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Author: Karyn

The Two Most Important Questions to Ask Your Kids

The Two Most Important Questions to Ask Your Kids

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Okay, so I’m talking about the two most important questions you can ask your kids to help develop mathematical thinking. Wait! Don’t go. Math often receives short shrift. It’s unfortunate because math, taught correctly, teaches us how to effectively problem solve. It’s also the perfect subject to teach our kids persistence. Research has shown that kids who are persistent tend to do better academically. And doing well academically has great benefits in life. The two most important questions: #1: WHY?…

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Common Core State Mathematics Standards – What I Don’t Get

Common Core State Mathematics Standards – What I Don’t Get

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I’m frustrated. So I’m going to vent. ‘Sup with the Common Core State Standards in Mathematics? Haven’t we had a set of standards since 1989 that are called the Curriculum and Evaluation Standards followed by the Principles and Standards for School Mathematics in 2000? Wasn’t this already done by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics? What am I missing here? Oh…now the standards are going to be common across all states. That’s the diff? Really? I’ve been in education…

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Skip counting – Multiples of 2

Skip counting – Multiples of 2

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Students use sticky dots to create a caterpillar with a head and 10 body parts. They add eyes, a mouth, and antennae to the head. Then they add two legs to each body part. Finally, they skip count by 2s and write in the number. For the younger ones, I provide a 0-110 number chart for them to use as they write in the numbers. . . . Oops…I didn’t catch this one in time. Her caterpillar is skip counting…

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Money Jars

Money Jars

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Learning to save money is an important life skill. During America Saves Week (February) or Financial Literacy Month (April), I like to have small groups of students rotate through the Money Jar Center. I’ve also done it as a whole class activity with second grade and up. Students do have the option of using a hot glue gun. I go over the rules very carefully. Even so, there are usually a handful who choose not to use the glue gun….

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The Artistic Side of Math – 180-degree Rotational Symmetry

The Artistic Side of Math – 180-degree Rotational Symmetry

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Crossword puzzles are symmetrical?! That’s usually the response I get after students have been given a chance to look through blank crossword puzzles I’ve cut from the paper. Then I show them how all crosswords are designed with 180-degree rotational symmetry. Starting with 90-degree rotational symmetry, we rotate an object 1/4 the way around the circle. See photo below. Then we rotate an additional 90 degrees so that we end up with a turn of 180-degrees. (We’ve done work in…

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