Planet Unit for Multigrade Classrooms

Sketch to Stretch

I was working on my “Planet Unit” for the Multigrade 3/4 and 4/5 classes and wanted to try a new reading strategy that I read about called “Sketch to Stretch.” I read about it in the book, “READING STRATEGIES FOR SPANISH SPEAKERS  by Susan Lenski. The strategy has students sketching ideas as they are read text orally by the teacher in order to comprehend the text more effectively.

In this assignment, while doing an interactive read-aloud with the whole class, the teacher  projects the pages of the online copy of the book “The Sun and the Seasons” onto the front screen and reads the text aloud.  The student then uses the illustrations shown and the oral text to sketch their response to a question.

To see a copy of the worksheet shown above CLICK HERE.

Avoiding Technolgy "Breakdowns"

Do technology breakdowns make your knees quiver?  Then create a "Plan B" and make a PowerPoint presentation by taking screen shots of the interactive model that highlights the most important points.

I've been creating a Multi-level Planets Unit for my 3/4 and 4/5 Multigrade classrooms in our district. I want some of the activities to be whole group, while other activities will be assigned according to the grade level of the student.   

I want the teachers to be comfortable with the visual aids that I've suggested so I am listing the internet site and providing a Plan B PowerPoint too. 

After creating the slides, I added a text box that stated the month shown in the revolution of Earth.  In the small box that shows the angle of the suns rays as they hit the Earth, I made sure that the latitude shown was for our town. 

I added some slides that explained what was happening in the simulation to provide support for the teacher using my PowerPoint in his/her classroom.  So if your knees quiver... then create a "Plan  B."

Deborah

Fabulous Math Vocabulary Cards

While blog hopping today, I discovered these fabulous math vocabulary cards made by Kristen at Ladybug's Teachers File. Kristen teaches 4th and 5th Grade English Language Learners.

I wish that I could say that I created these vocabulary cards, as they are so wonderful, especially for students that could benefit from a visual dictionary of math terms.

So what information am I sharing? 

Well, when I printed them I printed 4 slides per page and they turned out just the right size for my Word Wall.  Look at the blue area in the picture above called "Pages per sheet." I didn't use as much paper or ink that way either.

Isn't it wonderful how teachers share with other teachers!

Deborah

Multigrade or Split Math Plan Sheet

This is the plan sheet that I share with the teachers in our district. It features one day when you can teach math games, work on math vocabulary, watch a video clip about a math topic, work on solving a math problem and writing an extended response about your findings, schedule an evaluation, or give a mini-lesson on a topic that is of interest for both grade levels.

The other four days are for small groups with grade-level appropriate materials. Click HERE to see the document in my Google Docs file.

Please leave me a comment if you download the document :)

Deborah

Check out these wonderful clocks that support student learning at Oceans of First Grade Fun.

In a multigrade classroom, research tells us that we need to create independent learners that know the teacher is not the only source of information. The above clocks are a perfect example of a display that creates independence and scaffolds new learning.

Our wall space is so important in our classroom. Really think how the display you are planning will help student be independent learners.

The blog, Step into 2nd Grade with Mrs.Lemons, will even let you download  6 different colors of clocks in her shared document.

Click here for the link to the time circles that are arranged around the clock from the second picture. It will take you to the same blog: Step into 2nd Grade with Mrs. Lemons.

Lastly, remember to physically get students involves with learning about measuring time on a clock. I've got some ideas about that and I will share them at a later date. Right now I'm thinking about multiplication flashcards to teach students multiplication patterns.
Deborah

PARCC Says 3RD Graders Should be Fluent and Precise with Multiplication Facts by End of Year

In a new document titled, “Draft Model Content Frameworks for Mathematics”   PARCC’s purpose is to:

• identify the big ideas in the Common Core State Standards for each grade level,

• help determine the focus for the various PARCC assessment components, and

• support the development of the assessment blueprints.

This resource will help teachers know how to implement the Common Core Standards in their own classroom.  For example in 3^rd Grade they suggest, “Students fluently multiply two single-digit factors, and they fluently find related quotients. By the end of grade 3, they know single-digit products from memory.

Students must begin work with multiplication and division (3.OA) at or near the very start of the year to allow time for understanding and fluency to develop. Note that area models for products are an important part of this process (3.MD.7). Hence, work on concepts of area (3.MD.5–6) should likely begin at or near the start of the year as well. “ 

They give this example of opportunities for in-depth focus: “Finding single-digit products and related quotients is a required fluency for grade 3. Reaching fluency will take much of the year for many students. These skills and the understandings that support them are crucial; students will rely on them for years to come as they learn to multiply and divide with multidigit whole numbers and to add, subtract, multiply, and divide with fractions. After multiplication and division situations have been established, reasoning about patterns in products (e.g., products involving factors of 5 or 9) can help students remember particular products and quotients. Practice — and if necessary, extra support — should continue all year for those who need it to attain fluency.”

F L U E N C Y… does this make your knees knock with anxiety or do you have a plan to meet this goal?  This picture was posted on a 6^th Grade Classroom Blog:

The comment under the picture was to ask 6^th Grade Parents to please work with their children on memorizing their basic multiplication facts.

Click here to see the document so you can read your grade level’s  big ideas and focus.

Lastly, a big thank you to Ginger Weincek at Liberty Elementary for making me aware of this document earlier in the summer.  I love how teachers like Ginger support other teachers!!

By the way PARCC is giving you a chance to comment on this framework until August 31 through their website in a survey format.  Here is your chance to respond before the document is finalized.

6's Multiplication Facts with Systematic Flashcards

These flashcards can be used by your students to learn the pattern to multiplying 6 times an even number-2, 4, 6, 8. The ten's place digit is one half of the other digit that is being multiplied by 6. The one's place digit is the even number that was multiplied by 6... or just repeat the number. Click here to download the flashcards.



If you download the flashcards, please leave a comment for Deborah.