First Grade Blue Skies

Now soaring in Kindergarten

by: Jennifer

Common Core Math Question of the Day

 Common Core Math Question of the Day

Common Core Math Question of the Day: As most of you know, I do a Question of the Day {here} with my kids…I did it last year in Kindergarten {seen here} with the Math Version {HERE}

I went back to my first grade version this year. My kids love it as part of their morning routine…especially my EL kiddos.  We do different things with the data, sometimes we graph it.  Other times we write about it or survey friends, you get the idea.  I am pretty flexible and change up what I do.

With our new math standards, I was thinking about how best to integrate parts of them into our morning routine.   A few months ago I had to give the PNOA (Primary Number and Operations Assessment) to my kids and was surprised by the way in which it presented problems to my kids.

 

At the beginning of the year, I started doing what you see below (and still do sometimes)…you can see it in the background to the leprechaun directed drawing freebie I shared yesterday {here}.  My kids LOVE it for some reason.   I will just write an equation (usually greater/less than or true/false) on the board.

I decided to make it more official and use my data board for it.  At this point, my kids are reading pretty well and my older data board Question of the Day for reading was in need of something “different.”  I like to keep them guessing!

We discuss where to start, how you have to solve each side (or occasionally just one side)….I have volunteers that show me what they do. If one side is 9+6 then we say that will put a “big, fat” (as we call it) 15 on top of it before moving on to the other side and seeing if we need to do it anything to it.
Here is my official pack….after using it for several weeks, I can say with all honesty that my kiddos love it.  They look forward to it every day!

Find it {here}

And a few printables are included too!

The way I use the data board is…

Kids move their magnetic number (numbers now included!) to the correct tin and then use their journals to record, solve, draw, and write about their answer.
I have the spray painted and gift wrap covered pizza tins with magnetic titles, so I can change them up, depending upon the type of question.

I have this option on ribbon that I can quickly tack up if the answer isn’t something that works with the other…so then it says yes/no for them to record that they’ve answered it in their journals.  All the titles are included in the pack.

Every day my leader turns the chart on the wall to a new question which they answer in their journals.  The pages are simply slid into plastic sleeve protectors with a ring through them .

There are times when  I will have students get a small version and glue it into their journal to answer during transitions.  But I always have a volunteer share how they solved it, step by step.  And then we agree or disagree as a class.  If we disagree, we let them figure out the issue by talking to another volunteer.  With the true/false, I will sometimes ask them to make it true….like what could they do if it is false to make it a true statement.

My students know they have to answer the question in their math journal…
They are always supposed to answer with a picture and words explaining how they got their answer.  For some kids, it is as basic as just stating the obvious.  Other kids, they really get into the explanation.  The point is that they can connect math to words and explaining or defending their answers.

Now, of course you don’t have to have a data board.
You can use these as journal entries (which I do on occasion)

Every full page is also included as part of a 4 to a page option for journals or “quick solves” on the back during transitions.

I am not sure what their fascination is with gluing in first grade. Oh wait, yes, I do! It’s messy!

If you have already purchased this pack, go download it again if you need the student numbers to make your board…I added those this morning.  If you’d like a FREEBIE, click “preview” on my TPT product page {here} and you can get this page for journals:
Well I hope I haven’t totally confused you!  If you think you’d like to check out the pack, you can do so {here}
Am I the only person obsessed with True Detective??
It ends tonight.  Tonight, People!!!   I.C.A.N.N.O.T.W.A.I.T!
But until then…
I am loving the weather here in Alabama right now, so I am going to get outside and enjoy life (with my kids, including the newly 5 year old Maggie!)
Leave a comment for a chance to win the pack!

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Comments

  1. Oceans of First Grade Fun says

    I love this! I love this! I love love love this! (in a sing songy voice). Such wonderful ideas! It is my goal to have a data board just like yours up in my room next school year 🙂 Thanks for the great post!

    Reply

  12. Molly Wiard says

    I would love to add this to our calendar time. I have my kids use whiteboards during calendar and it is nice to have them have something to do while they are waiting for the pokey students to get their boards and markers and get ready for calendar. If I don't win, I will definitely be adding this to my wishlist! wiardmolly@yahoo.com

    Reply

  16. Brittany Matheison says

    These look awesome! I would love to have these for my daily "Math Message!" I LOVE your products, and my firsties do, too (especially your dice games which they play almost every day). Translation: PICK ME, PICK ME!

    -Brittany
    inspirelovelearn.blogspot.com

    Reply

  17. Lisa says

    This is amazing. I love the thinking that is encouraged daily. I am not doing a great job with this…but it is our first year with CC, and I'm still just wading through everything. This would be very helpful. Lgnmill@comcast.net

    Reply

  19. Hardlyable Farm says

    I would LUV to win this packet. I have struggled with finding my groove in math this year blending common core, guided math groups, and EDM curriculum. I think this would be a great way to start off my morning work/math lesson. What a great idea. Thanks for sharing your ideas. I feel motivated and inspired to keep working on my math block instruction….Please pick me:):) aprilrfun@juno.com

    Reply

  21. Tammie says

    What a wonderful idea! I am a new first grade teacher. I have spent the last 12 years in kindergarten. In k we had math journals but they are not hard enought for my first graders. I would love to win this pack. Believe me I have spent a small fortune this year so a "WIN" would be awesome! Thanks Tammie tammiestjohn@bellsouth.net

    Reply