Prior to Seabury, I taught in public schools where I was required to teach a specific lesson on a specific day regardless of my student's abilities with the concept. Some days it felt like throwing a ball at a target, hoping that most of the kids were comfortable with the lesson to move on. Even worse, those who were above the level I was teaching wasn't allowed to work ahead, because, if they moved to another grade level in math, then what were they to do the next year? There was very little flexiblity with advancing students who were ready. At Seabury, there is no glass ceiling to what your child can do. I preevaluate each child's abilities and stretch them as far as they can, not as far as the math book will allow. In the next few years, they will continue to recieve what they need, regardless of the level of performance.
I have two different math groups that I lead twice a week. These groups are flexible and will change as new skills are introduced. So, if your child is strong with place value, but struggles with basic facts, they will get the instruction they need at their level. Currently, I am pulling resources as high as the third grade text and beyond!
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| The girls are making 4 digit numbers in a game of Snap! Here they are to make the largest number possible with the numbers they draw. |
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| Using counters to show equations that equal 10. |
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| TV and VK are using place value dice to compare numbers in a game of "Who Has More?". |
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| Who Has More? Gameboard. This game can be place with single digit to six digit numbers, and math facts. |
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| JT and I are using addition facts to "bump" each other off the game board in the game of Bump. |
In math groups, I believe in using manipulatives and hands-on games to teach and reinforce mathematical concepts. It makes learning the concept fun and more concrete than just doing worksheets. Base 10 blocks, counters, and several types of dice are just a few items in my suitcase of math fun. I send home math worksheets on Tuesday and Thursday that review what was done in math groups. If you are seeing their homework becoming difficult, please let me know right away! Homework should be practicing previously taught skills and concepts and not intended to have your child struggle.
In addition, other skills are being practiced and learned in a real-world application setting. One example from today comes from our Literature Circles. Students were building houses with a variety of materials. Money and telling time will come into play very soon as the students are developing a community. Already, we have a fish store in the works, as well as a swimming pool (memberships start at $50 :) ).
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| AM is marking lines in her cardboard house. |
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| JT using a measuring the height of his "house" with a tape measure. |
