by Lara Francisco
Math Challenge Announcements
You may have already realized it ... but I did not hand out a new Math Challenge last Monday seeing as how there was only one week before Thanksgiving Break. The new challenge will be ready to go the day we get back to school - November 30th.
Having made the decision to do these Challenges all on my own, it has been exciting to see the growing interest and participation with each one. That being said, I want to reiterate what my intent was behind starting the Math Challenge program:
You may have already realized it ... but I did not hand out a new Math Challenge last Monday seeing as how there was only one week before Thanksgiving Break. The new challenge will be ready to go the day we get back to school - November 30th.
Having made the decision to do these Challenges all on my own, it has been exciting to see the growing interest and participation with each one. That being said, I want to reiterate what my intent was behind starting the Math Challenge program:
Math is all around us and shouldn't be scary. Children deserve safe/positive experiences to explore math and to create their own math identities. Sometimes there are many paths to the same answer, and that's OK. Sometimes one answer can be represented in more than one way, and that's OK too. Sometimes the journey to the answer is more rewarding than the answer itself. Knowing how to communicate your thoughts and reasoning, when problem solving, creates confidence in yourself.
Knowing how to listen to others explain their thinking, is equally as important.
Knowing how to listen to others explain their thinking, is equally as important.
Another thing that I'd like to address is the competition factor of the Challenges. Yes, there are "winners" and I do go back and forth about it. Other than changing the wording, I feel that it is important to have some sense of recognition. My intent is to inspire and to provide an opportunity for the kids to do all that I've listed above ... and darn it, they deserve to be recognized! It is IMPOSSIBLE to recognize each and every one of them publicly, but please know that I do look at each and every entry and take them all in. That being said, I have added a few new categories this week other than the usual 4.
And here we go... Participant Recognition for Math Challenge #4 !
Primary Math Champ: (trying out a new term here...)
Lewis from Ms. Smith's class
Intermediate Math Champ:
Henry BK from Ms. Goldman's class
The path that Henry took to find his answer, just blew me away. At first I thought he was way off base ... but then I looked closer. Can you see what he did?
And here we go... Participant Recognition for Math Challenge #4 !
Primary Math Champ: (trying out a new term here...)
Lewis from Ms. Smith's class
Intermediate Math Champ:
Henry BK from Ms. Goldman's class
The path that Henry took to find his answer, just blew me away. At first I thought he was way off base ... but then I looked closer. Can you see what he did?
Classroom Winners:
Ms. Dickens (sorry Ms. Meck) and Ms. Goldman
Now for the new categories:
The Quickest:
Madeline from Ms. Palumbo's class. She was the first one to turn her Challenge in and even had a sweet little comment written at the top "That was fun!" Ahhh... melt my heart!
The "Onlys":
Samantha in Ms. Ward's class
Kate in Ms. Huffman's class
Briar in Ms. Brown's class
Morris in Mr. Bingaman's class
Esther in Mr. Bailey's class
The Most Colorful:
Andrew from Ms. Colando's class and Henry from Ms. Abshire's class.
Maybe it's genetic?
Henry gets an additional shout out because he explained his thinking in amazing detail, and in the most beautiful handwriting to boot!
The Most Thorough Explainers:
The 5th graders - It's very impressive!
Ultimately though, every single student, parent, and teacher who worked on this challenge deserves a round of applause, a high five, and a sincere "You are amazing!"
Thank you!!!
Gift Giving
You may have already realized it ... we are entering that time of the year, the Holiday Season! A parent asked me this week if I would mind sharing some math game gift ideas on my blog. Since I am slightly obsessed with both math and games, I said yes!
The games listed below are some of my (and my boys') favorites, but be sure to keep the child you are buying for in mind. Also, many of these games are on my game page in case you need a visual reference. I will sort them by primary and intermediate, but again, it all depends upon the child who you are buying for.
The Primary Set-
Blink
Zingo 123
Mastermind for Kids
Math Dice Jr.
Go Away Monster!
Sum Swamp
Cariboo (not sure if they even make this any more?)
ZooLogic
Spot-It Numbers
Make 7
Connect 4
Gobblit Jr.
Number Chase
The Intermediate Set-
7 ate 9
Pig Ten
Secret Code 13 + 4
Mastermind
YamSlam
Set
Flip Six
Albert's Insomnia
Loose Change
4-Way Count Down
Flip 4
Math Dice
Lumps
20 Express
I think that will do for now...
Thank you again for all of the support that you have shown both myself and our amazing QAE students during their journey through the world of math.
Have a wonderful week off!
Ms. Dickens (sorry Ms. Meck) and Ms. Goldman
Now for the new categories:
The Quickest:
Madeline from Ms. Palumbo's class. She was the first one to turn her Challenge in and even had a sweet little comment written at the top "That was fun!" Ahhh... melt my heart!
The "Onlys":
Samantha in Ms. Ward's class
Kate in Ms. Huffman's class
Briar in Ms. Brown's class
Morris in Mr. Bingaman's class
Esther in Mr. Bailey's class
The Most Colorful:
Andrew from Ms. Colando's class and Henry from Ms. Abshire's class.
Maybe it's genetic?
Henry gets an additional shout out because he explained his thinking in amazing detail, and in the most beautiful handwriting to boot!
The Most Thorough Explainers:
The 5th graders - It's very impressive!
Ultimately though, every single student, parent, and teacher who worked on this challenge deserves a round of applause, a high five, and a sincere "You are amazing!"
Thank you!!!
Gift Giving
You may have already realized it ... we are entering that time of the year, the Holiday Season! A parent asked me this week if I would mind sharing some math game gift ideas on my blog. Since I am slightly obsessed with both math and games, I said yes!
The games listed below are some of my (and my boys') favorites, but be sure to keep the child you are buying for in mind. Also, many of these games are on my game page in case you need a visual reference. I will sort them by primary and intermediate, but again, it all depends upon the child who you are buying for.
The Primary Set-
Blink
Zingo 123
Mastermind for Kids
Math Dice Jr.
Go Away Monster!
Sum Swamp
Cariboo (not sure if they even make this any more?)
ZooLogic
Spot-It Numbers
Make 7
Connect 4
Gobblit Jr.
Number Chase
The Intermediate Set-
7 ate 9
Pig Ten
Secret Code 13 + 4
Mastermind
YamSlam
Set
Flip Six
Albert's Insomnia
Loose Change
4-Way Count Down
Flip 4
Math Dice
Lumps
20 Express
I think that will do for now...
Thank you again for all of the support that you have shown both myself and our amazing QAE students during their journey through the world of math.
Have a wonderful week off!