Math Challenge- Four Fours

My kids LOVE a good math challenge, and this one is always a hit! Four Fours!

Four Fours requires the students to create an equation for each number, 0-30, by using the digit 4 four times.  (4, 4, 4, 4)  (yes, they need to use all four of the fours in each equation- they will ask!)

For example:

0 = 4 + 4 - 4 - 4

Some of the numbers are easier to solve than others, but others are quite tricky.  My students enjoy the friendly competition with their classmates to see who can discover an equation for the different numbers.

If you are interested in doing this activity with your class, you can get a free copy of the Four Fours recording sheet in my Teachers Pay Teachers shop!

ENJOY!

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Math on Monday

It is back to school tomorrow after a nice two week winter break!  It was great to have the time off, lots of relaxing, sleeping in, reading, and down time.

I am excited to start a new math unit on angles.  I teach a group of gifted math learners, so even though I am teaching 5th graders we are often working on math topics/skills at the 6th-8th grade level.

I created this Power Point presentation to review the parts of an angle, how to label angles and the different. types of angles.

After the review,  the slides move into some new material like complementary and supplementary angles, angles formed when parallel lines are cut by a transversal, and angles around a point.

The kids will be learning how to use geometric reasoning to figure out angle measures using what they know about the properties of different types of angles and putting the pieces together to figure out the unknown.  Some of these problems can get quite challenging, involving multiple steps, which is great for deeper thinking and encouraging perseverance!

I am also working on putting together some exit slips to use at the end of class to quickly assess what the kids know and what we need more review and practice with.

I have the angles slides in my Teachers Pay Teachers store if you are interested in using them with your class too!

What I am Reading

One thing I love about winter break is the free time I have to read, read, read!
Here is what I am reading right now:

2nd Chance by James Patterson - My hairstylist recommended this series the last time I saw her, so I downloaded the first book onto my Nook to check it out.  This is a series of crime/mystery books that take place in San Francisco and the lead characters are four female friends who come together to create the Women's Murder Club where they work together to solve crimes.  I was hesitant at first, but so far I like the series.  It is an easy read, short chapters, the plot keeps moving and holds my interest.

Without You There Is No Us by Suki Kim - This is a memoir written by a journalist who temporarily taught at a North Korean university.  This book is VERY interesting,  I find everything about North Korea to be mind boggling.  It is hard to imagine day to day life in that environment.  As a teacher it is also interesting to see North Koreas education system (university) and how vastly different it is from what I experienced.

Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson -  I am not currently reading this, but I have read it three times in the past and it is going to be my read aloud when school starts up after winter break.  This book is amazing, and if you teach American History it is a great story that will have your students begging you to read more!  It follows the story of Isabel, a slave who was promised freedom, but it doesn't happen.  You get to see her day to day life, struggles, thoughts...as she lives through the Revolutionary War time period.  There is a second book- Forge- that contuse that story.

What are you reading right now?  Do you have any suggestions to add to my personal or school book list?

Hello Project

My class loves to do projects, and the time right before winter break is a great time to get crafty!

One project that I love, and that is always a hit with the kids, is my tinfoil/Sharpie art project.  It is really easy and only requires card stock, tinfoil, yarn, glue and Sharpies.

First I have the kids draw a design on their card stock.  I show them some examples and let them know they can make a random design, a holiday themed design, or a design showing something they like.

Once they have finished drawing the design, they go over the pencil lines with glue, and cover the glue lines with yarn.

Once the glue has dried ( let them sit a few hours, or even overnight) I have them cover the design with tinfoil and wrap the foil around to the back of the card stock.  I have them tape down the edges to hold the tinfoil in place.  Next, they use their palm/hand/fingers to smooth the tinfoil over the years design and will see their design pop up in the tinfoil.

Now for the fun part- coloring with Sharpies!  I stocked up on colorful Sharpies by using 40% and 50% off coupons to Michaels and Joann Fabric.  I don't know what it is about Sharpies, but kids LOVE them!

Here are some examples of a work in progress and a finished project.

Hello Thankful

I posted this "I am thankful for..." prompt on our class whiteboard recently, and had the kids add something to it as they arrived for the day.  I was so impressed to see the things the kids wrote.  They asked "Can I write more than one thing?" uh....YES!  As you can see, they are thankful for everything from bacon to no segregation!

Hello Greek and Latin Roots

 Spelling has always been a frustrating subject for me, as so little of it seemed to transfer over into writing and oftentimes the spelling list was a random hodgepodge of unrelated words.

So, last year I began teaching my spelling and vocabulary through Greek and Latin roots.  My students were so excited to learn "Greek and Latin", I think it made them feel very mature and studious!

I created differentiated word lists for each week of study.  Each week focuses of 2-3  related roots (for example- uni, mono, bi, du).  There are two list of 10 words, a basic list and a challenge list.  Both lists use the same roots, but the challenge list increases the spelling difficulty and uses words that will challenge students to learn more difficult vocabulary.  I introduce the roots and words on Mondays and I let the kids choose between the basic list and the challenge list.  I was worried that the kids would take the easy route and always choose the basic list, but they surprised me and most kids chose the challenge list.

I love teaching spelling and vocabulary now because I have seen a real transfer of knowledge from the Greek and Latin roots to the students spelling and figuring out meanings of unknown words.  I love it when I hear a kid say "Well, I know mal means bad, so the word must mean ....".

If you are interested in learning more about the resources I created to teach Greek and Latin roots in my classroom, visit my Teachers Pay Teachers shop.