Multiplication Mats and Playdough

Yeah I brought out the playdough with my second graders and you know what?  Not a single life was lost!  Some say I'm a hero, but I'm mortal just like everyone else.  I put my jeans on one leg at a time.

I've been teaching my kids the times tables.  You know, the basics like the 0s, 1s, 2s, 5s, and 10s.  I noticed something during drills (which they love by the way).  I noticed that some kids were blissfully unaware that multiplication is skip counting or repeated addition.  Then again, I also noticed that some kids knew this and were ready to move the heck on.

So I set out and made these multiplication mats.

My Multiplication Mat

Look they stick!

I printed them out and laminated them which made them wipeable.  I first intended to use them with dry erase markers but then I realized I had a ton of playdough and little kids love love love playdough.  So playdough it was.

I explained the process to them and soon they were "playing at multiplication".  Mind you they had to write their answers in a handy dandy answer sheet.  After completing each set, they took a timed multiplication test.  I made it timed because I wanted to see if they really understood and not just added with their little fingers and toes.

Fun was had by all.

I worked with the kiddos that really struggle with the concept and they seemed to understand.  The proof will be in the pudding.  The pudding being next time I test them.

This is literally the messiest it ever got.  Winning!

The kids really loved getting their hands into the work! 

You can find this resource in my store if you're interested in purchasing this for your kiddos. Just click any of the links.

My Multiplication Mat 

Thanks for stopping by! 

Teacher of the Month In November Is That Even a Thing?

A wise man once said, "With great power comes great responsibility." (I think it was Peter Parker's uncle in Spider Man who said this.) Alas, I have been given the title of teacher of the month; in November, the shortest month of the school year.  What the heck?!!!  Is someone trying to send a message?

This leads me to November, the shortest month of the school year.  We are in session a total of like 12 days.  This does NOT give' us much time to start new big ideas with our students!  That is why November, for my class at least, is a month of review, introduction, pre-testing, and project making.  I teach a 5th and 6th grade special ed class by the way.

Here's one way I keep my kiddos sharp:

Thanksgiving Themed Resources

My students have Thanksgiving break on the brain!  So in an attempt to hold their interest, I've made some math word problems with a Thanksgiving theme.  We don't get enough word problem practice in our class because our time is SUPER limited.  I figure making a fun little game out of it does two things.  It takes the pressure off the student allowing me to assess them without anxiety being a factor.  It also gives the student a purpose for learning since the object is to finish the course.

Here's what I do:

A Thanksgiving Review Game

If you need this in your life click this.

• I hand out a packet of answer sheets, a special occasion pencil (more about this in a later post), and a calculator.  (My students are allowed calculators through their IEPs and I encourage them to do the work without it and then use it to check their answers.) 

• Next, I place a word problem card on each desk in the room.  (Turned over) If I don't have much time, I'll only put out a few cards.  
• Then, I have the students sit at a desk with a card on it.  They are not allowed to flip the card over until they are signaled.

• I signal the kiddos by starting a song.  As soon as the song comes on, they flip the card, note the number of the card, and begin showing their work in the corresponding box of their answer sheet.  
• The amount of time I give them depends on the difficulty of the work.  I usually give them about 2-3 minutes per question.  

• Once the 2-3 minute mark has ended, I stop the music and tell them to switch.  
• The whole process repeats until they've answered all the cards.  
• The students hang on to the answer sheets and only turn them in when they've filled every box.  
• I usually grade their answer sheet as a quiz.  

Kids love playing this!  To them it's a game, and to you it's an opportunity to assess or review.  Best of all admin loves to see kids engaged and out of their seats working on something, and the class basically manages itself because all I have to do is say, "We'll stop playing if you can't behave!", and right away the class rights itself.

I've provided some links to my Teachers Pay Teachers store and products (as if you hadn't noticed), but you can do this with any type of review.  

You can get this fine product and others by clicking here.

Identifying Sentences, Fragments, and Run-ons OH My!

We've been busy writing our memoirs in class lately and I'm almost bald from pulling my hair out!  As much as I go over proper sentences, they just don't seem to put it into practice.  Are they messing with me?!

I taught a mini-lesson and it went crazy well. (Where's the surprise observation when you need it?  Am I right?)  I thought I had seen the last of fragments and run-ons, but alas when we went back to editing, there they were mocking me.

I decided that my kiddos needed something else.  I thought maybe they're not making the connection between identifying wrong sentences in isolation and editing their own work.  So I tried a little experiment.  I made task cards for them.

My kids freaking love when I make stuff for the classroom!  They think it's a superpower or something.  I swear!  So needless to say, when I make something for them, they USE IT.  This task card set was no different.  They got their hands on it and made their little groups and got right to work.  (I looked on proudly with teary eyes.)

I'll tell you what I heard in the cooperative group.  I heard kids helping each other.  I heard them being kind when someone got a wrong answer.  I even heard them explaining why it was wrong.  Gasp!  They did know!

After their little game, I gave them time to go back into their writing.  Guess what?!  They showed improvement!  Not perfection but a huge improvement.  Their fragment sentences were fixed and their run-ons were reduced.  My heart grew three sizes that day.

If you like it then you shoulda woulda clicked on it.

Kiddos collaborating.

Self-check.

They even ordered the cards for me before putting them back!

I can't begin to tell you how paranoid I am that maybe, just maybe, I have a few run-on sentences here making me a complete hypocrite or fraud.   Meh. 

Let Me Clear My Throat

Hi my name is Nydia Appolonia and I'm a Special Education teacher as well as a bunch of other things.  I dabble in a lot of things.  I started this little blog as a way to document all the things I do on a daily.  And I do A LOT for realsies! 

I like to have fun in life as well as at work and if you follow me, maybe just maybe we'll have a few laughs.  So without further ado.  I give you Apple's Class!  Ta Da and just like that a star is born!