By: Mary Kienstra on: February 3, 2017 in: fractions, math engagement
Understanding fractions is so much easier when kids can touch the models. Pattern blocks are making fractions real. They are the perfect models just for that. Today I introduced fractions to my third graders with pattern blocks. And they got it. We started with thinking that the yellow hexagon represents one. From there we investigated what the other […] Read more
By: Mary Kienstra on: May 22, 2016 in: #tlap, graphing, math engagement, #tlap, graphing, math engagement
What do you do at the end of the school year when the standard is data analysis? Create a survey project! It makes perfect sense. Kids will care much more about analyzing the data that they collect than about any data presented in the text. Let them create their own. Take a survey. Create a […] Read more
By: Mary Kienstra on: April 11, 2015 in: math engagement, median, volume
When teaching volume and surface area, there is no better way than to get out the rectangular prisms (a.k.a. boxes) and let the students figure it out. On days like this, I like to get out of their way and just watch it unfold. Last year I realized that volume and surface area cannot be explored […] Read more
By: Mary Kienstra on: September 2, 2014 in: Collaboration, Discussion, Greg Tang math, Marcy Cook math, math engagement, order of operations
Nothing rocks the world of young mathematicians like the order of operations. Just when they are feeling confident with their math facts, the rules change! Now they have to follow a certain order – and it makes no sense to them at all! I introduce the proper order using PEMDAS as a guide, but there […] Read more
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