Place Value is SOO Valuable!

Hello darlings!  I think everybody has a place value unit that they start the year off with.  We gauge to see what our kiddos remember from last year, and then we add on.  Common Core has upped the ante and really requires students to understand place value to be able to use mental math strategies to add, subtract, multiply, and divide larger numbers.   Here is a peek at what we do in third grade....

Students have place value mats and place value discs. (from Singapore Math)  We use these to visually represent numbers so we can complete number patterns and decide greater than and less than.

Here are a few games we play.  The first game is a FREEBIE!

This is a PART of our SCOOT games, but you can see the kinds of questions we are working on.  Click the pic to get the SCOOT game.

This is a Quick Check just to see how they are comprehending.

The next few pics are from two of my smartboard lessons.  I chose a few slides to show you and give you ideas of the types of questions you can ask your kiddos.

This project is my favorite part of our unit!  We are reading the book POPPY by Avi for Interactive Read Aloud, so I created a themed Place Value review using the POPPY characters.  The kiddos loved it!  It does have some challenging questions that require kiddos to EXPLAIN their thinking.  They have to PROVE their answer which is a must do in the Common Core!

Want these awesome resources?  Click the pic below to get the entire unit of supplemental materials. 

Have a fantastic weekend!  And make sure to follow us on Bloglovin!

Want this unit for free?  Leave a comment with your email and I will randomly choose a winner on SUNDAY!!!

A BUNCH of Random Math FREEBIES!

Hello darlings!  I am going to keep this short and sweet!  It is getting to be the end of the year and I am in a sharing mood.  Here are a bunch of random math resources I have used this year.  I am only going to post one picture from each resources, but there are more pages in the downloads!!!!!

Math Vocabulary Posters

Addition Problem Solving Resources (11 pages)
Differentiated

Division Problem Solving

Division Quiz

Model Drawing Rubric for Singapore Math (check out my Singapore Posts for more info)

Enjoy!

Money Freebie: Coin Combos

Hello darlings!  My third graders are working hard counting money and learning about equivalent amounts.  One of the things they have to do for their assessment is to be able to use a table and record two different ways to compose the same amount of money.  Below is a freebie for your little friends!

When I first teach the coin combinations to my kiddos, I run the paper below off on cardstock and then laminate it.  We use dry erase markers to record our answers.  It is much better than wasting a bunch of paper or waiting for them to draw the table on their own dry erase boards.  Believe me, I tried it!

After I feel they have a good understanding, they complete it on their own.  I have two different sheets.  One has blank money amounts so that I can differentiate on the fly and the other one provides the numbers so that I can take a grade.

My low kiddos might just have to count change that is under $1, while my high kiddos might have to count something like $14.68 without using any bills.  I'll always put a stipulation on it because those smarties like to use 1,469 pennies!  

I hope this was helpful!  What are you working on in math right now?  I LOVE comments!

Singapore Sunday: Subtraction Video Tutorial

Hello Darlings! I noticed I have gotten a little lax (ok, like nonexistent) with my Singapore Sunday posts. I know not everyone uses Singapore Math, but the strategies are awesome and can be used along side any math program.

I wanted to share with you how we start off teaching subtraction with our kiddos. Singapore Math focuses on introducing kiddos to a concept with the pictorial stage and then progressing to algorithms from there.  Kiddos gain a deep understanding of place value which allows them to understand why they must borrow or carry. In Singapore Math, this is called trading, because that is what you are doing.  You are not actually "borrowing" because you don't give back what you borrowed...

If you do not teach Singapore Math and you have already taught your kiddos how to borrow while subtracting, then I would use the Place Value Discs for your struggling kiddos. You don't need the discs, I just have my kiddos draw circle and the value inside most of the time anyway    It is a great way to take them back to the beginning to help them understand why they are crossing out numbers and so on.  I hope this helps!

I'm linking up with Classroom Freebies to bring you this awesome resource!

Download this video tutorial for free!

I have a few more tutorials in my store you should check out!  They are on sale!!

Addition with Place Value Discs: adding 4 digit numbers with trading 
Addition Model Drawing: Using the 8 Steps of Model Drawing (1 digit numbers)
Subtraction with Place Value Discs: subtraction with borrowing (Trading)
Subtraction Model Drawing: Using the 8 Steps of Model Drawing (one digit numbers)
Area Model of Multiplication: 2 digit by 1 digit and 2 digit by 2 digit multiplication
Multiplication Model Drawing: Using the 8 Steps of Model Drawing (1 digit by 1 digit)
Division Model Drawing: Using the 8 Steps of Model Drawing (1 digit numbers)

Did you find this free video tutorial helpful?  PLEASE comment and let me know!  It will determine if I create any more.

Multiplication Strategy and Free Game

      Hello darlings!  Are you a little worried about Common Core?  I know in math, the rigor went up in third grade.  Our district, thank goodness, has been using Singapore Math for the past few years and that program already bumped up the rigor considerably.  So, we are feeling ok about it.  One of the things my third graders have to do, is to multiply two digit by two digit numbers.  We have to teach them the reasoning behind the algorithm, not just how to memorize the steps.


One strategy we use is the Area Model.

I have created a mini unit of resources to teach your kiddos about this strategy. Click on the picture below to download a Spinner Game FREEBIE! (Once there, click download preview file) While you are there, check out the resources!

  

Here is a preview of the resources.

Check back for more multiplication resources!

     

Math Rotations and Centers Explained

Hello again darlings!  I hope your year is off to a great start and you haven't felt the need to strangle discipline any of your little young'ns yet!  My kiddos are super sweet this year, but they are also super low... What to do..what to do.  Well, instead of pulling my hair out, I am putting my Math Rotations to good use.  I have been teaching math this way a couple years now, ever since my district adopted the Singapore Math Program.  It works great!

Grouping Students

So..how does it work you ask?  I pre-asses my students at the beginning of each unit.  Make it easy on yourself and just give them a five question multiple choice sheet that covers the topics of the unit.  That way you can QUICKLY assess their strengths and weaknesses.  Next, I group them according to the results.  Ex. All 5 correct: West   (advanced)

       3-4   correct: East

       2 correct: South

       0-1 correct: North (low)

I usually play around a little bit with the East and South groups to even out the number of kiddos.  I also assign each student a partner who is in their group to play at the game station.

Rotations

Once I have all my little honey buns in groups, I teach them about the rotations they will be making each day. Each rotation is "supposed" to last for 15 mins.  I have been "flexible" with my timing for each group, depending on their understanding of the lesson.  There are four rotations: Teacher, Desk, Game, Fast Facts.

Grab a free rotations sign by clicking on the pic.

Teacher:  this is when the kiddos come to me at the carpet for the actual lesson that is presented on their levels.

Desk: kiddos work on the practice assignment at their desks after the lesson (West groups starts here first since they are the advanced group.  They get an assignment before the lesson.)

Game:  I have a game for each skill.  I usually keep the same game for one week so that I only have to explain it once. Check back, as I will be adding some of my games.

Fast Facts: I am lucky enough to have two computers with Internet access. (If you don't, get inventive.  Maybe just have them take paper quizzes and have the partner grade it with an answer key right then.)  I use the SELF CORRECTING TIMED tests from Multiplication.com!  They have quizzes for addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. I teach two kiddos how to log on and they are our Computer Experts.  At the start of math, they pull up the page from our favorites bar and then the page is open the entire time.  Kiddos click on the quiz they need.  They type in their name and press START.  Once they press start, the computer keeps track of the time.  Kiddos type in the answer to each problem and press enter.  I tell them to skip it and press ENTER if they have to think about it at all. When they finish, they press FINISHED (I know! Weird huh?)  Now it will show them all the problems they missed and how much time it took to complete.  To pass and be able to move on to a new test the next day, they can only miss ONE and their time must be 3 minutes of less.  Now I tell them if it is a couple of secs over that is ok.  When they finish  they print the test and go grab it. (My kiddos have to hustle to the library.)  Next, they make flashcards  for any of them that they missed.  While kiddos are waiting for the computer, they are practicing their flashcards from the previous day.

Accessing Quizzes:  Put it on your favorite's bar.
Go to Multiplication.com.
In case you ever get lost, it is under Resources-Online test and quizzes.  Addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division are found on this page.

Here is where we keep our Fast Fact Folders that contain our flashcards and our previous quizzes.  I always have kiddos start with the pretest so that at the end of the quarter, they can take the posttest and we can measure the growth. The bucket contains pens and index cards.  No more running to go grab a writing utensil.

Sorry, I couldn't rotate the pic.

Here are the rules the kiddos came up with.

Does this help?  Do you have another way?

Division Freebies and Video Tutorial

Hello there darlings!  Good to have you back!  The end of the year is coming soon!  Yay for Summer!  BUT... we still have to teach, so here are some freebies for teaching division the Singapore Way and some freebies for Long Division! 

Here is a video tutorial on how we teach division word problems using model drawing in Singapore Math.



After my kiddos are comfortable with the concept of division, we move onto Long Division.  Below is a little mnemonic to help them remember.  You have probably heard of this before.  I did not come up with it, I just created the sheet.  When I introduce this to my kiddos, we use a cube or other kind of game place holder and move the game piece each time we complete a step.  This keeps them on track and helps them to remember what to do next.  Here is how I would walk them through 625 divided by 5...

Dad-Divide    

How many times can 5 go into 6 with out going over it?  OR  What number times 5 will give you 6 without going over it?    Answer: 1

Mom-Multiply

Take the number you just recorded and multiply it by the divisor.  1x5=5.

Record it under the 6.

Sister-Subtract

Now subtract 6-5=1

Brother-Bring down (we can't leave brother out!)

Bring down ONE number at a time.  In this case, we bring down the 2. (I draw the arrow from the two and drag it down next to the one)  Now we have the number 12.

Rover-Repeat or remainder

Do we have all of our place values covered in the answer?  NO, so Rover tells us to repeat everything all over again.

Dad-Divide   and so on....  I complete this process with them and have them move their game piece each time we move through the steps.  Some of your kiddos will get it right away and not need the manipulative and chart.  This is a great way to differentiate.

Below you will find some quick checks to give your kiddos to assess their understanding.  I don't believe in assessing kiddos with long worksheets.  If they can prove they can do it, why make them do it 20 times?  Plus, you don't have to stay up until 11pm grading!

If you have a fun way to teach long division, please share in the comments!!!  Also, head over to our last post to join our End of the Year Linky Party!!

Thanks, Amy