One of the simplest ways to get your students actively engaged with their math activities is to incorporate spinners. They are a great way to structure practice activities while keeping them fresh and varied. I love that I can have students working with the same set of numbers on a spinner and have everyone doing something unique!
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Spinners are also a fun and easy substitute for noisy dice banging around on desks during partner activities!
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Manipulatives are amazing WHEN you've taught your students exactly what you expect from them during their use. I spend a great deal of time at the beginning of the year laying out my expectations: math manipulatives are TOOLS not TOYS in my classroom. I give my students plenty of time to just play with them when we're getting started - get it out of their systems, so to speak - but then I believe that (at this age) manipulatives should be seen as tools for solving problems.
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Once my students know how to use them the possibilities are limitless!
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Many of these resources are from my Guided Math collection. Grab a set of FREE centers and my Guided Math Starter Kit right here!

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Finally, I absolutely LOVE using scoot games in my classroom. Anyone who has moved to a flexible seating model in their classroom knows that having students sitting in one spot is not great for learning. Even if you're restricted by the use of a particular textbook... why not try taking the chapter review, making a photocopy and placing individual questions around the classroom?! Same result, but without students sitting passively at their desk the entire time! I have created a ton of Scoot games that I come back to year after year.
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Click the image to learn more!
I hope that you're feeling inspired to get your students' hands ON some authentic math activities!
Thanks to Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah Designs, Creative Clips & Whimsy Workshop for the heading images!
Until next time,
LOVE these ideas and I pinned the math manipulative anchor chart - so helpful! Thanks :) Jen
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jen! So glad you stopped by! :)
Delete~Erin