Math Journals - Making Sense

 

 

One of our big School Improvement Plan goals for this year is to increase students ability to express their understanding of math concepts in multiple different ways.  For many of our kids, math is about getting the right answer and then moving on without really understanding why the steps they just did worked. 

 

Through our Math Journal initiative in grades K-6 this year, we will be having students utilize multiple ways to show the same understanding with pictures, words, and numbers to represent the mind map that is in their brain for how the numbers are working together to make the final answer. 

 

One of the most basic things we see every day especially with our upper grades kids, is counting on their fingers to figure our a basic fact like 6 +7.  They are often afraid to take a risk to think differently than the old method they know will work (counting on their fingers).  Or they are afraid that they might get a wrong answer.  We have to encourage risk taking and our math journals are designed as a safe place for kids to begin exploring new ways of thinking with math.  The goal is that they begin to piece together the many ways that numbers fit together. 

 

This short video below explains a little bit about what I mean.  You may want to expand this video to full screen to see it best.

 

Here are some first grade friends using objects and tally makes to build their understanding of numbers.

Here's a fourth grade friend getting her thoughts down.

 

Some of our 6th grade mathematicians are working together to explain their thinking.

Responsive Classroom

What's distinctive about the Responsive Classroom approach at Daniels Run?

The Responsive Classroom is a general approach to teaching, rather than a program designed to address a specific school issue. It is based on the premise that children learn best when they have both academic and social-emotional skills. The Responsive Classroom approach consists of a set of practices that build academic and social-emotional competencies and that can be used along with many other programs. These classroom practices are the heart of the Responsive Classroom approach:

2^nd Grade

We start each day with a Morning Meeting where we greet each other, do a group activity and read the Morning Message. Some group activities we have played include The Warm Wind Blows and a fun skip counting game called POP. The Morning Message gives us a glimpse of what we will learn each day. Students came up with their hopes and dreams for second grade. They worked hard to create either an academic or social goal! From there, we discussed what rules our classes need in order to accomplish our hopes and dreams and learn everything we have to learn in second grade. All students were involved in the rule making process and we came up with Our Class Promise consisting of our rules. We are off to an exciting start in second grade and are looking forward to learning and growing more this year!

3^rd Grade

Third grade has been actively creating a community of thoughtful and respectful students through the Responsive Classroom model.  All the students in third grade wrote their own “Hopes and Dreams” for the year.  After sharing our “Hopes and Dreams” we created our classroom rules that we want to honor each day in order to work and play safely and to make new friendships.  We have been walking in the hallways quietly and the following “Respectful Rules” in the cafeteria and bathrooms.  Our Morning Meetings have helped us get to know one another and learn how to listen, share, and very importantly…..have fun!

4^th Grade

Last Friday, Adam officiated at our “I Can’t Funeral” and we hope to encourage positive effort and thoughts with this activity. 

Mrs. Horn shared a great idea from the RC newsletter which we are implementing.  Students are creating “Memory Collections” and will share parts of their collection with other students.  We are working on how to share an oral story.  Eventually, students will build writing pieces around the different objects in their collections.

6^th Grade

In sixth grade we are working to have full morning meetings 4 days a week.  We have been using reinforcing, reminding, and redirecting language when it comes to making sure all students are conducting themselves properly in various locations of the building (hallways, cafeterias, specials, bathrooms).  We have built a class community by discussing our hopes and dreams with students and some of their parents at Back-to-School Night.  We have created a set of classroom expectations to ensure students are in a safe learning environment, one where they can do their best work. Since we switch classes, we have reviewed our expectations within our math, science, and social studies groups to ensure that the students are aware that we share the same expectations and hopes for their success.  Each classroom has expectations posted that were created by the students.

Rallying Back to School

Even with unexpected events of a presidential candidate visiting the park across the street, we had a great week with Back to School Nights! 

I want to first publically thank all of the city police, fire and rescue, and security officers from the FCPS Office of Safety & Security for their efforts to make sure our school operations could continue as normal as large crowds descended on Van Dyck park before, during, and after our morning arrival time for the political rally.  Their professionalism and quick communication ensured an uninterrupted and uneventful school day for all.  Thanks!

Thanks to our men in uniform for helping us out!

On Wednesday and Thursday evenings, we had wonderful participation from our parent community in coming out for Back to School Night.  The PTA sold spirit wear and added new members building excitement for strong parent involvment this year.  Peter Noonan, our new City Superintendent and city board members were here to show their support.  Linda Burke our Cluster Assistant Superintendent visited classrooms. Our resource specialists described their programs to parents in the library. 

  

Of course, the main event was for parents to get to spend time with our great teachers learning about how their classrooms work.  Teachers shared information about our Responsive Classroom practices which help build a sense of community and pro-social behaviors through strategies like Morning Meeting.  Teachers also explained aspects of the New Standards Based Elementary School Report Card.  Parents got to see student work and even leave a note for their students about their hopes and dreams for this year.

     

Thanks to everyone for coming out and working hard to help make these events a success!

The Dragons Are Back!

Welcome to the completion of week one at Daniels Run Elementary School.  We are off to a great start as students get acquainted with their new teachers, classroom schedule, and the daily routines.  The excitement level in the building has been vibrant and obvious from parents, teachers, and students.

As we move into week two, please remember that our mission at Daniels Run ES is to provide meaningful, engaging, inquiry based experiences to meet the educational needs and expand the critical thinking skills of our students as they strive toward their limitless potential as learners and citizens.  By collaborating as one Professional Learning Community and partnering with our community, we ensure the ongoing, purposeful learning of every child.

        Have a wonderful and safe weekend with your family and friends and please remember that we are thrilled to have your family be a member of the Daniels Run family. It takes a community to raise a child.