Walk around with a Voice

This year my students are using iPads, and I am really trying to find great ways to use them in different ways.  One of the most recent activities I have used is called Walk Around with a Voice and it can be used for multiple activities.  I have used it three times this year already, and they students really love it.  

The first time I used it was for translating equations and expressions from words to numbers and symbols.  I posted sheets of paper around the room-each with a problem that needed to be rewritten mathematically.  Students had to move around the room to each station or problem at their own pace. They then took a picture of the problem, underlined and circled any key words that helped them translate, and then actually rewrote the equation or inequality.  

They were able to use notability with this activity as it allows them to write and record.  Each picture or problem was a page in their notability note. They then needed to choose 2 problems where they recorded themselves explaining and showing how they translated the problem.   On notability, students can record themselves talking while they are also recording themselves writing.  It is AWESOME!  

The first time I used this activity, students were a little shy with recording themselves explaining how to solve the problem.  The next time I used this activity, students had to explain how to solve five different problems, and they started to become more and more comfortable.  Speaking in math is huge, and this is such a great activity where students can practice explaining their thinking in words.  

I now use this activity at least once within a unit.  It really can be used for any objective.  I set it up as stations around the room for students to either work in pairs or just at their own pace.  It's amazing how determined they are to get through all the stations.  I love the fact that the students are walking around solving the problems also.  I post the answers for students to check once they complete the problem just for students to self monitor their learning.  This also helps me with seeing student reactions when they undo the answers.  That way, I can then support those students who seem to be struggling.

Adding and Subtracting Integers

Adding and Subtracting Integers turned into fun centers in Ms. Stass' class this year.  Students have been working with different games that incorporate adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing integers.  This hands on approach is helping all students better their number sense which is crucial in order to be successful in mathematics.  

Students worked with concrete objects such as counters and number lines to help practice addition and subtraction.  I first modeled adding and subtracting with a real number line I  hung from the ceiling.  This allowed us to have some great conversations about comparing numbers.  I then used red and yellow counters to discuss zero pairs and modeled adding and subtracting with them.  I LOVE modeling with these counters!

At my activities center, I usually include games or activities that allow students to practice the skill we are learning that week.  One activity I used for adding integers was a football integer game.  Students roll one negative and one positive dice.  Students use the sum of the two numbers to know how much their game piece moves up and down the field.  The person that reaches the touch down zone wins!

Another activity I used this year in my center was a JENGA game I created by attaching stickers with expressions on them.  The expressions were a mixture of operations with integers.  Students must say the answer to the piece they grab before stacking the piece on top.

I am obsessed with Greg Tang and his Kakooma, and I think my students are just obsessed.  This game rocks!  I have my students work on their one-to-one computers in this center where they play Kakooma here.  The students are really getting a kick out of competing with each other on this site.  THEY LOVE IT!

Doing some Pinterest-ing, I found a game a teacher made that incorporates the operations of integers.  I set this up in my center by laminating the game boards, and including a dry erase marker and dice in a baggy.  The dice has negative and positive numbers on each of them.  Students roll the dice and count how many times it takes them to meet the rule of the round.  For example, round 1's goal is to roll two numbers that have a negative sum.  At the end of all 9 round, student's add up how many total times it took them to meet all 9 goals.  The person at the end with the least score (like golf!) wins!  The students have really enjoyed this game.  However, they haven't been able to finish a game yet within the center times.  They usually have 10 minutes within a center, but this doesn't seem long enough for this activity.  I still use it in the center, because I think it's a great game to practice.

The last game I use is one of my students' favorites.  It is called connect three, and I also found this while pinterest-ing one night.  The students roll 2 dice and decide if they want to add the two number or subtract the two numbers.  They try to connect 3 on the game board, and try to block their opponent.  Therefore, it is not random for them to add or subtract.  They need to do a ton of mental math with integers!  It is awesome!  As the player is saying the expression using the numbers he or she rolled, the opponent is writing down and solving it on paper.  This way partners are checking each other's answers constantly.