This project is part of the Black History Month celebration because it supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of the students are Black.
My Students
About 70 third grade students, who are working at instructional grade levels from Kindergarten to 4th grade have one thing in common. The skill area each and every one of these students demonstrate the least understanding of, is telling time and solving problems involving elapsed time!
Our neighborhood school is a Title 1 School; over 98% of our 500+ students are economically disadvantaged.
Our children arrive with enthusiasm but with very little experience telling time, estimating time or solving problems involving time. Indeed many of our students do not have clocks in their homes. It's About Time involves not only exposing them to time concepts and tools but providing repeated hands on experiences telling time and calculating elapsed time. Very few of our children see analog clocks in their homes and many don't see clocks of any kind. For many time is an elusive concept. Trade books about time, partner and small group games about time, smart board games and hands on tools for the whole class such as elapsed time rulers and dry erase boards engage students multiple times and in a variety of ways to understand this skill that they will use beyond the classroom walls and beyond their third grade year into adulthood.
My Project
Telling time and understanding time concepts is a life skill as well as a math skill. The resources included in It's About Time, will teach students about the units of time they measure their days, weeks and years in. Students will become familiar with timelines, calendars, analog clocks, digital clocks and the notation and vocabulary used to describe time time. Students will solve real world problems involving elapsed time. Students will be taught how to model elapsed time on a number line. With these skills students will demonstrate their mastery of one portion of the new Common Core Standards, but more importantly they will have skills that are critical to timelines, organization and independence. Center activities will provide regular and continued practice in the skills learned in familiar real world contexts.
Supporting this project will allow students to develop important math and life skills.
Mastery of this topic will enhance my students' confidence and independence. New and varied materials increase students' motivation and interest in the topic. Materials and activities that are inviting not only encourage learning they make it fun.
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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. Bird and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.