Today I had a challenging lesson in Math: Finding decimals on the number line.
One of the things I miss about 2nd grade is knowing exactly what they knew and didn’t know and having a clear understanding of prerequisite skills.
Today, I realized while teaching my first period of math that my students didn’t have a lot of the basics. I ended up having to walk my students through each problem step by step.
The students would be given a decimal like 0.6 and have to place it on a number line between 0 and 1. They were given lines to show where a quarter, half, and three quarter would be.
As we started, I realized they didn’t completely understand that decimals were part of a whole or what the decimals for 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 were. They also didn’t realize that 0.6 and 0.60 were the same. Many thought that 0.6 would go before 0.25 (“because 6 is less than 25”).
Our math program skips around a lot and is very quickly paced. After a period of walking them through EVERY step SLOWLY, I knew something had to change.
So, during the recess between my 1st math class and the 2nd math class, I made this:
(I cut them in half) |
The students loved that I called it a cheat sheet. I loved that they started to understand some basics about decimals and that they were more successful.
Today was my first day of making an adjustment like this. I liked being more successful in my 2nd and 3rd class but I was sad I didn’t think of it before the 1st class. The first group will be able to use the ‘cheat sheet’ tomorrow. All groups will be gluing it into their math journals.
If you’d like a copy of students sheet, here is a freebie. 🙂
Elizabeth says
Decimals and fractions are such a tough concept. Thanks for the freebie 🙂
Elizabeth
Anonymous says
I can SO relate to your students' decimal woes. My class is in the same boat and I was very excited to see your wonderful "cheat sheet" and that it was FREE! Sadly, when I clicked on it Dropbox said there was nothing there:-( I'm not talented or creative and wouldn't have a clue how to make one! Any chance you could send me the cheat sheet? I just found your blog and am really enjoying it.Thanks for sharing!
Lori
blantonl2@mymail.shawnee.edu
Mercedes Hutchens says
The link has been fixed. Sorry about that. I'll email it to you as well.