Teacher tips- How we do math stations

Summary

The 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 child’s needs. Stations evolve throughout the year, gradually increasing in difficulty, with teachers providing additional support where needed.

Takeaways

• 😀 Math teaching approach involves using multiple tools: mental math, manipulatives, fingers, and markers.
• 🤓 Hands-on learning is key for math comprehension, allowing kids to touch and manipulate objects.
• 🧠 Students are encouraged to use different methods like tally marks, manipulatives, and counting mentally.
• 🔢 Stations are organized to engage kids in various math skills like threading, counting, and sequencing.
• 🧵 The threading station helps with hand-eye coordination and number recognition by matching numbers to manipulatives.
• 🎲 Foam dice are used in a quiet, controlled way to avoid distractions while practicing building numbers.
• 🏙️ 'Lola City' station teaches comparison through building and comparing towers using numbers.
• 📍 Students practice sequencing and filling in missing numbers using popsicle sticks and clips.
• 🔗 'Chain station' helps kids learn basic addition and subtraction by building visual chains with different colored links.
• 📏 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.