• Math Homework:

    There are lots of ways for students to improve and enhance their math skills that are not worksheets or flash cards. We want students to be inspired by math, not stressed by it. Math isn’t a series of steps to follow. Math is a tool we use to solve problems in the real world. Students should engage in real math, see it in the world around them, and hear from others about how they use it.

     

    Below, you’ll find a list of ways students can engage in mathematical thinking outside of school. These activities can be done any time or anywhere. At the very bottom of this list is a set of choice boards that align with our text. These activities are intended to make students flexible mathematical thinkers and problem solvers. Finally, visit the Mosier Math website to learn more about why math is different from when many of us learned - and how it’s not!

     

    Suggested Activities:

    • Look at clocks:

      • Talk to students about telling time on an analog clock

      • Talk about how many more minutes to the next hour, how many hours until dinner, etc. on a digital clock

    • Count change and money

    • Look for ways to make 10. 

      • If you have 6 of something, ask how many more you’d need to make 10.

      • If you see a speed limit sign, say 35 MPH, ask how many more miles to 40. How many back to 30?

    • Look at fractions in the kitchen:

      • Have students repeatedly dump water (or whatever you’d like) from smaller measuring cups to larger ones, and vice versa. How many times can you fill it? How many smaller cups does it fill?

      • How much do you need to double or halve a recipe?

      • Talk about fractions when eating things like Hershey Bars or pizza.

    • Talk about dozens

      • Look at an egg carton: how many eggs are there? How are they arranged?

    • COUNT!

      • Start at any number and count up AND BACK

        • Counting around the decades and 110 can be especially tricky!

      • Count by 10s and count BACK by 10s

        • Start at a number that is not a multiple of 10. For example, start at 39, count up by 10s

      • What’s ten more than a number? What’s ten less?

      • Skip count by any number.

      • Skip count starting at any number. For example, start at 17, count by 4s. Can you do it backwards, too?

    • Make equal groups of items. Talk about fair shares. You can use anything: cars, legos, beans, rocks, you name it!

    • Talk about splitting things up (dividing). If you make a batch of cookies, how many can each person in the home have? Are there any leftovers? What should you do with them?

    • Estimate and round numbers together. 

      • Have students look at piles of items and ask about how many they think there are? What’s a too small estimate? What’s a too big estimate?

      • When do you use estimation?

      • When would you need to overestimate? Underestimate?

    • Talk about the math you use in your life.

    • Play games, and they don’t have to be math games. Here are a list of some good ones:

      • Yahtzee

      • Qwixx

      • Farkle

      • Shut the Box

      • Cribbage

      • Scat (Card game)

      • Prime Climb

      • Tenzi

      • Even Steven’s Odd

      • Azul

      • Make 7

    • Practice multiplication online with Multiplication by Heart

    • Play Factris - a multiplication Tetris style game

     

    Grade 2 Choice Board

     

    Grade 3 Choice Board

     

    Grade 4 Choice Board