Homeroom Process Writing Fix It Art Drama Centres Bulletin Boards Classroom Management Reflections Social Studies Math Equity Homework = Borrow~A~Book + Choose~A~Chart + Poem of the Week + Home Learning Projects   An effective way to teach math and reinforce math concepts throughout the year is by integrating math into morning calendar time. Each day we keep tallies of the number of days of school and the weather. The number of the day of school is recorded on a number line and a student must explain whether the number is odd or even (e.g. "The number 100 is even because it can be divided into two equal groups - 50 and 50"). They must also count to the number by 1's, 2's, 5's, 10's or 20's. A pattern is kept on a large calendar and a student must predict what comes next in the pattern and then describe the pattern using words or numbers. A list of the pattern descriptions is kept on a whiteboard next to the calendar.   Finally, the whole class brainstorms ways to make the date (e.g. on April 2 "How manys ways can you make 2?") and their equations (using addition, subtraction, multiplication and division) are recorded on another small whiteboard next to the calendar. Once a month students are given a quiz on how to make the number of the day and they must include at least 15 equations.   Teaching transformations can be easily integrated into the calendar. On our March calendar the pattern (light and dark green shamrocks and leprechaun hats) included slides and clockwise quarter turns. Transformations were then FORMALLY taught in Math after having done slides and turns for one month on the calendar. In April counterclockwise turns were introduced through the calendar. This list of problem solving strategies is posted at the Math Centre and is referred to when doing word problem solving and Math Journal.   [Homeroom] [Process Writing] [Fix It] [Art] [Drama] [Centres] [Bulletin Boards] (Classroom Management) (Reflections) (Social Studies) (Math) (Equity) Homework = Borrow~A~Book + Choose~A~Chart + Poem of the Week + Home Learning Projects Copyright © 2001 Michael Moore