I am a third grade teacher at an elementary school in which the majority of the students are economically disadvantaged. My students come from households where both parents work and lack time to work at home with their child on classroom skills. Many of my students are below grade level in reading and math.
There is a need for additional learning materials to help increase student achievement in the concept of place value. Many students struggle with reading and writing large numbers (numbers in the thousands, ten-thousands, and hundred-thousands).
Currently I use the place value blocks and place value mats that come with my site’s math curriculum. I also dictate large numbers for students to write on slates. Students still experience difficulty in understanding place value. Students need more hands-on practice to understand large numbers. This proposal will provide students the opportunity to develop place value mastery through hands-on practice with place value practice boards and place value cubes. These materials will allow students to see, touch, read, write, and manipulate large numbers.
This proposal will fund a class set of place value practice boards, a larger place value practice board for teacher modeling, and place value cubes. These materials enrich instruction because they provide students with place value practice in a variety of ways.
I will integrate these materials into my math instruction. I will use the place value practice boards during whole class instruction and small group instruction. These flipboards are bright in color and fit easily on top of student desks. I will use these in addition to slate work. I will call out large numbers and students will show the number on their flipboard. I will be able to check for understanding as I monitor how the students use their flipboard. I will note which students need additional help and later work with them in small groups. The whole class will practice reading these numbers as well. The place value cubes will be used in centers and small group instruction. The cubes are color coded by place. There are enough cubes for up to six groups to work with at one time. Students will roll the cubes, read the number, and write the number the cubes create. Students will then compare and order the numbers they create. Students can also add and subtract the numbers and write the numbers in expanded notation. These cubes will be used to address individual student needs. Students who are ready for a challenge can work with the cubes to the millions place, while other students work with lower places as they work towards mastery.
Funding of these materials will provide students with the hands-on practice they need to master place value. Together we can help third graders have more opportunities to learn and understand the concept of place value!
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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. Moser and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.