Math & Movement Blog - Posts for Educators and Parents

05Nov 2019 by Intern No Comments

Bring Math into Your Elementary Physical Education Lessons

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Bring Math Into Your Elementary Physical Education Lessons Physical education courses are vital because they give students the chance to get up from their desks, get their blood pumping, and have fun! Not only does physical exercise promote healthy bodies, but it also improves students' moods and ability to learn. Therefore, P.E. warms up students' bodies and brains! Although P.E. can serve as a productive break from the classroom, incorporating math into elementary physical education lesson plans can be a useful strategy to make learning fun and give students the exercise they need. How Movement Supports Math Learning Math might not be the first thing to come to mind when you think of elementary P.E. lesson plans, but movement and math are actually fantastic partners! Exercise is often only thought…

01Oct 2019 by suzy123 No Comments

Healthy Halloween Haunts

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Healthy Halloween Haunts Halloween is an exciting time of year for kids, and it’s no secret that they love all of the sugary candy that they get to consume. However, Halloween also comes with health concerns with regard to childhood obesity. Each year, the average American child consumes 7,000 calories in candy alone on Halloween or the equivalent of 169 standard sugar cubes (Mukerjee). By adding physical activity into the classroom, you can promote a balanced lifestyle (and help your students work through a sugar crash!). In this article, you will find fun activities for this time of year that your students will love. Frankenstein by 5’s Active Math Movement Put your right arm out like Frankenstein and whisper “one.” Put your left arm out like Frankenstein and whisper “two.” …

18Sep 2019 by suzy123 No Comments

Why Kinesthetic Professional Development Workshops Will Have Your Teachers Jumping for Joy

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Why Kinesthetic Professional Development Workshops Will Have Your Teachers Jumping for Joy Professional development keeps teachers up-to-date on the latest science-backed pedagogical methods, increases their content knowledge, and allows them to strengthen relationships with their coworkers. Unfortunately, many teachers consider most professional development irrelevant, outdated, and uninspiring. According to the Gates Foundation, only 29% of teachers are highly satisfied with the professional development opportunities offered to them (Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, 2014). Luckily, you can change their attitudes by addressing a few important factors. Here are five ways professional development workshops which teach kinesthetic learning strategies can address your teachers’ concerns and meet their professional learning goals! 1. Innovation. Many teachers are looking for new strategies that will engage their students, make learning fun, and be more inclusive to…

01Sep 2019 by suzy123 No Comments

How to Cure the Post-Summer Blues

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How to Cure the Post-Summer Blues Hooray! The school year has just begun (or is just about to begin, depending on where you are located). Students might still be in summer mode and not excited to start learning again. But have no fear! Math & Movement is here to help you combat the post-summer blues and make your lessons full of learning and fun! Morning Meeting Start the day right by telling your students what they have to look forward to. A daily morning meeting will provide students with a designated time to wake up their brains, say what they need to say, and start moving a little. One activity you could incorporate into your morning meeting could be a simple game of catch. The twist is that students have…

01Aug 2019 by suzy123 No Comments

Classroom Goal Setting Guide

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Classroom Goal Setting Guide You probably have goals in your personal life. Maybe it’s saving for that car you really want or learning a new language. But, have you ever set goals for inside your classroom? Or, have you ever asked your students what they want to achieve during the academic year? Goal setting is such an important skill because it helps individuals grow. Why not teach your students at a young age how to create achievable goals for themselves? The Three C’s of Goal Setting There are many components to effective goal setting, but the simple way is to follow the Three C’s of Goal Setting (Pauley). The Three C’s of Goal Setting include clarity, consistency, and commitment. Clarity means defining your goal with specific details and a measurable…

01Jul 2019 by suzy123 No Comments

3 Fun Ways to Keep Your Kids School-Ready This Summer!

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3 Fun Ways to Keep Your Kids School-Ready This Summer! As summer starts to swing into full gear, it’s important to not lose sight of all the hard work students put into their education for the last nine months during the school year. While summer is a time of fun and celebrations, it should also incorporate educational elements that prevent students from losing their math skills. During the summer, students lose an average of 2.6 months worth of math learning (Shafer). By incorporating some of the following suggestions into the hustle and bustle of summer, students will be better off when they return to school in the fall. Hopscotch Who doesn’t love an old fashioned game of hopscotch? It’s perfect for sunny days when kids want to get outside and…

04Jun 2019 by suzy123 1 Comment

Seven Classroom Updates for Creating a Growth Mindset Environment

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SEVEN CLASSROOM UPDATES FOR CREATING A GROWTH MINDSET ENVIRONMENT What Does It Mean to Have a Growth Mindset?Abilities and intelligence can be developed. This is the foundation for a growth mindset. Although the idea seems simple and straightforward, a surprisingly large number of adults and young students do not think this way. Many students see their intelligence as a fixed part of who they are. No matter how hard they study or how hard they challenge themselves they will always be “x” amount smart. This mentality limits a person’s self-esteem, confidence, work ethic, and actual ability to perform tasks effectively and meaningfully.This mindset is even more tragic for young students who are just beginning to explore the world, come face-to-face with new challenges, and discover new ideas. A fixed mindset…

01Jun 2019 by Intern No Comments

June 2019 Teacher Spotlight – Susana Garcia-Bech

Teacher Spotlight

June 2019 Teacher Spotlight Susana Garcia-Bech 5th Grade Math & Science Teacher Meadow Park Elementary School, Charlotte County Public Schools Port Charlotte, FL How long have you been a teacher? I teach 5th Grade Math and Science at Meadow Park Elementary School which is located in Charlotte County in Port Charlotte, Florida. I have been a teacher for 8 years. How did you learn about Math & Movement? I learned about Math & Movement through our PDC (Professional Development Center) that offered training for Math & Movement. How long have you been using Math & Movement in your classroom? I’ve been using Math & Movement for two years. What changes have you seen in your students since using Math & Movement? My students are more engaged and love learning new standards when they can move around and learn. What is your favorite floor mat and…

29Apr 2019 by suzy123 No Comments

Math Materials for Anxious Third, Fourth, or Fifth Graders

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MATH MATERIALS FOR ANXIOUS THIRD, FOURTH, OR FIFTH GRADERS How to Get Rid of the Math Monster Under the Bed All too often, when third, fourth, and fifth grade students hear the word “math,” their smiling faces drop. Math can be a tricky subject. Many adults can't escape the math phobia that started in grade school, even though math is something that we all use every day! Most math lessons have individualized worksheets and standardized testing, resulting in great anxiety among students, especially among those who are already struggling to learn. One way to combat this is by using fun and effective math materials. Teachers can adopt multi-sensory teaching strategies to engage students and bring enjoyment into the process of learning math! Math & Movement provides various tools to easily…

29Mar 2019 by suzy123 No Comments

Fifth Grade Students Discover New Ways to Multiply

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Fifth Grade Students Discover New Ways to Multiply Insights into introducing Math & Movement to a new class by Katja Krieger In 2018, I began my career in education as a fifth-grade student teacher. As the months went by, I noticed my students grow increasingly frustrated when it came time for math class. My school had recently adopted ‘Singapore Math’ as the chosen curriculum for grades K-6th. With any new teaching method, there can be challenges and benefits. However, switching to a new curriculum is not always the solution when it comes to student achievement and satisfaction. Singapore Math emphasizes fewer steps and more pictures and symbols to solve problems. Math class is transformed into three different stations. The students start with station 1, where they had a private lesson…