Classroom Rules Poster

I recently just found this great website postermywall.com
http://www.postermywall.com/index.php/cart/selectproduct/157896eb62da0deb82ca34bca1663964

Teachers are given a free account to create and design posters, banners, signs, etc..  You then can either buy the product or download a digital copy for free.  I finally created a new classroom rules poster for my classroom.  I love the way it came out and it looks so great in my classroom. It looks like one of those wood signs everyone is buying.  To download a copy click on the link below.

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/New-Classroom-Rules-Poster

In my 6th grade math class this week we spent most of the week working on percent of a number.  I love the new Common Core Curriculum. We are able to spend more time on each topic and really develop concepts.  While I was teaching this week I was amazed at how many of my students chose to change the percent to a fraction out of 100 and multiply instead of changing the percent to a decimal.  Usually it's the other way around.  We concentrated on real life problems involving percents and discounts.  Students brought in ads and coupons from newspapers, circulars, and the internet to share. Next week we start ratios and rates.

I created this Benchmark Fraction, Decimal, Percent table for students to include in their notes.

 To download and print click on link below
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Benchmark-Fractions-Decimals-Percent-Chart

Follow my blog!!

Who Said, "You Can't Study For Math"?

     When I first started teaching I had parents and students tell me "you can't study for math, you either know it or you don't".  I couldn't believe that was what some people thought or possibly told their children.  So I introduced math study guides in my class.  I gave my students a list of the topics and vocabulary that would be on their next test and asked them each to make a study guide before the test.  The study guide was due the day of the test and handed in for bonus points.  The students were not sure how to make this study guide, so I suggested a foldable or booklet.  The first set of study guides came in and they were construction paper booklets, index cards, and a few foldables.  They included written notes, steps, examples, and vocabulary.  This pattern continued for the next few tests until one of the girls in my class asked me if she could make a lady bug and write her notes on it instead, and I said yes.  

     It was the day of the test and my students came to class with their study guides ready.  Then she walked in with the lady bug.  All of my students oohed and aah-ed when they saw her lady bug.  It was made of construction paper with wings that moved and just adorable.  Most students were upset because they didn't know they could make animals as study guides ( I didn't know they could either).  So I explained that this student made the suggestion and that I didn't realize they might want to be more creative.  So I gave them the topics and vocabulary for the next test and told them they could make anything they want as long as it was appropriate for school and that all the math was there.  I was amazed the day of the test what creative and beautiful study guides came through my door.  The students were so excited to share their designs and ideas.  They were excited about math and studying! 

     I loved this new twist and have continued the tradition now for 14 years.  I originally called them creative study guides, then "Our Ticket To Success", and then changed the name after attending a workshop with Judy Dodge about 7 years ago to "Tickets To The Test".  Over the years I have been blown away by all of the creative tickets my students have made. They have been studying for math in a fun and interesting way.  I have seen:  hearts, trees, turkeys, wreaths, snowmen, Santa  cookies, a huge school, Ipad, cartoons, comic strips, tiny library books, birthday cakes, sports, Justin Beibers hair, giant m&m's, etc.  

     So many of my former students come back to visit and usually always say they wish they were still making tickets.  My response is, "why did you stop".  New students entering my class always ask, "when do we start making tickets".  They have seen my students walking proudly through the halls with their fantastic study guides or have seen them displayed in our school.  

     One of the best things I ever did as a teacher was challenge the thought that you can't study for math and say yes to a lady bug.

Tickets from November

This turkey is so cute, notes and examples on each feather (hard to see)

December Ticket--Math Stockings

Student wrote notes on the back of each stocking.

Love this Tangled ticket. Notes hanging down from her hair.

Birthday Cake Ticket

So creative--Hot chocolate (each blue and black rectangle represents a package of Swiss Miss mix. They were all in the box

    

Hi Everyone!!

     Well I got some new followers--Welcome!!  I am so excited to be part of this new community.  However, I have a lot to learn.  I joined a Linky Party 2013 and finally figured out how to create and upload my New Years Resolutions.

To join the party use the following link to download your "What's ahead in 2013"

http://www.makingitteacher.com/2012/12/Making-It-As-A-Middle-School-Teacher.Whats-Ahead-2013-Linky.html

Still not sure how to grab a button.

I am so excited about the new year!  I love teaching math and so far I am really enjoying the new Common Core Curriculumn.  I plan on reading and researching educational blogs and sites this year.  I am going to get a new printer for my classroom (right away), so I can print in color and not have to use our faculty share printer which is always jammed or broken.  I also need a new desk!!  It's an old wood one, but pieces keep breaking off and the cheetah duck tape doesn't look so hot!  I will have to post a picture one day of my desk--hideous! 

 I hope to get more followers and create a fantastic blog.

Happy New Year!!!!!!!!

Christine

Math Central

Welcome to my blog!!

 Well, it has been a very interesting school year so far.  The start of the Common Core Curriculum, APPR, and Hurricane Sandy.  I still cannot believe it is the end of December already.  It seems like the first few months of school flashed by before my eyes--almost like an out of body experience.

 Hurricane Sandy destroyed most of my area including schools.  I was one of the lucky ones, but many of my friends and co-workers lost their homes, cars and schools.  Some of the students in my area had to combine into one elementary school where there were 50 students per class and a few teachers.  Talk about a difficult situation, but they survived and are now back home in their own elementary schools.  The high school in the area has major structural issues and students have to be bused to another town where the district is renting two empty elementary schools until the high school is ready.  Electric is back almost everywhere and people are starting to re-build, but so many people will not be able to go home for months.

Tree damage by Hurricane Sandy at neighbors house

 APPR is another interesting new feature this school year.  I received my first official rating, have a ton of new paper work, and began creating my big binder of evidence.  I would love to share ideas and thoughts on the binder.

 The Common Core Curriculum has been an exciting new approach to 6th grade math.  I am really enjoying the slow down to the math curriculum.  The past 6 years the curriculum has been jam packed with a new topic every day.  This Common Core Curriculum allows us as teachers the time to explore and develop mathematical concepts.  Hope it stays that way--you know what I mean!

 I am looking forward to developing relationships via this blog with other teachers so we can share  our thoughts and ideas.  I have already found some great activities on some of the blogs I am currently following for my math classroom.

 Follow me and I will share ideas, thoughts, activities, lessons, printables, white board activities, power points, and many other resources.

Free Power Point Lesson: Evaluating Algebraic Expressions

Have a fantastic day!!!

<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/4473113/?claim=wtkrf7fppqu">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>

Hi, this is my first time setting up a blog.  I am a 6th grade math teacher.  I have lots of ideas, lesson plans, and great activities to share.