I am an elementary teacher of 18 years. Our school is in a rural area with about 450 students. I am teaching a 4/5 combination class for the second year in a row. Our school is a Title One School, meaning we have many needy students. Many of our students are learning English as a second language. Our school proudly brought our state test scores up significantly in last year's state test. We want to continue that growth and are looking at strategies that can help us achieve that. One of the strategies I am planning to implement is the use of 'Board Math'.
In a combination classroom there must be a space where the teacher can teach in small, grade level groups for leveled instruction. Last year, I attempted this with a 2x3 white board I purchased myself. This small board held only small amounts of information at a time. This limited space did not allow for information to be posted through out the day for students to refer to.
A new, large whiteboard will enable me to teach in small groups while other students are working from their desks. I will use this space for grade level instruction and in implementing the math strategy 'Board Math'. *Board Math requires a dedicated space on the classroom. The whiteboard is divided into 5 math strands - Number Sense, Algebra and Functions, Measurement and Geometry, Statistics/Data Analysis/Probability and Mathematical Reasoning. Each strand is created with rigorous problems that align with the grade level standards. The problems change daily. The board reflects teacher styles and student needs. My 4/5 class will work up to about 21 problems daily.
The objective of 'Board Math' is that the teacher leads students through practice examples in a lock-step fashion, with modeling in the form of teacher talk and whole group choral response. Board Math is a swift paced activity that lasts 10-20 minutes and keeps students engaged.
*This description taken from a district website that currently uses 'Board Math'
Your donation will create a permanent learning space in my classroom where children can receive small group instruction. I recently attended a 3 hour training on 'Board Math' and your donation will also enable me to implement this strategy using a 4x8 magnetic white board. I am very excited about having a small group area and to start this new math strategy.
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mrs. Cobert and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.