Tuesday, October 1, 2013

What is an iCoach?

Webster's Dictionary defines a Coach as "An instructor or trainer of others."

The role of an Instructional Coach, from now on known as an "iCoach", is to increase the instructional capacity of a teachers.  This is done by supporting teachers by building their teaching skills, assisting others in applying new knowledge,  and providing ongoing professional development.

Why did I choose to leave the classroom and seek out an opportunity to be an iCoach?

Simple!  I knew that I needed to reach more than just the 22 children in my classroom.  Also, there are amazing educators out there, and with support they can go from "good" to "GREAT"!

How will an iCoach help teachers?
  • Help Raise Achievement 
    • Reviewing Data - Facilitating Data dialogue, help identify student needs based on the data, and help create a plan of action to alter instruction.
  • Facilitate Professional Development

  • Promote the use of Research-Based Practices
    • Expertise Share research, effective instructional practices, and emerging trends.
  • Increase Teacher Effectiveness
    • Model Lessons - Modeling lessons provides an opportunity for teachers to watch and learn new strategies or instructional practices.
    • Observations - Observe teachers and focus on things that teachers do well and provide feedback.  iCoaches are seeking to help teachers improve and refine their practices.

  • Encourage the Concept of Professional Learning Communities (PLC)

  • Share Resources

What do I NOT do as an iCoach?

  • Evaluate or judge teachers:  That is the principals job! 
  • Take the place of the principal:  I am here to provide support to the principal and teachers.
  • Act like the expert: It will turn off teachers to my support if I act like I have all the answers.

This adventure as an iCoach has started out on a "rocky" road, but like someone recently said to me, "Getting a little nervous/mad/frustrated is part of the "learning" and "training" process.  It is never going to be perfect...and that is by design.  If you have questions or problems to be solved: get the questions answered and solve the problem.  Let yourself have the experience and you will become better for it!"

I am up for the challenge this year, and know I will be STRONGER for it!
  


Sunday, April 7, 2013

Math Day - This is a long but informative post!!

This last week was action packed with STAAR writing for two days.  In an effort to recharge and re-engage the students my 4th grade team decided to have a Math Day.  Thursday, the day after testing, we made 4 stations for each homeroom class to transition through.  These stations included specific TEKS/skills the grade level as a whole needed additional help on.

One room was a general problem solving skills STAAR review.  I used this free STAAR test someone made and posted on teachers pay teachers.  STAAR-Math-Practice-Test-4th-Grade
Now, NO ONE wanted to take another test.  So, I made the first 23 questions into a QR code, posted them around the room, and had the students use the ipads to scan and solve the questions.  They did this in partners.  If you are interested here are those first 23 questions as a QR code: STAAR QR code Review

I love using QR codes, but had a new challenge.  The STAAR review quiz would not keep its formate when I tried to add it to a QR code maker.  I decided to take a screen shot of each question to make it easier.  Well, it did not make it much easier.  I quickly learned you cannot add a file to a QR.  So, I found this great website, that would take my picture, turn it into a website link, and create the QR code.  Here is the site if you are ever interested: QR code maker

Example: 

Here is what that same question looks like as a QR code:


One room was a fraction review. The students needed help with Mixed numbers, Improper fractions, benchmark fractions, and equivalent fractions.  This activity hit all of these skills and made it fun!

We did this by playing BINGO.  I loved this one because it was an interactive whiteboard type game.  The great thing is this ran through my laptop and projector.  NO NEED FOR A WHITEBOARD.  Here is the link for the BINGO caller: Fraction Bingo Whiteboard Caller


You will need to purchase the BINGO cards from teacherspayteachers.com for only 2 dollars.  I printed them in black and white on colored paper. Here is the direct link to the cards: Fraction Bingo Cards

Another room was a review of Transformations.  This is the movement of a shape.  In third grade they called this flip, slide, and turn.  Now we call it translation, rotation, and reflection.

 To start this review, We discussed the three types of transformations and what the students remember about it.  Then we grabbed their interest by showing this short video.  I love this video because it was able to take the need to know what translation, rotation, and reflection into a real life application.


After the video, we taught the students this great kenesthetic song to remember how/what each movement is.  The song is to the tune of the Mexican Hat Dance.  We use the music file on this site to sing along to: Mexican Hat Dance

The words are:
Reflection means to flip,
rotation means to turn,
translation means to slide it,
I've got this lesson learned! 

Here is a cute video of another teacher's class doing the hand movements for the song are at this youtube link: Math Rotations, Reflections, and Translations Song

Finally, we practice our skills by creating this free foldable from teacherspayteachers: Transformations-Activity

The last classroom was a long division and two digit by two digit multiplication room.  With dice, dry erase markers and white boards, students practiced their skills.

I hope the students had as much fun as we had reviewing these skills!!!

Enjoy parents and teachers.




Sunday, March 31, 2013

April Math Calendar

April's Math Calendar - Enjoy!!!!!  

Please remember that STAAR testing begins this week.  Don't forget to get a good night's rest and eat a healthy protein filled breakfast.

Download a PDF version here: April Math Calendar

Sunday, March 24, 2013

Formula that always equals 5

Friday a student, Miss P, showed our 2nd period class how to take a number and always get 5 as the answer.  By 5th period, we were testing it with any number we could think of.

Here is the formula: number + (number +1) +9 divided by 2 - original number.


STEPS:
Choose a number.
Add number you chose to the next number when counting.
Add 9 to that sum.
Divide that sum by 2.
Subtract the original number from that quotient.
You should have a difference of 5!!!!

Example: 8+9=17+9=26/2=13-8=5

I challenge you to tell me why this always equals 5.  (Hint.. look at just the numbers in the formula)

Enjoy!

Properties of Solid Shapes and Volume

This week we began discuss the various properties of solid shapes and how to find the volume of these shapes.

Properties of Solid Shapes 
We began by reviewing what we knew about solid (3D) shapes.  For examples: Faces, Edges, and Vertices. 

Faces - The flat side of a solid shape
Edges - Where two faces meet
Vertices -Where three or more faces meet

We also talked about what a polyhedron is, a solid shapes whose faces are all polygons.  From here we learned about mathematician Leonhard Euler (pronounced "Oil-er").  Euler discovered the relationship between faces, edges, and vertices. 

Euler's Theorem states that (F + V) - 2 = E.   We tested this on several polyhedrons.

Volume of Solid Shapes
At the end of the week, we began discussing volume of a solid shape. 

We identified two different ways to find volume.
-  If the shape were irregular (not an identifiable polyhedron) we would just count the cubic units. 
- If the shape were regular polyhedrons we can use the formula length x width x height.

To engage the students in class we use "Whole Brain Teaching" often.  If you are interested read more about it here: Whole Brain Teaching

Many times, when using WBT in class, I have the students use their friends, "Smarty" and "Dufus".  These guys are their hands that talks to one another.  Smarty is just as his name implies, he knows how to do the skill and is a very nice, polite teacher.  Dufus is not as smart and asks several questions.  Dufus needs Smarty's help a lot.

Ok, I tell you guys all of this to explain the following video.  I told the students I found "Smarty" and "Dufus" on youtube.com  Here they are ready to teach you how to find volume.  Enjoy!


March word problem

"Owl Love to See "hoo" Can Solve These Word Problems!

This month's word problems was 100% student created.  The students decided theme, the banner phrase, and what colors they wanted to use.  I think they did great!!! 

We focused on comparing and ordering fractions.  As you look at the examples, you will notice they used different strategies to compare and order these fractions.  Some of the students looked for the LCM (lowest common multiple) to create a common denominator and an equivalent fraction.  Others drew a fraction chart and shaded the fractional amounts to visually compare and order the fractions in their word problems.








Sunday, March 3, 2013

How technology is making my job easier

This is awesome!  Earlier this year all the teachers in my building were given ipads.  (Thank you PTA) 

Recently after taking notes in our math journals, I had the students do some independent practice on the concept.  Instead of hauling 100 math journals home, I had the students take a picture of their work.  Now, I only had to take one thing home to see if the students grasped the concept. 

I LOVE technology!!!!

March Math Calendar

Wow!  It has been a couple weeks since a post, but it has definitely been a busy couple of weeks.  Now that I am back in the groove below is this month's math calendar.  Enjoy!

Please notice:
1 - Xtramath still an ongoing assignment
2 - Math homework is moving to Wednesday nights
3 - NO - Xtramath during the week of Spring Break

Download your copy of this month's calendar here: March Math Calendar

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Math-entines Box




I am super excited to share our spiral review for February.  This Thursday is Valentine's Day, but of course I am a math dork and wanted to find a way to make this exciting holiday educational too.

I started by searching the internet.  I found a Valentines Math box project and decided to make it work better for the differentiated learners in my class. 

I have also challenged the class that if they gave me a "math-entine" card, that was funny and about math I would give them extra credit.  I already have two really great ones!

If you are interested, here is the rubric for the project. Math-entine Rubric


Here are some great pictures of the finished product:

Homework 2-12-13

Attached is tonight's "be the teacher" word problem.  Please notice the check list.  For a 100% you must include all 7 parts in your letter to me.

Have a great night!!!


For homework, click here.

Love,

Mrs. Osten

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

February Family Fun/Extra Credit Calendar

Enjoy the February Family Fun/Extra Credit Calendar.  To download a copy click here: February Calendar 2013




Great Example of "Be the Teacher" homework


I am super excited about how this new type of homework assignment is working out.  Every Tuesday and Thursday, I send home one word problem that has been solved incorrectly.  The students are expected to solve the problem correctly and then write a letter to me explaining what the "example student" did incorrectly.  Here is an amazing example of what students are turning in.  

Equivalent Fractions

This week we began discussing how to find equivalent fractions.  I introduced our lesson with this great 4 minute teaser video created by a teacher and posted on youtube.


As this lesson progressed, we included finding equivalent fractions with manipulatives, then moving to pictorial models in our journals.  Check out what it looked like:



As the students completed their work on the right side of their journal, they took a picture of the page with the classroom iPad.  This allowed me to quickly assess everyone's comprehension of this concept without having to haul 100 math journals home. 

Finally we practiced finding equivalent fractions abstractly.  Our biggest thing to remember from this lesson is, "What ever you do to the numerator, you must do the same thing to the denominator!"



Our Word Problems are "toad"ally Awesome!


It is a new month and time for a new word problem.  This month we continued our comparing and order fractions lessons.  Like always, the students were given an example and then asked to create one of their own.  Here is our completed product.

As it is February our toads were made from several hearts.  If you would like the heart template click here: Heart/Frog template

Here is a close-up look of the final product.




The entire board:


Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Tuesday 2-5-13 Homework

Another chance to be the teacher. 
Here is today's homework: HW 2/5/13

Please remember to include proper letter form in your response.  Be sure your letter tells the teacher what the student in the example did incorrectly and how they could have checked their answer.

Love ya!

Mrs. Osten

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Think Through Math

Great new resource!  Especially as we approach STAAR.  This program will assess your student's mastery of various math skills.  Once the assessment is complete, it will create lessons and practice to ensure mastery.  To make it exciting the students earn points to purchase prizes.

Visit: http://lms.thinkthroughmath.com/students/sign_in

To login-  User ID: (lunch#)arl
              Password: (lunch#)tx



Be the Teacher - New type of Homework

Starting today on Tuesdays and Thursdays I will be sending a new type of homework home.  The students will be given and example of a word problem that has been solved INCORRECTLY.  The students will need to A) solve it correctly, B) identify the error the original students made, and C) write a letter to the teacher explaining what the original student did incorrectly and how they could fix the error.

This new type of homework will get the students to think more critically about a word problems.  If they can identify errors in other's work, they will find it in their own work as well. 

Tomorrow, I will post a picture of a completed assignment so you can see how well it works.

Enjoy! 

If you would like to get a copy of tonight's homework click here: HW: 1/29/13

Monday, January 28, 2013

Decimal Assessment Tuesday 1/29/13

We will be assessing our understanding of decimal place value, comparing and ordering, adding and subtracting, and rounding! 

Here is the link to the website we practiced in class today.  This has many resources that covers all of these topics. Decimal Review Site

Adding, Subtracting, and Rounding Decimals

To conclude our unit on decimals, we discussed how to add, subtract, and round them.  The biggest things to remember are:
1) Always line up the numbers by their place value and the decimal.
2) Use place holders "0's" to fill in where needed.  (Always at to the end, NEVER move a number away or closer to the decimal to add a zero!)

When we started discussing adding and subtracting decimals, I found this power point and changed it to match the needs of our classroom. Adding and Subtracting Decimals

Once we practiced with our elbow partners we then divided the class into two groups and played Decimal Jeopardy.  This can be found here: Decimal Jeopardy


Hanging Out in Decimal Order





Comparing and Ordering Decimals

After our adventure in singing the Beverly Hillbilly song we moved on to comparing and ordering decimals.  This lesson was introduced by using this power point I found online, and changed a little to meet our class needs.  Compare and Order Decimals powerpoint 

After reviewing the power point and practicing on our white boards, I then gave each student a tiny t-shirt (t-shirt) and had them draw a number out of basket.  They then wrote their number on the middle of the t-shirt, colored it, and cut it out.  At their table groups the students compared and ordered them based on the instructions I gave.  Finally, the entire class ordered their t-shirts at the back of the classroom.  As you can imagine it got more difficult as the day went on.  By 4th and 5th period, they were trying to order their numbers (that went through the thousandths place) in with over 70 shirts.


Here is our finished product: 





Close up to show the differentiation:




Thursday, January 24, 2013

Homework 1-24-13

Comparing and Ordering Decimals

If you are looking for tonight's homework look below.

If you are in 1st, 2nd, or 3rd period, here you go! Comparing and Ordering Decimals worksheet

If you are in 4th or 5th period, here you go! Comparing and Ordering Decimals worksheet


Keep and eye out for our Laundry Line of decimals coming soon!

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Tuesday night -1/22/13 Homework

Homework is available here if you misplaced it or need a copy due to being absent:01/22/13 homework

DON'T FORGET!!!
  
Perimeter of a square = S+S+S+S 
Perimeter of a rectangle = (L)x2 + (W)x2

Area = L x W


Thursday, January 17, 2013

Decimal Place Value and the Beverly Hillbillies

Today's lesson started by Mrs. Osten testing out her ability to compete on America's Got Talent.  I sang to the class.  I think overwhelmingly, they would all agree...I DO NOT have talent.  They did enjoy the song and they were all able to infer who/what the song was about.  Here is the tune and the words.


The Tune is to "The Hillbillies" theme song.  You can hear it here:
http://www.ajsmidi.com/allsongs_1/bevrlyh.html

Let me tell you a story bout a little bitty dot.
He got so bored that he thought he would rot.
So he put on his sneakers and his tiny head band,
And he ran, and he ran through number land.


He found a number that was lost and afraid. 
He bounced along the line till his day was made. 
He hopped left and right to the number’s delight. 
He hopped and he hopped till he was out of sight.

When he hops to the right he makes the number feel small. 
When he goes to the left it feels big and tall.
He’s a tiny little dot but has power in his hand...

as he runs and he runs through number land.


Can you guess who/what the song is about? You got it - DECIMAL!


Now, we defined a decimal number and how it is said. The decimal's name is "And". We went on to say that if you called the decimal by "Point" or "Dot" you were calling him a bad word. (Hopefully this will make the correct name stick!)

Next, we went on to identify how a decimal is identified within a place value chart. I explained to the students that math is always based on patterns. Using the foldable shown at the beginning of this post, I showed the students how the decimal is like the "opposite" of the "O" in the ones place, then how the TENTHS place is the opposite of the tens place and so on with the rest of decimal place values through the HUNDREDTHS or THOUSANDTHS.

Finally, we practice reading and writing various examples of decimal numbers. While reading and writing the numbers we discussed that we read the whole number (the numbers to the left of the decimal, just as we did in the past). Then we said, "and", when we saw the decimal. And finally, read the entire number that was to the right of the decimal followed by the name of the place value the last digit fell in.

You know there was so much more to our discussion of decimals and numbers today. but here is a great start to get your brain jump started.

I hope this post will help you!


Love,
Mrs. Osten    

We "Mustache" You to Solve our Word Problems

Ok, so every month we show our higher level thinking skills by taking a recently mastered concept and writing our own word problems.  This month, you guessed it, we wrote about perimeter and area.  I have to say how impressed I was with the students.  They came up with some remarkable multi-step, working backwards, two answer word problems.

Here is what the final product looked like.



If you would like the mustache templates look here: mustaches

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

NO HOMEWORK 1/15/13

NO MATH HOMEWORK - Due to Curriculum Assessment Testing tomorrow!

Types of Triangles

I promised my 2nd period class I would post the video I used as a "hook" to get the students interested in my lesson for the day.  Here it is.  Enjoy!

Once we watched this video, we spent two days talking about triangles classified by their sides and by their angles. 

Transformations and Tessellations

This post is about a week after we completed the assignment, but I promised I would post it.  Right before the winter break, we discussed transformations, the way a shape can move.  This was exciting because we increased the rigor of our math vocabulary from flip, slide, and turn to translation, rotation, and reflection. 


Once I was sure the students understood how the shapes moved, I introduced tessellations. 
We created our "tracers" out of index cards, chose what transformation we wanted to show and the creative, higher level thinking began!  

Here are some of our finished products.
I you would like the instructions on how to make a template or tracer for the different types of transformations, please email me.

Enjoy!

Friday, January 11, 2013

Put-In Cups, Perimeter/Area, and SORE thumbs!


Wow, what an awesome day!  After spending the week on learning about perimeter and area.  We ended our lessons by completing a project that was fun, helped the PTA, and tied it all together perfectly!

We started the planning of the "put-in cups" by working in teams to determine how to create a shape when given the perimeter and area of an irregular polygon (letters).  We used the custom design "fence" looking template for the students to plan on, and I used the put-in-cups alphabet to modify letters and know how it should look exactly. (The templates are downloadable on this site: https://www.putincups.com/shop/help.html


Now, the hard part was figuring out how 5 classes would complete  a project that built upon one another.  I divided the letters "BUTLER BRONCOS" among the classes.  The first class had to finish at least the outline in order for the next class to start.

If you want to know what letters your child did here is the breakdown:
1st period - BU
2nd period - TL
3rd period - ER - B
4th period - RON
5th period - COS

I am absolutely impressed with the Butler students. They did an amazing job planning, discussing, and working together to plan and implement this project. 

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Perimeter and Area Introduction


This catchy tune was a hit in introducing Area and reviewing Perimeter.  The kids were singing it all day.  I am so excited for our wrap up project involving the fence off of Rocky Canyon Dr. and "cups".  Keep an eye out for pictures and more information!

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Xtramath.com Homework

XtraMath logo
ALL STUDENTS ARE NOW IN THE MULTIPLICATION/DIVISION MODULE!!

FYI - Don't forget to log in to xtramath.com 4 different days a week.  You must complete an entire session to get credit. 

I love this site because parents can go in and see how their child is progressing along in mastering basic math facts.

Homework grade for the week.  Mondays - Sundays:
4 logins = 100
3 logins = 75
2 logins = 50
1 login = 25
zero logins = 0

Remember time is given before school, during school, and after school if access is not available at home.

January Family Fun/Extra Credit Math Calendar

Welcome to my new blog!  I am super excited to share my enthusiasm for math with other teachers.  Let's start with my monthly math family fun/extra credit calendars.  Enjoy. 

Of course this is formatted for my classroom specifically, but feel free to edit and adapt as your own.