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Sunday, June 19, 2011

Even Kinder Kids Can Do This: Adding and Subtracting


I don't know about you but this pace is killing me. We are now on Chapter 5 which is about addition and subtraction. Really? Where did the week go? Okay, blogging is not for the slow thinkers of the world but seriously I am still cleaning and purging in my classroom. I have never carried so much trash in my life.
I come home and fall asleep but then I start dreaming about numbers... What has happened to me? My partner told me this is like packing up your house every year! Okay enough of my problems. Let's move on.

Chapter #5: Addition and Subtraction Work Stations
 If you are a kindergarten teacher and you introduce addition and subtraction at the very end of the year this can become a nightmare for first grade teachers. So acting out story problems throughout the year is the way to go. The kids love doing this but I need to add this more systematically during my morning opening. You can do this quickly and the kids can make up the stories once they see how you do this. Don't forget to use their names. As I read  this I was thinking yah, yah, we all do this but then I had a thought when I saw the Frog and Toad activities. I should be connecting this to our literature which I have never done. I love this idea and it would be so easy to do. I still like the story mats for generic settings that they are familiar with or that hook into big themes but how about Fairy Tales or some of our author studies (Eric Carle)? 



Click here for these mats and cards and please leave a comment.
I will make some of these and post them later. Remember that once you practice these stories you can put them in a station for the kids to use independently. I love the idea of using props too. How about the headbands in Target that cost a dollar? If you did not see my other mats scroll down to Chapter #4.


Have you seen these animal paper plates in the grocery store? We use these to make up addition and subtraction problems using small cubes. The parts go in the ears of  the animal and we put them together in the middle! The kids really like using them. Try this next year.

Now Mrs. Saoud has done a wonderful job hosting this chapter so be sure to go over to her site and check out some of her amazing freebies. I love her thinking for this chapter too. Okay, your notebook should be bulging at this point but you are getting so much closer to being ready for next year!

81 comments:

Paige said...

Love these! Thanks for sharing!

Karen LeBlanc said...

"Frog"ulous! I like your idea about using story problems with literature. It's simple yet relevant. Thanks for sharing :)

billi said...

You are the most enthusiastic teacher I have come across in along time. When everyone else is trying to spend some down tome relaxing you're getting everyone pumped up for next year. Thanx and Thanx for sharing all your creative ideas.

Mrs. Kilburn said...

Thanks for the download! I can't wait to use it with my kids next year!

~Barbara
www.mrskilburnkiddos.wordpress.com

chloesmom said...

LOVE it my friend............thanks so much.

Tickled Pink Mandy said...

I love your story mats.. We did them this year and the kids loved them! Thanks for yours!

Oceans of First Grade Fun said...

Love these! Love the story problem recording book. What a great way for my first graders to start the year.
Ms. A

Pennie said...

I love story mats because they are so versatile. I also like the added sheet you put with yours. Thanks.

Amy C said...

Love these! Thanks!

Cindy said...

Thanks Fran! You're AWESOME!! :o)

Cindy

hsamuelson said...

These are fabulous.
Thanks for sharing!
Swamp Frog First Graders

Kimberly said...

Hi Fran,
Thanks for the mats! And...I'm off to buy a set of those paper plates right now. Great idea!
Kimberly
Funky First Grade Fun

Angela W. said...

I was hoping you would inspire me with another wonderful idea...thank you! I can now use this idea to make more setting and number sentence cards.
Angela
Just Love Teaching!

Dian said...

The work mats are great. I plan on using mine under my elmo and model for the class.
Thanks so much!

Crystal said...

I love the mats. How about a page with kids, bears, and socks to cut out so they can use those on their mats? Just an idea! Thanks for sharing.

Crystal

Pam said...

Thanks for sharing so many things! This will be a busy summer keeping up with all the math station ideas!

Kreative in Kinder said...

Thanks Fran!I feel like a dog chasing my tail with grad school this summer and haven't even been able to crack my Debbie Diller book yet. Good thing I have great bloggers filling my mind with so much goodness. Of course, now I can't focus on this paper I am supposed to be writing, lol. Thanks for the downloads. Your efforts are so appreciated!!
~Crystal
www.kreativeinkinder@blogspot.com

Pam said...

Can't wait to use all of your wonderful creations. Thanks again for sharing. You're awesome!

Anonymous said...

Thank you for sharing!

Jennifer said...

I love these mats and the recording pages. My administrator is always wanting to see proof of work, so this will be great.
Thank you for sharing!!!!

lizziepink1 said...

Okay!!! I've said it once and I'm definitely saying it again, you are AMAZING!! I don't know how you create these fabulous things. I've tried and tried and I just can't do it! Y'all must have a magic elf that lives in your computer and you tell him what to do!! I can wait to use these next year!! Thanks for sharing!!! :)

2setters said...

Thank yo so much!
These are wonderful!!

Michele said...

Thanks so much! You are so computer crafty. :)

Alessia Albanese said...

Thanks so much for all that you make and do...such an inspiration!

Alessia
mrsalbanesesclass.blogspot.com

Meenal said...

Wish I had your stuff for last year's class! I had some strugglers that would have benefitted from the simplicity of a kindergarten teacher's perspective. Thanks so much! This is great to teach vocabulary to ELL students too. I might add labels to objects in the different scenes you have.

Deedee Wills said...

Fran, you did it again it sounds you are wicked busy so I am grateful x 10 for everything you have poured into the book study. I sat down to make some story mats and I kept thinking, " these stink.., they are nothing compared to Fran's." you set the bar high. So breathe into a paper bag... Or take a swig (lol)... The light is at the end of the tunnel!

Nikki said...

Thank you so much for your time, creativity and willingness to share it all. These are great and I absolutely can't wait to use the paper plates. Genius!! =)

meadowt said...

Thanks for sharing all your ideas to implement in math stations. You have made it so much easier for me!!
Barbara
meadowt@msn.com

Deborah Devine said...

Dear Fran,
I love the connection to self in your storyboards...your room...your playground. Thinking of plastic "paper" plates. I use the 3 compartment plastic plates to label and model the abstract "WHOLE, PART, PART" diagram used in Everyday Math. The largest compartment represents the WHOLE, and the two smaller compartments represent PART AND PART. You orally say the story problem and slide the manipulative between the compartments. The students can follow along with their own plates. For example: You have 2 fish in your fishbowl(place 2 fish in the small PART compartment). Your Dad bought you 3 more for your birthday. (Add 3 fish in the other PART compartment) How many fish are in your fishbowl now? (Slide the fish from the 2 parts into the WHOLE labeled compartment). Both addition and subtraction can be modeled in this way. I like that because it shows the connection between subtraction and addition.
Deborah
http://splitmultigradeclass.blogspot.com

Mrs. Larremore said...

Fran,

Thanks so much for all of your downloads and your willingness to share all of your ideas and hard work with us!!

April Larremore

Melissa Smith said...

These story mats are so cute! Thanks for sharing. :)

Carla said...

Wow! This is great! Thank you!

Tessa said...

Fran - Thanks again for the goodies! You are a very generous person! Also, I have just made it thru ch. 4, so I completely understand about the pacing! I keep wanting to stop during each chapter and create things!

Tessa said...

Fran - Thanks for sharing! You are a very generous person! Also, I completely understand about the pacing. I just made it thru ch. 4! I keep wanting to stop and create things to go with the book!

Debbie said...

Thanks for sharing!

Lisa said...

Great mats and number sentence boxes!

Lisa said...

Great mats and number sentence boxes!

Kelly said...

Fran, you ROCK!!! Thanks for sharing these!! I have yet to get into my classroom (busy chasing my 16 month old around...but I have a feeling I'll be right there with you, once I'm able too!) THANKS AGAIN!!!!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for all that you share! I am not as techno savy as you and love your ideas. Will you be sharing your bubble and tree maps soon?

Rachelle said...

you are very talented!!!!!! Thank you so much!
-Rachelle
whattheteacherwants.blogspot.com

Tawnya said...

Thanks so much for sharing! We are looking for ways to make math centers more meaningful and show what they are learning. Thanks! I just found you so I'll be a follower from today on. :)

mrszimm said...

I was referred to your blog today from a fellow K teacher at my school. Have no idea how I had missed you before, but I am so glad to be a follower now! Thanks for all your hard work to make teaching our students better!!

KinderBugs said...

Thank you so much for the FANTASTIC freebies and all of your great ideas! I'm going to be a newby kinder. teacher, so I can't thank you enough for all your help already! I'll be sure to follow you!! Dana

KinderBugs said...

Thank you so much from a newby kindergarten teacher! I feel so much more prepared to begin the year now! I really appreciate all your great ideas and fantastic freebies!!!
Dana

Kelly said...

I am loving what you have shared! I have a Mac at home and am having trouble with some of the things being blurred lines instead of the cuteness you designed. Any ideas or suggestions to fix that? I have seen it before in pdf form but not from Google Docs.

dukes said...

Fran,
I almost bought this book the other day and after all of the great ideas you have shared, I must get it!!! Thank you for sharing. I admire your creativity and your dedication to making learning fun for kids and sharing these ideas with fellow educators! Thanks again.

Kim said...

Thanks for sharing! These are great.

Becky said...

Thanks so much for sharing these. I can't wait to use them next year in my classroom. So glad I found you I love following all these wonderful blogs!

Unknown said...

What a cute idea! I love the little boxes that go along with the mats! Thanks for sharing :)

Renessa said...

I love the mats! I was unable to download them :-( Hopefully, if I keep trying I will be able to do it. Great post!

Ms. W said...

Thanks for sharing!

Libby said...

Thanks for sharing, you're so right about not waiting until the end of the year for addition and subtraction :)

Kindershare said...

So great! I was making up stories with mats/cubes from Math Their Way. The kids loved it, but this visual of familiar is such the way to go! As a first year teacher, that is job sharing, I come to your blog often for help. What I really need is to come observe :)
Thanks again

Tammy (ZivaDiva2010) said...

Thanks so much! My kinders get addition but are struggling with subtration. I am going to try out these mats and the plates this week.

Jen said...

These are great! We start addition and subtraction very late in the year in K, and I began to feel we were behind so it's good to see others doing it late as well! Thank you!!

Anonymous said...

Thanks Fran for sharing these with us! Your stuffs are great and cute.

Thuy

Unknown said...

Thanks!

Laura Park said...

Love your idea of acting out the math stories all throughout the year as part of the morning routine. Thank you so much for the free download. I'm going to start using it right away!

Unknown said...

Thank you for sharing these awesome ideas and resources!!! We just finished with decomposing numbers and the animal paper plates will be a great connection with what they just learned. Thanks so much!

beadnteach said...

Thanks for sharing! I will be using these often. Great ideas

Janette H. said...

Thanks so much!!

Miss Donna said...

Amazing! Thank you so much! ;)

Unknown said...

This is a great addition story worksheet. THank you for sharing!!

Anna K. said...

This give me some ideas to do with my kids. Soon we're going to start off with homeschooling. Thanks for sharing.

Melissa Williams said...

Love the story mats!! Thanks so much :)

Melissa
Kindergarten Celebration

Mrs. Altman-Lewis said...

Thank you so much for creating these math mats and math talk frames. I can't wait to share these with kindergarten teachers in my district!

Tari said...

Fran....I love the math mats! I wonder if you could make an extra sheet with little bears, socks and friends or other things. They could glue a few of these onto their mats; then on the ELMO or in groups the students could show their different mats and ask their own adding and subtracting questions to the class or group!

Trixie said...

These are so cute, I'm going to use them with our counting bears tomorrow. Always looking for new materials. Thank you for sharing.

Monique Willms said...

Thanks for the download. I am just starting to introduce addition and these are great visuals!

Monique Willms said...

Thanks for the download. I am just starting to introduce addition and these are great visuals!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the free story mats!

kinder-gardening said...

Thank you Fran for another fun freebie! Can't wait to use these worksheets.

alli said...

Thanks! My students will love these!

caribbean_mom said...

Great resources. Thank you!

Unknown said...

Hi! Thank you for the resources!

- Shelby Auman

Unknown said...

Thanks for the mats!

Unknown said...

Thanks for the mats!

Unknown said...

Thanks so much for sharing!

connie said...

Hi Fran
I would love to have a copy of the subtraction story mats (I clicked on pic and am waiting approval from google docs).
Thanks in advance - they look great!
Connie

Unknown said...

I love these mats! What a great idea! So engaging!

Puzzle Pieces Unite said...

Ms. Kramer,
I loved your Debbie Math book study posts several years ago. I downloaded the playground math mat and have since lost it! I really need it for next week. Please approve me so I can save it again.