Setting a climate for problem solving!

One thing that we all know to be true is that "real world" math doesn't show up on a page with 12 problems!  Our job as teachers is to prepare students to solve ANY problem that comes their way!  As we start a new school year, setting a climate for problem solving can set the stage for a year where students are willing to dig in and use their math skills no matter WHAT the circumstances.  

To get the year started, there are a few phrases that I like to introduce to my students and then reinforce all year long--words that help set the tone for the kind of "math learning" I want to happen all year long.  See what you think!

One of the biggest things I have noticed over the years is that many students have a very real fear of being wrong.  This fear keeps them from participating, keeps them from enjoying math, and--worst of all--keeps them from learning!  In the first weeks of school, I push my students to take risks.  I give them impossible problems.  We work in pairs. We solve problems that have countless answers--and I encourage them to find answers that no one else will find.  Throughout all this, I highlight students and teams that have showcased risk taking--even if their answers aren't correct!  

I even share a few quotes about taking risks and we talk about real life experiences they have had where taking a risk paid off!  If you want a copy of these "take a risk" quotation posters, click here! 

Another idea that I stress with my students is that they need to always be ready to revise their own thinking!  I had a super fun lesson where we debated about whether or not certain shapes were rectangles.  Some students were SO rigid in their thinking that they were unable to take in new ideas from others and revise their own understanding about the concept.  If you want to read more about this lesson, CLICK HERE to see it!

 This, of course, directly relates to my NEXT phrase--"critique thinking".  I always want my students thinking about what they hear, evaluating if it makes sense, and then offering up their own ideas in a polite, constructive way.  This was a HUGE part of the rectangle lesson and many other similar lessons.  Students need to learn how to offer up their critiques in a productive way--and this is all a part of creating that climate for risk taking and problem solving.  

 Another phrase I teach my students early in the school year is "justify your answer".  Students know that saying "I just knew it!" won't get them very far--and that they need to learn to use math language to explain their thinking to others.  Other students should be able ask questions requesting clarification as well.  The discussions are just fascinating!  At the beginning of the year, I need to step in as a coach, but as the year unfolds, the discussions run themselves!

 Finally, my favorite.  Perseverance.  Without this, nothing else matter!  From the first day of school, I stress with my students how important it is to be willing to dig in and WORK HARD.  We talk about how to ask for help--but only after really giving it a good try.  We talk about how to "help" each other by coaching and not giving answers.  We talk about how GOOD it feels to take on a challenging problem--and to work through it.  We talk about how the PROCESS of doing math is more important than the answer (at times)...and to be willing to dig in and try will pay off in the end.  I deliberately present my students with problems that are challenging to help them learn how to navigate this uncomfortable feeling...and how to help each other with the math--and with encouragement.

If you teach intermediate grades, I have a freebie all about perseverance if you are interested!  It gives a little more information plus a challenging problem for you to present to YOUR class to see how well they can persevere.  I have a full resource related to this as well with additional problems to use to help teach perseverance if you are interested.  Just click the "Persevere" sign above.  Want to try the freebie?  Click the image below.

Thanks so much for joining me for my first post here at Primary Chalkboard!

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Blended Learning Ideas

Hi Guys!
It's Latoya from Flying into First Grade.

I have compiled a list of my favorite blended learning ideas.

Learning the Rules!

Hi Friends... Anna here from Simply Skilled in Second. Thanks so much for stopping by today! This is my last full week of summer and then the chaos school begins on September 2nd!  :) 

Even though I am on summer break, I LOVE using my time to "THINK" about school and create new activities and lessons that I will use in my classroom with my students.

One of the MOST IMPORTANT things that I work on with my students is creating and learning the rules of the classroom!  This is something we review all of the time and even refer back to our Behavior Anchor Chart throughout the year.

On the first day of school, I read the story called Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes.  It is one of my favorites to read to my class.

After I read the story to them, we always brainstorm ideas of how our classroom can stay safe, fun, and happy for everyone in it.  And so begins the creation of our Classroom Rules!  I allow my students to create the rules and I ensure that I word them in a positive way.  For example, we might write....Share with your friends... Work quietly.... Raise your hand to speak, etc.  I never word them with negative words like... Don't talk during independent work....or  Don't kick or hit your friends, etc.  We also state our rules in a positive way!  

There is also on other aspect that I add to creating the classroom rules.  I always tell the students that I have one rule for myself that I never.. EVER.. break.  They are very curious to know what this rule is... and I make it a pretty big deal.  I tell my students that I will NEVER.... EVER.. EVER yell at them.  You should see the expressions on their face when I tell them that....and the silence int the room is deafening.  The look of confusion with a mixture of pure happiness is really funny :)  They always ask me a ton of questions about my rule and always ask me if I break my rule ever.. and they literally don't believe me when I tell them I have never broken my rule!  I shared my ideas on what I do the first day of school with Teachers Pay Teachers and they featured me on the blog today!!!  Check it out here....

I am always looking for a FUN way to have my students learn and write about the new classroom rules that we will be following throughout the year...and of course..it is going to be done using a flip flap book!  This will be the first one my students do on the first day of school!  I can't wait to show it to them...well..maybe I can wait a bit longer :)  LOL

Here is a tiny peek to what's in store for your little ones as they work through my

School Rules Flip Flap Book!

This summer I also made one of my Tab-Its for the School Rules as well... just to change it up a bit.  I don't like doing the same thing year after year so I try to change it up every now and then.

Here is my School Rules Tab-Its that fit in your Interactive Notebooks.

So....if you are getting ready to go back to school or are just "THINKING" about school, take a peek at my School Rules Flip Flap Book and School Rules Tab-Its to add a little fun to your

Rule Making Mojo :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Hugs.

The Sub Tub

Aloha everyone! Corinna here from Surfin' Through Second. Well it's that time of year when we are back in school getting our routines down.  Things are starting to flow pretty smoothly and suddenly you have a slight tickle in the back or your throat.  As the day wears on you are losing steam quickly and the the first cold of the season has hit!

The dreaded lesson planning to get your sub and kiddos through the day!!  Seriously I would rather just go to work than write plans.

This year with a little prep you can make your life a bit easier.

Make yourself a Sub Tub.  Inside I place all the important items that the sub needs to know for my class.

Throw in whatever you think will help your sub get through the day, especially if you're unable to make plans for that specific day. 

I picked this Sterilite Tub up at Target for $5.

I throw in a fun game for the whole class to play.  

Bingo is another great alternative.

Stickers are always a great incentive and I leave directions 

for the sub to use them as they wish.

The story I Wanna Iguana is fun, 

but it also goes along with a great writing activity 

from my Opinion Writing pack.

Papers you may have on hand already are perfect to throw in. 

This is from my Aloha pack.

Easy literacy lessons from Growing Firsties and Fluttering Through First.

I place a folder in my tub with all the items listed above 

to make it easy for the substitute to refer to.  

Once it's done I don't have to worry about doing it all again.

I can update my plans and lessons as needed.

Keep the tub near your desk and when that Emergency arises you are ready to roll with much less stress in your life.  

I truly hope this year is a great one for you and that you won't need to use your sub tub too often!

Getting a Handle on Dismissal

Hi friends! It's Haley from My Silly Firsties. I am knee deep in preparation for the little ones coming back, but I wanted to stop by and give some tips on dismissal!! 

Around the Kampfire Pack and Stack Poster 

Fifth in the Middle Packup Routine 

This is SO important, and I encourage you to figure out EXACTLY how you want them to get ready to go home. If you know what you want, it will be much easier to explain it to them! :) Then practice over and over! When they can do it perfectly, practice until they can get faster! :) 

There are so many great ways to show where/how your kiddos go home. This is especially important during the first few weeks of school! I love having this up all year long in case a substitute comes in or someone else needs to dismiss my kids!

Fun in First Clip Chart
Easy Magnetic Dismissal Chart
A Modern Teacher Transportation Tags

I try to make sure we always end of our day on a high note! We usually do a fun video from Go Noodle or The Learning Station! I also LOVE this good-bye poem! I have done it for several years and the kiddos LOVE it!!

Go Noodle
The Learning Station
Goodbye Poem

Exit tickets are a fabulous way to make the most out of dismissal time. Your kiddos will choose 1 thing that they learned, were surprised by, etc. These are 3 adorable ways to display exit tickets!

Teacher Treasury What Stuck With You 
Teach a Roo- Ticket Out the Door
Texas Teaching Fanatic Exit Tweets

I created an Editable product to show how my kiddos go home and also backpack tags to keep them safe! :) Click the picture to check it out!

Bulletin Boards Made EASY!

Hey everyone! It's Karen from Mrs. Jones's Class and I am here with a quick and easy idea for you!

This was created in my last minute desperation last summer as I struggled with changing grade levels from Kindergarten to 5th grade, setting up a new classroom, learning the new curriculum, figuring out WHAT I was doing, buying a bajillion new things for the room (because I guessed that 5th graders wouldn't all love rainbows and polka dots), and needing to put together some kind of bulletin board that would be cute AND functional.... this easy anchor chart bulletin board was just the trick!

So. Do you create anchor charts? Of course you do!  There you go, you are already half way done.

I put up different color paper and a boarder to separate the subject areas, then printed out some big letters to make a focus for each of the sections. Suuuuuper easy!  I would display the anchor charts from our current units, just stapling each one on top of the next so that we could flip back to old ones if need be. 

Easy AND functional!

If you would like to use my letter headers for the different subject areas,

  you can download them here.

Enjoy!

<3 Karen