Teaching Tips to Try Newsletter

August 9, 2009
From Linda The Math Coach

This Week’s Theme: Feed Two Birds With One Seed.

(It’s Even Better Than Killing With Stones!)
Build Teamwork and Vocabulary on Your First Day!
Rigor?
Engagement?
Cooperative Learning?
Classroom Community of Learning?

Try this team builder on the first day of school. Not only will you raise rigor and
engagement with a cooperative learning activity that promotes classroom
community of learning. You will also be developing understanding of important
vocabulary terms that students will encounter in their first unit of study.

Here it is:

Materials you will need:

Two sheets of red and two sheets of yellow paper. (Copy or Construction any two
colors will do.)
List of vocabulary words and definitions or examples

Prepare:
Cut each piece of paper into about twelve
strips.
Use one color to write vocabulary terms.
Use the other color to write the definitions
and/or examples.
You can also do problems and answers that
Model the procedures they will have to learn
within the unit.
Directions for the Activity:
Pairing
Distribute one strip to each student. Tell them the following.
You must find the person who has a different colored paper with
information that matches the information written on your paper. (If you
have an uneven number, join in as a partner with the left over student.
You can go first in the sharing to model how students should proceed.)
This person will be your partner. As partners, your task is the following:
• Introduce yourself
• Tell your partner one way in which you are the same as what is on
your paper and one way in which you are different from what is
written on your paper.
• Be prepared to introduce your partner to the group and share what
your partner said.
Sharing
After students have had enough time to do this, call the group back
together. Take turns introducing and sharing what partners have said.
This is your chance to bring out positive comments that students have
shared and to build on any mathematical ideas that they generate. Make
sure students know that these are vocabulary terms and concepts that
they will soon be studying! You may want to appoint a student to record
important points that you want students to consider later in the unit. End
by congratulating everyone for sharing. Tell them to turn to their partner
and say thank you before you move on to the next activity.

Added Notes and Extensions:

This is a good way to pair up students for other activities.
When you prepare the cards, think strategically. Choose examples that force
students to compare and contrast. Also select items that are typically difficult or
that incorporate common misconceptions.

You can give students a large sheet of paper and have them paste their colored
strips of paper at the top. Then exchange the large sheets and have other
students write more items that match the two original items. You could also post
the large paper on the wall around the room and have the students circulate
gallery style, adding items to match. (Kagan)
Example for Algebra Unit Vocabulary
Red Yellow
-2 7-9
Equation 3x + 4 = 18
15 = x 3<x<4
Integers 7, -4, -7, 1, -143
Algebraic Expression 3x + 4
Terminating ½
Non-terminating 1/3
Variables x, y, a, b, c, t, r
Two increased by three times a number 2 + 3y
Commutative Property 3x + 4 = 4 + 3x
Associative Property (3x + 4) + 7 = 3x + ( 4 + 7)

THIS IS THE YEAR TO UNLEASH THE MASTER TEACHER WITHIN!

If you would like additional support through ongoing group coaching and
collaboration, contact Linda at www.lindathemathcoach.com/qualification

Bulletin Board Quotes to Share With Your Students:

On Teamwork:
”Coming together is a beginning.
Keeping together is progress.
Working together is success.”
- Henry Ford
For all my friends out there benchmarking:
”Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you are right.”
- Henry Ford

If you are really bold and comfortable with your class:

”There ain’t no rules here. We’re trying to accomplish something.”
- Thomas Edison
 Remember to
Join Us For the Free WEB CONFERENCE in September!

Dinah Zikes
Rock Star Diva of Foldables
September 28th 8:00pmCST
From the comfort of your own home
3D Gr aph ic Organ iz ers to inc rease :
Rigor
Engagement
Understanding
Connections
Retention

Man ipu la tives to Enhance N CT M Commun ica ti on St anda rds

VKVs to Build Vocabulary
Notebook Foldables for Middle and High School

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