Professional Development Day

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Professional Development Day

• Effective Use of Math Block and Centers

October 20, 2006
Facilitated by Karen Machuca-4th Gr. Math Teacher
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Learning Objective Today (L.O.T.)

• Utilize Math Block to incorporate direct
  instruction, flexible grouping, manipulative
  based learning, focus on problem solving,
  cooperative learning, use of learning centers,
  and math journaling.
• Share effective strategies and center-based
  activities.
• Leave with a Framework of how to best utilize
  your instructional time in Math.

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Schedule of the Afternoon

• 1215-1245 Explore Centers
• 1245-125 Whole Group
• 125-155 Center Concerns
• 155-200 Break/Explore Centers
• 200-245 Share Centers
• 245-255 Wrap-Up
• 255 Evaluations
• 300 Enjoy the weekend!

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Why Learning Centers?

• Developmentally appropriate.
• Accommodate different learning styles.
• Designed to emphasize and require application
  rather than to teach new skills.
• Allows the teacher to work uninterrupted with
  small groups of students.
• FUN and Self motivating!
• (What are the Other Kids Doing? Donna Marriott
  1997)

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Sample of Math Block Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday

• 5 min. Copy Learning Objective Today and Homework
  Practice Book pg. 3.1
• 10 min. Review homework and answer any
  questions.
• 5 min. POD (3.1) (Problem of the Day) and/or Do
  Now.
• 25 min. Direct Instruction Review addition and
  subtraction rules/properties (TM pg. 60-61)
  with Guided practice pg. 61.
• 20 min. Independent practice pg. 61.
• 5 min. Math Journal Write definitions for each
  addition property and subtraction rule and
  include examples.
• 75 minutes Total Time for Math Block

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Sample of Math Block Thursday Friday

• 5 min. Copy Learning Objective Today (L.O.T.)
• 5 min. Review homework.
• 60 min. Students will rotate through the
  following centers every 15 minutes
• 1 Whats For Dinner, Honey?
• 2 Target!
• 3 Making Change
• 4 See Mrs. Machuca.
• 5 min. (Whole Class) Journal Writing Which
  center today used the Associative Property?
  Explain and give an example of how that center
  used this property.
• 75 Minutes Total Time for Math Block

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Center Rotation
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See Mrs. Machuca Center

• Review previous weeks skills and ask students to
  bring up anything that they do not understand at
  this point in time.
• Teach to the individual groups level.
• Provide challenging material for students.
• Review concepts and really see what they
  understand.
• Introduce a new center.

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Sample Lesson with Teacher
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Problems You Have Been Experiencing with Centers?

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Strategies To Solve Center Problems

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Group Practice/Sharing

• Share with the group the centers you brought
  today.
• Explain the specific task of the center.
• Time permitting, Lets explore the centers as if
  we were the students

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Quick Center Ideas That Dont Cost a Thing!

• Create your own word problem with pictures from
  magazines, cards, etc. Use the same pictures for
  Writing Prompts!
• Save everyday containers, rotate problem solving
  questions pertaining to your current area of
  study, and place questions in your sturdy box!
• Old decks of cards can be used for Multiplication
  War, Place Value, Target game, and so much more!
• Eating at a Restaurant? Ask the Manager if you
  could have one of the menus and create word
  problems accordingly.

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Journal Writing

• Name two things that were helpful to you today?
• Which center can you adapt to your classroom for
  immediate use?
• Will you implement centers differently now?
  Explain how or why the change.
• D

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Internet Resources

• Classroom Organization and Workstations
  http//www.internet4classrooms.com/classroom_organ
  ization.htm
• Primary Grades www.geocities.com/learningcenters20
  03
• Education World http//www.education-world.com/ind
  ex.shtml (Hunt the Fact Monster activity)
  http//www.education-world.com/a_lesson/factmonste
  r/ideas.shtml
• A to Z Teacher Stuff http//www.atozteacherstuff.c
  om/
• Lesson Planet (membership fee is required)
  Lessonplanet.com
• Pro Teacher http//www.proteacher.net/
• Word Game Boards http//208.183.128.3/tutorials/ga
  meboard.htm
• Sample of a teachers classroom with centers in
  use. http//www.teachingheart.net/LC.htm
• http//www.Ilovethatteachingidea.com

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Book Resources

• What are the Other Kids Doingwhile you teach
  small groups? Creative Teaching Press (1997) by
  Donna Marriott
• Month-By-Month Phonic for Upper Grades (1998) by
  Patricia M. Cunningham and Dorothy P. Hall
• More Alternatives to Worksheets (1994) by
  Creative Teaching Press
• The Complete Guide To Classroom Centers (1996) by
  Creative Teaching Press
• Take It to Your Seat Math Centers Grades 4-6
  (2002) by Evan-Moor
• Centers on the Go Grades 4-6 (2005) by The
  Learning Works
• Success With Sight Words-Multisensory Ways to
  Teach High-Frequency Words (1999) by Creative
  Teaching Press
• Amelias Journal Book Series by Marissa Moss.
  Published by Simon Schuster.
• Making Spelling Words Stick! (2004) Scholastic.
  By Richard Piccirilli and Todd Zuk.

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Make It a Great Year! Thank You for Your
Participation Today!