Integrating Math and Technology- Collecting Data

This year we have been working on implementing the Common Core Standards and teaching kids how to express their learning goals. They not only know what the learning goal for the lesson is, but they rate themselves based on a rubric.

Part of helping kids to become more aware of their own progress and learning is tracking data and celebrating success.  This week I took after some of my wonderful colleagues and started data folders with the kids.  Of course I have my own files as I always have with their running records and other assessments, but now they have a place where they can access some of this info in a kid-friendly format.

The first thing we started with was Fast ForWord data because this was easy for me to compile and was the more fun for the kids to see.  The score page on their computer looks much like a video game screen with the top scores of the day.  There are printable score sheets and graphs that they can fill in to monitor their progress.

The problem is... some of the kids still don't understand exactly how big (or small) their scores are.  What did we do?  Skipped ahead a few math lessons to the exploration lesson in Everyday Math Unit 4.  Base 10 blocks!  We built the numbers for the kids to see what a high score looked like and what a low score looked like.  What does 407 look like in comparison to 97?  How much bigger is it exactly?  97 seems pretty big to some first graders, right?!  Not only was this good math practice in number sense, place value, etc., but it also helped kids understand their scores in our research-based technology program Fast ForWord.


Here are some pictures of our work in math/data collection:

First, we built some sample scores in the pocket chart together.

Then, we transferred scores from our daily score sheet to the math page.  This was a great guide for students who weren't quite sure how to build their numbers.  Students didn't know where to put 97- in flats and longs, or longs and cubes.  We discussed what each placement would mean and decided together.  It was awesome!

Finally, students worked to build their own scores.  This is a score of 407.  We didn't have enough flats, so students put 10 longs together.  When I first saw the representation on paper (2 flats, 20 longs, 7 cubes), I was concerned.  However, this student explained what this meant perfectly- impressive! This was also a great lesson in cooperation/teamwork, as students at each table had to share supplies!

I'm always glad when two lessons can overlap because there are just so many things to fit into the day!  Also, it helps students when they can apply a math concept to something real, like their own scores.  I think this made building and comparing the numbers more meaningful, and understanding what each number "looked like" made their scores mean a little bit more and make a little bit more sense!  I can't wait until I see their scores tomorrow to see if this made an impact. :)

My Ongoing Calendar Project

Ever have one of those projects that takes forever to finish?  This calendar project is mine!  I keep adding and changing, dropping it for a while, then picking it back up and starting the cycle again.  I just need to print it and let my kiddos test it out to see how it works.  I thought I would post pictures of the pages I have created to get some feedback.  I have decided to print the 2013 pages and start this bad boy up in January.  My kids are at the point in the year where they could do this on their own when they come in every morning while all the arrival procedures are being taken care of and we're waiting for the announcements.  What do you think?

 

There are three choices for the today's date/number of the day sheet: 

 I've never done a calendar journal before, but think it's a way to get every child involved in the calendar activities that we would do later as a class after all the morning stuff is out of the way.  Has anyone done this before?  What do you think of my creation?

Liebster Award

Liebster Award

This made my day! Jill at Cruz'n In First nominated me for the Liebster Blog Award!! How fun is that?!



The Liebster Blog Award is given to up and coming bloggers by established bloggers (less than 200followers), in order to recognize them, let them know that they are appreciated, and to spread the word about new blogs. The rules are:

• You must post 11 random things about yourself.
• Answer the questions that the nominators set for you.
• Create 11 questions for the people you nominate.
• Choose 11 blogs you love (with less than 200 followers) and link them in your post.
• No tag back, (but please leave me a comment on this post with the URL to your Liebster post so that I can learn more about you!)

Here is my randomness...

11 Random Things About Rhiannon

1. I began gymnastics after watching Mary Lou Retton take the gold in the 1984 Olympics.
2. I wanted to train for the Olympics with Bela Karolyi, but changed my mind when I found out he didn't let his gymnasts eat pizza!
3. I have a cat named Sparkie the Wondercat.
4. I wanted to be a pharmacist from age 5 till my sophomore year in college.
5. I didn't reach 5 feet tall until I was in college.
   6. My big purchase my first year teaching was a new car.
   7. I have been to Disney World every year for the past 3 years and am going again in April.
   8. I used to be painfully shy!
   9. I was on NBC Chicago news talking to the former general manager of the Cubs.
   10. The Cubs came to my school in 2007 after my kids wrote them a letter... And thanks to a good word from Len Kasper, the Cubs play by play man!
   11. I really want to go to Hawaii and just relax on the beach!

11 Questions from Jill

1. How long have you been a teacher? 9 years this year
2. What was your best purchase from TPT? the Common Core posters from Deanna Jump
3. How do you celebrate Christmas in your classroom in one or two sentences? We write letters to Santa and he writes back! We learn about Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa. I want to make recipes from around the world, but haven't been brave enough yet!
4. How did you discover the blogging world?  I had to make a blog for one of my classes at BSU, but then Jill started her blog and I jumped back in!
5. What is your favorite read aloud? tie- Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus/ Skippyjonjones
6. What are you wishing for this Christmas-money is no object?
7. How do you incorporate learning goals into your day?  I introduce the goal at the beginning of the lesson and have kids rate themselves 1-4... then we go back and check at the end of the lesson and on subsequent lessons.
8. What is your favorite treat to order from Dairy Queen?  Peanut butter cup Blizzard made with chocolate ice cream
9. Do you wear heels, flats, boots, or other in the classroom?  All 3- I try to be quite the fashionista.  Plus, I am only 5 feet tall!!!  I need heels!
10. What is your favorite song to listen to when you are sad?  ...when you are happy?
11. What was the best field trip you ever went on or planned? to see Polar Express at the movie theater- in our pajamas!

Here are the Blogs I Nominated

Ok... here is the problem.  I just started my blog and I don't know anyone besides Jill that I could nominate!  If you have less than 200 followers and you are checking out my page, comment and leave me a link to your page!  I want to nominate people, too!!!

I'm gonna be on the lookout for some new friends to follow... I love a new mission!

And I thought I couldn't love Reading A-Z more...

but now I do!  You can search for books that meet the particular common core standard you are working on- yeah!


 Here is a screenshot of my search for CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.1.2 - Identify the main topic and retell key details of a text.



I actually used Animals, Animals on Wednesday to work on main idea and details!  We are still finishing our work on that lesson, but I will post about it next week.

I know this may not be the most exciting post ever, but I had to share!  This is a great way to quickly find resources to meet your standards and the best part is that they are at your students' "just right" reading levels AND you can make sure that each student has a copy to refer to over and over again at home and at school!