Dot Plates

So I told you I didn't know when I would be back. It's not that I don't have the time... it is that I don't feel like I have anything to say. I would rather write a blog that is informative and interesting than a blog that is just a bunch of words with no meaning behind it. I hope you understand. :)

But I do have something interesting to tell you tonight!

On Monday 3 of our teachers (K-2) went to another school in our district and watched a few of the K-2 teachers there teach math. One of the higher ups in our school district has been raving about their math program so our principal decided to send some of our teachers over there to see what is going on.

The teachers that went loved what they saw!

Yesterday (Friday) was a early dismissal in our district. Which means "teacher jail" for the faculty. That is what another one of the teachers calls it. It makes me laugh... but sometimes (like yesterday) we get exciting information!

2 of the teachers that went to the other school on Monday (the 3rd one was sick. Poor Kindertrips. Get feeling better soon hun! Hope to see you on Monday!) led the inservice. I really enjoyed what they showed us.

One of the ideas they gave was really similar to something I do with my students. Quick Images. For those of you who do not know what that is, basically it is when you show your students a ten frame that has a certain amount of dots in it. But you only show them for like a second.  You can have them copy it onto their own ten frame or you can just discuss it. I love the discussion part of it. It lets you know how they think.

For example if you show a ten frame that looks like this

students may say that they saw 7. You HAVE TO ASK THEM HOW THEY KNOW! This is when the responses show you what they know and how they see and understand numbers. Some of the responses you get will include:
"I saw 3 on top. 4 on bottom."
"I saw 4 on one side and 3 on the other"
"I counted"
"4 and 3 is 7"

One of the ideas presented was very similar to this.  However, instead of using ten frames they used plates with dots. It was super cute! I knew right away that I had to make them this weekend. So today after going to the park and walking a mile (go me!) I stopped at the dollar tree and got 1 set of black plates and star stickers. I will have to go back tomorrow and get another set of black plates so that I can finish the set to 10... and you will only need the one set of stickers (I didn't know that at the time, so I got 2 sets to be safe).

In 20 minutes I had created a super fun set of Dot Plates!

I can't wait to use these in class and continue to learn/assess how my kinders think!