Tag Archives: prior knowledge

What do your students know? Just Listen

This is just a quick reminder of one of the many different ways in which to gain information about our student’s prior knowledge. Think about the information this pre-assessment discussion provides me in order to plan for engaging, appropriate and … Continue reading

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Share what you know, a good place to start

Before moving ahead in our inquiry into shapes, angles, and lines, my grade three students took time to share their current understandings. Armed with cameras, small groups walked about the school to take pictures representing any 2D shape, 3D shape, … Continue reading

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Multiplication Tables as Art?!

A few years back I took the workshop Mathematics in the PYP in The Netherlands. One of the learning experiences I took away and still use today was turning the multiplication tables into spirolaterals. By doing this the students can: … Continue reading

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How do you spell….?

I have heard it in Grades 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1; I have even asked the question myself, “How do you spell….?” From day one in the classroom, whether they are asking their teachers or their neighbors, students develop … Continue reading

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An oldie, but a goodie

At the beginning of the school year, I put up four signs on the four walls of the classroom. During the first few weeks, I use these as ice breakers while we get to know each other. I ask the … Continue reading

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The Magic of Mini Dry Erase boards

I have always found my mini whiteboards to be of great value in the classroom, especially when I happen to be in a school without tools such as IWBs or even a sufficient amount of classroom computers. One of the … Continue reading

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