Math Play

Soft Start

Soft Start has been one of the most exciting and valuable additions to my classroom routine in the mornings. It allows for a variety of access points in a variety of curricular areas, while allowing students to engage their competencies of communication, personal and social responsibility, and critical and creative thinking. I see them using interpersonal skills, taking risks and expressing their individuality. Soft start has also calmed my mornings, as it gives me space to deal with all the individual and organizational needs of an elementary classroom first thing in the morning. As I watch the students experiment and play, I have space to ask questions. Almost every day, I see connections to things we are learning in the classroom and derive inspiration for next steps or new directions. Read my whole Soft Start Blog Post

Mathematize Activities

mathematizing-the-gingerbread-village Download

This file is a PDF for both parents and educators that describes the process of Mathematizing. Mathematizing means to bring the Math to the surface in whatever activity we are doing. The example used is a Christmas gingerbread house kit that I bought for my kids to build. The ideas are transferable to any activity.