Sunday, September 11, 2011

Guided Math: Part 4

Okay, so it took long enough!  My life is just all sorts of crazy right now.... let's see... I'm a wife who actually enjoys cooking, a mom to a 2 year old boy and soon to be (Feb. 1) a new baby boy, a full-time teacher of 4th grade students, an active church member, and a full-time graduate student pursuing my Ed.S.   So, do I have enough going on or what?  I'm basically just trying to survive my last two semesters of grad. school.  I'm so looking forward to May 2012!  I do enjoy blogging, and I really want to find push time in my schedule to do it more often.

Okay.. back to math!  I just {LOVE} my math calendar that I created for my fourthies.  It's a wonderful way to get them working on a variety of skills while I am working with a small group.  I have mentioned my calendar in previous posts, but I wanted to devote an entire post just to it... that's how much I love it! This year, my principal got wind of it and offered to bind my books for me!  How awesome is that?  If I were a genius I would produce these puppies and sell them.  Instead, I do sell them on my TpT storehttp://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Math-Calendar-K-5 for like five bucks.  All you have to do is make the desired copies and bind them together.  Last year, I used comb binding because it was cheap-o and what I had available.  This year, I was able to get them spiral bound which is A-W-E-S-O-M-E!!  I also got my other forthie teachers on board, and we are all using them this year!  The kiddos just love having their very own special book with their name on it :)
Here's my new math calendar!  {LOVE} the spiral binding.
Here's the inside!

These are the two pages the students write on and solve problems.  These two pages go along with our math calendar board.

Close-up of left page

Close-up of right page

Back of the front cover.  Math reference sheet for students to use when working.

Back of back cover.  4th grade GP standards.

Very back of back cover.  All our 4th grade vocabulary words!

The math calendar is where they write everything down from our math calendar board.  Our math calendar board is a simple area on my whiteboard that is divided into twelve sections.  Each section correlates to a section in their own calendar.

Here is the calendar board.  Students work on the same calendar for the entire week.  The calendar is part of their guided math 15 minute rotations.  

Here's the schedule we follow..
Monday- 
Review & go over math calendar from previous week
Tuesday-
15 minute rotation
Wednesday-
15 minute rotation
Thursday-
15 minute rotation
Friday-
Students may complete calendar once they finish their weekly assessment

**By the end of the week, students will have over 45 minutes of calendar work time**

The calendar is a combination of standards we will work on all year.  It's a spiral review and build upon prior knowledge and upcoming knowledge.  I label the twelve sections with letters.  Here's what each section/letter is about :)
A) Problem from the past
B) Problem from the present
C) Problem from the future
D) Money problem
E) Time problem
F) Fraction problem
G) Multiplication problem
H) Place value problem
I) Division problem
J) Rounding problem
K) Measurement problem
L) Vocabulary

You can purchase my math calendar template from last year by visiting my TpT store.  It's a little different than the one I use today, but the overall concept is the same.  Grab it..  it's only $3.00!!  You can also view sample images before you buy :)

This is the fourth part of my guided math series.  Let me know what else you would like to know about. Maybe I'll feature your suggestion in my next guided math series.

Questions??  Leave them below.

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16 Comments:

At September 11, 2011 at 6:34 PM , Blogger Mrs. Shepherd said...

Great idea! I just sent your post to my partner teacher who teaches Math.

http://ericashep.blogspot.com

 
At September 11, 2011 at 8:23 PM , Blogger Unknown said...

Awesome! Thanks, Erica!

 
At September 11, 2011 at 10:07 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Love this! We use a similar program that is purchased for the students called Simple Solutions. I love spiral review programs, the kids need them so much!

 
At January 2, 2012 at 12:32 PM , Blogger Jennifer said...

I just stumbled on your blog and LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it! I teach first grade and love your guided math posts! Silly question, why do you call it "calendar work"? I want to try to plug in first grade standards and see how we do with it! Thanks so much!
Jennifer from
http://www.myfirstgradeadventures.blogspot.com/

 
At January 2, 2012 at 4:38 PM , Blogger Unknown said...

Thanks, Jennifer. I juggled with a few names. Last year I used math journal. However, this year I have an actual math journal that my students write in every day. I just thought the name fit since the primary grades call work similar to this 'math calendar.'. The good thing is that you can take what works for you and make it your own.

 
At June 29, 2012 at 9:52 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi,
I just happen to come across your blog. You're truly amazing. I love your ideas.
I teach grade 4 math. This year I would like to implement math stations in my classroom. You are heaven sent. However, I have one question. Would you kindly be able to create a book that's geared for Canadians? We use metres, kilometres, centimetres, milligrams, litres, etc. Thanks so much!!
Najda (from Canada, Ontario)

 
At June 29, 2012 at 9:55 AM , Blogger Unknown said...

Hi Najda! Thank you so much for your sweet comments. What exactly do you mean by 'book'?

Terri

 
At June 30, 2012 at 5:12 PM , Blogger Candice from Carson said...

Do you just make up the math problems for calendar math each week?

 
At July 10, 2012 at 11:25 PM , Blogger Tonya said...

I just found your blog and I LOVE it:) You have made math workshop so much easier to do! I am your newest follower:)

Tonya
Tonya’s Treats for Teachers

 
At August 19, 2012 at 10:33 PM , Blogger Alli said...

Thanks for sharing, this is a wonderful idea!I have a few questions about calendar Math:
1.Do you change the standards focus on your calendar at all, or do you just focus on the standards you listed all year?
2. In the student booklet do you write the problems on the board and have the students copy them on their papers, or is everything on the board already provided on the students worksheets?
3. Do you incorporate word problems into calendar math? I teach 3rd grade in Texas and on our state assessment all questions are asked in the form of word problems. Is it possible to incorporate word problems?
4. How many problems do the students work on in a week?
5. Do the students have enough worksheets in the calendar notebook for the entire year?

Thanks!

 
At July 24, 2013 at 8:43 PM , Blogger Unknown said...

Terri - I am so thankful I came across your Teacher's Guide Math Workshop on TPT. I have read through your 4 guided math posts and a few questions have popped up for me.

1 - On your weekly schedule where groups are assigned you have a Math 1 and Math 2 column. Why is there a Math 2 column?

2 - Do you write new assessments regularly or is there a little gift on TPT i can purchase? :0)

3 - On the students stations checklist it makes reference to students working on their Standards Checklist after finishing a station. What is the Standards Checklist?

 
At July 31, 2013 at 8:31 AM , Blogger Unknown said...

Sorry I'm just now responding..
#1- I use the same focus all year long but the depth of the questions change as the year progresses.
#2- Students must copy into their own books but you could have them already to go if you have them in advance.
#3- YES! We incorporate at least 2-3 word problems... if not more.
#4- They work on all 12 for the duration of the week.
#5- They have enough for all year and a few extras if needed.

 
At July 31, 2013 at 8:34 AM , Blogger Unknown said...

Sorry it has taken so long. Emails get lost sometimes.
#1- I have a math 2 because I teach two different groups of math.
#2- Our math coach actually created our assessments. I have tried to talk her into selling them, but she hasn't showed any interest.
#3- The standards checklist is by unit and it is basically their standards written in 'I Can' statements. The students have a space for each standard where they can show they have mastered the standard. It's for sale in my TpT shop. I will be giving an update soon because it looks very pitiful! lol

 
At August 16, 2013 at 9:46 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

I was wondering if you could sell an alternate version of your calendar math in a Word or PDF? Many of us can't access the format offered in TPT version. I would love to purchase and use your fantastic math idea but just can't access it.
Thank you for your wonderful idea.
Diana

 
At June 3, 2014 at 4:38 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Being an Australian teacher I have read so many blogs and wondered about some of the terminology - thank you for clarifying it. Thank you also for sharing your procedures and thoughts - it's all very much appreciated as I struggle to find the bestest ever way to teach maths (yes we put the 's' on the end).

 
At June 20, 2014 at 8:43 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thank you for posting these "Guided Math" blogs. I am looking to better implement this in my 4th grade classroom this year and you have really outlined how I can do that! :)

 

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