A Little Extra Inspiration and Online Addition Practice!

All week this week we are having our:

Click on the button to enter our giveaway! It is simple and if you win you get to chose any two products from each of our stores!

I know I have already shared many reasons why I am loving March this year but I can’t help but to share one more! Today when I got home I had a treat waiting for me…

I think people either love the flavor of McDonald’s Shamrock Shakes or hate them…but I am someone who absolutely LOVES these shakes! Although I won’t be very hungry for dinner I couldn’t be happier that my hubby surprised me with one of these today-it helps make this snowy Tuesday a little bit happier!

Onto Math….

CCSS.Math.Content.1.OA.A.1 Use addition and subtraction within 20 to solve word problems involving situations of adding to, taking from, putting together, taking apart, and comparing, with unknowns in all positions, e.g., by using objects, drawings, and equations with a symbol for the unknown number to represent the problem.

Addition and subtraction are major part of our first grade curriculum. With the common core students are not only expected to know how to do addition and subtraction but are required, by the end of the year, to fluently add and subtract within 10.

In order to get my first graders to be able to fluently add and subtract within 10 we have to practice… a lot!! We practice any way possible- though hands-on centers, iPad games, and computer programs.

One of the programs we use regularly (we try to fit it in every day) is Xtra Math. Xtra Math allows teachers to easily differentiate to meet the needs of their classroom. Students work at their own pace and receive instant feedback based on their progress.

Visit Xtra Math and click “sign-up.” The program will walk you through the steps of creating your own class. Once you sign-up…

Students each get a pin number so that they can go to their individualized program. The green check mark allows students and teachers to easily see who has completed their program for the day.

Students get a score and a colored dot each day after completing the assignment. Once students reach 100 they can switch to the subtraction program. Most of my students are still on addition but I have one student who has completed both addition and subtraction and is working on multiplication. By the click of a button he is getting challenged at his level. Each colored dot is based on how many problems the student got correct that day.

Students, parents, and/or teachers can find out exactly which facts a student is struggling/is successful with by clicking on any colored dot.

It is important we practice our math facts each day in order to help students truly become fluent in their addition/subtraction facts to 10. In order to help motivate my first graders to try their best when they finish the kids check their colored dot and if they get a green or yellow dot they are allowed to go to math websites that include addition, subtraction, base 10 practice, ect. If they get a red dot they go to very specific addition math websites. Students work hard to get their green and yellow dot so they can make their math game choice!

We are linking up with Dana at “Fun in 1st” for a little extra inspiration because let’s be honest a little extra inspiration can never hurt!

I see this quote everyday as it is on my planner and yet it is so hard to live by. Right now as I count down the days until spring break (and then summer break!!) it is important to still remember to make each and every day count. I am so blessed and have so much to be grateful for-I need to remember this each and every day!