Math & Movement Blog - Posts for Educators and Parents

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!

Activities, Blog

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…

01Mar 2019 by Intern No Comments

March 2019 Teacher Spotlight – Lori Fitzgibbon

Teacher Spotlight

March 2019 Teacher Spotlight Lori Fitzgibbon 1st and 2nd Grade AIS Math La Frances Hardiman Elementary SchoolWyandanch, NYHow long have you been a teacher?I have been a teacher for 26 years. I have taught from 1st grade to 5th grade. I have been in the Wyandanch School District for 15 years.How did you learn about Math & Movement?I first learned about Math & Movement from the conference, How to Make Math Count. This year we held a Math & Movement Family Fun Night at our school and then we held a PD for our teachers after school.How long have you been using Math & Movement in your classroom?I have been using Math & Movement for about a month. My students are gaining lots of confidence and are becoming fluent in math concepts that they struggled with before.What changes have you seen in your…

28Feb 2019 by suzy123 No Comments

Math & Movement Partners with Active Schools

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Math & Movement Partners with Active Schools Math & Movement has recently partnered with Active Schools, an organization dedicated to helping schools increase physical activity before, during, and after the school day. According to Active Schools, "Only 6 states require physical education in every grade. Only 20% of school districts require daily recess. 2 out of 3 kids today are inactive." The harsh reality of today's generation is that children are not getting as much physical activity as they need. Schools are struggling to provide opportunities to get kids active during school hours. Active Schools and Math & Movement believe adding exercise for students should be high on every school's to-do list, but understand the challenges they face in making it happen. Did you know that the Physical Activity Guidelines for…

06Feb 2019 by Emma Koontz 2 Comments

Cross-Body Movements

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Cross-Body Movements What are they and how can they help increase student focus and retention? Educators are always on the lookout for the perfect teaching tool that will help their students remember yesterday’s lesson, improve motor skills, stay focused, and help rein in their student’s energy. Cross-body movements are fun strategies to reach these goals. Cross-body movements engage both hemispheres of the brain. Many scientists like to think of the brain as a blender. In order to digest information, we blend it up. When both the left and right hemispheres are used, the easier it is to remember the digested information. One of the easiest ways to engage both hemispheres of the brain is to cross the midline in our bodies. Picture an imaginary line that runs from our nose to the floor.…

01Feb 2019 by Intern No Comments

February 2019 Teacher Spotlight – Steve Orozco

Teacher Spotlight

February 2019 Teacher Spotlight Steve Orozco Physical Education Teacher, PreK - 2nd Grade New York City Public School 228 The Ivan Lafayette Early Childhood School of the Arts - "The Little School with a Heart" How long have you been a teacher?I have been teaching for over 15 years.How did you learn about Math & Movement?I went to a session on Math & Movement at Shape America's 95th Annual Eastern District Conference at Atlantic City in May 2016. Suzy Koontz, Math & Movement founder, was the speaker of the very engaging presentation.How long have you been using Math & Movement in your classroom?I have been using Math & Movement with my PE students at PS 228 since the start on the 2017-2018 school year.What changes have you seen in your students since using Math & Movement?Children are more focused in class; They are motivated…