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Kindergarten Subtraction Practice

Kindergarten Subtraction Practice

This video was taken in the middle of a unit on Subtraction.  This was the students' second time ever answering verbal subtraction questions with me as part of our daily 'Math Talks'.  While watching this video, I noticed that I really talk in a sweeter, more calm tone of voice than I do in my "regular" life.  I seem so much more calm and confident than I realized.  To set the mood for learning in this video, I tried to get all students quiet and listening before I began teaching.  Kindergarten students tend to blurt out answers, so I attempted to keep students on task and raising their hand before I would call on them to answer the questions.  I also tried to pick out some students who had been having difficulty with subtraction so they might be able to "work out" a problem out loud.  In my classroom, just because you raise your hand doesn't mean I will call on you, and just because you don't raise your hand doesn't mean I won't.  I was really pleased with my students's participation in this activity.  This was the very first time we used the numbered paper and paperclip as a tool, and they, for the most part, understood what I was asking them to do, and it really helped me identify (very quickly) who was getting the concept and who was not.  I believe this video displays a very successful teaching moment and Math Talk for the classroom.  The students were engaged and had a good time with the numbered paper.

Author: Morgan Hostutler
Last modified: 4/29/2013 3:54 AM (EDT)