On Your Mark, Get Set, ADD!
Out of utter desperation to revive the derailed school day, I searched my memories and google. I remembered one of my amazing, super duper, fantastic, all-educators-should-be-like-her teachers. Yeah, she was THAT good. Although I was in 3rd grade, I knew whether a teacher cared for her students. And in this case, I don't mean, she just cared for the well-being of her students, she actually sincerely, wanted us to learn! Seriously, when students are shown the "can do" spirit, most will rise to the occasion. Right? M'kay, that was a departure from my original point. But, since when does THAT stop me from writing a post? lol.
Any.who.
I heard a rather disappointing amount of sighs and whines and general complaints of school sorrow, yesterday. As I sat, daydreaming of my beloved 3rd Grade Teacher, I remembered her math drills! She created a game of multiplication facts. To progress to the next challenge, each student had to answer all math problems correctly, with only a minute to complete the quiz. I tell ya, the whole class gobbled it up.
So, needing to refresh my son and still review math, I started writing out addition problems. Example: 0 +1 = ____ , up to 0 + 12 = ____. Yup, little e is way past the Zero Plus, but I wanted to use that as a spring board. I made more quiz sheets, 1's, 2's, 3's, etc...Once all addition problems are passed correctly and, at or under a minute, I will introduce Subtraction, followed by Multiplication, and ending with Division.
The important key to this exercise is a stopwatch, for easy time recording. I pouted a bit, because I remembered the one we have, no longer works. (We still have the watch, so it can be taken apart, for curiosity's sake) Not wanting to give up on the idea altogether, I searched online and found a free online stopwatch! How cool is that?
The stopwatch drills were the only highlight of the school day, because Ethan LOVED it!
Hey, look at it this way, if I hadn't been subjected to the painful Ugghs, I wouldn't have recalled Mrs. Duncan (its not libel, when its positive, right? lol) and her snazzy teaching, which led to the start of our own math drills!
There is ALWAYS a bright side. Even if it lasts twenty minutes, its worth it!
Please, have a lovely weekend. Because. I. Said. So. And, I'm feeling bossy.
Melinda
P.S. i still love you, Mrs. Duncan, where ever you are!!!
P.S.S. she was so cool, when she went to Hawaii on vacation, she sent all of her students a postcard! We felt so special!
http://www.online-stopwatch.com/full-screen-stopwatch/
(i may introduce this in another way..."Kids, how fast can you clean up your toys? Wanna find out?" ooo, i'm evil.)
Posted by Mama Bear at 2/26/2010 11:07 AM 
Categories: Homeschooling
Tags: spotwatch link timed math drills math drills homeschool math drill stopwatch math
Categories: Homeschooling
Tags: spotwatch link timed math drills math drills homeschool math drill stopwatch math
I remember your love of Mrs. Duncan. And let us know how the stopwatch cleanup goes, brilliant idea.
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thanks
she was wonderful!! you have a really good memory, jean!
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Love the stopwatch! And, um, since I'm already the OKO (bwaaahaaa!) I've generally found that kids don't grasp division until they have a good handle on multiplication. Basic division is fine, but with long division one MUST be able to multiply too (and subtract)! Just sayin! :o)
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thanks, OKO, for pointing out my obvious mis-step. i would not have jumped to divison. i just left something out, even though i proof read, i DO still leave things out!
since i did such a blunder in my blog, i shall "fix" it..just so no one else will think i'm that crazy! or bold!
thanks, again.
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LOL! I *always* have to fix my blog blunders! It just drives me crazy to have an error out there for all 3 of my followers to see! (Kidding! I have 4. Muuuwaaahaahaaa!) Seriously, I figured you just missed it; but, ya know, I can't miss a chance to rib you! hehe
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hahaha! you fun-nay
love you, my bloggy sister
i proof read, a number of times before i place each post..and yet, i am plagued with errors. phooey. often, i read things as i thought i had typed..no wonder professionals, have others to re-read
hugs
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Yeah, funny how that works. I can always see others' typos or grammar errors, but miss my own. I'd actually like to be a freelance editor, but breaking into that market would take more time than I have. Cuz, ya know, I have so much spare time! (And now I'm looking at this and trying to decide if it should say "other's" or "others'". LOL! I'm pretty sure "others'" is correct, but I'm not perfect.)
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