Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Thinking about Math

Hello Friends - and I mean the grown-up friends who read, not the little friends that are really starting to act goofy. I sent a little friend to the office yesterday -- I think that might have been the first time I've had to do that all year. He's been acting progressively silly, and I warned him he would have to leave if he didn't stop. He didn't, and I started to remind him again to stop being silly -- but then I had to stop myself and remind both of us I had already warned him. Argh - and then he started crying. 

Today I gave the AimsWeb test in math. You know, because it's relevant. Because I've been teaching all this stuff. Or not. You know, Engage New York. With fidelity. 

So most of my kids kicked butt on the computation part. Because we've been doing computation since before Christmas. {Except this error - hello, little friends. The first thing we ALWAYS check is whether we add or subtract. Except the 6 students who didn't on the test.}


Many of my kids did not kick butt on the concepts part. Because we've been doing computation since Christmas. 

And that even includes 3 days of teaching to the test. So my high kids, most of them, caught on to fractions, missing numbers, time, money. But I'm sorry my little friends that need to go slow and explore. We just haven't gotten there in my teacher's manual and quite frankly I don't think we'll make it before the end of the year. 

And so, for me, this time of year becomes a time of reflection and what I want to do differently. 

I'm afraid I need to cut out some of the "fun" things I've done and do a little more in math so that my students become more well-rounded in math. Of course, there is always the option of making the well-rounded stuff fun. 

So, this is more just thinking out loud - or thinking through typing. I'd be glad to hear your thoughts. 











8 comments:

  1. YES! I have told my kids that tomorrow we start "second grade math." That means a good, long review of numbers to 120, comparisons, and time. Great way to end the year. Good luck with finishing your ENY "stuff." We are trying to "agree" on which teaching manual to use next year (Growing with Math, Envision or ENY)

    Happy Thursday tomorrow!!

    Alyce

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  2. Haha, I love it - starting 2nd grade math! They'll be so excited!
    We don't get to decide what we'll use - the district does. The rumor I've heard is we'll stay with ENY - but with adjustments. Maybe I'll make my own 😉
    Happy Friday to you! Sara

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  3. It's definitely a silly time of year:)
    I have a hard time getting through our math curriculum as well!

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  4. I wonder how to make time for it all. I need about three more weeks of school. Bite my tongue, right?

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    1. Well, I sure don't want three more weeks of school 😉
      But I never seem to get to everything I want to get to in math.
      Try again this summer! Sara

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  5. I actually thought I might make a "Math Monday" in a couple weeks and do nothing but math the last Monday before school ends. (: How's that for panicky?
    Ann
    The Caffeinated Classroom

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    1. Now when I first read this, I thought, 'fun!' So it could go either way!
      Sara

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