Product Swap!

It’s that time again…

I had so much fun during the last product swap that I just had to participate again. This time I have been partnered with Haley over at Following Optimism in 2nd Grade. I was so happy to be matched up with her since I was already following her blog.

Haley is reviewing my Math Mania pack. At the bottom of this post you will have a chance to win your own FREE copy of this file! Giveaway is now closed!

I asked if I could review her Reading Graphic Organizers (Scaffolded).

We have been working on mapping story elements since the first day of school. When I saw the preview of her file, I knew this would be the perfect opportunity to give these graphic organizers a try. Here is her product description from TpT:

Scaffolded versions of graphic organizers to help with the gradual release method. Organizers include: Venn diagrams, story element charts (beginning, middle, and end, and problem/solution), vocabulary word work, and a questioning strategy organizer.

Included in the file are:

Since we are only a few weeks into the school year, I have not been able to use all of the graphic organizers with my kiddos yet. However, here are the ones we have been able to use:

Story Map with Problem/Solution

(scaffolded with cue words for students)

Story Map with Beg/Mid/End

(scaffolded with cue words for students)

Venn diagram

The students met with a partner and talked about how they were alike and different. They wrote their findings on this graphic organizer.

Now, Haley has been such a fabulous partner, that she also sent me her newest math file that she is adding to her TpT store. It is called Picking Place Value. The kids are having a great time using it during math workshop, but I can’t post their pictures here since I don’t have permission to post their photos on my teaching blog. You’ll just have to imagine their happy little faces deeply engaged in learning 🙂

Here is the product description from TpT:

Help reinforce place value skills of three digit numbers with this center! Students will need to match the standard form, word form, expanded form, and pictorial model of a number and record their findings. Great as a math station/center or review/practice for early finishers!

This one took a little prep work. There are 8 numbers represented in 4 different ways (ie. 32 cards to cut out). Haley’s file also includes two recording sheets.

I thought of a few different ways I might use this activity with my kiddos.

Idea #1

First, my students love to play memory/concentration games. The students can set up an 8×4 array or, you can divide the cards up into two groups and they can make a 4×4 array and only play with 16 cards. Students can take turns turning over two cards looking for a match.

Remember how I mentioned that Haley’s file also includes two recording sheets? I thought the recording sheets could be used to collect the matches (or sets) found during the memory match game (see the picture on the left).

Idea #2

I also thought that Haley’s materials could be used to play a Go-Fish game. Students could shuffle the cards. Each player could be dealt 5 cards each. Students can lay down any matches found and then take turns asking for the numbers needed.

(dealing the cards)

(Player 1’s hand)

(putting the matches together and laying them down)

(player 1’s hand after the next draw)

Idea #3

Students can practice speed sorts. Have the students shuffle and stack the cards into one pile. Students can race the clock to get the cards sorted before time is up. If the students are successful, lower the time allowed to sort and try again.