Math Magic

If you have ever stapled paper into a book during Writer’s Workshop, then you know the magic that paper looking like a book can have on students and their writing. I found that same magic in math!







We are in a unit about patterns in numbers and I pulled out the old adding machine tape. All you have to do is cut strips of it and let the students start writing their numbers down. It’s like this race to see who can write the most numbers on a single strip and how many strips can you get the teacher to add on (just tape the edges to the old strip). I will say this is a bit of a nightmare sometimes because they become so voracious with writing their numbers. But it’s all in the name of learning!



















If a student write the number incorrectly I write it out correctly. I know exactly who to work with if I see lots of these mistakes.







This one may not seem that impressive, but this little girl didn't even know what numbers meant when she first came to my class. She couldn't even count to 10...and now she is at 55 independently!







This is one of the options in Math Workshop from last week . This is great for those who are still writing their numbers backwards – they get the extra practice they need without even realizing that it’s work…





Also, I’m checking to see if my students have skip counting down. For the ones that still struggle I printed off these little strips. They keep them in their pencil boxes and can practice any time they have free time during the day.



Skip Counting by 2s 5s 10s Strips



I also have some 100’s charts attached. I have always used my pocket chart 100’s chart to show patterns in numbers because they have red cards for odd numbers, purple for skip counting by 10’s, blue for 5’s, etc. But then I realized that it takes FOREVER to show one pattern because you have to flip all the little number cards. It took me 7 years to figure out to put a 100’s chart on the computer screen and change the text color in seconds to show different patterns! I have never claimed to be the brightest person in the world! ;O)



100s Chart to Change in Front of Class



Another Math Workshop options is to take a 100’s chart and color it in to match the pattern. I have printed these various 100’s chart with patterns and posted them. I also have 101-200 chart for an extension. Feel free to use. This was my first year to use them and it was a huge success. When I played the clean-up song the students were desperate to ask if we could do Math Workshop the next day so they could do more! That will make any little teacher’s heart swoon ~



100s Chart with 10s Pattern

100s Chart with 25s Pattern

100s Chart with 3s Pattern

100s Chart with 4s Pattern

100s Chart with 5s Pattern

100s Chart with 2s Pattern Odd and Even