The photo above is called: "I have a doodling problem."
The doodles are the product of attending a math workshop all last week to learn all about our new math series: Investigations. {P.S. Does anyone else out there use this program? I would love to hear what you think!} We are also adopting the Common Core State Standards, so I have been busy learning all about that too!
Anyway, going to the workshop has me thinking of ALL things math. Many of the games we play and lessons we teach will involve ten frames...
And, I was inspired by these plastic polka dot placemats from Wal-Mart:
To create these:
They are super durable, and I can't WAIT to use them with games and whole/small group lessons! Out of each placemat, I was able to make 4 ten frames, and a few extra five frames.
I also found these PRECIOUS cut-outs and file folders. {From Wal-Mart!} Can you believe it!?
And they are CUTE! You can't tell from the picture, but they are pretty big cut outs. I love them. I just have NO idea what I am going to do with them yet. ;)
I've been stocking up on egg cartons, too. I created a packet for TpT of all seasonal Egg Carton Shake Up Math Games! My kids just love these games, but I wanted to make them look better than the ones I have made in the past! {That's the perfectionist in me. Can't help it! Ha!} So far, I have saved ONE egg carton. So I made the first of my shake up games: Back to School Shake Up!
For this game, I have an apple eraser and school bus eraser. Put both in, close the container, shake it, and open. See which numbers the erasers have landed on, then add the 2 numbers together! Easy!
Each shake up label comes with a recording page, and the numbers to place inside the egg cups.
Click the page below to view it in my TpT shop!
40 comments:
We had Investigations several years ago. I think they have an updated version so I don't know how it is different. You best bet for the games is to copy them on cardstock and laminate them so you can use them year after year. They also had different levels that you can copy on different color cardstock so you can differentiate. Have they added money or time? We had to teach our own units because it wasn't included in the unit.
Love the place mats! My school will begin using Investigations in the Fall...my workshop is in July,(3 days)it's through AIMS. I like it...but I know I'm going to have to supplement and add in tons of games. They have a Common Core version but it's still not enough. I wrote a post last week about my math planning copy the link to check it out: http://oceansoffirstgradefun.blogspot.com/2012/06/math-planning-calendar.html
I plan to share some of the games I create for the different units.
Ms.A
Oceans of First Grade Fun
Brilliant finds! Thanks for sharing :) I really love the placemat idea!
Journey of a Substitute Teacher
Endless Pinabilities!
I am loving your ideas!!
(as always!)
Jennifer
First Grade Blue SKies
Like Kiley, we used Investigations a few years ago before we got enVisions. At the time, our district chose to integrate the Scott Foresman regular series with Investigations. It was hard for us to combine the two because Investigations has so many parts. Personally, I LOVED Investigations and the games were so much fun to teach and have the kids play. It reminds me a lot of math stations. The only thing that I added to the curriculum were some student recording pages for the games. If I had to pull a small group instead of float around the room, I wanted to make sure the kids were kept accountable for their work. It takes a lot of reading and planning the first year but after that you are golden. There are some units I didn't care for over others but that goes with EVERY series we get (I've been teaching for 12 years so far - I'm old!} Anyway, I hope you get the teacher's manuals soon so you can start planning!
~Andi
p.s. I wish I could doodle like you!!!!!
This was our last year with Investigations. We are starting Math Connects next year. Investigations is a good program, my only problem with it is that they don't connect the abstract to the concrete enough for me. The talk about singles, sticks, sheets instead of ones, tens, and hundreds. This can sometimes be a problem because on county and state assessments they will see these differently. I also had parents complain about this, a lot, as well as some of the other strategies they use. Overall though, I liked it and the kids loved the games.
How is it possible that even your doodling is far cuter than anything I could ever do??!!??
I love the placemats and making ten frames with those...so smart!Only a teacher could see and appreciate that! =)
I just shared a 10 frame *freebie* on my blog yesterday that my kiddos ADORE....making a Human Timeline. I would LOVE, LOVE, LOVE for you to come visit....you are a HUGE inspiration to me! =)
Heather
Heather's Heart
Ooh, I love those Wal-Mart cut-outs! I'll have to check and see if mine have anything like that. I'd use them for pictoral directions on my chalkboard.
The kiddos will be reminded to
1. (Pencil) Write your name
2. (Crayons) Color
3. (Scissors) Cut
4. (Glue) Glue
So many of my kiddos want to jump in and cut and glue...aaaah! lol
Thanks for sharing.
Brenda
You Might Be a First Grader...
Great finds! I don't go to Wal-Mart often, but I might need to check it out!
Sara :)
Smiling In Second Grade
My district currently uses Investigations. It is good for teaching the students different strategies to use to solve problems however it does not really cover time, money or practicing math facts. My district also has adopted the Common Core standards and we have had to add lessons that Investigations does not cover. The other problem I have with Investigations is that I don't think it really prepares the students for the formal assessment tests at the end of the year because Investigations is all about using manipulatives and our students can't use them on the tests.
When I saw the peas and carrots I automatically knew it was Investigations. We used that program about 6 or so years ago. Our district switched to Everyday Math, which does have time and money included.
I LOVE the shake up math game and will check it out on TpT. Thanks!
Dee
First Impressions
You have been busy! I like seeing your egg carton shake up games in action. My kids would love this! When students shake do they get to sing the KC and the Sunshine Band song, "Shake, shake, shake....shake, shake, shake, shake your booty!" cause that would be REALLY fun! Just sayin.
She
Sprinkle Teaching Magic
We love egg carton games in my room too!!
And those walmart cutouts and file folders are PRECIOUS!!!!!! I was just in Walmart this morning. ... and I did not see those {or anything that cute! HA!}
Kacey
Doodle Bugs Teaching
Doodle Bugs Paper
I love this. It is going on my wish list!! You're so creative and inspiring!!
Hive2nd.blogspot.com
Love the cut outs!! Where did you find them at in Wal-Mart?
April
Wolfelicious
We did Investigations, and honestly everyone here HATED it. We only used it for three years and then got rid of it because people complained so much. We ended up with Everyday Math and I like that a lot better. There were SOME good games, but they don't really teach money or time at all. It's a good idea; I like the idea of the students investigating in math to learn about it..but it's too over their head, I think. Like, we did one money thing and it wasn't even called money. We had to totally supplement because otherwise we didn't feel the kids were really learning anything they needed for second grade.
We've used Investigations for 8 years and I love it. It actually teaches students real number sense. Investigation has recently aligned very well with the common core. They have all the new supplemental lessons free online. It still doesn't teach money but that is not a common core standard in first grade. it did add time and fractions which it was lacking before. If you adopt it and have any questions let me know. I think if you have the proper training and understand the program well, your kids will do great. You also have to make it your own a little bit and teach it the way you feel best, but we've gone through each lesson and the standards and it hits everything pretty well.
Love the shake up games! I am definitely adding these to my math stations! :D
Amanda
First Grade Garden
The shake up game is such a good idea!! Buying things we don't yet know what we will do but knowing we will use them anyway-- it's what we do! Ha!
❤- Stephanie
Falling Into First
I added them to my wishlist! I need to start shopping...I have over 50 items on my wishlist. Is that normal?
Mrs. Wheeler’s First Grade
Mrs. Wheeler TpT
How clever! You are so good at seeing things as what they could become, not just what they are. We have Investigations. It isn't horrible, the games are pretty fun. Sometimes it feels very repetitive and doesn't do a great job of connecting concepts.
Laurie
Chickadee Jubilee
I love the placemat idea. That is terrific and so durable. I need to be on the look out for those. Egg cartons. You always have those around. Thanks for the great ideas!
LindaC
I love the placemat idea. That is terrific and so durable. I need to be on the look out for those. Egg cartons. You always have those around. Thanks for the great ideas!
LindaC
Just found your cute blog - love the title! :)
Amanda
Teaching Maddeness
Come join my giveaway!
I really like the placemat idea. I think I will also get the large cutouts and use them when I ask the students to work on some bell work for cutting, gluing, and coloring. I put the symbols up instead of writing the word. Thanks for sharing!
Not AIMS but AMSTI :)
Love the egg carton ideas. Great finds at Walmart.
Tammy
primaryparadise.blogspot
I want to go Wal Mart shopping with you! You always find the best stuff that I seem to look over :)
LOVE, LOVE the placemat idea!! :)
I LOVE your blog! This will be my 9th year teaching first grade. Investigations...oh boy! My county used it for 2 yrs, during which the 2nd year, we were told to supplement the program with our own materials. I liked some of the games, but it does not prepare students for quick recall of facts, time and money. Place value was inadequate and too late in the program. I hated that my own child had it for 2 years during 4th and 5th grade. Had to do A LOT of catching up with her outside of school. Plus she hated math, thanks to the meandering 'explore the problem and draw a zillion arrays to solve double digit multiplication' approach. Our BOE last summer purchased HM Go Math! (we all use Everyday Math during calendar time). Finally we have consumables and it's much more traditional math program, ultimately, better aligned with CCSS.
Hi Sarah, I love your ten frame doodles!!! Really? I can't draw ANYTHING, and you doodled those??! Wow! I just added placemats to my Walmart list!!! Thanks for the great idea.
I don't see a Permission to Pin button on your blog. Is it okay to pin? I'd love to pin the placemat idea for some of my teacher friends to see :)
Live Laugh and Love to Learn
livelaughandlovetolearn@gmail.com
Hi Sarah! I have been visiting your blog for the past year and absolutely adore it! You are so creative and inspiring! I make a Shake It Up game as an intern but with letters. The students had to write down as many words as they could think of with that letter in 30 seconds. They loved it! I am now an official follower.
Drop by anytime :)
Tracy
Creekside Teacher Tales
Investigations is such a great program, however you MUST use the supplemental worksheet pages to bridge the gap between understanding the skill and putting it on paper. With time and organization, I think you'll find major growth with your first graders using this program. ALSO using your games to assist with skills is (in my book) perfect for math workshop!!!! Love everything you have! Keep it coming! :)
Sarah, I live in Bham too. What Walmart did you go to? What system are you with? We are adopting AMSTI math and Common core, too. I work in Jefferson County, Concord Elementary.
Email me back please, sacattack@mac.com
Thanks!!
Got the cut outs and folders at walmarts today! Had to use my teacher radar to find them in a pile of clearance stuff! Thanks for pointing me in the right direction!
Just found your blog. It looks great! I have used Investigations for 6 years and I love it! The first year it took time to make the games but after that, they were ready. I have been a trainer for my county and several other counties for 5 years so each year I get a "refresher" course and was trained in the newer version- which is much easier to follow. I supplement with time, place value and fractions. And I have collected papers that go with each section from outside sources to help the kids get used to working on worksheets. Mostly following this program, my class math scores have been consistently high for the past 4 years. I wholeheartedly believe in it.
Celebratefirstgrade.blogspot.com
Investigations is an awesome program. I love the fact that there are always hands on games for the students to play. I have multiple copies of the games and I really think it helps them master the concept faster!
Oh my goodness. LOVE THESE!! I hope you don't mind that I pinned them!! I can't wait to use them in my classroom!!
Kristen
A Day in First Grade
My district has used Investigations 2 for 4 years now (this will be the 5th) and it's the only program I've ever taught. It has some good and bad stuff, but I feel like I need to supplement a lot. In K, I didn't feel like they did enough writing numbers and stuff, because it's all hands on. In first, they do more writing, but I feel like it's really repetitive- we can only play Roll and Record so many times before the kids get bored! Overall, it has good and bad, but you really need to make sure you're looking at the standards and not blindly following it. Our district added "pop in" lessons to help meet the standards for us.
We too are fully using investigations for the first time this year. Our district bought Envision with Investigations a few years back. We had been using the best of both to create our math lessons. This year we went straight to Investigations. Some games we like. Many areas we don't and doing the math workshop their way we are not fond of. Our technology age produced students get bored on many of these easily.
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