Personal Learning Path Blog - Molly Terry

 For this week’s blog post I wanted to do something a little different. Instead of sharing a game or online resource to use when teaching, I wanted to share something that emphasizes the importance of teaching math and how kids can learn to love math. This resource is a Ted talk by Dan Finkel, entitled, “5 ways to share math with kids”  https://youtu.be/ytVneQUA5-c In his talk, Finkel explains that he understands that math can be “the best of times and the worst of times” and that while some students love the thrill of discovers, others feel overwhelmed and discouraged. He goes on to outline five principles to teaching math, which are: 1. Start with a question 2. Have time to struggle 3. You are not the answer key 4. Say yes to students ideas 5. Play.  Without giving too much away (you should watch the video!), the speaker wants teacher to allow student time to question, struggle, and argue about ideas so that they see math not as a right or wrong question, but as a way t...

 This weeks learning path is focused on facilitating discussions, deep thinking, and perseverance among students. The resource I found is from 5280Math.com and it provides “creative math prompts” for students to work through, examine, and discuss. The website provides prompts for all grade levels, covering a variety of topics. The prompt that I chose to use can be use in elementary grades to explore equivalent fractions and potentially area.  Standards CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.4.NF.A.1 Explain why a fraction  a / b  is equivalent to a fraction ( n  ×  a )/( n  ×  b ) by using visual fraction models, with attention to how the number and size of the parts differ even though the two fractions themselves are the same size. Use this principle to recognize and generate equivalent fractions. CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.4.NF.A.2 Compare two fractions with different numerators and different denominators, e.g., by creating common denominators or numerators, or by comparing ...

This resource is an online game for students to review and practice their counting skills. The game is appropriate for students grades pre-K - kindergarten and aligns with the standard:  CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.K.CC.B.4.A "When counting objects, say the number names in the standard order, pairing each object with one and only one number name and each number name with one and only one object.  https://www.education.com/game/counting-pizza-party/ The activity gives students a number which they must count of toppings for their pizza. When students are done counting the toppings, a bell rings.  The game then counts the topics with the students allowed to review.  The resource provides a variety of games that students can play as they master new skills.  Reflection I think that this is a great activity for students to practice their counting skills in an engaging way. One of my favorite aspects of the game is that is a part of a larger resource that allows students to keep...

 This week I wanted to continue working on strategies for teaching and working with fractions. Last week I explored an online interactive practice, this week I wanted to look into resources that would be fun and engaging for students to practice, and that do not require internet or a computer. The resource that I found is from  https://mathgeekmama.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/getting-to-know-fractions.pdf . It proves a printable set of fractions that teachers can quickly cut into “cards” to play with.  This aligns with 4th and 5th grade standards: CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.4.NF.A.1 Explain why a fraction  a / b  is equivalent to a fraction ( n  ×  a )/( n  ×  b ) by using visual fraction models, with attention to how the number and size of the parts differ even though the two fractions themselves are the same size. Use this principle to recognize and generate equivalent fractions. CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.4.NF.A.2 Compare two fractions with different num...

 Fractions  For the next few blog posts I want to focus on fractions. Fractions are a large topic with different rules when it comes to adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing (I also wanted to cover this optic because this week’s async work made me realize how much I’d forgotten!).  The resource I found is an interactive practice from PBS- schoolyourself.org for 5th grade math.  https://schoolyourself.org/page/embed?partner=pbslm&id=algebra/fractions CSS.MATH.CONTENT.5.NF.A.1 Add and subtract fractions with unlike denominators (including mixed numbers) by replacing given fractions with equivalent fractions in such a way as to produce an equivalent sum or difference of fractions with like denominators.  For example, 2/3 + 5/4 = 8/12 + 15/12 = 23/12. (In general, a/b + c/d = (ad + bc)/bd.) Reflection The interactive model prompts students to solve fraction questions. One of my favorite things about this model is that it provides links for students to r...

For my 5th blog post I wanted to continue working on strategies for long division. When I was a student I remember this topic was one of the first in math that I struggled with. I think that it impacted my confidence in my mathematical abilities and I want to make sure that when I teach, my students are confident in their abilities. I have already written about long division videos, activities, and worksheets. This week I wanted to find a website that allowed students to practice long division. I think that it’s really important that students are able to have fun when learning so that they do now associate using their agh skills with having to follow orders and do work. The lesson aligns with CCSS.Math.Content.6.NS.B.2 Fluently divide multi-digit numbers using the standard algorithm. The website I found is  https://mrnussbaum.com/divide-pal-online-workshop  which is an online game for division. The website allows you to select how many divisor digits, and dividend digits you w...