Mental Math

We have been learning many mental math strategies for addition (and subtraction).

When adding we can:

• Count all 
• Count on
• Use doubles or near douibles
• Make a ten, then add  - 8+9 is (7+1)+9  which is 7 + (1+9)
• Make a "friendly number" 23+48 is 23+50 then -2 (the friendly number is 50)
• Compensate - manipulatint the numbers to make friendly numbers -- remove from one addend ant then add the same amount to another (48+12 is 50+10)
• Breaking numbers into tens and ones -- then adding the ones, then the tens, and making new tens if necessary

When subtracting we can:

• Count back
• Add to subtract -- 14-7 What do you need to add to 7 to get to 14? then count on.

Let's see if we can put some of these strategies into practice and explain our thinking.

(click on the images to make them larger)

 

We are getting much better at using Mental Math Strategies AND showing our work -- and we can orally explain how we found solutions.!

Mathematical Mindsets

This year, our school is focusing on Growth Mindsets -- especially in math.

Our "mentor text" is Mathematical Mindsets by Jo Boaler.

"With Math I Can…" was born from the sobering realization that more and more kids and adults believe that they aren’t good at math. It is a mentality that is all too common and accepted in our society. It's a mentality that can have a profound and lasting negative impact on an individual. Our mission is to change that mentality and provide support tools to help teachers, educators, and parents deliver the message "With Math I Can…"

Learn much, much more here.

  
The statements below are Jo Boaler's favourite messages to give students (her 7 Positive Norms). Through these, we are trying to help all students have a positive attitude towards math.

 Read more about them HERE.

This is how we are learning the norms in Room 15 :)
 

Math is Awesome!

(encouraging a growth mindset)

Everyone can learn math to the highest levels

Mistakes are valuable - they help our brains grow!

Questions are really important – they mean that you are thinking.

Math is about creativity and making sense – we should be creating solutions that other people can understand and talk about.

Math is about connections and communicating. We can show our thinking in many different ways!

Depth is more important than speed. It is more important to think deeply, make connections and to show your thinking, than to answer something quickly.

Math class is about learning, not about performing. It takes a lot of time to learn and we learn best when we are trying really hard.

Dance -a- Thon

 We danced!

We all danced!

We learned to limbo too!