Parent Back-to-School Night Multigrade PowerPoint

Template PowerPoint to be Personalized by Individual Teachers

This is a PowerPoint presentation that I created for the multigrade teachers in our district for their Back-to-School Night. It is a template that they can personalize for their own class. This presentation helps them explain what their multigrade class will be like. It discusses research about multigrade classrooms briefly, shows how our district's instructional materials have been adapted for their children, and address some of their concerns about multigrade verus single grade classes.

You can view this Powerpoint in Google Doc by clicking HERE

I'm not sure it can be personalized if you download it, as I'm new at sharing a PowerPoint from Google Doc.  I just wanted you to see it for ideas of what you might do for your parents on Back-to-School or Curriculum Nights for Parents.

Our teachers receive multi-grade training sessions, and they personalize it in class as we discuss different options available. That's why you see multiple options for teaching math. They choose the way they decide and delete the rest :)

I hope this is helpful. 

Deborah

Helpful Advice Needed From YOU

I just received this email from one of the bright young teachers in my district:

I am just trying to get ready for the year that is quickly approaching! What do I do if a group of my 5th graders are at the 2nd grade level in math, according to their scores from last year’s Spring MAP testing?  I remember teaching a class of 5th graders my first year of teaching and feeling very overwhelmed because the skills that were supposed to be mastered were not. Do you think teaching at a too high level will be good for these students at the 2nd grade level in math?  Does this make sense?

I wondered what advice the readers of this blog would give her?  We use the Everyday Math Curriculum that is spiral in concept development.

I’ll post my response too, but I’m interested in your thoughts as there are many newer teachers that are facing this problem. Please share.

Guides Created by the National PTA to Explain the Common Core to Your Parents

Did you know that the National PTA® has created guides in response to the Common Core Standards for grades K-8 and two for grades 9-12 (one for English language arts/literacy and one for mathematics)in both English and Spanish.

Each grade level guide includes:

1) Key items that children should be learning in English language arts and mathematics in each grade, once the standards are fully implemented.

2) Activities that parents can do at home to support their child's learning.

3) Methods for helping parents build stronger relationships with their child's teacher.

4) Tips for planning for college and career (high school only).

CLICK HERE to see examples of these wonderful documents that were created by teachers, parents, education experts, and others from across the country. The guides provide clear, consistent expectations for what students should be learning at each grade in order to be prepared for college and career.

This would be a informative link posted on your school or class website.

Just for Once...Can I Buy It Instead of Making It!

I purchased this colorful, foam set of "Ten Frame Numeration Board" from EAI.  (click to see details about this manipulative)

Some times I just get tired of making student math materials! 
After our linky party about Debbie Diller's "Math Stations", I realized how important it is for students to use materials like 10 frames to develop number sense within the context of ten.  My 5-year old granddaughter and I are having a blast working with them this summer. We are working on adding doubles like 2 + 2 = 4 . Today she noticed that all the answers have a "partner" (even number).

When used in a classroom the magnetic backing will be useful to model to the whole class or a guided math small group.

When I ordered the materials online, I shouted, "Hallelujah, that's done!" My husband asked me what I was doing and  I explained how useful my purchase would be, and how much time I would save. He said that was a great idea since I would be painting 22 shutter "partners" to save $450 that the painters wanted to charge.  So instead of making math materials I am now painting 44 shutters ..... 

Creating a Small Group/Teacher Guided Area Without a Special Table

Not every teacher has room in their classroom to set up a separate small group teaching station. I love this idea that I saw in my journeys through many classrooms in our district that uses the students desks to become her “kidney shaped table.” The portable rolling cart becomes her teaching station for the small group.

Notice that this U-Shaped area is located near the whiteboard in the front of the room.  Each student has a desk, but during certain times of the day the students rotate to different stations.  A rule of the class is that you respect the owner of the desk you are sitting at and DO NOT use items from their desk.

By the way this was a 5^th/6^th Multigrade Classroom.



Details of Math Rotations in 4 Groups

Math Rotations

The following example will use a 4/5 combination class. All groups are using their grade level materials, going in order in the Everyday Math Book.

Group Schedule:  Monday/ through Thursday Or Small Group Days

Group 1: One Half of the 4th Graders. This group contains some students that need the most guidance. They will start Math with the teacher first and then immediately work on their journal assignment next.

Group 2: One Half of the 4th Graders

Group 3: One Half of the 5th Graders

Group 4: One Half of the 5th Graders. This group must be the most self sufficient as they will do their journal pages the following day. They must be able to remember what to do.

Schedule:  Monday/ through Thursday Or consider this   Small Group Days

	Teacher/Small Group	EM Journal Pages/Worksheet	EM Games or Fact Practice	Math Stations
Group 1- 4th	1	2	3	4
Group 4 5th	4	1	2	3
Group 3 5th	3	4	1	2
Group 2 4th	2	3	4	1

Here are the materials and list of what is to be done during independent time.



Close up of the assignment board for each grade level.



Schedule: Friday Or consider this a Whole Group Day

Regular math groups will not be held. Instead you will use this time to introduce and discuss the EM Games and activities that will be in the Math Station boxes.   If you need a “study hall to work on a math assignment” or to work with a student individually, this would be the time to accomplish that task. Lastly, problem solving experiences with a written “extended response” could also be taught on this day.

MATH GROUPING OPTION 3: FOUR GROUPS

Four Groups: Multigrade or Single Grade

Part A: Multigrade/Teacher Lead Small Group for One the Four Groups/Eighteen Minutes   1

 This third option can be used when you have two grade levels to teach. As an example, I will describe what would happen in a 3^rd/4^th Multigrade Class with an enrollment of 28 students.

You will begin by dividing your class into 4 groups: Two 3^rd grade groups and two 4^th grade groups.  This would make 4 groups of 7 students. The math textbook provided by your school district will be used in numeric order beginning at the first lesson-through the end of the book. Each grade level will receive instruction AT THEIR GRADE LEVEL. This means that you will teach a 3^rd grade lesson and a 4^th grade lesson two times each. You are probably thinking that you can't teach a lesson in this time, but remember that you only have one-fourth or your students in front of you at one time. Since there is such a small number you can keep them on track, especially when you place your most unattentive student right next to you at the kidney shaped table or small rectangular tables.

Your teacher guided math group will be located at the same place for all 4 groups, near you and a whiteboard or chalkboard, so they can hear your instruction and you can use any visual aids or manipulatives with them easily. (This is usually the same place that you teach your guided reading groups.) At this teaching station, you must have all of your teaching materials-teacher manual, manipulatives, calculators, worksheets, work to return, and individual whiteboard slates for BOTH GRADE LEVELS. I like to use a 4 drawer plastic storage unit. In the top 2 smaller drawers I place my grade level manual, worksheets for that grade, and work to be returned for that grade level for that week of instruction. In the lower two larger drawers I place all the manipulative that I will need for that week of instruction. I label the grade levels on the outside of the drawers. On top of the unit I place whiteboard slates, dry erase markers and socks to erase them, calculators, and some extra pencils for student use.

What are the other grade level three groups doing while you are teaching the first small guided math group?

The other students are rotating independently between three different activities which are 18 minutes in length with 1-2 minute passing time to the next group area.

Activity One:

 One-fourth of the students are working on finishing the assignment that you gave them, or a worksheet that you gave them today to do before you meet with them. If you use Everyday Math, they might be working independently on math boxes. Perhaps they are working with a manipulative that you have used with the group in the past during previous math lessons to practice certain skills.  Another idea is to use certain days to write about math learning. This time is to REVIEW, PRACTICE, RESPOND and EXPLORE. It is not a time to introduce new concepts.

Activity Two:

12 Math Stations, as described by Debbie Diller in her book “Math Stations,” will be set up for the students to use. These station boxes practice skills already learned in whole group that need more practice. With a partner or individually they obtain a station box and go to the area of the room that is labeled with that station number to work on the activity. Activities can contain the same activity for different grade levels. i.e. 3rd graders practice multiplication with one digit numbers, 4th graders do the same activity but will 2 digit numbers.

Activity Three:

If you are using the Everyday Math program, Everyday Math games will be played. The 2 or 3 games that are available have already been played and learned in whole group.  If you have purchased the Everyday Math games online, some students would play the games online depending how many computers you have.

Part A: Single Grade Level/ Teaching  Four Small Guided Math Groups/Repeating the lesson of the day

The process is the same as described above, with all four groups receiving the same lesson in a smaller group setting. If they all receive the same lesson, why teach it four times? 

Part B: Students move to their three independent math stations.

An auditory signal is used the last minute of instruction to signal the students to clean up their materials and get ready to move. Then a minute later the signal is rung twice and students move quietly to their next area. This must be modeled and taught to the students at the beginning of the year.  You must be FIRM about the behavior that you expect. State your expectation all year long…”I love how the students at the math stations worked with quiet voices today.” “I noticed how quickly everyone has their materials out and is ready to work.”  “I’m posting this quality assignment of Evan’s, since this is the quality I expect from all of you. Great job Evan.”

 What's the benefit of this grouping?

Each student receives instruction with grade appropriate materials but the size of the group is smaller than typical whole group instruction.  It’s easier to interact with them individually and see what they are doing as they work on their math. When you use manipulatives, you only need a smaller amount of the manipulatives, since you are working with 5-7 children at any one time.

Tests or short quizzes are given during this time too. Some quizzes can be given orally with students responding orally or on their whiteboard slates.

All students have time to practice and investigate concepts with math stations, to do their math assignment in class, and to play those Everyday Math games that practice skills and math facts. (or if you don’t have Everyday Math…just to practice those math facts).

What type of classes would this work with?

Multigrade classes.

Single grade classes dividing the number of students in four groups  (Guided Math). You teach the same lesson four times. I would not suggest placing students into high and low groups. Mix up the ability levels. There is better interaction in each group.

You can make one of the groups a lot smaller though, and place some of those struggling students in that group so you have more time with them and use more manipulatives than you normally would.

It is possible to have a lower/medium and a medium/high group, but you will not stay on the same lesson each day.  One group will work at a faster pace and you will need to plan different  lessons for different groups (this will drive you crazy).

BIG IDEAS FOR THIS MATH GROUPING

80 min total/rotate each 18 min/2 min to change

Mixed Ability Groups

Most individualized

Time to do assignment in class

Stations for practice

My next posting will be a chart that show how the students rotate.

Benefit: Closest to individualizing