Spooktacular Math Centers

Get ready…get set…for the easiest math centers you have ever laid your eyes on! Plus...the Halloween theme just adds that little fun factor! I am excited about these centers for three reasons:

1. There is little preparation invovled!

2. The students can complete the activities as many times as they want/need because each time they will be creating and manipulating new numbers!

3. These centers can last the entire month of October!

{What on earth will I do with all of my free time?!?}

As a teacher, I try very hard to create meaningful centers that require my students to apply new skills all while participating in fun and engaging activities. Independent centers are a great way to see a student’s application of skills.  Centers are GREAT! The preparation, however sends me right into fright! I love the thought of engaging math centers, but I do not love the thought of all of the preparation {even though they are so stinkin' adorable when you finish!!!} I had to find a way to have the best of both worlds. {the cuteness and the academics} Here is what I came up with...Spooktacular Halloween Math Centers! This unit includes 8 math centers that will have your students practicing basic skills such as addition, subtraction, place value and much more! The best part…the only preparation needed - cut out your students’ number cards {which could technically be cut by the students - depending on how type A you are} ;). I like to create the cards ahead of time, laminate them, and keep them from year to year! Seriously...that is all there is to it! The students use their cards for every center in this unit. In addition to all of that craziness, they can complete each activity as many times at the want/need because each time they will be creating new numbers! How much better can life get at the moment??? Ha! Sorry...I just love when I save myself time! Just in case all of my blabbering confused you...here is the prep. work one more time for all of you visual people! {Don't worry...I am one of you too!}

Here is a little glimpse of the eight centers included:

And the playing cards (large for teacher, small for students)

Annndd...a quick peek at a few of the response sheets.

Directions for each activity are located on the response sheets. During each activity, the students will be using their number cards to create and manipulate numbers. This means that the level of difficulty all depends on the student. They can create one, two, three or four digit numbers. Students can work in partners or independently to complete their centers. You can have 1-2 centers per week or introduce them all and allow students to choose which center they complete each day.These centers can easily last an entire month and are a great little change for the “spooky” month of October! I have added this little unit to my TPT store! You can stop by and pick it up as you wish!

Happy Fall Y'all! I am just lovin' this time of year!

Jacobite, 1745

Well here he is in his full glory and I have to say for the first time painting plaids/tartans I am rather pleased with the results. I have done him as historically accurate as I can, but I think that he is a fair representation of what one of these fellows would have of looked like, but I leave that to you to decide. So here is the chap.

Jacobite Soldier, 1745

Even Mrs PK likes him, even though she is English and he is not a Spartan.

A Little Math Pick Me Up

I generally enjoy teaching math {yes...I am secretively a math nerd}. I think it is just way too much when students explore and manipulate numbers and then have those huge Ah-ha moments! HOWEVER...and this is a BIG HOWEVER...there are two words that make my skin crawl {just a bit}! Dare I say it...problem solving! Why?!? Well...because that my friends requires some SERIOUS thinking!!!! Not that I mind thinking, but when you are trying to teach students how to think...sometimes things just get all jumbled up and I am about 99.9999% sure that my students are convinced that I am speaking Chinese...French... or some language other than their own! Maybe it is just me, but those baffled looks seem to say it all! Well...even though the job of teaching "strategies" to solve problems is a dangerous one...it MUST be done!

The other day, I was talking to one of my sweet teacher buddies {she taught second last year and has now moved to first...so basically we have switched positions...which means at this moment...she is my lifeline!} She shared a nice little strategy with me that she called P.S.A. She has been so gracious to allow me to share it with all of you!  The concept is oh so very simple and the kids are really loving it. Each letter stands for a step in the problem solving process: P = Identify the problem, S = Identify a strategy and solve, A = Answer and check. I loved the idea so I took it and ran as fast as I could back to my room to implement this ASAP! I was desperate...what can I say? Here is what I came up with!

A Problem Solving Bulletin Board

{That I reference a zillion times during math instruction}

I also added place value...the other deadly killer! :)

Annnnddd...a few keywords here and there!

If only that nice little bulletin board would solve all of the world's problems! Of course it has to be taken one little step further. Along with the zillion times that I reference and remind and reference and remind, my sweet friend also shared an idea that allows the students to apply their knowledge and really attack word problems.

I call them Work It Out Problem Solving Folders:

I glued the three strategies to a file folder. After laminating the folder for durability, I cut it into three sections. Now...watch how it all goes down!  It is all about the step by step!

P = problem

Read and identify important information and keywords! Highlight the problem and decide what the word problem is asking you to find.

S = Identify the strategy that you will use to solve the problem. Write an equation and solve!

A = Answer and Check!

During this addition problem, the students used rounding to check and get a "ballpark" figure! {Sorry there is no picture! My camera died on me right as I was about to finish! I will add one later! You get the idea!}

We have been working it out now for three weeks! Their improvement has been remarkable! This strategy truly makes problem solving concrete and gives them specific steps to follow during each problem. It also shows them how much thought it takes to solve these problems {which is not always easy for these little people to grasp...bless their hearts} :). This unit is up at my TPT store and you can check it all out HERE!

Here is a little preview: