#Made4Math - Fractions & Baking Video Prompt

Ok, so I know it's not Monday, but.....

Here is a short video to start a discussion/review on fraction operations and equivalent fractions.  After the video is shown, the students will be given a few minutes to come up with their answers then share with the class.

I'm really curious to see this play out in a lesson.  I have one solution to the problem but am anxious to see if someone comes up with a different answer.

Another fun idea would be to have the students do video responses/solutions!!!


(The link to this video on youtube is here.)

Want to get involved in #Made4Math?  Check out the Made4Math blog here or go on twitter and search #made4math!

#Made4Math Mon...well, Thursday - Laminated Graph Paper

This trimester, I am teaching Algebra 2 along with Algebra 1.  We started the trimester graphing cubic and quartic polynomials.  One of the things I'm trying to work on is having the students get up out of their seats more.  So I asked myself, "How can I have them graph at the board without them wasting their time making their own grids or having their graphs look like a disaster?"  Then it hit me!: Laminated huge graph paper grids!  The students can use dry-erase markers to graph and can easily wipe their graphs away!

I printed 28 pages of grid paper and laminated them so I would have 7 graph stations:

Math Review Scavenger Hunt #made4math

So, I got this idea from a coworker:

Put the answer to a question at the top of a paper and a new question at the bottom.  Put the answer to that question at the top of another paper and a new question at the bottom.  Repeat (making sure you don't have the same answer to more than one problem) until you have enough questions to cover the concept you are reviewing and end with the question whose answer corresponds with the first paper.

Then, post the papers randomly around the room.

The students then will work independently or in a group (however you want to do this) and start anywhere.  They work the problem out from the bottom of the paper then find the answer around the room.  Then, they answer that question and so on.  I usually reveal how many questions there are so they know whether they did it right.  If they get back to where they started with fewer questions, they need to backtrack and figure out where they went wrong.  I will post pictures of how this looks in my class the next time I set up this activity.

Has anyone else ever done this?

Does anyone have any questions?  This is a fun and easy way to set up a review that gets the kids up and moving.  Once you have it set up, the students do all the work!


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I realize it's been several months since I have posted on here.  It's amazing how we can get so wrapped up in school...

#Made4Math Monday - No Cell Phones

It's been too long since I participated in #Made4Math Monday...I know it's Saturday, but now is the time that I have to do this.

Our trimester ends on Tuesday.  We have exams on Monday and Tuesday and a "teacher work day" on Wednesday.  I use quotation marks because the morning is filled with meetings.  I'm getting a crash course on data director since we use that to grade our exams, etc.

With the trimester ending and new classes starting up on Thursday, I've been evaluating how things have gone so far and creating goals for myself for next trimester.

My main issue with the students has been cell phone use.  Our policy changed this year for using cell phones that allows students to use them in the hallways during class changes, etc.  Also, we can let the students use cell phones in the classroom at our discretion (mainly for academic purposes).  However, we teachers reserve the right to not allow cell phones to be used during instruction, etc.  With the change in policy, when I catch students using their phones when they are not supposed to, they seem to have this attitude of entitlement.  "We are ALLOWED to have cell phones now." is one of many excuses I get from students.  I've had several instances where students REFUSE to give up their cell phones and end up being sent to the office for insubordination and receiving in-school suspension/restriction all because they couldn't live without their cell phones for a day or part of a day.  Also, I think they are somewhat concerned that I'm going to go through their phone to look at their texts and pictures, etc.  (like I have time or care about doing that...)

In an attempt to make my policy clear, I created a sign to add to my classroom.  You may access it here.  If you want the word document, let me know and I will email it to you.  The picture that I used is from Luke's diner in the TV show Gilmore Girls.  Also, to promote more trust with them, I plan on changing how I handle a first offense: the first time I confiscate a phone, I'll keep it and give it back at the end of the day without involving the office.  I'll even let them take the battery out of the phone.  After the first offense, the phone will be sent to the office on repeat offenses.  I hope this will decrease my number of office referrals.

Also, on a completely different note, I tweaked my syllabus signature page to have parents to give me more contact information instead of giving them the option to do so.  You may access that here.  Again, if you want the word document, let me know. :-)

One of my projects for this weekend is to go through my class binders and streamline them for use in the upcoming trimester(s).  I will be teaching Algebra 1 B again 2nd trimester and will be teaching Algebra 1 C 3rd trimester.


In the spirit of opening up discussion, is there anything you want to change in your classroom management or policies?  Often times we think about things throughout the year but forget to change for the next year.

#made4math M-Tuesday - Course Binders

Since I am going backwards in technology this year (I'm using an overhead projector instead of a computer projector with an interactive whiteboard or tablet), I am compiling printouts into binders for future use.  Also, since we have trimesters instead of semesters, I'm going to be teaching the same courses a few times this year.  So, it'll be extremely helpful to have everything together in one binder.

 Recognize this syllabus?

Review Packet

We start Algebra 1 B in chapter 3.

I printed out guided notes on paper 

for the original AND transparencies.

Filing worksheets and fun activity sheets

Keeping all quizzes and tests together, including

originals and keys.

#made4math Monday - Bazinga!

So, truly inspired by @NoraOswald, I created a Bazinga board:

The darker spots on the black posterboard is glue drying.  :-) 

If you want the instructions for Bazinga, check out Nora's post.

The only thing I changed was the pushups...I changed the pushups to jumping jacks.

I CAN'T WAIT TO TRY IT OUT THIS WEEK!!!

#made4math Monday Week 11 - Absent Work Bulletin Board

I updated my "Currently in Algebra" board to be more resourceful:

I posted the bell ringers for the week 

along with folders (from Target) for absent work.

Between this and printing out guided notes, 

this helps catch absent students up pretty quickly.  

So far, it's working well.

Addition:  I updated/revised my teacher binder:

I replaced the grade book section with discipline.

This includes office referrals and homework excuse notes.

I found that with my "fluid" rosters (changing a lot due to transfers),

it was easier to just use progress book.

I replaced the front "My Weekly Planner" with the current week's lesson plan.

When I used the dry erase marker,  it got smudged by the pencil pouch in front of it.  

I look for the current week's lesson plan the most, so I moved it to the front.

When this week's over, I'll move it back and move the next week's plan forward.

#made4math Monday Week 10 - My First Attempts at Foldables

So this past Friday, I did my first foldable with students.

In my Algebra 1 B class, which is basically the first "semester" of Algebra 1 that covers writing and solving equations, slope and graphing linear equations, etc., we had a lesson on writing equations from words.  Before we got into the examples, we did the foldable reviewing the key words that indicate addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.  So, I decided Thursday after school to do a foldable on it based on Sarah's blog post (see the portion about translating algebraic expressions).

To fill in the outside with words that describe the math operations, I asked students to call out words that they remember.  They came up with some that we didn't!  Some examples:

Half (times 1/2 or divided by 2)
Greater than (adding)
Take away (subtracting)
Of (mulitply...full disclosure, I added that one)

Tomorrow, I plan on doing 'to the square inch's system of equations foldable with my Algebra 1 C class (2nd "semester" that covers systems of equations, exponent rules, etc.).  I bought colored printer paper for the occasion because the colored paper selection in the office is somewhat limited and I liked the bright colors shown on the blog post.  I will update with the results from tomorrow.

Update: The students really seemed to enjoy this activity.  They even referred to the foldable when we did example problems.  I even talked with some of the students about color with a purpose.  One student said, "I should start color coding from now on instead of randomly using highlighters!"

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Also, in an attempt at procrastinating from grading review work for tomorrow, I decided to make a few posters based on word press' mathsmith's post.

And, finally, this past weekend, I did a screenshot from homestarrunner.com's teen girl squad when I noticed this:

This is now my twitter profile picture.

#made4math Monday Week 9 - Classes' Facebook Page

My classes' facebook page is up and running.  I have 5 likes so far...2 of which are parents of my students.  I think that's great because then they can remind their kids of what's going on based on the facebook page, also.

Here are screenshots from it (not much going on as you can see):

I used wordle to create my cover photo (using this blog).

Well, gots to go...off to grade diagnostic tests. :-\

#Made4Math Monday Week 8 - Spiced Up Syllabus & Foldables Supply Boxen

Project #1: Spiced Up Syllabus

Inspired by @KristinABC123 and those that inspired her (see her shout out links), I decided to change my syllabus for the long drawn out 2 pages of information to a brochure.

Outside:

Inside:

Project #2: Foldables Supply Boxen

In an effort to take baby steps toward INB (interactive notebooks), I have decided to start doing foldables with the students this year.  It helps that we are on trimesters and have longer class periods than I'm accustomed to.  I feel like I'll have time to do these with the students without feeling rushed...

Anyways, here are some pictures of the foldables supply boxen that I put together for the students. (Boxen...you know, the plural of box...) I have 8 groups of desks. Some have 4, some have 3...that's just how the cookie crumbled:

Once have these laminated, I'm going to put one on each box.  I made 2 copies and am going to put one at each group to match the box with the group.  That will help with accountability.  For example, I know who has the Magnum Pi box, and if something comes up missing that day, that narrows it down to 4 people from the previous class as culprits. 0:-)

Tomorrow is my first day of teacher in-services - which is why I posted early.  Tomorrow's sessions are for new teachers, so I will be with a few others.  Tuesday, I will be with all the staff.  *EXCITEMENT!*

#Made4Math Monday Week 7 - Country Time Pencil-Ade & Update on Classroom

I have a pencil holder, but I want another one for my student center.  So, I went looking at Target for short Pringles cans, but they didn't have any.  Then, I remembered that we have a few Country Time Lemonade Containers.  So, I transformed one of them (leaving the contents in a sandwich bag along with the measure cap) into a Country Time Pencil-Ade:

Update on the Classroom:  I finally put up the dry erase boards.  I had to wait because we did something not so smart...left them propped up against a wall overnight...they bowed, so we couldn't get them to stay flat against the chalkboard:

So, I decided to line the rest with the magnet strips and weigh them down with 30 Algebra 1 books over the weekend...SUCCESS!!!:

Also, I finished the Currently In Algebra 1 bulletin board...since we are reviewing, I posted some of the review concepts:

It's Always Sunny In Algebra...covering the brick wall:

Miscellaneous New Additions to the Classroom:

Things on my agenda for the rest of the week:

1. Organize substitute folder/binder & create emergency plans

2. Create classroom rules & procedures posters

3. Evaluate how I grade binders/notebooks based on new information (such as INB)

4. Finish the student supply table

5. Create syllabi

6. Start lesson planning