Doing Math with the 8 Math Practices

Common Core Standards have put in place the 8 Math Practices which focus on the “processes and proficiencies” of doing math. Simply put they are ~  what we do when we do math!

Students should be:

• thinking the problem out
• reasoning
• modeling
• talking math with one another

We are trying to get students to develop an understanding of how to do the math. It is no longer enough that students get the correct answer, but more importantly HOW they got it. While reading an article the author stated, "If kids could be successful without having to think or reason, then the lesson is not good enough".

Grade Specific 8 Mathematic Practice Poster Sets:
http://www.citrus.k12.fl.us/edserv/klauderm/CommonCoreMathResources.htm

Math Videos
http://www.insidemathematics.org/index.php/standard-1

Every Student, Every Day

A passionate literacy researcher, Richard Allingtion, shows that the best way to motivate and accelerate reading growth is to have every student, every day do the following:

• read accurately;
• read something they have selected;
• understand what they have read;
• talk to others about their reading and writing;
• write something that is meaningful; and
• listen to a fluent adult read aloud;

Simple, yet how do we fit that into our reading block. Some suggestions that are aligned to Common Core are:

• talk to students about how their work is meaningful to them
• talk to students about their book choices
• listen to students as they talk purposeful

 

Make Your Day More Fulfilling!

With so much going on in our day to day lives is there a way we can do more? William Ward has five thoughts on how each of us can do more. Are you willing to take the challenge and make your day more fulfilling?

 

Do more than belong: participate.
Do more than care: help.
Do more than be fair: be kind.
Do more than forgive: forget.
Do more than dream: work.
~William Arthur Ward

Student Friendly Search Engine

Wanted to share a newer student friendly search engine, SweetSearch: http://www.sweetsearch.com/

With Common Core requiring students to actively search the web for research. SweetSearch is the perfect place for student to start. It searches only the 35,000 websites that the staff of research experts and librarians and teachers have evaluated and approved. They constantly evaluate their search results and "fine-tune" them, by increasing the ranking of websites from organizations such as the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian, PBS, and university websites.

SweetSearch helps students find outstanding information faster. It enables them to determine the most relevant results from a list of credible resources, and makes it easier for them to find primary sources. They exclude not only obvious spam sites, but also marginal sites that read well but lack academic or journalistic rigor. Just as important, the very best websites that are often buried on other search engines appear on the first page of SweetSearch results.

 

 

Audio Books

Hearing a book read on tape helps students see how the words on the page can come alive in a fluid, expressive way. It helps them focus on the sounds of words read without interruption and provides a model of fluent reading. Audio books also give your students an important introduction to listening — a skill that she must master in order to learn to read. Listening to stories also helps develop imagination and attention which is important skill for them to learn. Not to mention it fosters a LOVE of WORDS.  Below are two sites worth checking out.

http://www.memfox.com/mem-reads-aloud#

http://www.storynory.com/

Illustrative Mathematics ~ Website

llustrative Mathematics is a website that will help you implement Common Core State Standards. Click on K-8 Standards and browse by your grade level or peek at standards by domain. Available illustrations will give support to teachers by providing clear activities that meet standard objectives.

http://www.illustrativemathematics.org/

College Bound what a Message

"Your child is college bound, start saving now!" What if we told each parent this at parent conferences. What an amazing message this would be.

With the standards shifting to Common Core students will have the knowledge and skills to be successful for college and careers. Students at all levels K-12 are expected to:

• Become strong readres and writers
• Read large amounts of fiction and nonfiction
• Read books of interest at a high level independently and comprehend what they have read
• Think deeply and respond to text, recognize themes of literature, and determin author's purpose