Karyn's Blog

Helping Your Child in the Area of Math

September 5, 2013 Karyn Comments 2 comments

Here’s a great resource to hand out to parents at your Family Math Night events. It covers 5 areas: Support positive attitudes towards mathematics ● Let your child know that everyone can be successful in mathematics. This can be done by… ● …encouraging your child to be persistent in working through problems; success will build confidence. ● Avoid negative comments about math such as, “I was never good at math.” ● Praise effort not intelligence. Use words like I like…

Bilateral/Mirror Symmetry

August 23, 2013 Karyn Comments 0 Comment

Using folded paper and scissors, students create designs with bilateral (mirror) symmetry. CCSS: 4.G.3

Title I Section 1118. Parent Involvement: Nifty Numbers and Math Medley Family Math Night Events

August 1, 2013 Karyn Comments 0 Comment

Building Strong Family-School Partnerships Educating our children requires a team effort. Today’s schools actively engage parents as partners around student learning. Nifty Numbers and Math Medley Family Math Nights are perfect examples of this in action. These fun and academically engaging events help parents feel connected, not only to the school community, but to their child’s learning, as well. When families attend the event, teachers feel supported in helping students learn and kids see first-hand the value their parents place…

Student-Created Pattern Block Puzzles

June 24, 2013 Karyn Comments 0 Comment

There are a lot of commercially made pattern block task cards. For the primary grades, this is a great time saver. But what about getting our upper elementary students to make their own cards…ones that can be used with the entire class. Kids love it when they’re given opportunities to be creative. And since learning increases the more engaged students become in what they’re doing, it’s a win/win. Using pattern block triangle paper (link below), have students make a design…

Fractions in the Fourth Grade

June 19, 2013 Karyn Comments 0 Comment

Here’s a fun way to tie in some fraction work. Students will be making their own number trails using inch graph paper and then using them to develop their understanding of fractions. It’s nice to give them the ownership of making their trails any way they want. Just make sure all students have trails that are the same length in numbers. CCSSM: 3.NF.A.1; 3.NF.A.3a; 3.NF.A.3b; 3.NF.A.3c; 3.NF.A.3d; 4.NF.A.1; 4.NF.A.2; 4.NF.B.3b; 4.NF.B.3d