Math Archives - The Candy Class

Teaching Ideas for Place Value & Two Freebies

By class| 2016-06-21T16:31:38+00:00 |Math, Place Value|0 Comments

Hi everyone! I want to share some tips about learning place value. Having a deep root in understanding place value plays such an important role in grasping math. This post is geared for teaching place value in first grade, but I put in some ideas for 3-4 digit number too. That way, second and third grade teachers can have some take aways, along with those wanting some ideas to challenge some advanced first graders.

Tip #1: Let students show numbers with 10-blocks and 1-blocks. This will help them to understand that the tens place stands for a group of tens. (For second or third grade, add in numbers with the hundreds place and 100-block.) One idea is to have students draw numbers and show those numbers with the blocks.

(Please excuse the card, it is the wrong one. It should say 65. Each cup has a group of 10 bears.)

Tip #2: Break apart numbers by identifying how many tens and ones. (For second or third grade, have students identify how many hundreds, tens, and ones.) Students can draw a card and write it out on a sheet of paper.

Tip #3: Have students roll or spin a number for each place and merge it into a number. While regular dice only go to 6, you can still have students roll out some numbers. Have students identify the place value of each number and then write the number. (Sorry, no picture for the dice right now. I am hoping to have a dice picture later for this idea. I decided I wanted to use jumbo dice, so I need to go buy some for the picture when I get time).

Tip #4: Give students opportunity to show numbers in expanded form. Students can draw number cards and write out the number in expanded form.

Feb112016_1318

Tip #5: Have students solve mystery number problems. I like this concept because it taps into some more critical thinking skills when students have to do things like figure out a number between 22 and 31 that has a five in the ones place.

Tip #6: Incorporate money with place value learning. Think about it dollar bills are the 100’s place. Dimes are the 10’s place. Pennies are the 1’s place. Students can count the money and identify how many tens and ones.

Tip #7: Count by tens in various forms. Give students plenty of opportunity to count by groups of ten with ten frames, number cards, hundred charts, and whatever else you can dream up. Let them not only tell you how many total, but how many groups of ten.

Tip #8: Compare numbers. Let students compare a mix of numbers. Have them compare numbers that depend on looking at the tens place to determine the bigger number. Have them compare numbers that depend on the ones place. For second and third grade, have them compare numbers that depend on the hundreds place. For an activity, students can draw two cards. Have them write the first number they draw first and the second number they draw second. Then have them use the comparison symbols to show greater than or less than.

Tip #9: Order numbers from either greater to lesser or from lesser to greater. You can have students draw five cards. Let them place the cards in order from lesser to greater or vice versa. Students can record this on a sheet of paper.

Tip #10: Let students work with concepts of one more, one less, ten more, and ten less. (For second and third grade, throw in concepts of a hundred more and a hundred less.) The concept of more than and less than can be tricky to some young learners, so I can’t recommend extra practice with this concept enough. Let students draw a number card. Then let them write ten more or less than as a number sentence. Let them do this for the ones place too. (Hundreds or even thousands place for second, third, and students who need more of a challenge.)

A tip for differentiating for first grade: I like to differentiate by providing students who are emerging with numbers that deal with up to 20 at first. Once they get a footing with that, they can move up to numbers up to 30 or beyond. Of course, you want them working with numbers up to a hundred in first grade, but it’s good to scaffold to get them to where they need to be with their understanding of place value. If they are struggling, breaking it down to lower numbers helps them to grasp that foundational understanding.

If you are wondering where all those fun no prep printables come from, they come from my Place Value No Prep for First Grade resource. Snag it here by clicking on the picture or by clicking here or on the picture.

I have created two resources for FREE with the number cards and posted them over in my TPT store. Snag them by clicking here for the first grade one and here for the 3-4 digit number one. You can also click on the pictures to link to them.

Thanks you so much for stopping by the Candy Class!

Jolene 🙂

Getting Googly Eyed with Multiplication and a Freebie

By Jolene M| 2016-06-01T05:59:04+00:00 |learning crafts, Math|1 Comment

I’m always looking for ways to make things hands-on and fun. For this Learning with Your Craft Stash post, I was challenged with an anything goes for this blogpost. I actually found this challenge the hardest because I had a hard time deciding what craft material I wanted to use. Then I saw my bag of googly eyes, and I thought about how my son has been working on multiplication arrays. This would make a perfect reinforcement activity for him. I also decided it would be fun to offer a freebie with it. 🙂

Arrays give children the opportunity to grasp the concepts of what multiplication is all about. I recommend introducing arrays as a mini-lesson during whole group instruction, so they can gain some foundational understanding of why we use multiplication.

Here is a lesson idea to introduce using arrays to solve multiplication.

First, make an illustration on a dry erase board of the five apples in five groups. Ask the students how they can figure out how many apples there are all together.

Response to the answer counting: “Let’s count. 5,10,15 etc. There are 25 apples all together. That is one way we can figure out the apples, but do you think there is a quicker way to get there?”

Response to the answer adding: “That is a good answer. Let’s add them. 5+5+5+5+5=25. That is one way we can figure out how many apples, but do you think there is a quicker way to get there?” (You may not get an answer for this question. If no answer, introduce it).

Then say: “We can multiply it. Multiplying is a quicker way to add them up. To multiply, we count the number of rows and multiply them by how many are in each row.” (Demonstrate this with the illustration). “We can multiply 5X5=25. Multiplication saves time from having to add everything up. When we are first learning to multiply, we can add up the groups or use skip counting to help us learn our multiplication facts. One day, you will know off the top of your head that 5X5=25, so you will be able to tell quickly how many 5 groups of 5 apples are exactly. Today, we will use addition to figure out how to write the multiplication fact for the the problem using googly eyes!”

If you want, you can explain what an array is into the discussion above, and you might want to mention what rows and columns are also.

Click here or on the picture for the freebie.

Want some more ideas on how to use your craft stash to learn? I have an article here on place value with straws and another one here with learning sight words with scrapbook paper. You can also hop on over to Life Over C’s blog here to see more and find other blogs with similar posts that have linked up.

Thank you for stopping by The Candy Class! Make sure to sign up for email on the right. I just added a way to follow through Google today too!

Improving Math Facts Fluency

By class| 2018-01-09T12:55:53+00:00 |Math, Math Fluency|12 Comments

Fluency with math facts is an important skill. No doubt. Yes, students should have lots of opportunity to gain firm understanding of the thinking behind these simple math equations. Don’t stash those counters just yet! However, those fifth and sixth grade teachers impart some wisdom to us. They know first hand that having a student count on their hands to solve more complicated math equations causes problems with learning math. Therefore, it is important that first and second graders blast their math fluency after they get that firm foundation with the addition and subtraction “thinking”.

$Activities and ideas for mastering math facts fluency with addition and subtraction facts.$

What are some ways to build math fluency?

Exposure. Students will naturally build some fluency with those hands-on experiences. Think addition fact games and other fun math center ideas. Utilizing computer games help too. However, do they memorize all of them this way? Some students at most. However, chances are, most will not. They need something to fill in the gaps.

Math fact cards with timers are a good way to make sure students do not have gaps in their fluency. It is a tried and true concept. This activity should not be stand alone though. There needs to be some other things in place to motivate and engage students more with this activity (more about that below).

On a side note, it is fun to add color to the cards. I actually had fun playing with my camera with these.

Being able to say the facts in a minute and write them in a minute is two different skills. That is why it is good to have a timed writing activity. Laminate them, and they can be reused over and over. It is also good for students to be able to self-correct these problems in some way. Tracking their progress through the week is also a good idea.

All these activities can fit in a basket for a math center. You could even have different baskets to differentiate instruction.

Differentiation can happen with these folders too. Students can work on different sets of facts with little effort on your part. It makes it easy for students to know what facts to work on at the center by providing a sheet that shows them this information.

Speed tests assess fluency. You can actually get away with having students test on different fact sets at the same time. It literally only takes a minute to give this test!

Make progress tracking part of the motivation. Adding a fun space theme allows students to soar around the galaxy, and they are learning the names of planets while they are at it.

When some students are not making adequate progress, it is important to add some more TLC to them with some intervention. Some one-on-one time with either you, a parent, or a guardian is recommended. You could also send some fact cards home with them too if desired.

When a student completes their tour of the math facts galaxy, celebrate their success! Of course, let them know about their mission and the rewards that await them before you blast into space! This will drive up motivation and keep them engaged along the way. For struggling students, you can always change the time given for assessments or set different goals for them to reach, so every student can feel success with their progress!

I like to add some fun crafts to the celebration. Rocket glasses and rocket crowns make the celebration extra fun!

Photo props are like the cherry on top. Have them strike a pose, and you can display the pics on a bulletin board. Since I went with a space theme, I created this space mask to go with it.

Of course, having a certificate that states their mission is complete and declaring them an official “Galactic Math Fact Zoomer” is always a good way to motivate students too.

Blast Math Facts Fluency! Click here or the below image to link the addition and subtraction one.

(PS. Anything with a colored option in the set has a lined option, except the center signs.) You can click on the two images above to link to the resource.

Please note, due to many requests, I now offer a multiplication and division version of this too!

Click here or the picture above to link.

Thanks for stopping by The Candy Class Blog! I like to share ideas, so make sure to subscribe to email on the right side.

Jolene 🙂

Ho, Ho, Ho, Merry Christmas: Enjoy Some Freebies!

By Jolene M| 2016-06-12T14:09:51+00:00 |Christmas, Freebies, Interactive Notebooks, Math|0 Comments

I want to say thank you for all the attention my little store has been receiving since late October. It truly has been an answered prayer for me because it seemed the doors were shut for over a month before that and everything there was completely silent. It is hard to believe I have gone from around 20 followers at Teachers Pay Teachers to 90 followers in such a short time! As promised, the Free Interactive Math Notebook Entry for Addition Facts 6-10 has been posted! I originally hoped to get this out a week earlier, but my Christmas Tree Life Cycle unit took me 2 weeks longer to create than originally anticipated, Thanksgiving and Black Friday happened, I had previously committed to Facebook Frenzy and needed to create clip art to go with it, and I had to rush out-of-town this weekend for a family emergency. I am still out of town, but brought my computer with me and a determination to complete this freebie for everyone! And now it is here with time to use it before Christmas break. Enjoy!

Click on Image to Link

Also, you may want to join the Facebook Frenzy. It is a collaboration of clip artists with freebies! The snowman will lead the way. Hurry! It ends December 9th.

Click on Image to Link

Oh, and I am celebrating gaining over 400 followers on my Facebook page by throwing 20% off until December 9th. I am also planning a product giveaway soon to celebrate…I just need to get home and figure out Rafflecopter! Here is another look at that Life Cycle of a Christmas Tree unit that is on sale!

Click on Images to Link

I wrote the original fiction book because I could not find a book dedicated completely to the topic in the big city I live in with well stocked libraries. It is the gem to this unit!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Jolene

Would You Like an Interactive Notebook Freebie?

By Jolene M| 2016-06-12T14:36:59+00:00 |Interactive Notebooks, Math|0 Comments

You heard that right! An interactive notebook freebie! They are so useful for so many reasons. First, they are interactive. That means children can interact with the notebook like an interactive conversation between a teacher and student. With all the pieces that flip, they can revisit the journal later after the lesson for a little selfie quiz. Not only that, but interactive journals are an outlet for publishing, and that my friend gives their work purpose. Not to mention, they are visual and kinesthetic (hands-on), which helps meet the various learning needs of young learners. Since I am new to blogging, I just want to let everyone know that I have a lot of special things planned for this blog. I plan to offer exclusive freebies that will not be posted in my store at TPT, flash freebies, teaching ideas, some tutorials on creating bath and beauty products, some inspiration, and more! If you would like to receive an email when I post something new, simply click on the right where it says “follow by email”. So don’t forget to download your interactive notebook freebie, and you might want to follow me on TPT while you are there, so you can get updates when I post stuff on there. Simply click on the image below to receive your freebie! (Well, I hope it is “simply” able to link to it properly, lol!) If not, click the link below the image.

Interactive Notebook Freebie by The Candy Class

Enjoy and be blessed,

Jolene

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