Comments for Mathematical Thinking

Comment on Pythagoras was here… a cool interactive applet… by Michelle

Michelle — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 01:32:55 +0000

Tom showed me that one too! Its very cool and I’m looking forward to making use of it during the circle geometry unit for math 9!

Comment on 100,000 hits! by Margaret

Margaret — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 19:59:03 +0000

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Comment on 100,000 hits! by Clare

Clare — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 21:11:55 +0000

Hi Carole,
Congratulations on making the 100,00 mark. I know that was a goal for you, and I’m happy we could help you to achieve it. Now, what’s next?

Comment on Printable Games for Grade 3 Number sense by mindfull

mindfull — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 15:28:47 +0000

Hey Carlos!
Thanks for the email!
I use Pokemon as the context for a ton of different things since, as you say, kids love them! )

I tell my students that I have a store where I sell Pokemon cards/stickers. I explain that they have a dollar to spend and can buy whatever they want. They go crazy matching prices and combining them to get amounts less than 100¢! Then I tell them that in order to buy the cards they have to fill out an “order form” with a description of what they want, how many and the total cost, as well as how much change they will get from a dollar. All that, of course, is the culmination of several lessons in which we add up to find the dfference, use ten frames to join amounts, think tens and use doubles to total sets of numbers using mental math strategies…

The Grades 2 and 3 curricula are FULL of outcomes that introduce and apply mental math strategies, so I simply use the Pokemon as the engaging context. The larger numbers that are available for download are to get the grade 3’s thinking at their level – I have them play me in a game of Pokemon, where I have 1000 points and they must add up their scores (each one is attached to one of the characters) and do what they can to get as close to 1000 without going over… Great fun and lots of flexible strategies used!

Carole

PS – The Math ToolKits are a real hit on this blog. The most popular post ever… )

Comment on 100,000 hits! by Janice

Janice — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 23:56:43 +0000

Yeah you!

Comment on 100,000 hits! by Selene Johnston

Selene Johnston — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 23:43:13 +0000

How exciting to see the cluster map. Very cool. Yeah for you and us

Comment on Where’s the party? Number Patterns for Grade 3 by Susan McCartney

Susan McCartney — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 03:13:56 +0000

Loved this idea Carole and so appropriate because I am doing number patterning right now. It will work with my grade 2 and 3 students.

Comment on Where’s the party? Number Patterns for Grade 3 by Jenn

Jenn — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 00:28:43 +0000

Love It! Thanks so much for sharing! I have bookmarked your site!

Comment on Printable Games for Grade 3 Number sense by Carlos

Carlos — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 22:23:58 +0000

Hi Carole, ‘I teach grade 3 and am very interested in how you use Pokempn to teach Math. My son (grade 2) and many of my students are hooked on Pokemon. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Carlos

P.S. I used your math toolkits idea It is such a wonderful way to have essential materials ready in an instant. The students (and I) love using them.

Comment on Printable Games for Grade 3 Number sense by Kari Unrau

Kari Unrau — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 05:33:54 +0000

Hi Carole
As I near my 4 years of teacher training, I find it relieving to know that you have this blog for me to refer to in the future. Your ideas and resources help me plan for future units and math centers that I would love to use in my own class one day. Your presentation in Whitehorse was motivational for me and I love the blog….especially the part about using Pokeman! I might learn to play the game yet….

Love your energy kari

Comment on Reflecting – critically – on blogging in education by Jenn Skye

Jenn Skye — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 20:46:13 +0000

Hi Carole
You have inspired me to start my own classroom blog. I included a link to your blog as an example of an amazing site on math. Keep up the great work!
Jenn

Comment on Reflecting – critically – on blogging in education by Clare Ellison

Clare Ellison — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 05:16:46 +0000

Hi Carole,
Thank you again for sharing with us yesterday. I love the way that technology removes barriers and allows us to share across the country or even the world.
I’ve heard you speak, in person in Abbotsford, and I’ve visited your site in the past, and have been impressed. I really thought I’d never be able to do any of the blogging that you, and many others, do. Your talk yesterday sparked a belief that perhaps I can; and if I start small, I have room to grow and shape the content for the audience. I hadn’t thought of it that way before. Keep up the great work!

Comment on Reflecting – critically – on blogging in education by Meghan Unger

Meghan Unger — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 04:53:42 +0000

Hi Carole. I was in the Abbotsford LTT group that got to interact with you via Skype yesterday. It was really imformative. Now many of us are pretty excited about the power of Blogs and lots of us are trying to see how quickly we can get something together for school start up. I’m going to check out your blog now… thanks again!

Comment on Hundreds chart puzzle pieces by Toni Fusco

Toni Fusco — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 21:26:56 +0000

Do you have a template so that I may use this activity for number patterns for numbers up to 1000 following the hundred chart format

Comment on Mental Math Strategies by Sandy Kwan

Sandy Kwan — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 04:29:24 +0000

Hi Carole,
it’s Sandy, gr. 1, Gleneagles! Hope your summer is going great!
Since you need to pay for Rainforestmaths now, I’m looking for great websites like it for my son. He’s 5, and really comfy with gr. 2-3 ish math. He loved the levels on Rainforestmaths and all the topics. What would you recommend?
We’re very excited to have you for our ‘meet the creature’ in Sept.
Thanks,
Sandy

Comment on Primary games – spinners and more by Penny Morgan

Penny Morgan — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:18:49 +0000

Hi Carole – I am taking the numeracy field study in Maple Ridge. I was wondering if you have a copy of a picture book called Ten Friends by Bruce Goldstone that I could borrow or buy from you. Thanks

Penny Morgan

Comment on Pokémon math! by Margaret Choinski

Margaret Choinski — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 04:05:25 +0000

Ben read this and thought it was “brilliant” He took out his cards and spent hours figuring out math questions he could give his friends!
I might even grow to like Pokemon.
M

Comment on Counting Crocodiles… the make tens strategy by ally

ally — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 18:42:36 +0000

HI Carol,

i am trying to get a copy of the MATH LINK8 text book for my daughter. it has been recommended that she review the book over the summer, but the school cannot loan or sell me one until the end of august, which doesn’t help much. i contacted the local distributor and they to will not have any until co loser to September. do you know how i can get a copy of this.

thanks so much! love your site!

Comment on Primary games – spinners and more by Ingrid

Ingrid — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 20:31:25 +0000

Wow!!! I love these ready-to-go games and resources!!!
Mille mercis, Carole!!

Comment on BEAM maths of the month -Games for preschool to grade 7 by Sandy Kwan

Sandy Kwan — Fri, 08 May 2009 03:37:36 +0000

Carole, I’m desperate for the info off of the beam website! I went through half of it a while back and wanted the rest. Do you know what’s going on with them?
Sand Kwan at skwan@creativ.ca