The final session of math enrichment is underway. I spent two weeks before spring break screening all first through third grade classrooms. The topic for this session will be algebraic thinking. Algebraic thinking in the early grades focuses on an understanding of patterns, relationships, and functions; analyzing change in contexts; and using mathematical models to represent and understand quantitative relationships. This flexible enrichment session will allow students to work through and solve abstract problems involving variables in a way that is concrete and hands-on. Some specific activities will include making charts and graphs and finding different numeric combinations.
Third Grade Math Enrichment: Patterns
February 7th, 2012 Written by rachmiej · Third Grade
The third graders are working hard to explore patterns and numeric relationships. We spent two sessions investigating sums within “Fascinating Triangles.” The students were challenged to arrange six consecutive numbers on the sides of a triangle so that each side had the same sum. Once the group found all four solutions we discussed patterns within each solution. Then we used larger consecutive numbers and tackled the same challenge, looking to see if the same patterns would develop with different numbers, which they did. Next we will investigate some historic patterns such as the Fibonacci Sequence and Pascal's Triangle.
Conferences are coming up this month. I will be at Avoca West on the evening of Wednesday, February 15 from 3:00-7:00 pm. If you would like to schedule a conference with me please send me an email with possible times that work for you. I will send an email reply to confirm the conference date and time. If you want to meet with me, but are unavailable Wednesday evening, we can find another time for a conference either in person or over the phone.
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Second Grade Math Enrichment: Patterns
February 7th, 2012 Written by rachmiej · Second Grade
The second graders are working hard on discovering numeric patterns. We spent two class session investigating how to arrange five pennies in a five by five grid so that no two pennies are in the same row, column, or diagonal. We discovered all ten solutions and will look for patterns within each solution. This week the students applied their knowledge of patterns to various problem solving situations. Next we will look at the Fibonacci Sequence.
Conferences are coming up this month. I will be at Avoca West on the evening of Wednesday, February 15 from 3:00- 7:00 pm. If you would like to schedule a conference with me please send me an email with possible times that work for you. I will send an email reply to confirm the conference date and time. If you want to meet with me, but are unavailable Wednesday evening, we can find another time for a conference either in person or over the phone.
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First Grade Math Enrichment: Patterns
February 7th, 2012 Written by rachmiej · First Grade
The first graders are working hard discovering different geometric patterns using pattern blocks. For each lesson we begin with a question, for example “What does 20 look like?” Then the students use their pattern blocks to determine multiple answers to the question. For the above question we assigned each pattern block a point value which related to it’s size and the students had to find different patterns where the point total equaled 20 points. One of the more challenging aspects of these activities has been writing about their patterns. For example, the students are asked to explain how they know something is a pattern. We will continue to work on developing their math vocabulary.
We are also building patterns with pattern blocks and then using charts to record numeric patterns we discover about the geometric patterns we create. Using chart to record relationships is one of the precursors to developing algebraic thinking.
Conferences are coming up this month. I will be at Avoca West on the evening of Wednesday, February 15 from 3:00-7:00 pm. If you would like to schedule a conference with me please send me an email with possible times that work for you. I will send an email reply to confirm the conference date and time. If you want to meet with me, but are unavailable Wednesday evening, we can find another time for a conference either in person or over the phone.
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Logical Thinking – 3rd Grade- November
November 1st, 2011 Written by rachmiej · Third Grade
Logical thinking skills are developing in third grade! Recently the students worked on identifying attributes of a group and then determining items that could be included in that group. Today we began class by working on more open ended word problems together. After we completed a few together the children completed the rest on their own.
I am looking forward to working with the small groups throughout the remainder of the month. After Thanksgiving I will begin to screen the classrooms to identify students who would benefit from small group instruction focused on patterns. You will be notified about the second session of math enrichment between December 16, 2011 and January 2, 2012.
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Logical Thinking – 1st Grade- November
November 1st, 2011 Written by rachmiej · First Grade
Logical thinking skills are developing in first grade! After we finished using Venn Diagrams to solve logic problems, the students began working on “Logic Links.” These puzzles give instructions on which colored chips to use and present a series of clues. Based on these clues students must determine the one and only way to arrange chips so that all of the requirements are satisfied. First we solved puzzles together and then children worked through them on their own. Finally, we began to solve logic grids.
I am looking forward to working with the small groups throughout the remainder of the month. After Thanksgiving I will begin to screen the classrooms to identify students who would benefit from small group instruction focused on patterns. You will be notified about the second session of math enrichment between December 16, 2011 and January 2, 2012.
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Logical Thinking – 2nd Grade- November
November 1st, 2011 Written by rachmiej · Second Grade
Logical thinking skills are developing in second grade! Recently, we have been working on puzzles called “Logic Links.” These puzzles give instructions on which colored chips to use and present a series of clues. Based on these clues students must determine the one and only way to arrange chips so that all of the requirements are satisfied. First we solved puzzles together and then the children worked through them on their own.
I am looking forward to working with the small groups throughout the remainder of the month. After Thanksgiving I will begin to screen the classrooms to identify students who would benefit from small group instruction focused on patterns. You will be notified about the second session of math enrichment between December 16, 2011 and January 2, 2012.
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Mrs. Rachmiel’s Conference Schedule
February 14th, 2012 Written by rachmiej · Uncategorized
| Wednesday 2/15 | 3:00-3:10 | |
| Wednesday 2/15 | 3:10-3:20 | |
| Wednesday 2/15 | 3:20-3:30 | Julia |
| Wednesday 2/15 | 3:30-3:40 | |
| Wednesday 2/15 | 3:40-3:50 | Lila (Paynter) |
| Wednesday 2/15 | 3:50-4:00 | Lila (Paynter) |
| Wednesday 2/15 | 4:00-4:10 | Isaac |
| Wednesday 2/15 | 4:15-4:25 | Owen |
| Wednesday 2/15 | 4:20-4:30 | |
| Wednesday 2/15 | 4:30-4:40 | |
| Wednesday 2/15 | 4:40-4:50 | Aryan |
| Wednesday 2/15 | 5:00-5:10 | Joe D. |
| Wednesday 2/15 | 5:10-5:20 | Sam D. |
| Wednesday 2/15 | 5:20-5:30 | Ned |
| Wednesday 2/15 | 5:30-5:40 | Alana |
| Wednesday 2/15 | 5:40-5:50 | Brooke |
| Wednesday 2/15 | 5:50-6:00 | Serena |
| Wednesday 2/15 | 6:00-6:10 | Lyla F. |
| Wednesday 2/15 | 6:10-6:20 | Tricia |
| Wednesday 2/15 | 6:20-6:30 | Peter |
| Wednesday 2/15 | 6:30-6:40 | Evan |
| Wednesday 2/15 | 6:45-7:00 | Sam (Paynter) |
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Second Grade:the second session of math enrichment has begun!
January 6th, 2012 Written by rachmiej · Second Grade
Welcome to the second session of math enrichment! This session we will be learning about the importance of patterns. One goal for this unit is to use analytical methods to identify and describe patterns and relationships in data, solve problems, and predict results. We will also work on describing numerical relationships using variables and patterns. Additionally, we will create, describe, and extended simple geometric and numeric patterns.
During the first week of math enrichment second graders used pattern blocks to discover numerical patterns. The students built a simple pattern, and were then challenged to continue the pattern to determine a solution. For each pattern there were three methods of finding solutions. The simplest method was to build the pattern with the pattern blocks and count the quantity of blocks used. The second method is to find and continue a number pattern, for example counting by fours or fives. The most sophisticated method is to find a rule that determines the pattern.
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Second Grade Math Enrichment
January 3rd, 2012 Written by rachmiej · Uncategorized
My apologies for the delay. Parent notification for second session of second grade math enrichment will take place on Thursday, January 5, 2012. I will be retesting several students and finalizing scores over the next couple of days. Please look for an email on Thursday afternoon.
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First Grade: the second session of math enrichment has begun!
January 3rd, 2012 Written by rachmiej · First Grade
Welcome to the second session of math enrichment! This session we will be learning about the importance of patterns. One goal for this unit is to use analytical methods to identify and describe patterns and relationships in data, solve problems, and predict results. We will also work on describing numerical relationships using variables and patterns. Additionally, we will create, describe, and extended simple geometric and numeric patterns.
During the first weeks of math enrichment first graders will work with pattern blocks to discover linear, vertical, and other geometric patterns. The students will also be encouraged to discuss and write about their patterns.
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Third Grade: the second session of math enrichment has begun!
January 3rd, 2012 Written by rachmiej · Third Grade
Welcome to the second session of math enrichment! This session we will be learning about the importance of patterns. One goal for this unit is to use analytical methods to identify and describe patterns and relationships in data, solve problems, and predict results. We will also work on describing numerical relationships using variables and patterns. Additionally, we will create, describe, and extended simple geometric and numeric patterns.
The third graders will begin by playing the “Slide and Jump” game. As students play this game according to the official rules, they discover three “unwritten rules,” which help them play the game more consistently. We will then find patterns that exist in the solutions to each level of the game.
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