Quote of the Week -- January 11, 2015

“There are three constants in life... change, choice and principles.” Stephen Covey

Have a great week,

Odd One Out Vegetables

Click here to download Odd One Out Vegetables from my Google Drive.

Odd One Out is an activity where small groups of students discuss which of four items in a set should be left out and justify it.  The one page pictured above is really two activities.  I run 8-10 copies for my class, cut the page in half and staple each to a piece of notebook paper for the groups to 2-4 students to record their thinking.

Here are two previous Odd One Out freebies with a geometry focus:

Odd One Out with Polygons

Odd One Out with Triangles and Quadrilaterals

All of these are available in my 22 page paid product at TPT and TN.

 

Wild River by P. J. Petersen

 

How can playing a video game give you the skills to survive a river rafting adventure?  This is what Wild River by P. J. Petersen suggests.

Twelve-year-old Ryan agrees to join his older brother Tanner on a river rafting trip.  When something happens to Tanner, Ryan has to figure out how to survive.

A colleague called this a "Let's get boys to read" book.  I think it just might work.

Here is a free printable summary graphic organizer.  Remind students that sometimes the plot is man vs. nature or man vs. self.

For an explanation of my rating scale, click here.
Find me at Goodreads.





Ideas for Teaching Math on Pinterest

We go back to school today after winter break.  I spent some time on Pinterest collecting ideas for teaching math.  I have just a few paid products on this board.  The majority of pins are ideas and freebies from mine and other blogs.

Follow Mary Bauer's board Math Ideas on Pinterest.

I hope you find some ideas to engage your students this winter.

Quote of the Week -- January 4, 2015

The object of a new year is not that we should have a new year. It is that we should have a new soul.

-- G. K. Chesterton

 

Happy New Year

 



Gomoku Subtraction

A couple of weeks ago, I introduced Gomoku with Addition, the simplest level of my new freebie Gomoku Games.  This week, I am featuring Gomoku with Subtraction. (Click here to download from Google Drive.)

In this game students roll two dice and subtract the smaller amount from the larger.  Students place a marker on a square with the answer.  The winner is the one who places five markers in a row.

When we introduced this game to our first grade buddies, my students noticed the wide range of math abilities in the class we were visiting.  Right next to each other there was a student who was ready for the multiplication version and another who struggled to count the dots on the dice.

I spend time talking with my students about how they learn, because I want them to take responsibility for their own education.  This experience was a good one for all of us.

January 2015 -- It's Time for Currently

It's time for Currently January 2015.  I have been thoroughly enjoying some time off, because my brother and his family are here from North Carolina.  I need another week to catch up on chores.

I have had an idea for a book series for several years now.  I should start writing some scenes and see what happens.

Happy 2015! I hope to see you at Currently.