Maths

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Permalink Reply by Louise Lawrence on June 8, 2009 at 3:55pm

Our school uses Go Maths. I wonder whether there is enough exploration of hands on equipment and "play". I have been supplementing each unit with ideas from K-3 Teacher Resources and putting them out for the children to choose from when the other tasks are done. I think I need a refresher in how great maths can be in the early years.

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Permalink Reply by Kathryn Davies on June 8, 2009 at 4:28pm

Hi Louise,

It would be worth seeing if you can get into a MLATS course. At the start of every maths unit i allow the children one week to simply 'play' with the equipment to ensure that once we are focusing on specific learning tasks that they have all of the 'playing' out of their system. I have also uploaded a few maths planners on here and a forum on the number fun mornings that I run in my classroom.
If you want to swap some maths planners i'm happy to do that too.

Louise Lawrence said:

Our school uses Go Maths. I wonder whether there is enough exploration of hands on equipment and "play". I have been supplementing each unit with ideas from K-3 Teacher Resources and putting them out for the children to choose from when the other tasks are done. I think I need a refresher in how great maths can be in the early years.

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Permalink Reply by Louise Lawrence on June 14, 2009 at 3:17pm

Thanks Kathryn
You have uploaded some great ideas. The GO Maths does a new unit each week. There are related activity based tasks.I include what I call "Maths Shelf" into each maths session. I select some specific things but have skilled my year ones into using the equipment to practice and consolidate concepts covered.

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Permalink Reply by Kimba on July 3, 2009 at 4:22pm

Im about to start year one, Im a first year teacher. The school uses Go Maths... I just don't know how I will fit it all in and get all the rotations done!

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Permalink Reply by Kimba on July 3, 2009 at 4:23pm

How did you train your kids to do it? Whats on your maths shelf?

Louise Lawrence said:

Thanks Kathryn
You have uploaded some great ideas. The GO Maths does a new unit each week. There are related activity based tasks.I include what I call "Maths Shelf" into each maths session. I select some specific things but have skilled my year ones into using the equipment to practice and consolidate concepts covered.

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Permalink Reply by Louise Lawrence on July 7, 2009 at 3:06pm

Hi Kimba
I "trained" them by selecting a few activities, spreading them out around the room and sending groups of children to each one, rotating after a few minutes. During this time I constantly rotated around the children, asking questions, encouraging and praising both "maths work" and group skills.
After a couple of weeks I would select some activities and set them out the front and invite children to come and choose an activities, and a certain amount of friends depending on the particular activity. I would then direct them to a spot. Again I would move around, also drawing the whole class to particular good ideas of how to use equipment.
After a while I would invite children to go and choose from the shelf and choose their friends. By this stage they all knew what areas were best for particular activities.
I have taken many photos of the children doing "maths" work which I often have as a slide show on the IWB during this time. During this time I keep an eye on the class but do assessment with individuals.
On the maths shelf I have plenty of hands on counting equipment for patterning, sorting etc. I have specific equipment for maths units placed on the shelf before starting new work and they stay on the shelf after too. I have many games/activities from this site, downloaded and laminated as new work is introduced. I have a box of wonderful counting games but the name of the book eludes me at the moment. I also have used wrapping paper, cut up and laminated for sorting and pattern making.
The shelf over flows and never stays neat for long but it is well loved. I am constantly adding to it but never seem to take away. When I introduce new activities I do as a whole class before they make their choices and/or work with a small group teaching the new activity.
This is a long reply, I hope it answers your questions. I'd love some feed back on this too.

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Permalink Reply by jacky swanson on November 22, 2009 at 3:09pm

I just wanted to introduce myself and thankyou for all your suggestions

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