Tips for Getting Started
When you open the box, it is extremely overwhelming. You get so much with this curriculum it just looks like it's going to be difficult to implement. Here are a few tips to get you started:
- Take out and organize and store the manipulatives. I used dollar store storage containers and labeled them so I can quickly find them when I need them.
- Use a three drawer system to store materials for your current lesson. I have two groups on two different levels/lessons. I use a three drawer system and put each groups materials for the lesson in the drawer, that way I can quickly grab them for the week and begin the lesson.
Drawer system for storing lesson materials.
In each drawer is everything I need for the lesson!
- For nonverbal students, look into getting a multi-step leveled communicator so that they can practice counting and their early numeracy skills!
AAC programmed to count with texturized numbers.
- For students who require more tactile and visual supports, texturize numbers and a number line.
- Go to the company's website and watch the model videos. This helped me a ton!
What do you get in a box?
A ton of manipulatives, a teacher's guide for 6 units, an assessment manual, a student response book, a math stories book, student workbooks and posters for instruction. The manipulatives go along with the theme's of the lessons. On my Instagram page, I show you more of these in depth. Didn't get a chance to snap a picture of the manipulatives!
Teacher's Guide for Lessons
Math Stories Book
Student Workbooks
Graphic Organizer Posters
What's in a Lesson?
Each lesson has it's own theme. Currently, the lesson we are on is "My Favorite Fiesta" so everything is related to that theme. The manipulatives for this specific unit are maracas, which my student's love!
Each lesson begins by reading a "math story" out of the math stories book. The stories are full of math concepts that the students will relate to once they start working on the objectives. The numbers in the math stories are highlighted in red, so that students can connect the numbers to the story.
Each Lesson has 12 objectives that you will cover. The goal is to the teach the same lesson throughout the entire week, providing the most support, and then slowly fade back your prompting until the students can complete the objectives independently. The unit's build upon the skills that were acquired in each previous unit. For example, in unit one students are expected to count objects up to 5 on a line. In unit two, they are expected to count objects up to 5 in a scattered pattern. Here are a few pictures of my students in action using this curriculum:
Working on the objective of identifying greater than and it's symbol.
Measuring with standard unit for the Chinese New Year theme.
Working on creating patterns.
Assessment
The curriculum comes with progress monitoring forms that are super easy to use. I progress monitor once a week to see if we are making growth and identify which areas we are struggling on. There is also an assessment at the end of each unit in which students need to pass with a score of 80% in order to move on to the next level. The manual also gives tips if you are "stuck" in a level on how to modify the next level up to meet the needs of your students.
Progress Monitoring Forms
Overall, my student's have made huge growth with this program. They enjoy math time, and they love the themes and manipulatives. I am very happy with this program, and I can't wait to see how much we grow by the end of the year!
I hope this was helpful and if you have any questions feel free to leave me a comment!
Love that you are loving this - and hope your students are still enjoying it and growing in their numeracy skills!
ReplyDeleteIf you have any questions or need anything using this - I am happy to help! DrBreeJimenez@gmail.com
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