A Day Full of Math
Math Ideas that actually work!
Tested and Tried by Celena Ottley
Daily Morning Math:
As part of Morning work I have started my 2nd graders on a daily input of
math that they should know by the end of 2nd grade. It has been great for
informal assessment of what students understand at their grade level. The
amazing part is I’ve seen this done in my Kindergarten class and it has put our
class leaps and bounds above the other classes. With this in mind I’ve found some
amazing daily math for ages K-3.
 Kindergarten- Daily Missing numbers charts that progress through the year.
The kids do this every day as they walk in
http://www.k-3teacherresources.com/fun-math-activities.html#.UWt_uo6fP7I
 1st Grade- Daily Math Terms 1-4. This is one of Lory Evans amazing
creations. If you are not following her blog START. She gives tonz of free
stuff away that is very usable
and well thought through. Plus
Lory Evans is a Utah teacher.
She is following the same
core as we are!
http://loryevanspage.blogspo
t.com/
http://www.teacherspayteach
ers.com/Store/Lory-Evans
 2nd Grade Daily Math Terms 1-4.
I have used this for the last
month. I love the assessments I
have been getting from it. Each
box is working on one standard
of the new math core. I created
an extension of the activity
where I collected 10 days of
data with problems that were
similar then I made a graphic
organizer marking each style of
problem so that I could collect
data on which standard my students were struggling in. (see examples in
packet)
 3rd Gradeo I found a teacher in North Carolina who has some free morning work
for 3rd graders. http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/TeacherAddict/Category/Daily-Morning-Math Her stuff is nice because it is
free and straight to the point.
o I also really like Mountain math. I’ve seen it in action and it is great. I
would check it out if you haven’t seen it in a school. It is a program
that touches on bits and pieces of the math, language and science core.
http://www.mtmath.com/index2.php?setcookie=1&#.UWuL-46fP7I
o Another classic program is ADD math from Grow Publications.
http://www.growpub.com/cgibin/GRWstore.pl?user_action=link&link=cat_math This is the program
my 2nd grade class used before I came. I actually used ADD math when
I went to school. It really helps
students think about the nuts
and bolt of how to solve a
problem by breaking it down
using the acronym TIPS.
Calendar Math Integration:
Because of how little students are learning during
calendar time districts are taking it out of the
classroom. Integrating multiple parts of math into
your daily calendar routine will help make calendar
and math interesting. I found a great Calendar
Companion created by Cara Carroll. Cara Carroll is
one of the top rated sellers on teacher pay teachers
and has an amazing blog. I highly recommend
checking out her stuff.
http://www.thefirstgradeparade.blogspot.com/
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Calen
dar-Companion-K-2-Printables-to-SupplementYour-Daily-Calendar
Adding Math to your Writing:
One great idea I’ve tried out this year is writing
about math. I have found and created my own
morning messages using math and also have had
students write/type their own
math problems then give it to a
friends to and illustrate. You will
be surprised how creative their
problems get. They were more
creative than me and came up
with math language on their own.
Math Journals are a goal of
mine. If you want to see a great
idea for a math journal check
out this teachers ideas to
integrate foldables into a math journal. I love it!
http://simply2ndresources.blogspot.com/2011/07/fo
ldables-in-our-math-journal.html
Math Art:
One of my favorite math concepts to teach is symmetry and anything
with geometric shapes. Here was a great winter activity teaching
symmetry the Daybreak Kindergarten team does with die cut
snowflakes and pattern block die cuts. They looked amazing hang in on
out classroom trees and bulletin boards.
Math Workshop:
Math Rotations and workshop was my biggest accomplishment this last year of
math. I needed to create a program that worked for my low students as well as my
gifted learners in the classroom. In my kindergarten class I created a tiered math
program based on students benchmarks and math progress found from informal
assessments. This program was ran by a parent volunteer who came once a week.
The parent would come and take students out into the hall in leveled groups of 5.
They would play a math game on their level, work on a workbook problem that was
tricky and/or play an iPad game focusing on something they were struggling in.
These 10 minutes were a chance
for each student to shine. Lower
students were working on
numbers and my high students
were building their own
equations with numbers. It was
great and the progress
measured was amazing.
I wanted to create the same
program in 2nd grade but I had
no parent volunteers. This is how
math rotations were born. Each
of my students were preassessed by their ability and
knowledge of the specific math
topic for the week (this is were my daily math assessments cam in handy), and
then they were put in 4 groups of 6. Before we rotate we have a 15-20 minute
whole group lesson about our topic. Then they are to rotate through the stations
with their leveled groups.
The students rotate through 4 stations using the
acronym MATH.
 Math Facts: At this station students play games
like, math war, using flash cards to quiz each
other, or playing app games like Math Slide, Math
Warrior or Math Ninja. Any way I could think of
to make doing basic math facts fun. This is also
where I added holiday flair like Easter egg math
facts and valentines candy counting.
 At Your Seat: This is your seatwork. This is
where I level what is expected of my students. I
color coded assignments or assigned different
problems out of the workbook.
 Teachers Choice: Teachers choice is the small group instruction time for
the teacher and the students. When students were with me we were going
over the whole group lesson in greater detail, getting help on seatwork or
having mini lessons. I also used this time for individual instruction. If there
were members that needed more one on one attention I would have the
group play an iPad game or finish their seatwork while we worked together.
 Hands On: Hands on is where I implemented all of my center games I have
been creating. We did math sorts, measurement, time and money games,
counting of money, and hands on experiences using manipulatives. I would
give the students some free choice in this area and other days I would
require all students to do the same activity. This are is really important to
be as hands on and real world
experience as possible.
Gameshow: Once a week I would do a
game called “gameshow.” This is where I
quizzed students on math questions from
the week and insert other math
questions as well. I would give them a paper and pencil and I used the Eggspert
Buzzer System. Students would buzz in if they knew the answer and keep points in
the corner of the scratch paper. I swear they paid more attention during this 15
minutes than in any other time I have ever worked with them! I never even had
the points mean anything they were just excited to learn and get to buzz in. I love
this system because from the teacher side you can turn buzzers off. Meaning if
someone hasn’t had a chance to answer you could turn the others off. It also has a
random setting where the eggspert picks who answers. It is pricey but a GREAT
extension to what could be a really boring math review.
Leveled Groups:
I don’t feel anyone should be put into a group forever. This is why the groups
change by concept. There are some kids who are great at addition and subtraction
but measurement throws them off. I also think that students of higher ability
should be thrown in at times with lower students. I call these “teacher tutors.”
These students are paired with a struggling student and are asked to be teachers,
not an “answer givers,” but someone who helps them, “learn the best they can.”
This is a whole new skill for these students and really challenges them. They are
better teachers than me sometimes!
Early Finisher Math Games:
Cara Carroll created some fabulous math Mystery pages. I get asked every day if
I will put one of these out for early finishers. Check them out you wont be
disappointed!
Place Value Mystery Picture
Money Mystery Picture
Ok spending a little money? Here are some of the center/math activites I
would recommend.
Magic Math Common Core Aligned – Deanna Jump makes GREAT stuff!
Food Math – Lory Evans has a lot of these. I use them on Holidays why not make
math fun on a holiday!
Robot Math Stations – All of Lory Evans’ math stations are phenominal. There is a
lot of printing but if put together right amazing!
Geometrical Shapes 2D & 3D – Best one I found definitely 2nd-3rd grade
The Great Coin Collection – Perfect for teaching and reinforcing money. Comes
with a lot of games!
Expanded Notation – Very Cute and a nice way to make expanded form fun.
Little Chefs Measurement –Great way to extend measurement!