Teacher tips- How we do math stations
Summary
TLDRThe video offers a detailed explanation of how to teach math to children using various tools and hands-on activities. The instructor emphasizes flexibility, using methods like mental math, manipulatives, tally marks, and stations for different learning styles. Examples include threading activities, dice games, domino parking lots, and number building with beads. The teacher highlights the importance of making math interactive and accessible, tailoring methods to each childโs needs. Stations evolve throughout the year, gradually increasing in difficulty, with teachers providing additional support where needed.
Takeaways
- ๐ Math teaching approach involves using multiple tools: mental math, manipulatives, fingers, and markers.
- ๐ค Hands-on learning is key for math comprehension, allowing kids to touch and manipulate objects.
- ๐ง Students are encouraged to use different methods like tally marks, manipulatives, and counting mentally.
- ๐ข Stations are organized to engage kids in various math skills like threading, counting, and sequencing.
- ๐งต The threading station helps with hand-eye coordination and number recognition by matching numbers to manipulatives.
- ๐ฒ Foam dice are used in a quiet, controlled way to avoid distractions while practicing building numbers.
- ๐๏ธ 'Lola City' station teaches comparison through building and comparing towers using numbers.
- ๐ Students practice sequencing and filling in missing numbers using popsicle sticks and clips.
- ๐ 'Chain station' helps kids learn basic addition and subtraction by building visual chains with different colored links.
- ๐ Measurement station involves using Unifix cubes to measure objects and record their dimensions.
Q & A
What is the presenter's general approach to teaching math?
-The presenter emphasizes providing children with a variety of tools, such as mental math, manipulatives, tally marks, and physical objects, to accommodate different learning styles. The focus is on hands-on activities and flexibility in teaching methods.
How does the presenter teach children to add and subtract?
-The presenter teaches addition and subtraction using a combination of mental math, counting on fingers, tally marks, and manipulatives. For example, children might count numbers in their heads or use physical objects to visualize the process.
What are the benefits of using hands-on math stations in the classroom?
-Hands-on math stations help children understand mathematical concepts more concretely. By manipulating objects, they can better grasp abstract ideas, which improves their understanding of math in the long term.
How does the threading station help children learn math?
-The threading station involves children threading manipulatives onto a string based on a number card. This helps with hand-eye coordination and reinforces counting and number matching by making them physically represent numbers on the string.
What is the purpose of the 'Lola City' station?
-In the 'Lola City' station, children roll dice and build small cities by counting the number of objects corresponding to the dice roll. At the end, they compare the height of their 'cities' to determine who has more or fewer objects, reinforcing counting and comparison skills.
How does the popsicle stick activity help children with number sequencing?
-The popsicle stick activity helps children identify missing numbers in a sequence. They are given a partial sequence (e.g., 2, blank, 4, 5, 6) and must find the missing number (in this case, 3) to complete the sequence.
How does the 'Domino Parking Lot' station reinforce addition skills?
-In the 'Domino Parking Lot' station, children pick a domino, add the numbers on it, and then park the domino in the corresponding numbered spot. This helps them practice simple addition and number recognition.
What is the function of the 'chain' station in math practice?
-The 'chain' station is used for practicing both sequencing and addition. Children build chains of different colors based on numbers or solve simple math problems (e.g., 2 + 8) by creating visual representations of the numbers.
What do the kids learn from the 'Build a Tower' station?
-In the 'Build a Tower' station, children roll dice and build towers with blocks based on the number they roll. This teaches them to count, sequence, and practice fine motor skills while understanding number values.
How does the presenter differentiate the difficulty of the stations over time?
-The presenter adjusts the difficulty of the stations throughout the year. As children master a skill, more challenging activities are introduced, and simpler stations are phased out to ensure continuous learning and development.
Outlines
๐ Engaging Kids with Math Using Various Tools
The presenter shares their approach to teaching math to children using a variety of tools, such as manipulatives, tally marks, and mental math. They emphasize flexibility in teaching, adapting to children's needs by allowing them to use their fingers, mental math, or physical items like markers. The ultimate goal is to give children numerous tools to succeed in math. A major focus is placed on making math hands-on, which helps children understand mathematical concepts better in the long run.
๐งต Threading Station for Math and Fine Motor Skills
In this segment, the presenter introduces a threading station designed to improve hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills. Children thread beads onto a string based on number cards. For example, if a card displays the number two, they add two beads to the string. The challenge can be increased by using different numbers such as five or seven. The presenter encourages this hands-on activity to reinforce number recognition and counting.
๐ฒ Fun Math Game: Lola City Station
The presenter introduces a station called 'Lola City' where children build cities using blocks based on numbers rolled on a foam dice. Each child builds their own city, and the winner is determined by either having the tallest city or the one with the smallest size. A tip is given to keep dice quiet by using foam dice inside containers. This activity promotes counting, building, and comparison skills.
๐ข Missing Number Activity with Popsicle Sticks
This station focuses on helping children learn number sequences by finding missing numbers. Popsicle sticks are used, with numbers like '2, _, 4, 5, 6' written on them. Children are tasked with finding the correct number to complete the sequence, such as placing a '3' in the blank. This activity strengthens children's understanding of number order and logical reasoning.
๐งฎ Counting and Combination with Beaded Necklaces
Children use beaded necklaces, cut into groups of ten, five, three, and two, to form number combinations. For example, if they draw a cup labeled '7', they could combine beads in groups of five and two, or three, three, and one to make seven. This activity helps children learn different ways to combine numbers to reach a total, building a foundation for addition and subtraction.
๐ Domino Parking Lot for Number Recognition
In this domino-based game, children park dominos in numbered parking lots from 0 to 12. They pick a domino, add its values (e.g., 6 + 3), and place it in the corresponding parking spot (e.g., number 9). The first person to park all their dominos wins. This station enhances both number recognition and addition skills.
๐ Chain Station for Simple Math Problems
The chain station helps children practice simple addition and subtraction. They build chains with different colored links to represent math problems. For example, two links of one color plus eight links of another color would represent '2 + 8 = 10'. As children become more comfortable with these problems, they progress to more complex cards where they write the solution on a blank space using a whiteboard marker.
๐ข Sequencing Station with Chains
This station is designed for children who are not yet ready for addition and subtraction. They practice number sequencing by building chains in order, such as 4, 5, 6, or 1, 2, 3. The station helps reinforce their understanding of number order and sequencing without the pressure of solving math problems.
โ Hands-On Addition with Colored Beads
Children are given a math problem, like '3 + 1', and they build the equation using beads of different colors. For instance, they would take three beads of one color and one bead of another color, then group them together to represent the total. This hands-on approach reinforces the concept of addition through tactile learning.
๐๏ธ Build a Tower Game with Dice
This station involves a tower-building game using dice. Children roll a dice and stack the corresponding number of blocks. For example, if they roll a six, they build a tower with six blocks. The game continues until a child builds all the towers on their page. This activity helps children practice counting and fine motor skills.
๐ฒ Enhanced Tower Game with Two Dice
A variation of the tower-building game uses two dice, where children roll and sum the numbers to build their towers. For example, rolling a '4' and '3' means they would build a tower with seven blocks. This version of the game increases the difficulty by introducing the concept of addition.
๐ข Domino Math with Giant Dominos
In this station, children use giant dominos to practice addition. For example, if a domino has four and two, they write it as '4 + 2 = 6'. The children then record their answers on a piece of paper. This activity helps them visualize and solve simple addition problems using a fun, game-based approach.
๐งฉ Sorting 2D Shapes and Real-Life Objects
In this bagged station, children sort real-life objects, such as houses and TVs, into categories based on their corresponding 2D shapes. This activity reinforces their understanding of shapes while also helping them make connections to the real world. Sorting activities like these are simple but effective in teaching geometry basics.
๐ Giant Deck of Cards for War Game
The presenter uses giant cards to teach children the game of 'War', which involves flipping cards and comparing numbers. The child with the highest number wins each round. This game helps children learn sequencing, comparison, and the concept of greater than or less than in a fun and engaging way.
๐ Measuring Objects with Unifix Cubes
This station helps children learn about measurement. They measure the width or height of various objects using Unifix cubes, then record their findings on a laminated recording sheet. This hands-on activity introduces the basics of measurement while improving fine motor skills and attention to detail.
๐ข Bead Experiment with Number Combinations
Children experiment with beads on pipe cleaners to explore number combinations. For instance, if the task is to work with the number six, they can create combinations like '5 + 1' or '4 + 2' by moving beads across the pipe cleaner. After experimenting, they record their combinations on a laminated sheet, reinforcing their understanding of addition.
๐ฎ Math Stations and Ongoing Skill Development
The presenter wraps up by explaining how math stations evolve throughout the year. Stations gradually become more challenging as children develop new skills. The stations include a mix of hands-on activities and technology, with some incorporating iPads and educational games like Osmo. Teachers observe and assist children who are struggling, ensuring that every student receives the support they need to grow.
Mindmap
Keywords
๐กMath stations
๐กManipulatives
๐กMental math
๐กTally marks
๐กThreading station
๐กDomino parking lot
๐กNumber combinations
๐กSequencing
๐กGreater than or less than
๐กScaffolding
Highlights
Math learning involves using a variety of tools including mental math, manipulatives, tally marks, and markers to give kids multiple methods for problem-solving.
Hands-on learning is emphasized to help children better understand math concepts, including activities like threading, tower building, and number matching.
The teacher uses a flexible approach based on students' needs, using both hands-on and mental strategies depending on what works best for the class each year.
Threading station helps improve hand-eye coordination while incorporating number cards to match quantities and build patterns.
Use of foam dice inside containers to avoid noise while shaking them, adding an innovative way to focus on the task without distractions.
In the 'Lola City' station, students build towers based on dice rolls and use a spinner to determine the winner based on the height or size of their towers.
One station focuses on identifying the next or missing number in a sequence using popsicle sticks and clips.
Ketchup containers and beaded necklaces are used to teach combinations of numbers, helping children understand how different numbers sum to specific values.
Domino parking lot game helps children practice addition by matching domino sums with corresponding parking spots numbered 0 through 12.
Chaining station encourages kids to solve addition problems using different colored chains for each number and combines them to demonstrate the total.
Another chaining station focuses on sequencing rather than addition for younger students, helping them practice ordering numbers.
A tower-building game teaches counting and number recognition as students roll dice and build towers with the corresponding number of blocks.
For variety, the teacher uses giant dominoes and cards to teach sequencing, greater than/less than concepts, and addition.
Stations include measurement activities where students use cubes to measure and record lengths of objects, reinforcing practical math skills.
A station focused on number combinations allows students to experiment with different ways to make a given number using beads and recording their results.
Transcripts
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our welcome Darrin's hobbies presents
today's edition is going to be a math
edition so I've had several questions
about how I do math and the first
question before I get into stations the
first question was how do I address
counting and adding with my kids do I
use our fingers do we use manipulatives
do we do it just in a head we use
markers the answer is all of the above
my theory on math is that I need to give
my kids as many tools as possible to
allow them to do mental math or to use
manipulatives so the first thing that I
do is I teach them to do it with their
head so if I told them three plus two we
learned to go 3 plus 2 and then we count
3 4 5 or if it's take away 3 and then
they take it back to 1 so that's one way
that I do that I teach them how to use
tally marks and then erase or add more
tally marks we use manipulatives where
they're having to count on or take away
I don't really subscribe to one firm
idea I just kind of use what works best
for the class that the Year you kind of
have to be flexible and figure out are
they hands-on are they mental mathur's
are they using their fingers and just
give them as many tools as you can all
right now on to the most important part
for me math is all about hands-on the
more that you can give them to touch and
feel and do and manipulate the better
that they're going to understand that
math later on down the road so what we
do is we have stations and each station
is a two-person station so I'm just
going to run through these really quick
just to give you guys some ideas of what
we're doing right now
so in this station right here it is a
threading station so this works great
for hand and eye coordination and their
little fingers so they have to thread
these on to a string now to make this
more challenging what I've done is I
have given them number cards and so if
they were to put on the number two then
they have to match that number two with
two manipulatives one two and they
thread that on and so they would build
on their string two five seven six so as
I walk around I can just look at their
string and see if they've done the job
that they're supposed to
all right so before I get into this next
station I want to give another teacher
tip okay if you go to the Dollar Tree or
the dollar store and you buy these
little containers the Tupperware
containers and you put a foam dice
inside it doesn't make a lot of noise
and so when the kids roll the dice they
shake it and they drop it and they can
see the dice inside you know they're
worried about dice going everywhere all
right so this station is called Lola
City and what it is is I sit on one side
or my partner sets on the other side I
roll for I build one two three four
there's one of my city and the kid
builds his city I build he builds I
build he builds and at the end we have a
little spinner that we spin and either
the winner is the person who has more
the tallest city or the person who has
less next station is about learning what
number comes next
or before so on here we've got some
popsicle sticks that we've written two
blank four five six and then they need
to find the clip that goes with it and
put it on there so now it's two three
four five six so it's about finding the
missing number next station is one of my
kids favorite stations and so all you
guys do is you go to the party store and
you buy ketchup containers at these
little mini cups and just write
different numbers in them okay you also
need to go buy the beaded necklaces and
what you do is you cut them into groups
so all of my red beaded necklaces I cut
into groups of ten all my oranges I cut
into groups of five my yellow is I cut
in groups of three my green my blues I
cut in groups of two and then my greens
are ones and so what they have to do is
if they pull the cup seven they have to
figure out what combinations make seven
so I could put in there five and two
more or they could build it with three
three and one more so this is teaching
them the combinations to bed number next
station is called Domino parking lot and
what it is is I just made a little
parking lot that has all the numbers 0
through 12 and so what they have to do
is pull a Domino this is 1 and 0 I know
that makes 1 this Domino is 6 plus 3
more so that will go 6 7 8 9 and they
park it on number 9 and then the winner
is the person who can park our dominoes
first all right so next station is a
chained station and what we've done is
we've given the math problem so 2 plus 8
ten and what you do is you have to build
two of one color on one side eight on
the other side of a different color so I
have two on one side and then eight of a
different color on the other side and
then I tell them you have to combine to
make your equal so two plus eight so we
combine those and then we change it over
equals ten and then to make this harder
once they get good the station we have
more cards where the equal sign has a
blank and they have to use a whiteboard
marker to write the answer my other
chain station is for kids who are not
quite ready for the addition and
subtraction problems so this is just
sequencing so they would build four then
they would build five and they would
build six or you can pull another card
bill one bill to build three and they
just Haven the chains all right so next
station inside of here they have little
addition problem that says three plus
one and so then they set this down and
they have to build three plus one so
three of one color plus one of another
color and then they put in front of it
equals to three okay next stations call
build a tower so I have a little paper
that looks like this so it's got one two
three four five six and in here they
have a dice they roll the dice if it
says six they build six on this stack
right here and then their partner goes
then it's my turn I roll if it says
three I build my tower of three and the
winner who is the one who can build all
of their towers on their page okay this
is another station this is a station
that's a variation of the build the
tower same idea except it looks like
this and what you do same idea you roll
it forward so I get four one two three
four and I put it with the number four
and the winner is a person who can get
one two three four five six and I teach
them if they roll it and they get four
again they go oh well because I don't
get to build four again if you want to
make this station harder what you do is
you put two dice in this and make the
dice 0 1 2 3 4 5 and then the
combination of the two you can build all
the way up to 10
so here's another domino and these giant
Domino's you can get from the Dollar
Tree and so what they do is they have a
piece of paper that they record on that
looks like this and what they do is they
take a domino for example this one says
four and two so they're gonna draw their
Domino four and two and then they're
gonna write four and two more equals six
okay then we've got some bagged stations
and usually these bagged stations go
along with what activity I'm teaching
this week so I've just finished my 2d
shapes and so this bag is just a simple
sort i've got giant shapes and they have
to sort different items that like houses
and crutches and tvs and they sort those
into the shapes giant deck of cards
these are worth their weight in gold
also get these at the Dollar Tree and
I've taught them how to play war so I
take the face cards out and we just I
showed them how to get half the deck and
then they flip it over one two three
four and whoever has the largest number
so we're working on number or sequencing
and greater than or less than right so
we've also taught measurement and so
this station I have laminated one of the
recording sheets that we've done as a
group and then what they need to do is
they pull something and then they use
unifix cubes to measure the width or the
height of something and then they record
it on their recording sheet alright and
this is one of my favorite stations so
you can build these with just beads and
Shannel sticks or pipe cleaners and what
it is is you make a circle and so this
one says number six and there are six
beads and so what they have to do is
they experiment with six can be six and
zero or they move one over six can be
five and one more move one over six can
be four and two more and so what I've
done is after they've had opportunities
to play with these and experiment then
I've added some laminating recording
sheets and so what they do is here's the
number six so they're gonna draw
whatever combination they built so like
four and two and then they write four
and two more equals all right so that
was a very fast and furious go through
of what I do in my stations if you have
any questions on the things that I've
just shown post those questions down
below or if you have any other questions
about how I
math I'd always love your your questions
so every time we learn something new I'm
going to put something in this station
that practices that skill and I'll take
away one of the stations that I know
that kids have gotten really good at and
so throughout the year these stations
are going to incrementally get harder
and harder and harder and how I do
stations are free choice the kids you
know there can only be two kids at each
station and if they're finished they
clean up and then choose another station
I also have iPads and stations and
Ozma's and stations so we have
technology we also have hands-on and
then my student teacher in my we walk
around the room and we work with kids
who are we can tell are struggling with
counting one to one addition whatever
that skill is that we're working on I'll
go and play that game with the kids so
that I can scaffold the the skills that
I want them to have all right well
that's all I've got for this edition of
Aaron's hobbies presents thanks for
tuning in and remember post those
questions down below
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