Karyn's Blog

Teaching Polygons Using Rubber Bands

June 5, 2012 Karyn Comments 0 Comment

Here’s a super easy and fun way to reinforce attributes of polygons. Using a rubber band that is not too small or thick, students create shapes using their fingers. It’s a great multi-sensory activity. Ideas: -show me a triangle -show me a triangle with one obtuse angle -show me an iscoceles triangle -show me a quadrilateral -show me a trapezoid -etc. Shapes larger than a quadrilateral (4 sides) are more difficult to make. Students can partner up to make pentagons…

Sticker Addition

May 28, 2012 Karyn Comments 0 Comment

Why not empower kids to create their own addition problems to solve? They love it! Here’s an activity I do with kindergartners and first graders. An easy way to adapt the lesson for beginning of the school year kindergartners is to have them simply place stickers (less than 10) and write the total.

Multiplication of Fractions. What Does it Mean?

May 24, 2012 Karyn Comments 0 Comment

So that’s what it means to multiply fractions! Visual representations make all the difference! I acutally have students first do this using a geoboard. Then we transfer to grid paper (see above photo). After collecting a number of samples, students look for patterns and discover that multiplying across gives them the same answer. But now it makes sense! CCSS: 5.NF.4; 5.NF.5

Using Number Sense to Solve Problems

May 19, 2012 Karyn Comments 0 Comment

Kids who have a strong number sense can compose and decompose numbers, make reasonable estimates, and use numbers in flexible ways. Here’s a great example. (Aligns to the Common Core State Standards in Mathematics: Mathematical Practices – Look for and make use of structures.)

Of Slugs and Budgets – Teaching Money Management to Kids

May 7, 2012 Karyn Comments 0 Comment

When my oldest son, Nathan, was four years old, I caught him crying silently in bed one night. I had gone back into his room to tuck him in as he liked to spend a few minutes “reading” to himself before saying goodnight. Seeing him crying concerned me. “Nathan, what’s the matter?” I asked. He lifted the book he had been reading and turned to the page where a cartoon representation of a slug was sitting behind a ticket booth….