Read the Instructional Routines summary and think specifically about the Warm Up Routines (we'll take a closer look at the Math Language Routines in Part 5).
Then read the first few pages of your grade level's Number Talk packet and look at some of the number strings that are provided within it.
- Instructional Routines
- Number Talk Packets:
Grade K Grade 1 Grade 2 Grades 3-5
Consider
- What are your thoughts about incorporating warm up routines into your math time?
- What are your thoughts/experiences with using number strings?
- What math experiences from your own classroom came to mind as you were thinking about warm up routines?
Respond and Interact
Please post your response to one {or more} of the prompts above. Read our colleagues' reflections. Feel free to respond to someone by sharing a comment, insight or interesting possibility.
Please post your response to one {or more} of the prompts above. Read our colleagues' reflections. Feel free to respond to someone by sharing a comment, insight or interesting possibility.
I would have to say sometimes some of my best math conversation during math come from number routines. Sometimes it is hard to limit our warmup to 5-10 minutes because of the conversation and math that is happening.
ReplyDeleteOne thing that I liked that I have incorporated with the new curriculum is that one minute independent think time. I love this because this gives everyone a chance to have a quiet moment and think. I also love the number routines because it does give most an entry point.
I have done number strings in the past and I love how the new curriculum incorporates them as well. In the curriculum, I like how they build on one another and they can use information from the previous expression to help figure out a strategy or a starting point for the next expression in the string.
I love how this curriculum provides the easy opportunity to incorporate warm up routines into our math time. With such open-ended questions posed in the math warm up we get a wonderful variety of thinking. We talk about fluidity of mathematical thinking. I encourage students to think of more than one way to solve the problems. For a while I was getting some really complex responses that didn't fit with friendly numbers for solving the problems so I had to clarify, what is another way you could use friendly numbers to solve the problem? What I think I know about number strings is encouraging my students to use what they already know to work on a slightly more challenging problem. It is building that sense of numbers so that students can see how they can manipulate them. Students are encouraged to decompose numbers to make them more friendly to work with. We talk about the different properties which allow us to do so. I love the number strings on the warmup.
ReplyDeleteIt is really neat seeing all of the strategies that arise during warm ups. I would like to continue refining my ability to facilitate number strings/warm ups. Often times, I feel like I am fumbling. It is getting better each day so I guess that's a good thing!
DeleteWhen I first began teaching I suppose the closest thing we did to a number talk was number a day. Our school had a partnership w/the university and the professors who supported our "struggling" school encouraged teachers to nurture flexibility. It was interesting because it was so different than how I learned math. The professors shared that counting by rote in the younger grades is basically the same as students memorizing a song. So, anyway...we began with number of a day. It was pretty much a number in a circle map and we recorded all the ways students visualized and/or knew about the number/value whatever.
ReplyDeleteI really didn't have much experience with number strings until I started here. I appreciate the built in warm up in every lesson. It has been great seeing students become more confident and articulate sharing their ideas. Their use of vocabulary and connections to prior problems and/or similar expressions are impressive. One of our team's PLC focus is math talk. The daily warm ups are a perfect way to build our math community, practice math talk, use precise language, and build understanding. The conversations are rich and my goal is to encourage students to apply the same efforts when "explaining" on paper as they do when conversing w/peers.
The embedded instructional routines is my favorite part of the lesson for a couple different reasons: First, I don't have to go to a different source and look for a routine to use for the day. This used to be something I would need to find on the district math site, hiding in a slide deck, or logging on to the internet to select a routine for the day. Secondly, kids think they are fun and everyone has a way to contribute. I too love the 1 minute think time that is part of the Illustrative lessons. It creates an opportunity for me to quietly connect with a student that may not otherwise be engaged in the moment.
ReplyDeleteI have used the number strings in the past and love how the equations build logically from one to the next. When the routines or patterns become evident to our young mathematicians they are excited to apply a strategy that a classmate has shared. The opportunity to compare and connect mathematical approaches, representations, and languages is vast. Teachers can support the direction of the conversations using thoughtful questions of support. So powerful!
I have loved to see the high engagement among students when participating in warm up routines. One thing that I especially appreciate about the Illustrative Math Routines is that they are intentionally placed --> they help frame thinking and set the stage for the lesson that is to follow. Another thing that is worthy of mentioning is that they are accessible to all. Our students who typically struggle in math can find an entry point and our high kids are not bored. It's pretty magical...
ReplyDeleteI have to say my favorite part of the math curriculum is the warm up. I have to really control myself to keep it to the time that it asks (as to not short the lesson) but it seems to be the time where I get the most conversation, and can really see who has it and who is almost there etc. I have learned a lot of great things from my students during these times. I also like to see that everyone can participate and come up with a thought in my class and it seems to be the most fun for them too.
ReplyDeleteIn this curriculum I love that the warm ups are included in each lesson. My students have gotten so good about doing noticing and wonderings. I love hearing their conversations based upon the warm ups! It is really sweet and fun to know what they are learning.
ReplyDeleteWe did subtraction strings this week and my students grasped this concept extremely well.
We did a lot of number talks during online learning so this reminded me of that :)
I feel like a warm up routine is essential to help encourage the students to be thinkers on their own level and it keeps every student engaged regardless of where they are at in math. I love "what do you notice, what do you wonder" and hearing all the different ways they see and process the math lesson. The power of student lead conversation is very important and powerful. This is how we can encourage big thinkers.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely LOVE the warm ups with this curriculum! And the number talks are my favorite as they lead to so many great class discussions since they are usually reviewing & building on processes that we've recently learned. I've also started incorporating individual whiteboards into the warm up routine - and as this encourages way more engagement in the activities. After a while of the same routine, I noticed it was the same several students that were actively participating in each of the warm-ups, but by having the students use their whiteboards, every student is being held accountable for their participation instead of tuning out & letting the usual kids lead. Another one of my favorites is Which One Doesn't Belong - since the kids know there are no wrong answers, it always really great to see and hear what they come up with for their answers!
ReplyDelete