Browsed by
Tag: karyn hodgens

How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character

How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character

Comments 0 Comment

I just finished reading the book How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character by Paul Tough. Here’s how I summarized it on my Family Math Night facebook page: “Kids succeed in a stress-free, nurturing environment where delayed gratification is encouraged and perseverance is developed through “managed” failure.” Instead of writing a long book review, I thought I’d simply list below all the sentences I highlighted while reading the book. It will give you a good idea…

Read More Read More

Multiplication Facts and the Distributive Property

Multiplication Facts and the Distributive Property

Comments 0 Comment

Mathematical properties are actually quite useful when it comes to making sense of math. For example, the commutative property of addition helps make adding numbers a little easier. If we know that the order the numbers are added does not matter, then in the problem 2 + 9, adding the 2 onto the 9 is easier and more efficient than adding the 9 onto the 2. The Common Core State Standards in Mathematics requires all third grade students to know…

Read More Read More

Geometric measurement – Understand concepts of angles and measure angles

Geometric measurement – Understand concepts of angles and measure angles

Comments 0 Comment

We’re surrounded by line segments. These line segments create parallel and perpendicular lines, and acute, obtuse and right angles. Looking for them in our environment is a great way to reinforce them. Ask your kids: Who can find a set of parallel lines? …perpendicular lines? …an acute angle? Pretty soon, they’ll be seeing nothing but lines and angles in the tiles on the floor, the branches of the trees, the way an ice hockey puck hits the wall… For older…

Read More Read More

Beginning Fraction Work

Beginning Fraction Work

Comments 0 Comment

I’ve said it before, but it’s important to say it again…understanding fractions begins with understanding the whole and the pieces that make it up.  The question below is a good way to get students to reflect on the idea that, with fractions, each piece names one equal part.  The CCSSM identifies each part as a ‘unit fraction’. Posing this question is a great opportunity to focus on the CCSSM Standards for Mathematical Practice, Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning…

Read More Read More

Cookie Fun Way to Teach Money, Arithmetic, and Geometry

Cookie Fun Way to Teach Money, Arithmetic, and Geometry

Comments 0 Comment

Cookies in math class? Absolutely! This fun and engaging hands-on activity will get your students excited about doing math. Students will be designing their perfect cookie within the limits of a budget. They will be filling out order forms for cookies, candy and frosting then designing and drawing their final product. This fun activity seamlessly ties in important concepts in math, specifically, addition, subtraction, multiplication and division with money, and attributes of geometric shapes. This lesson is divided into grades…

Read More Read More