How well are your students making conjectures based on data? It's often hard for students to make statements about data without being asked specific questions. Using this strategy, we help our students learn how to do this by giving them the conjectures and asking them to prove it correct or incorrect. After some practice with this, your students will be more at ease to make these statements on their own. Let me know how it works for you!

In last month's Math Messages, you should have seen some videos/websites to help with long division. Our friend, Lora Quintanilla, from Apple Creek created these division templates that are color-coded to help with long division. Thank you, Lora!

• A new star window is opening on February 21st and will stay open until March 9th.
• Best Practices: Create a procedure in which students do their math work on paper. This will help both with students taking time to DO the math (instead of "I did it in my head."), and it will set a precedence to do the same on quizzes, chapter/topic tests, and on the OSTP.
• Help students set goals by meeting with each student, and have the student graph their own results and make a goal for the next window. Have students review these goals before taking the STAR to remind them what they are working toward.
• Any questions about STAR MATH? Take a look at the elementary math website for STAR.

If you are new to teaching or just new to your grade level, there are a lot of things to learn about the state test (OSTP). We will be taking time to dive into the blueprints and item specifications to talk about formats, emphases, limitations, and other specifics that will help you to prepare your students for the OSTP.

• 3rd Grade: January 12th 4:15
• 4th Grade: January 24th 4:15 ** Moved to February 7th due to snow day.**
• 5th Grade Math: January 31st 4:15
• 6th Grade: February 2nd 4:15
• 5th Grade Science: February 23rd 4:15

OSTP Zoom Link

Everyone should have already received the link to the OSTP practice tests (Below). Be aware that there are technology-enhanced items such as drag-and-drop, matching, drop-downs, etc. Take a look at your grade level, but also take a look at other grade levels to see all the options. Yes, the math standards will be different, above/below where your students are, but let your students look at the STYLE of questions so they can become more familiar with them.

https://okpracticetest.cognia.org/student/login

Remember that for 3rd - 6th there are OSTP practice tests (full versions) available in the blueprints in Canvas Commons. These are two 25-question quizzes built for each grade level to match the standards, item specifications, and depth of knowledge. You can use them as teaching aids or as a true practice test to help build stamina and check levels of understanding.

Come play some math games with other teachers in your grade level and leave with the materials to play them with your own students! Make-and-Takes are always fun and helps you bring that fun into your classroom. (These are different games than the session we had in the fall.)

All sessions are held in the ASC Boardroom (1st floor) 4:30 - 5:45.

• Pk - 1st: February 28th
• 2nd - 3rd: March 2nd
• 4th - 6th: March 7th

One of the biggest issues with Savvas is just navigating through ALL the options you have while you are teaching. It's great to have options, but it's cumbersome to have to scroll through all the options while you are teaching. Try a playlist to make life easier!

Switching from one subject to another requires students to switch gears. Start with a warm-up to get them thinking about math in a non-stressful situation. What makes a good warm-up? Look for problems with multiple solutions and that are accessible for all learners. (Think: low floor, high ceiling).

This month we are highlighting "Figure This!" from the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Take a look and pick some problems for your class to try.

I just thought I'd give you a heads-up that our last MTC meeting of the semester will be on the UCO campus on April 11. Kimberly Adams from the University of Tulsa will facilitate the activity for the evening. Since a meal will be provided, registration will open when we get closer to the event. This will allow us to have a more accurate headcount. I will send the RSVP when we get closer to the date.

We love using stations in math at ALL grade levels! Stations let student practice previously learned skills in different ways while helping with fluency. It also allows you time to work with small groups. We are going to be highlighting station ideas in the Math Message Doesn't match your grade level? Take the idea and alter with your grade-level content.

This month we are goin to focus what we can do with an egg carton! Every grade level can find a way to adapt this game!

Materials:

• Egg Carton
• 2 counters, game pieces, or marbles
• Marker

Prep:

• On the bottom of each egg partition, use a marker to write numbers that work within your students' level.

Procedure:

• Students put both game pieces in the egg carton.
• Close the egg carton and shake.
• Open to reveal the numbers.
• Use the numbers in which the game pieces landed to answer a math problem.

Examples:

• Add, subtract, multiply the numbers.
• Race to 100 or 1,000 by adding the numbers repeatedly.
• Find GCF or LCM of the numbers.
• Write expanded form of the numbers.
• Build the numbers on a place value mat.
• Use one piece and draw that time on the clock. (Blank clock faces printable)
• Make 2-digit numbers -> find one more and one less or ten more and ten less.
• Make 2-digit numbers and compare using <, >, =
• Use only one marble: find the missing addend to sum to 10.
• Instead of writing numbers, use names of coins and add the value.
• Using decimals or fractions instead of whole numbers: add, subtract, multiply.
• Using decimals or fractions instead of whole numbers: compare with <, >, or =.
• Add and subtract integers.

Materials:

• Egg Carton
• Plastic Eggs
• Marker

Prep

• On the plastic eggs, write math problems.
• On the egg partitions, write the answer to each problem.

Procedure:

• Students place the egg in partition with the correct answer.

Examples:

• Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication Division of whole numbers.
• Missing addends, subtrahends, factors, or divisors.
• GCF and LCM
• Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication Division of fractions or decimals.
• Fractions and ratios in simplest form.

Option:

Write random numbers on plastic eggs or ping pong balls. Students shake the egg carton, and then open the carton to rearrange the numbers in order.

Materials:

• Egg Carton
• Beans/Small Pasta
• Marker

Prep

• On the egg partitions, write numbers on the bottom of each partition.

Procedure:

• Students match the number of beans/pasta with the number at the bottom of the partition.

Other options:

• Paint the bottom of each partition and have students match colors of beads or buttons to the color in each of the egg cups.

Math Games are a great way to engage your students in meaningful math activities and are so fun! They are great because students love playing math games, and it gets them talking to each other about math in a fun way. However, on the prep side of things, coming up with games to do for any unit can be a pain.

Link to Podcast

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OSDE STEM Professional Learning Workshops Planned

We are pleased to announce that we were able to reschedule the STEM Regional Workshop for Elementary Math, Science, and Computer Science facilitated by OSDE. This is a full-day combined content workshop for elementary teachers in Pre-K through 6th grade that has generated a lot of excitement at our previous locations. We are excited to bring this to you!

Friday, March 3, 2023

9:00 - 4:00 (75 minute lunch on your own)

Springlake Metro Tech Center

1700 Springlake Drive, OKC, OK (entrance 13)

Some additional details for our day:

• Please bring a large, charged electronic device (e.g., laptop or tablet) and a writing utensil.

• At 12:30 pm, there will be a break for lunch on your own.

• You may find it helpful to bring upcoming math units with you for reference.

If you have colleagues who would like to attend, here is the Registration Link. We understand the change in date may affect some availability in attendance, but we are excited to see you soon!