Momma with a Teaching Mission: tpt

Mental Math. WE all know what it is. To do math in your mind, without the use of any tools. But how do you get 6 or 7 year old to understand and use it? How can you help them become successful to build those foundational skill? I have a couple suggestions that may help you! Feel free to comment below, any helpful hints you have found as well!

I teach in a school with common core. The past 1 or so we have been working on standard 1.NBT.5 which states "Mentally add or subtract 10 from any 2 digit number and explain reasoning why."

So to start this off we worked with the hundreds chart. They made the connection that +10 was just the number directly below and -10 was the number directly above. We did a lot of work and practice with this.

I had the students do some mental math with +1. I posed different questions, "what's 3+1" they excitedly wanted to be the one to answer. So we went through all the +1 facts up to 10. Then I asked them, "Why was that so easy for us." They all respond, well +1 is just the next number.
I then used this chart and colors for tens and ones to help them make connections. I said a ten is just like 1 ten. Then I asked what is 3 tens plus 1 more ten. They said "oh 4 tens". I saw that magical light bulb go on for some of them!

I gave them many different opportunities to work with +10/-10 from a two digit number. We used dice, spinners, game boards, partner and individual games. I gave them entry tickets some days and exit tickets other days. I immediately used that data to see who need what! If one of them did not do well on the entry ticket, i pulled them that day for a small group to reinforce the skill. If it was an exit ticket they did not perform well on, I knew they would be the first one I would pull the next day.

This is a short video of one of my friends who struggled with making that connection. I had him building the numbers with tens frames. Then practicing taking a 10 away or adding a 10. He worked so hard and I was so proud of him!

I think it is super important to provide your students multiple opportunities to practice the skill. And even though the standard states to 'mentally' solve these problems, that will come in time. I think as first graders, it is important to build that fluency so they are able to make those connections to be able to solve it mentally. I also think it's important to revisit the skill many times throughout the course of the year, so they have that continued practice.

If you need some ideas or common core items, feel free to head over to my store, you may find something you like or would work in your classroom! Momma with a Teaching Mission on TpT

Momma with a Teaching Mission

If there was some sort of time machine I could rewind to 10 years ago, I would have told myself to hang on. I would have told myself it was going to be a crazy, wild, but yet beautifully magnificent ride, and so worth it. I was at a dark place. Within a year, I got dropped out of college, moved back home, gotten pregnant, and was alone. But out of that dark place, I became a stronger, hard-working, determined person. While pregnant, I worked 3 jobs, and struggled to stay afloat. On January 20th 2005, my gorgeous baby boy was born.

It's hard to believe 10 years have flown by. I became the person I am today because of the decision I made after having my sweet boy. I no longer was going to feel sorry for myself. I was no longer going to be ok with just getting by. I was going to make that change. I was going to break the cycle and show and prove to myself and my son that it could be done. After Karter was born, I could no longer afford to maintain my apartment. I could no longer work 3 jobs, I had to care for my son. I still worked 2 jobs, with the help of my family taking care of my baby. I had to move back in with my mother. I had to get rid of my amazing dog, Barley. I still think about him, wonder if he's still alive, he was a boxer and would have been about 13ish years old. He was there for me the many nights I cried and found myself questioning why is the point? It was hard to get rid of him, but I couldn't bring him to live with me at my mothers house, she had a dog that didn't get along with other dogs. Moving back in with my mother, meant I also moved back in with my 17 year old brother and sister. It was very tough. At one point in my life, I thought I was the best, very arrogant. Having my son at age 21 and being a single mom changed me in every single way possible. When my son, Karter was about 18 months old, I met my husband.

Chris was the father my son never had. He was and still is amazing. I just knew that he was the one.

If you are reading this, please remember, if you aren't happy with your life--you are the only one that can change that! Believe me, if I can go back to school, while planning a wedding, and having 3 children under the age of 5----ANY ONE can chase and catch that dream!!!

So in honor of my blessing Karter James, I am having a sale in my store, everything 20% off. Go check it out, and don't ever forget, you can make that change!!