Time to Regroup

Subtraction with regrouping - such a difficult concept for students to learn.  When I first started student teaching my students were reviewing this skill.  Recently, it became obvious that we needed to review again.  Either they regrouped on every single subtraction problem or they didn't regroup on a single subtraction problem.

I had introduced a subtraction poem when I first started student teaching, but never was able to teach the students what it actually meant.  Once we started reviewing subtraction again, we took the time to learn what each part meant.

Together, we did a subtraction sort.  We compared the numbers in the ones place to determine which category the problem went in.

After we did the sort together, I had the students complete a different subtraction sort on their own.  Once they had the problems in the correct category, they solved them.  This helped them know when they needed to regroup and when they could subtract as normal.

Once the students had a better understanding of when to regroup, we played subtraction bingo!  I don't think I have ever seen my students work as quietly and diligently as they did this day.  This game was great because it provided the students with a lot of practice, but they also loved playing bingo after.

Anchor Chart

One of my absolute favorite things to make for my lessons are anchor charts.  They're so much fun, and a great reference for my students.  Whenever I have my own classroom I plan to keep them up so that students are able to refer to them.  So far, here are a few of my favorites!

Obviously, this one wasn't anything too special, but it was the first one I made.  I let the students help my fill in the circles to correctly represent the fraction.

This chart was obviously part of Dr. Seuss week.  My school did so many Dr. Seuss activities, and it was so fun!!  I made this chart one morning in about 10 minutes before school.  I was quite impressed by myself - I'm no artist!! The kids loved being able to contribute by putting their sticky notes on the chart.

I wish I could take all of the credit for this one, but of course, I found it on Pinterest.  My kids LOVED it!  They had so much fun explaining the cause and effect in Angry Birds.  Even my fourth grade students loved it when they came in to take a test.  They kept saying, "Oh I get it! Miss Nobles, did YOU make that?".  They were so impressed.  Cause and effect was a skill my students struggled with, so I loved being able to connect it to something that they are so familiar with.

I can't wait to have more to post - but for now, these are the only ones that are blog worthy.  I'm a little embarrassed to claim a few of the others!