reflect on how content can be incorporated into your classroom.

Workshop Objectives:

• Teachers will understand the role of manipulatives and why it is important for students to use manipulatives to enhance math learning.
• Teachers will develop a plan for managing classroom math manipulatives that includes procedures for using manipulatives appropriately.
• Teachers will see examples of ways to organize manipulatives in the classroom and decide which structures will work for their classroom.

Explore the Problem

To narrow down our discussion, I organized the topics into 3 problems that teachers face when using manipulatives:

• Sometimes I feel like our instruction time is used better to practice the standard algorithm. Why should we use manipulatives to teach math?
• Often it is a hassle to get out the manipulatives, as there is so much time used to get them out and put them away. It is also challenging to have students constantly playing with the manipulatives. How do I make sure our math time is productive when we use manipulatives?
• Sometimes I feel like math manipulatives don’t really help students understand the traditional algorithm better. How can I use manipulatives to help students have a better understanding of math?

Problem #1

Explore

"Sometimes I feel like our instruction time is used better to practice the standard algorithm. WHY should we use manipulatives to teach math?"

Explain

1. Manipulatives help students make sense of abstract concepts.
2. Manipulatives provide students ways to test and verify ideas.
3. Manipulatives serve as useful tools for solving problems.
4. Manipulatives make learning the mathematics more fun.

Let’s Check out this video (whole group):
or URL here: https://vimeo.com/157768846

Apply

Think about the concept that you are currently teaching (number recognition, addition, multiplication, etc). How can manipulatives help students understand that concept?

Extend

For more information on why manipulatives are important for math instruction, check out these resources: 

• How to Make the Most of Math Manipulatives
• Tips on Using Math Manipulatives in the Classroom
• Research on the Benefits Manipulatives

Problem #2

Explore

"Often it is a hassle to get out the manipulatives, as there is so much time used to get them out and put them away. It is also challenging to have students constantly playing with the manipulatives. How do I make sure our math time is productive when we use manipulatives?"

Explain

Organization: There are several ways to organize manipulatives. As you consider how to make this work in your classroom, here are a few things to consider:

Things to consider:

• What do you have?
• When are students using them?
• Individual
• Groups
• Location & Space
• Classroom Rules & Procedures

Suggestions for Classroom Procedures:

• Make sure students know the location for gathering and returning materials.
• Support students in becoming responsible for their learning and the tools that they use.
• Don’t have a procedure/rule that you are not willing to follow.

• Teach students how each of your procedures are expectations should be carried out.

Apply

Where can your math manipulatives have a “home” in your classroom? Consider the location, whether it is a bookshelf, cabinet, or storage drawers.

What are your procedures for gathering and returning manipulatives?

Problem #3

Explore

Sometimes I feel like math manipulatives don’t really help students understand the traditional algorithm better. How can I use manipulatives to help students have a better understanding of math?

Explain

Making the connections between the manipulatives and a written method is extremely important.

Consider using questions that guide students in making comparisons and finding similarities. 

• How does this model look the same as this expression?
• Where do you see the ____ in the model? Where do you see it in the expressions/equation?
• How are these two strategies different?
• How are these two strategies the same?

Use students understandings to guide your instruction and the strategies you are working on.

Apply

What learning progressions are happening at your grade level? Consider the operations that you teach and the various methods that you are using to deepen student learning. How can you provide learning experiences for students that make connections among concrete and abstract strategies?

References
	Burns, Marilyn. About Teaching Mathematics: A K-8 Resource. 4th ed. Sausalito, CA: Scholastic, 2015. Print.
	Fletcher, Graham. "The Progression of Addition and Subtraction." Vimeo. Https://gfletchy.com/, 4 Mar. 2016. Web. 21 Sept. 2016.

For more information on HyperDocs, click here

Click here for ideas on organizing your classroom math manipulatives:

This Week: Articles to Share

Here is an article I think is worth sharing.

Teaching Soft Math Skills that Prepare Students for Any Career

The article discusses 4 skills that are being developed in math class that can help students be prepared for any career. Check out the article and consider how you are incorporating these skills into your class.