Problem-Solving Challenge of the Month: September

One of the most critical features of a balanced math classroom is problem solving! Each month this year we are going to post a problem-solving challenge that we encourage you to give your students the opportunity to solve. Every problem that we give this year for the monthly challenge will have some connection to place value. Last year, we had a blog post that touched on this topic. Check it out!

All students must have a solid understanding of the base-ten number system by the time they leave elementary school. So, what does it mean to develop a base-ten understanding? As educators, we must provide students opportunities to explore the relationships of the powers of ten and this is a key component for how students become fluent with operations.

Even in kindergarten we provide opportunities for students to:
-see numbers as tens and ones
-use the structure of our number system to count with understanding
-use the structure to develop operations

So how can we help students to gain a deeper understanding of the base-ten system? You can begin by posing this problem:

This is a measurement division problem type and the "measurement" is ten. We are putting ten markers in a box which is the central organizing number of the base-ten system!

One of the best ways to differentiate a math problem is by giving different number choices. Decide on which numbers would be best for your class. Have students select "Company A, B or C" and start solving!

As students solve, observe how students are thinking and select varying levels of student work to share. Here is an example of some student work:

Gather students together and discuss the similarities and differences between each strategy. This is the fun part! Allow students make conjectures about the math. Ask, "What do notice? How do these strategies build on each other? Do you see any patterns in our solutions?"

After you solved this problem with your students, share a comment below and let us know how it went! Post picture on twitter using #lisdelemmath. We can't wait to learn with you!

Partnering with Parents - How to Support Math at Home?

Tis' the season for Back to School Nights and Parent Orientations.
It is critical for educators to communicate with parents their role in the partnering with the teacher, classroom and school in their child's mathematical journey.  

It's easy for parents to forget that math is more than just addition and subtraction worksheets and memorized facts. It is our responsibility to look for ways to show children how math is such an important part of our everyday lives: cooking and shopping, art and music and computers – it is all math.

Here are some ways parents can help their child connect and practice math in “real life.”

1. Have your child count down the time (weeks, days and/or hours) to a special day or holiday.
2. Have your child measure ingredients for a recipe you are making.
3. Encourage your child to track or graph scores or stats for a favorite sports team.
4. Ask your child to count the change at the grocery store, or to estimate the total cost while you are shopping. Or, with older kids, to help track the family budget.
5. Explain what you’re doing whenever you use a measuring tape, a scale, or a ruler. Ask for your child’s help.

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Additionally, Cathy Seeley also has a GREAT message to share with parents from her book Faster Isn't Smarter:  A Math Message to Families

The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics also shares resources that might be helpful to share with parents.   NCTM Family Brochure

 

Whatever you decide is important to share, please make it a point to let families know how important it is for you to Partner with Parents!