Math Talk:

“Look & Talks”“Look & Counts”Asking questions is critical in guiding student learning.

Type of Questions:BeginningIntermediateAdvancedChallenging

Using illustrations…

Beginning: Can you …•count the mailboxes?•count the Red? •count the Blue? •count the Black?•count the Open? •count the Closed?

Intermediate: How many are…•not red?•not open?How many…•blue and red?•green and blue?

Advanced: •How many boxes are open? closed?•Which mailbox is first? sixth? fifteenth?•Which mailbox is last?•Can you use this picture to create your own math story?

Challenge:•If two mailboxes are added, how many mailboxes will there be in all?•If two more mailboxes are left open, how many boxes will be closed?

Example Math Story: If I open the blue, red, and green mailboxes there will be 6 mailboxes that are open and 17 that are not open.

Poems for Math Practice

Lesson Ideas

Individual – Count all the items in the pockets. Write the total. Check the answer using a calculator.Partner – Place several handfuls of small objects in a pile between two students. Each student uses a cup to drag some of the small objects toward them. Students count the objects. The greater number wins. Return objects and repeat.Whole Group – Display and read with class. Assign each student a different set of classroom objects to count. Children draw write the name, number and picture of their object on a sheet of paper. As a group put the objects in order from least to greatest. Turn this number line into a book and place in classroom library.Literature Extension – Counting Crocodiles or counting book of your choice.

Math Puzzlers…

Number Bonds

Look carefully at the card. The illustrator has hidden many different number bonds for 6.Look carefully at the card. The illustrator has hidden many different number bonds for 7.Look carefully at the card. The illustrator has hidden many different number bonds for 10.