The purpose of Math Stars is to challenge students beyond the classroom setting. Good problems can inspire curiosity about number relationships and geometric properties. It is hoped that in accepting the challenge of mathematical problem solving, students, their parents, and their teachers will be led to explore new mathematical horizons. Math Stars are in sets for Grades 1-8 and include commentaries for teachers. All Math Stars Newsletters are ready for classroom use and available for downloading as PDF files.
Category Archives: Teachers
Math Problems and QR Codes
Story problems come up in all levels of math and being able to solve problems and explain your thinking is a skill that needs to be practiced over and over again.
This activity provides a way for you to practice your math problem solving skills. Watch the video explanation below and create a math problem of your own.
E/I Participation Form
During E/I time first quarter, many enrichment opportunities have been presented to your students. Feel free to download, print out, or modify the form below to use at conferences. It might be a nice talking point with parents on how students have used their E/I time and what opportunities they have participated in.
Interest Inventory
The questions on this Interest Inventory will help your teachers learn more about you and your learning preferences.
Your responses will be recorded and viewed by your classroom teachers, specialists, and our principal.
Thank you for taking the time to help us get to know you.
Hillside
Westbrook
Swanson
Loveland
Sunset
Westgate
Paddock Road
Oakdale
Rockbrook
Prairie Lane
Writing Resources
This wiki site provides several writing resources! Thanks Chris Turner for sharing!
Why I’ll Never Tell My Son He’s Smart
This article recently came across my inbox and it’s definitely worth the read.
“What if we began using whatever means are at our disposal to start performing growth mindset interventions on everyone we cared about? It applies to how you communicate with your children, how you manage your team at work, how you learn a new language or instrument. If society as a whole begins to embrace the struggle of learning, there is no end to what that could mean for global human potential.”
More Tic Tac Toe Menus
Additional Tic Tac Toe menus and other resources have been added to our wiki! Feel free to download any grade level. Share a Tic Tac Toe menu that you created and we’ll enter you in a drawing for a gift card!
Click here for the Tic Tac Toe menus
Zacarro Math
The Zacarro units are perfect math anchors for the Envision Math topics. Each Zacarro unit has teaching pages that will instruct the skill. There are also leveled practice problems. You can assign the levels that fit the child and/or the student can always choose
to do a harder level if he/she would like. You can use the Zacarro Math units in the following ways:
- Students can work on them when they are done with the classroom assignment
- They could be used as a station in guided math
- They could serve as lessons for the highest group when working with the teacher
There should be one Zacarro binder in grades 4, 5, and 6 at each elementary school. If you are unable to locate the binder, please contact your EY coordinator.
4th Grade Envision Math topic alignment to Zacarro units
5th Grade Envision Math topic alignment to Zacarro units
6th Grade Envision Math topic alignment to Zacarro units
Tic Tac Toe Menus
Also, we know that the iPads are rolling out at different times so we wanted to provide you with some no-tech enrichment ideas for your E/I time. You can find Tic Tac Toe boards for grades 3-6 by clicking here.
Type I Enrichment Experiences
We are excited to partner with you in providing Type I enrichment experiences for the students at Westside Community Schools. For the months of August and September, your name will be entered into a drawing for a gift card for each Type I enrichment experience you email to us. If you’re not sure what a Type I enrichment experience is, you can check out our wiki for some examples. We look forward to sharing your ideas!