Inspire Me #1

In every aspect of life, we all hit snags and run dry. In your occupation, this can make work seem just like that- work. With teaching, there are no moments to just sit and rejuvenate- the students are always with you! Inspiration and motivation are key to keeping it exciting not only for the students- but for you as well.

When you hit a snag, what inspires you?
I'll be honest...I have loved my job because I always get new, fun ideas, but lately, the creative flowing of my brain has been lacking. It has been frustrating me....but today, I had an idea come to me, and it re-inspired my thinking.I like to think of a project or fun activity that I know the students will enjoy, rather than do the same ol' thing. When the students do well, it is instant gratification and will give you the spark you may need.

My math idea from today:
I'm going to make "Super 10" days. This can be held either on days that you make a new 10 on the calendar from counting the days of school or on any date that is a 10 (or multiple of 10!). I haven't decided yet. On Super 10 days, we are going to talk all about 10's. The first activity is to read Math Fables by Greg Tang. This is a fun book that talks about numbers and the parts that make a whole (like 2+2=4). We are beyond this in math, but it's always a good review. The last page is parts that add up to 10. As I read, I am going to have students use animal counters (as the book talks all about animals) and let them manipulate the math as I read it. (Give them a minute to play with them first!). Then, I'm going to let them come up with their own part/part/whole relationships and display them on a poster. This provides collaboration, teaching to others, and allows me to see at a glance what the students can do.

Next, I'll teach them some "Super 10" games.
Like my apple cards!??!

I don't know why these pics won't display the right way!?

One is the pyramid. Make a pyramid with cards, taking out all the face cards. (One card at the top, then cover with two, then three, then four, then five at the bottom.) Students must put the numbers together to make ten. They can only take cards that are not covered up. They can use a card from their extra pile as needed, discarding if they cannot use the top card. The students have loved this one in the past!


Another game is "Ten Towers" from Super Source. The students roll a number cube and place that many unifix cubes as a tower, making ten towers total. They then go back with another color of unifix cubes and roll again, this time only placing the cubes where they can complete a tower to make 10. Whomever makes a tower of ten keeps the tower. The most towers wins!

The best part of teaching these games is that they can then be used as math tubs/centers.
Here is another game. It works like face-off. Students lay markers on the 10's on their side. Students roll two number cubes. If they get 10, they take a marker off. Whoever clears their board first wins!


Are you inspired? What other games can you think of?