Common Core Math

Today I sat in training on the math common core standards ALL DAY. It was good work but it made for a long day and it sent my mind spinning with lots of new ideas. But I came out with some good resources for y'all (I may be from the north but my heart has always been in the south) and I'm excited to share them. Hopefully you haven't already heard of them all.
1. illustrativemathematics.org - This is offically my new favorite website. I think I finally understand the common core. First off, if you click K-8 standards it gives you this great visual of how the standards are mapped out across grade levels. Then if you click on your grade level it will give you all the standards and if next to the standard it says illustration that means it gives you ideas to use in your classroom!! Amazing!! Also, you can sign up to be a member and review the activities presented which means you'll know when they add new activities. I can't wait to become a member.
2. www.ccsstoolbox.com - This site is from the University of Texas and this group of people who developed the website are the ones writing the prototype questions for the new assessments. If your district doesn't have a scope and sequence for the CC like mine doesn't (we're working on it) then you can click Resources for Implementation and then Sample Scope and Sequence - which will at least give you a framework to start with.
3. insidemathematics.org - this site doesn't have a lot of info for my 1st grade friends but it has sample video lessons and activities to use in the classroom.
Then I also left there with several ideas for using time test that are more student friendly
- have students make it about beating their own time. So you walk around with the stopwatch as they finish you write their time and then they graph it and see if they can get faster.
- have students do it with 2 color pencils. Have them use the 1st color for however long you would have normally tested them for and then have them switch and finish the paper with the other color.
- Have them sort the flash cards for the set of facts you are working on into hard and easy. Then have them practice and see if next week they can put more cards into the easy pile.
Hope you find these helpful. After a few coversations with co-workers today I'm off to research Daily 5 for math and Number Talks - if you use either and have tips please leave me a comment and let me know! I am excited and overwhelmed all at the same time.

Crazy Day & Math Manipulatives

Well I never expected what happened today or at least I didn't expect it to happen today. My principal called to let me know that we were moving so positions around in the school. Not my job but the other 1st grade teacher will be moving to 5th/6th grade science, the 5t/6th grade teacher to 3rd grade and the 3rd grade teacher who was my childhood best friend to 1st grade!! I am excited to be working with her but we've been meeting as a 1st grade team through out the district all summer so now I have a lot to catch her up on.

After all that excitment I spent some time in my classroom. Organizing and cleaning its such a mess right now. But I am trying something new with my math manipulatives this year and I'm really excited. I took all the manipulatives the kids will need for the beginning of the year and made a baggie for each student. Each one has a tens frame, a five frame, unifix cubes, and counters. We'll spend the beginning of the year exploring the manipulatives and then the students will be able to use them when ever they need them. I know this is probably not a new idea but I'm excited to try this and hope we can keep them organized. (Sorry about the bad picture but I only had my phone with me).