Wednesday, September 10, 2014

What are the other kids doing? Wednesday Linky -- Basic Facts

Welcome back to our Wednesday linky--What are the other kids doing?  It's a linky dedicated to sharing independent practice activities that you use with your students that make it possible for you to meet with small guided math groups.  Many teachers call them math centers or workstations--whatever you call them, these activities are designed to engage students in meaningful practice away from the teacher. For details about linking up, click here! We'd love for you to join in the sharing!

Today's topic-----basic facts!

There are oodles and oodles of ways to independently practice basic facts, and we have probably used an oodle of them. :0)  We would like to share a PHENOMENAL basic facts resource for teachers, some free stuff, and a couple of apps/websites.

First up is a resource that is a MUST-HAVE for anyone teaching basic addition and subtraction facts---Mastering the Basic Math Facts in Addition and Subtraction: Strategies, Activities, and Interventions to Move Students Beyond Memorization by Susan O'Connell and John SanGiovanni. It is worth money--TENFOLD!! Not to mention, a multiplication and division version is available as well.


Each year, I pretest students, as their knowledge of basic addition and subtraction facts is wide-spread--this never changes.  Once I have formed groups based on student's needs, it's time to begin meeting with guided math groups and providing independent practice opportunities for students that are differentiated.  O'Connell and SanGiovanni's book helps a teacher accomplish all of these goals.

A CD is included that contains assessments, tools (from dot cards to ten frames and number lines), parent letters, activity sheets to accompany literature suggestions, reflection sheets, and tons of games and activities.  AND its editable!!  I edited all of the games to include a list of materials, changed the font, and changed up some of the directions to meet my kids' needs.  EASY!

Here are just a few of the games provided on the CD that I have edited for my students...


Woohoo! You can enter to win a copy of Mastering Basic Addition and Subtraction Facts OR Mastering Basic Multiplication and Division Facts!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Organizing independent practice workstations/games for easy student access is a must.  To learn how I organize workstations, click here!



 Enjoy a few of my basic fact freebies, too! Download here!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_1w1VapXOL_c0Y4akZGT3A2R1E/edit?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_1w1VapXOL_YUl1YUFwTlctcDQ/view?usp=sharing

Courntney and I both use apps on the iPad and some great websites for practicing basic facts as well.  Here are a couple Courtney's kids like:


I use a wonderful number bond program that I purchased on CD years ago, but it is also available as an app. Both addition/subtraction and multiplication/division versions are available at Crystal Springs Books.  

http://www.crystalspringsbooks.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=number+bonds


Another great resource is gregtangmath.com! He is the author of Grapes of Math and many more math picture books for kids.  My kids love Math Limbo!

http://gregtangmath.com/games

We would love for you to link up or share your basic fact independent practice ideas in a comment!

12 comments:

  1. I am always looking for new ways to practice basic facts! Hope I win!



    Renee s
    The reading corner

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  2. This would be great for the kiddos I have this year!
    -Laura

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  3. Fact fluency is so important! I would love to use these resources.

    - Renee

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  4. Love your resources and this site:)

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  5. I look forward to these guided math posts because I always learn something new! This math resource book looks great - crossing my fingers to win it! :-)

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  6. I would love to win this book. Math vs Zombies was one of my students favorite apps last year. Love this linky!!

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  7. This would be a great resource for my classroom. Thank you for sharing your ideas!!

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  8. Two years ago I created a fluency crate for each grade level. I made up activities for each set of facts and a progression through them. This let kids develop conceptual understanding while working on procedural fluency.

    Tara
    The Math Maniac

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  9. These look awesome! I'm always looking for new ideas to practice those facts. Fingers crossed!

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  10. These look awesome! I will put them to great use. Hope I'm a lucky winner!

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  11. My schools has just implemented guided math. Love the ideas!

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  12. LOVE your ideas and Greg Tang. Thanks for the free downloads. I read your blog very often. You are awesome!

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