My students need 14 items such as storage containers, colorful math manipulatives, multicultural crayons, a crayon sharpener, big sturdy pencils and a few different kinds of counters.
Hello! I absolutely love math, but that is not always true for my third grade students. For some reason most children (a few adults too)are afraid of "word problems". Well, I have only been teaching three years, but I discovered the secret. It seems crazy, but all it took was some shoe boxes covered with paper, construction paper, crayons, and a small book of ideas.
I found this book called "Shoe Box Math". I thought the name was cute so I ordered it and placed it aside for when I had more time. Luckily I didn't wait for more time. I introduced one box of math each day for a week and it took on a life of it's own. My students choose to do Shoe Box Math before computer time. They love the idea that I don't have to help them. Encouraging independence is an important part of the learning process.
When students are engaged with this activity, accountable talk happens, without them even realizing they are learning and sharing. I plan on continuing Shoe Box Math in the Summer and next year, but I would like to upgrade the durability and longevity of the boxes. My students use these hand made materials so often that they tend to need replacing every two to three weeks.
To make my Shoe Box dreams come true, my students need a variety of small to medium containers, a ton of crayons in all colors, a crayon sharpener, fun and bright manipulative items to inspire creativity, pencils, and a few new ideas.
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