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Kat/Kathleen - Okay, we are going to focus upon Math Center activities for the Early Childhood classroom ...first, how many of you use math centers in your classrooms?
Sheryl/k/MA - I do.
sue - I do kat, but i call it table toys
canuk - I have used them more in previous years, this year my ones just seemed to unfocussed for much of the time
Jane*K*MO - I use math concept boxes from Box It
Kat/Kathleen - OK, let's start, and help me keep us on topic...math center discussion has begun (e-mail me after the meeting if you stay for the whole hour and want a certificate of participation kat@teachers.net)
Rush - I don't use math centers now, but I want to start next year
Kat/Kathleen - sue, why table toys instead of math center?
Lori V. - I do some...I just need to work on being more of a math person, but you guys are a great help!
Gumbo/K/La - I have games,activities, etc that I rotate, then have weekly specific things to do....(theme/concept related,etc.)
sue - kat, that's the term we use in high scope, easier for the kids and it combine some fine motor things like puzzles with math manipulatives
Melissa/NJ - I need some ideas for spicing up my math center, and things I can make
Tam - I will be using math centers this year regularly
Kat/Kathleen - So some people put manipulatives out (some referred to as toys) for the kids to use off and on, others have a permanent center
Lori V. - Melissa The workjobs from MTW are great.
sue - melissa, I made some cute fish bowls and laminted them. then I bought those fish shaped ice cubes and put thm with them and some index cards with numbers. they count out the right numberof fish into the fishbowls
Melissa/NJ - thanks Lori,I'll check them out does MTW have a web site?
Mountainette - MTW?
Mole - What type of centers do people use?
Sheryl/k/MA - My centers are mobile but I usually have one table set aside for math.
Lori V. - I think I need a more structured plan, our new math series is very different from our old one.
Jane*K*MO - with box it bag it, I have made concept boxes, the children work individually or in small groups with the boxes on a specifie concept
Gumbo/K/La - sue---can also use goldfish crackers......
Kat/Kathleen - MTW is Math Their Way (I have them coming to do a meeting sometime)
Lori V. - Mel I don't know..I will check it out and post it on the board...
Melissa/NJ - Where do you get the fish shaped cubes?
sue - kat, I do both. i have a permanent center but rotate materials as the children needs change
canuk - We use some of the ideas from Quest 2000 as centrsa, also from "Box cars and one-eyed Jacks"
sarahw/2/TX - Jane--were the concept boxes a lot of work?
Sheryl/k/MA - Great! I love MTW.
sue - gumbo, tried that it was too much for my fours as a center activity, do it as small group
Lori V. - Melissa I got great fish cheap at a party store..people must use them for parties
Linda(Peachy) - That sounds great, Kat!! (MTW)
Melissa/NJ - thanks Lori, I used to use Box it or Bag It at my old job.
Gumbo/K/La - canuk--getting MQ2000 this yr
Kat/Kathleen - How many use planned activites versus manipulatives without an assignment?
Jane*K*MO - Melissa , did you have any of the concept boxes made?
Rush - I need some ideas for individual learners that need help with mult. tables.
Linda(Peachy) - I do both, Kat.
Jane*K*MO - Kat,, with my concept boxes, it is structured as to what the children are to do
Lori V. - Our math series, which will be new has some neat center ideas. I always have MAncala out great for problem solving and critical thinking
Gumbo/K/La - I buy a lot of things for math center at mardi gras store......have sea creatures, etc.for themes....counting, patterns,etc.
Kat/Kathleen - For example, much of the time, a math center might be provacative materials that cause a child to investigate, such as a scale and objects to play at weighing for discovery
canuk - MQ2000 assumes a lot of previous knowledge, be prepared to fill in blanks from other programs
Tam - I have planned centers and also manips for students to use as they finish other tasks
Melissa/NJ - Yes, I had quite a few and kept them in zip lock bags. I may look into doing the program at my new school, but would also like to look into MTW
Sheryl/k/MA - Once the children have had a while to investigante various manipulatives, I plan the activities I want them to do.
sarahw/2/TX - lost a post--Jane--were the concept boxes difficult to put together?
Mole - When you do activities as centers, how do you make sure all children have done them? I run out of time!!!!!!!!
sue - kat, I introduce the manipulative as a small group activity and then put it out for the kids
Sandy*K*Mo - I have different kinds of manip. set out.. and also empty shapes.. triangel, octogon that they can fill in along with other blank puzzles
Lori V. - A lot of my issue is time, our schedules are made for us and math gets 45 minutes per day
Linda(Peachy) - How can one find out about Box It Bag It?
Kat/Kathleen - Okay, could we focus on the Concept Boxes..someone define and describe examples of Concept Boxes
Melissa/NJ - Kat I do both. Sometimes even with the modeling they come up with creative things to do with the manips on their own. You should have seen what they were doing with our colored chain links.
Wendy - The teacher I worked with this year had planned math centers for about 30 minutes per day.
Kat/Kathleen - [we are talking about math centers in early childhod settings] Current topic: Concept Boxes: what and how
Melissa/NJ - It is actually a book, may be able to order from Amazon
canuk - We do a bit of free exploration when we introduce new manipulatives, then make more structured demands, usually with pictorial or written follo-up
sue - melissa, i had my 4's measuring each other, measuring the number of sqaures to the door, comapring, I love those links!
Jane*K*MO - They took me five summers to do, because I did about 20 for each concept, measuring, patterning, counting, arithmatic
sarahw/2/TX - Melissa- mine wore the chains as earrings! :-}
Melissa/NJ - Concept boxes are activities that relate to the topic (math concept) you are teaching. They can incorporate anything. You allow the child to discover and explore them then do actual activity, then put in center. I used zip lock bags for mine.
Lori V. - Kat Are the boxes like the MTW workjobs?
Gumbo/K/La - Jane----lot of work, but now you have lots of resources!!
Kat/Kathleen - [Concept Boxes is the topic right now..someone define please]
Sheryl/k/MA - Can you explain what you put in one of your boxes, Jane?
Jane*K*MO - each of my boxes has an activity. In patterning, one concept box has tiles and a paper with pictures of thing for the children to measure
Mole - I'm confused. What is a concept box?????????
Kathy/k/IL - Hi everyone! I use BIBI too... have about 30 boxes made I use them as large group and then as centers
Melissa/NJ - lol, sarahw, mine used them as jump ropes, and really enjoyed tieing them around and to things.
sarahw/2/TX - 20 different boxes for each concept??? please elaborate!
Sheri - Jane, what's your system for storing and retrieving the boxes when you need them?
Kat/Kathleen - Melissa, thank you, do you use a purchased program for your concept boxes?
Lori V. - Jane Oh so the Box It BAg It stuff.
Mole - Can someone explain one of their boxes to me?
Melissa/NJ - Sue, I like the measuring idea
Jane*K*MO - the child measures the desk, and records his number, then he might measure a pencil.
sue - I try to use a lot of real things for my manipulatvies-- mardi gras doubloons, poker chips, different size cans for seriation
kat/kathleen - [let's stick to concept boxes, those who use them, please describe]
Jane*K*MO - It is a part of Box It Bag It
Melissa/NJ - no, I made them from stuff I had around. Now can someone explain the workjobs from MTW? has anyone used both which do you like better?
sue - melissa, they did it on their own and were using words like longer, shorter, more. It's was a great "teaching moment"!
canuk - Clean, empty pizza boxes work well to stor if you can get someone to donate them
Jane*K*MO - another pattern box is quilt blocks, the children design a quilt or copy a pattern they find in the box
kat/kathleen - We can move on to MTW in a minute...are Concept Boxes always used with direction first, then put out for independent exploration?
sue - so, concept boxes are just like workjobs???
sarahw/2/TX - I have a large collection of different jar and bottle lids--how could I use them in some concept boxes?
Kathy/k/IL - I have used both workjobs and BIBI and I think that the BIBI is more teacher firendly
Sheri - Workjobs focus mainly on arithmetic and number concepts, I think. Concept boxes cover lots of math skills.
Melissa/NJ - Mole, we did sorting around Valentines Day. I boutght those candy hearts and put them all in a big bag then I made difernt colored hearts in different bags for them to sort into. My biggest problem with the program was the discovery time in the begingin
Jane*K*MO - explain workjobs?
Melissa/NJ - Sue, that's fabulous!!
Sheryl/k/MA - Jane, do individual kids work with individual kits or is the kit "it " for the math center that day?
kat/kathleen - Can differing sized caps be used as a concept box? how?
Mole - Are concept boxes just an activity for children to complete in small groups with all its parts stored in a box?
Linda(Peachy) - Where can I get info on BIBI?
Sheri - workjobs are like the story boxes in Box it Bag it
Melissa/NJ - No, Discovery, then instruction, then put in center to use to develop math concept as well as for free play.
sue - kat, I'd like to hear whatother people keep as "standard equipment" in their math centers.
kat/kathleen - Mole has a good question for clairfication...are Concept boxes just an activity for children to complete in small groups with all its parts stored in a box?
Lori V. - Kat You could ahve a concept box say on sorting with the caps.
kat/kathleen - ok, sue, we'll do that too before 10 pm ET
Jane*K*MO - each box is appropriate for 1 or 2 children, therefore, I use enough dofferent boxes on the same concept
Melissa/NJ - No, start with one or two large groups, give out materials tell them to explore, instruct then put in center.
sue - In my class, the children have free choice, do you kids have to do math centers everyday?
Mole - Melissa, did kids pick category or was color the only choice?
Lori V. - sue I do a lot of lit based stuff with the CTP Math series
Sheri - Box it Bag it The Math Learning Center phone # 503-370-7961
Melissa/NJ - My kids rotate to the different centers, and usually get to math during the day
Melissa/NJ - I did color, and size big or small
Lori V. - Sue so they might read say the MAgic Mooney box and make a magic money box of their own
Jane*K*MO - Sue, I introduce the box and the activity as part of my math lesson, then students can use them during centers.
Melissa/NJ - Lori, can you explain the lit based stuff, more info on CTP math series.
karen/k - I am just going to jump right in. I have a hard time doing MTW and Box It /Bag It in my half day kindergartens.
Jane*K*MO - Most of mine want to do the math center,
Sheryl/k/MA - So are all the boses the same materials or different material with the same concept?
Kathy/k/IL - Jane I do the same thing I intro it and use it in large group then they can use it as a center
kat/kathleen - Maybe we should move on a describe the 'standard equipment' of math centers
karen/k - I have spent years accumulating and preparing materials, but I never get it all done and feel frustrated.
Jane*K*MO - different games or activities,
Lori V. - Melissa CTP has a series of math books at three levels theya re very easy to incoporate into centers and cover aa wide variety of topics
sue - I introduce the manipulatives and they put them out fpr them but also bo one math related small group a week.
Linda(Peachy) - CTP has a great book for k-1 called HANDS ON MATH
Mole - How many of these "boxes" do you have in your room?
kat/kathleen - What do you keep in your math center: scales, calculators??? what else?
Melissa/NJ - I had different materials with the same concept. Also, could have same theme with differnet concept, but book recomends to do it all together.
Lori V. - Kat I wouldn't give up my Mancala games for math cetners..wonderful
karen/k - So, I will be happy for tips on how to get all these centers going smoothly in a small time allotment.
Jane*K*MO - 100-125 I guess
kat/kathleen - Lori, would you explain Mancala games and how you use them?
Gumbo/K/La - my kids loved mancala.......
Sheryl/k/MA - I have the standard MTW stull and stuff I collected. My favorites are the lima beans painted on one side.
Melissa/NJ - As anyone used both box it and MTw. Which do you prefer?
Linda(Peachy) - Wooden 1 inch colored cubes, geo boards Cuisinaire rods,Mancala...
Lori V. - Mancala is the oldest board game in the world. It is a simple board with holes and stones. The idea is to get more stones then your partner and you need to really use problem solving etc. In our school every room K-4 has it
Wendy - - math centers: geoboards, cubes, various counters, calculators, various manipulatives for sorting/patterning
Jane*K*MO - math materials, unifix cubes, tiles, bear countersfor sorting and weighting, scales,blocks, foam dice with number on them, geo boards,
Lori V. - You can get Mancala at TJ MAXX and MArshalls cheaper then the Learning Smith type store
sue - kat, scales, measuring cups ( the rice table is part of the center), foam dice, sorting bears, measuring tapes ( from fabric stores), bingo ships, magnet boadss and different size and shape magnets, color cubes
Gumbo/K/La - Some things in my math center: sorting objects, teacerh-made games, unifix cubes, attribute blocks,magnetic, tactile numerals, chalkboards.....
kat/kathleen - Lori and Gumbo, your k kids learn it easily?
Melissa/NJ - Could I use Mancala with pre-k, or to young?
sarahw/2/TX - I started with 1000 unifix cubes 8 yrs ago. Wonder how many I still have?
Wendy - 100's charts (laminated)
Gumbo/K/La - kat---yes-----one child knew how to play and taught others.....
kat/kathleen - sarahw/ a good math activity there :-)
Lori V. - KAt i do not teach K but I can tell you taht we ahve K kids who can beat adults...
sue - also, rig a majug builders ( great for size comparison), different lengths of ribbon
karen/k - Melissa, I use both. i like the MTW for getting started at the k level, but like a lot of BIBI for later in the year. They go hand-in-hand really.
canuk - Lori, is that the same as Kalah, with egg cartons and small blocks?
Linda(Peachy) - assorted counters, dice games, playing cards, 100's board, unifix cubes, chain links....
Lori V. - KAt I like it because it involves a lot of higher order concepts ina form concrete for younger kids to understand
Jane*K*MO - rice table, cups, spoons, bottles, lima beans, counters of various and JUNQUE (JUNK) boxes
Gumbo/K/La - sarah----maybe 74 cubes left now?? :-)
kat/kathleen - Are there manipulatives and supplies that you don't put out early in the year?
Kathy/k/IL - I have the MTW basic stuff, tangrams, different teacher made stuff, different types of dice, sorting things, overhead stuff, wow it's hard to remember
Jane*K*MO - rice table, cups, spoons, bottles, lima beans, counters of various and JUNQUE (JUNK) boxes
Lori V. - canuk Sounds the same we made mancalas to take home out of egg cartons and beans
Sheryl/k/MA - "Junqu boxes" of keys, barrettes, pop beads, turkey bones, shellls, and buckets of Happy Meal toys for sorting,matching graphing, and Venn diagrams.
sarahw/2/TX - kat-think that will be my first center of the year!
sue - I also found a neat new manipulative this year--- connecting people. They comein 5 colors and 4 different sizes and are great for graphing, seriating and sorting.
sarahw/2/TX - Gumbo--probably! LOL!
kat/kathleen - dice and playing cards stimulate many math opportunities
sue - sheryl-- tellme about the turkey bones
Lori V. - sue those are neat..I love the inch worms and connecting elephants too!
karen/k - Do we have any other half day k teachers on here this evening?
Mole - Where do you store this stuff? It can't all be out at the same time?
kat/kathleen - yes, tell us about turkey bones, sheryl
Gumbo/K/La - I also use them-realted magnetic fishing games---kids have to put 'tally marks'when catch things.....also use beanbag board and program it with different them-related words sets,etc.
kat/kathleen - karen, I teach 1/2 day k
Jane*K*MO - keys, nuts and bolts, toy soldiers (in different colors and sizes), small mirrors, pattern blocks
Lori V. - Karen I teach first I have trouble finding the time too..I have cut down to just the BIBI calendar we have only a 45 minute math block
Sheryl/k/MA - They were from a great Thanksgiving dinner. I boiled them forever and use them when we do skeletons, dinosaurs and other times
sue - mole, my table toy area is huge. By April, I have a 25 cubby holder filled with math manipulatives and other things are rotated in and out
Sheryl/k/MA - I have 2 half day sessions.
kat/kathleen - Sheryl, do you use the bones for math?
Jane*K*MO - Mole, i put mine in little boxes that come with the program many are the size of a sheet of paper and an inch or two tall
sue - I love the idea sheryl, I 've only used them when doing dinosaurs
Kathy/k/IL - Last year I had cabinets... this year???????
karen/k - Mole, all my MTW and Box It stuff belong to me. i keep a lot of it at home and take it to school as needed. Our district gave us Matrhland. It has tons of manipilatives which I have to keep in my room. My room is FULL!
kat/kathleen - Do you allow children move move math materials around the room, into other centers?
sue - gumbo, great idea, we fish but primarily as a number recognition game
Sheryl/k/MA - Yes, we sort, match, graph, and do a lot of talking about them!
sue - kat, it dpends. If they are using them properly yes, if they are cooking with them in house area, no
kat/kathleen - Hi, Bridget, we're talking about materials for early childhood math centers
Kathy/k/IL - my math stuff can go to the science center but NOT in the sand box!!!!
Mary K&1 - My things are all in containers, the kids carry them to wherever they need them.
Gumbo/K/La - karen-----very amply supplied room, too.......
Jane*K*MO - during math instruction time all students have the materials on their desk or tables. during center time they stay on the shelf or in the center
kat/kathleen - If a child takes a calculator into dramatic play, is that ok?
Melissa/NJ - I must admit that I'm anal about manipulatives staying in their center.
sue - this year they were really into moving the doubloons to house area and using them as money. they sorted themby color and gave them diffferent values. that was great!
karen/k - Wow! I can't type this fast!! My messages are a little incomprehensible even to me. Kat and Lori, What parts of MTW and Box It do you cover?
sarahw/2/TX - sue--even at 2nd grade I have a lot of trouble with things ending up as "props" Ok sometimes, but it makes it difficult to get them to focus on them as learning tools
sue - I don't have calculators but i will after tonite
Jane*K*MO - I expect students to keep the materials in the center they belong in, this prevents problems with students wandering aroound and disturbing others working
Mary K&1 - If they are playing a mathamatician! They need a calculator
Sheryl/k/MA - Sure! When I change the dramatic center into the Yellow Submarine, I put the scales in there for the kids to weigh their discoveries.
Lori V. - Karen We have a math series which is awesome that takes 45 minutes a day..between jouranls, games etc. I pretty much just use BIBI calendar at this point. Our schedule is made for us to have support during our LA block so I get 45 minutes for math
karen/k - Kat and Lori, i always do calendar, but I just have centers once a day. So I have my math and language centers out at the same time. We rotate through. I know this isn't preferred. How do you manage?
Mole - How many activities did you begin with? Are kids given specific activities when at the centers so props don't become toys?
sue - sheryl, do youhave a regular scalein addition to the balance scale
sue - lori, what is BIBI?
kat/kathleen - One of the principals of constructivism is to allow children to construct knowledge by using the materials in "real" situations that they invent..so moving the manipu;latives around into differnet scenerios would be beneficial
Mary K&1 - Well, Kathleen, things went white here, so I don't know if my answer came up. You asked if the kids could take a calculator into the dramatic play area. I say sure if it goes with what they are playing
Jane*K*MO - I do not use another math series also tho district has adopted Scot Foreman
Lori V. - Karen In all honesty I do not do math centers. I do literacy centers for 1 hour per day to pull guided reading groups
karen/k - BIBI=Box It or Bag It.
sue - calendars are considered too abstract for my 4's but we do do a 5 day calendar with a pattern
Bridget - Bye everyone, when it's time for me to do math manipulatives, I'll let you know!
kat/kathleen - My kids have free choice of centers while I work with small groups or indivs.
Sheryl/k/MA - Lori, what about setting up a math center along with the literary centers?
Jane*K*MO - I also do calendar for about 20 minutes every day
sue - oh ok, that's how I know not by the initials
Peachy - Work with small groups on what, Kat?
Gumbo/K/La - Do two theme-related a day.....
Sheryl/k/MA - I try to have my math center in line with my thematic unit.
Jane*K*MO - This year I would like to add math journals, does anyone else do them?
sarahw/2/TX - Gumbo--theme related centers? do you integrate math--or just if it fits?
sue - lori, i do a math related book in addition to a "regular" math group every week. They love it. have you ever done 10 black dots and had them counts out the dots, and create a "materpiece'?
Mary K&1 - Small group work - writing numerals, counting sorting, graphing, whatever is needed, those who are having difficulty with something
Gumbo/K/La - ...kids choose from 8-12 centers----have two 'must' centers kids must do before the end of the week......
canuk - When I did K that was more like my program, Kat, I introd the concept in a Math time, but the centres were part of the general centre time, I did track them, tho, so some times the choice was Teacher choice
Mole - How many centers do your children hit in a week? How do you track who has done what?
Gumbo/K/La - sarah--------integrate math.....and language.....and art,etc. so it's pretty much all them-related.....
kat/kathleen - Sheryl, I tried to do a Math journal, but it ended up too much like a workbook..would like ideas
Sheryl/k/MA - I have the kids do "records" of their work at the math table. ie if they do the lima beans for the #5, they can make a book about 5 out of it by stapling together the "records"
sue - mary, that's what i do as my teacher directed small group time sometimes with my 4's
sue - mole, i don't track my kids but they receive at least 2 math related small groups a week
canuk - In K , I did it with a trcking checklist, they had to put name tags on the centre board, now they have a tracking sheet, which I check
kat/kathleen - Sheryl, would that produce a book for the day, week, or undetermined amount of time?
Gumbo/K/La - my kids have center record sheets to color in each day----simple picture drawn, they color under day of the week next to center they did....catch on VERY fast......helps them learn to read charts, etc. too......( I keep check off list of must centers>)
Mole - By tracking, I meant keep track.
Jane*K*MO - Sheryl, I've done that but I would like the children towrite about what they discovered in the math center
canuk - Ones at the beginning of the year sum up learning with a picture, 2's have to write about their centre learning
Jane*K*MO - kat, mine was one days activity
Mary K&1 - sue, I've never been able to not work with small groups or indiv.s who are having a particular problem. I always do some small group and or indivi. work everyday
Sheryl/k/MA - I have the kids record thier outcomes at the math center- with the lima beans, beads, probability. That 's how AI traks them. My kids go to centers for about 1 hour and have free choice (sort of).
Sheryl/k/MA - tories. ie 3 green beans 2 white beans = 5 beans altogether
Jane*K*MO - I generally rotate around the center, that was I can interact with the students and tell what they are learning
sue - mary, I work with 4's and o High Scope. Small group is a regular part of our day.
Wendy - Could you have one of your math centers be math journals?
canuk - If you are working with small groups, how do you make sure everyone else is on task?
kat/kathleen - Teacher rotating among centers is important, I don't do enough of that..
Sheryl/k/MA - Whoa! That got messed up! Later in the year the kids write the "mathStories" ie 3 gr. beans 2 wh. beans = 5 beans altogether.
sue - then, afte small group I'm working the kids in the centers and making note of wha they are doing
Gumbo/K/La - jane----I try to rotate -------but if don't have parent helper, I'm usually going back and forth between directed activites.......
Jane*K*MO - i would like for it to be the final activity of a math center each day.
Sheryl/k/MA - There should be a plus in there but it is not coming out!!!
sarahw/2/TX - Kat-- I try to have centers with me pulling a group--really need to work on the kids' independent learning behaviors!!
sue - canuk, both groups are doing small group activitoies at the same time. i have 20 kids and a fulltime asst.
kat/kathleen - sue, I can see everyone else so it's easy to monitor while I'm with small group, my centers are mostly unstructured, discovery based activities
Jane*K*MO - maybe I'll try center journals. students would write or draw pictures of where and what they were doing
Sheryl/k/MA - I'm very lucky to have a FT aide so I have a lot of freedom. (Poor thing runs the art center every day)
sue - I've also taught K where the rest of the class was doing centers when I pulled a small group. It works formost kids
kat/kathleen - Yes, some years it IS very difficult to have kids using centers while I work with small groups, but I have full time help, sometimes our small groups are very large! LOL!
Gumbo/K/La - ...so many times, what activities I want to do have to consider if I have help or not......
Jane*K*MO - Kat, are your centers modeled on HighScope?
Mole - How do you handle off task behaviors?
sue - sheryl, my asst interacts with thekids and take anecdotal notes while i'm working with the rest of the class
Peachy - That's what I do, Sue. Works for us.
Gumbo/K/La - all my kids do centers at one time.....have at least one, ususally two centers that need adult to get maximum outcome.....
kat/kathleen - Jane, I couldn't define High Scope, but they are play based, discovery, manipulative rather than assigned tasks
sarahw/2/TX - Mole--the old raised eyebrow works for some--but not enough of them! LOL!
Sheri - I've had to restructure a lot of my center activities so I can work with small groups -- no help here
sue - peachy, we rotate some days she "plays" and I take notes, it just depnds
kat/kathleen - Mole asks how do we handle of-task behaviors..as I said, my centers are unstructured...as long as there is appropriate social control, I don't intervene
Mole - What about the 2=3 who always seem to be off task?
Jane*K*MO - High Scope and Cognitive Oriented Curriculum are a lot like you discribe
Gumbo/K/La - I find the time I spend at the beginning of the year role-playing approp. behaviors, etc. is well worth it. In beginning, we start out by 'practicing' 1-2 centers for just a few minutes.....
canuk - I found that K kids stay on task better than my 1/2 split kids
kat/kathleen - Mole, those 2 or 3 ususally head right for sand or blocks :-) they stay on that kind of task :-)
sue - jane, high scope is child centered, open ended activites. Center time is considered the children's work time. We basically have the same centes wer just call them somethng different and use real materials
sarahw/2/TX - mole-- I have been known to have some work sheets already and just pull those who can't behave and make them sit out to work.
Mole - Kat, but they aren't practicing the other skills. Doesn't that worry you?
Jane*K*MO - those few off task students are asked to clean up and sit in time out
canuk - It could also be that because of curricular constraints the 1/2s can't have the choice that my ks had
kat/kathleen - Gumbo has a good point, the time you take to establish standards in the beginning pays off later
Gumbo/K/La - ...if child misues matls, etc--they are OUT of that center......no questons......
Sheryl/k/MA - Same here, Kat. They are the ones that fall into the "sort of" free choice. Usually all they need is redirection with a few on task questions.
kat/kathleen - kids who don't explore a concept in centers will be exposed to it in other ways
Jane*K*MO - a couple of pull outs is enough to discourage most inappropriate behavior
Gumbo/K/La - kat-----I don't start centers till I feel that particular group is ready.....no way...
kat/kathleen - We should be sure to stay on math...some wanted to spend time discussing "workjobs"
Mary K&1 - We play baseball, three strikes and your in time out
sue - gunbo, I spend the first two weeks of sschool doing small groups in centers and modeling behaviors and clean up procedures
Sheri - When you pull a child out, do you allow him to go back in a few minutes or is center time over for him that day?
Gumbo/K/La - kat, jane----most of the kids do respond to what my kids always call, 'teacher looks'!! :-)
Jane*K*MO - COC / High Scope is the same I've been told, just different names
Sheryl/k/MA - I start with centers right off the bat. I do model each center before activity time starts. That helps a lot.
Mole - How do you handle the kids who always want the computer or some other popular center...not giving others a chance?
Peachy - So, how do most of you start out in the fall with centers?
sue - jane, i've been doing High Scope for 5 yers and have never heard it referred to as that
Mary K&1 - 5 mins. out and then back to business
Gumbo/K/La - sheri----when my kids have to leave a center, it's for the rest of the day......maybe the rest of the week later in the year ...
kat/kathleen - Mole, if it's not flowing, I'll intervene and problem solve,,,if that doesn't work,then I'll issue a commandment :-)
Peachy - Mole, try a sign up sheet. If they have already had a turn, someone who hasn't needs one.
Sheryl/k/MA - The workjobs I am familiar with was a precurser to MTW. Is that what you mean?
Mary K&1 - Peachy, slowly, 1 at a time
Jane*K*MO - Sheri, depending on the misbehavior, if it is a repeater, he stays in time out longer, usually 5-10 minutes seems forever to a child
kat/kathleen - In Fall I start with bare minimum: blcoks, snad, easel (with intro) housekeeping..a display in Science/Discovery, simple math toys
sarahw/2/TX - have to let hubby have the computer--great chat folks!
sue - sounds like it sheryl, I did workjobs 7 years ago
Gumbo/K/La - mole------my rule is that they can't choose the same center two times in one day.......and everyday different table picks centeres 1st, so all get a chance......
kat/kathleen - Who uses workjobs?? tell us about workjobs
Mole - Aw...workjobs...something I know!!!! lOL
Mary K&1 - We practice doing a center for a few min. while the others watch and discuss what is being done and develop the rules
Sheri - I use workjobs in 1st to work on addition then subtraction
kat/kathleen - Mole, tell us what you know! :-)
Sheryl/k/MA - Peachy, The math center is for discovery for the first month or so. I do not change the manipulatives that often.
Jane*K*MO - That was what Maryville U called it in St. Louis, it may be an adaptive form. Missouri also has developed a program called Project Construct based upon thosse ideas
sue - kat, i start with the bare mininum but I have other materials on the shelf covered with b board paer. Each item that is addedis introduced as a small group activity. All are up in running by October
kat/kathleen - Sheri, are workjobs directed activites?
Mary K&1 - The group that is modeling changes so that they all get a chance during the first week
Peachy - Workjobs was written by the lady who started MTW. You make all kinds of math, language and science games and the children work on them individually. The directions are in the book.
Sheri - kat, the introduction would be teacher directed, then they are put in a center. It is a box with 5 - 10 cards and counters to go with the cards
kat/kathleen - So workjobs are not just math..
sue - workjobs are good basic manipultives that reinforce skills
Mole - The workjobs I use have very specific instructions. I don't think the children explore the way they do in the centers you have described. Good or bad? I'm not sure.
Sheri - There are two workjobs books -- the first has a variety of activities, math and Language Arts. The second is what a described before.
sue - workjobs are good basic manipultives that reinforce skills
Peachy - Not originally, Kat. There's a book.
Janet/K/OR - I use workjobs. The ones I have made are about 6 boards and then about 75 counters. The cards can all be the same, as in plates, and then the counters can be different, such as bacon and eggs (made out of felt). The kids can count or make number stories with them.
Jane*K*MO - what would be a workjob activity?
canuk - Are work jobs rather closed tasks though, do you have open ended tasks mixed in?
Sheryl/k/MA - Like everything else, Mole. It is how you use it and mix it.
sue - mole, that's a good description. It's a great way to practice certain skills. I would send them home as a take home program
kat/kathleen - Mole, I think a combination is always the best way to go, kids learn in different ways, so their experiences should be different
Wendy - NOW i know what workjobs are. A teacher gave me about 20 of them at the end of school!!
Gumbo/K/La - peachy-----there's also workjobs, bk 2....
Sheri - The workjobs in the second book are more open-ended. I got my first workjobs book probably around 1978!
Peachy - Janet, that's Workjobs Two. There was a bigger book before that. I'm dating myself!!
Janet/K/OR - The workjobs are math, but math is usually open-ended and has lots of Language Arts in it. I often use theme related workjobs.
Jane*K*MO - agree Kat
sue - you're lucky wendy, it took me forever to make mine!
Jane*K*MO - Wendy, that was good fortune
Mole - How do you find time for workjobs, centers, and direct instruction to get through the text?
Jane*K*MO - Wendy, that was good fortune
kat/kathleen - so workjobs would be something to put together during the summer when one has the time
Janet/K/OR - You're not dating yourself, yes the bacon and eggs are from Workjobs two. The original Workjobs was not just math.
canuk - That's the problem. at one time we started the Skemp Math program but it took so long to make, and lots of little bits to loose
Gumbo/K/La - yes, kat----WHEN one has time!! ;-)
Sheri - kat, definately in the summer!
sue - mole, don't have to worry about that it's all exposure and expereince with my 4's
Jane*K*MO - Mole, I don't use a text except the BIBI guide
kat/kathleen - Mole, those things can be going on simultaneiously, but it takes good planning and organiztion
Sheryl/k/MA - Who has time?
Peachy - An example of a workjob from the original book would be poring rice into bottle with a line where you should stop, or putting paper clips on a number card. Not a lot of exploration, but some kids enjoy them a lot.
sue - LOTS of time kat or lots of parent volunteers
Wendy - They would DEFINATELY take a long time to make - no time in our fun summer holiday!!
kat/kathleen - Mole, did you mean a math text book or the manual for workjobs?
Jane*K*MO - Now you know why I said it took me 5 summers to make my math materials
sue - I think most of my stuffis from wj2
Janet/K/OR - When I first started making Workjobs II I had an aide that was really into making "cute" things and games so that really helped.
canuk - Sometimes there is a pressure to "cover "the curriculum , but as Allington says we are better off to Dis cover than cover!
Wendy - parent volunteers would be most helpful - i agree Sue!
Janet/K/OR - Does anyone use Mathland?
sue - just out of curiosity-- how many k teachers have full time aides?
Peachy - Get a reliable(!) group of parent volunteers to make them.
Mole - I find it hard to make them in the summer when i'm away from it. I end up making so many things I never use once the year starts.
Sheri - you can order the little erasers from Oriental Trading to use for the counters from WJ 2
sue - just out of curiosity-- how many k teachers have full time aides?
Gumbo/K/La - canuk---but we have VERY academically-inclined report cards........
Sheryl/k/MA - I do
Peachy - What is Mathland, Janet?
Janet/K/OR - I do!
Jane*K*MO - I made one concept box a day for several weeks, It would take me about an hour to make the box and then to cover it with contact paper and make the studff that goes into it
Mary K&1 - I don't use a text of any kind, that way, I don't have that problem. I teach what the kids need in the different ways the kids learn, in the end the job gets done
Mole - No aid here! ;-(
Jane*K*MO - I made one concept box a day for several weeks, It would take me about an hour to make the box and then to cover it with contact paper and make the studff that goes into it
Peachy - Sue, I have one.
Gumbo/K/La - full time paras--in red ed???? NOT even considered in my district......
sue - gumbo, I'd like to see a report card, we're going back to narratives
Jane*K*MO - no aide unless we have a special needs child
jo march - wow mary k sounds like you have a lot of freedom!
Janet/K/OR - Mathland is a manipulative based program that goes K-6. We were really excited to adopt it but the dissappointed after we got it. I really go back to most of my MTW stuff.
Wendy - By the end of November I have to provide a letter grade for 5 strands of Math. I'm a little worried about this but feel that centers is the only way i can cover all strands - anyone else in this situation?
Peachy - That sounds great, Mary.
Sheri - I'm in 1st, but all of our K's have full time parapros
Gumbo/K/La - ....reg. (regular)...
sue - You are very lucky ladies!
Jane*K*MO - in first grade, our school is going to a check list with no letter grade!!!
Mary K&1 - I don't have an aide, but in some ways that's good, the kids HAVE to become as independent as possible, as soon as possible
Jane*K*MO - in first grade, our school is going to a check list with no letter grade!!!
sue - Pk has fulltime asst for 20 but k has no assts
Sheryl/k/MA - Mary, are you a K-1 mix or loop?
Mary K&1 - Kinder in AM Reading Recovery in PM
Sheryl/k/MA - We have a a LONG list of 56 items to be marked s (satisfactory) or ND (needs development).
canuk - We have a checklist with a 1-5 rubric for each strand of each subject
sue - nite all enjoyed it and learned some new ideas, have to run hubby needs the computer
Wendy - 56!! Wow!
Mole - Sheryl, long list, but more informative than a "A" or a "B".
Gumbo/K/La - well-----think I'm giving in to the cybergods-----see ya;ll again!! ;-)
Peachy - I like the words "needs development", better than "not At this Time"
Mary K&1 - I figure that kids have learned throughout history very well with things found in their environments. They don't need text books and worksheets to get the learning job done
kat/kathleen - I wanted to remind everyone of the Childwood "Math/Colors Collection" for sorting and seriation http://www.teachers.net/childwood or 1-800-362-9825
kat/kathleen - my e-mail: kat@teachers.net
Mole - This has been very informative. Thanks everyone...especially you, Kat.
Peachy - Goodnight all. Good discussion!
Sheryl/k/MA - Good night! Thanks all!
kat/kathleen - Good night and thank YOU!!
