Bridges Blog

How do you ensure engagement from all students? On Lesson Cast, you'll find a 2:24 minute video called "Every Student Response Strategies." In it, you'll find pictures and descriptions of several techniques designed to generate responses from every student, including:

Xtra Math is a free, online program designed to help kids master basic math facts: addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Student accounts can be accessed from computers at home or school. Progress reports are available.

While the program can provide fact fluency support to any child, it may be an especially helpful tool in fourth grade as students work on "Quick Facts"  during Number Corner Computational Fluency, January through March.

The following place value online activities sent in by K-1 teacher Misti Simmons of Casper, Wyoming, could be used for classroom warm-ups and transition times. Preparing for the first grade penguin unit? Note the penguin theme in one activity.

Approaching the 100th day of school? We'd love to know what you're doing to celebrate! Share your ideas in the comment section. And check out a blog entry from Bruce Goldstone, describing the making of his book, 100 Ways to Celebrate 100 Days. (Who knew that Swedish fish dissolve in gelatin??) Also, visit Dr.

Cathy Fernan, fifth grade teacher from Northside Intermediate School in Milton, Wisconsin, alerted me to an interesting web activity--starting soon!--that ties in with the 5th grade March Number Corner Calendar Collector, "Sunrise, Sunset." From the website, Mystery Class: Tracking Sunlight to Solve a Mystery:

First grade Bridges students are preparing to "visit" penguins! If you're a first grade teacher and want a little inspiration, take a peek into some other classrooms...

In January, the Calendar Grid challenges 5th grade students to identify and build 3-dimensional objects from 2-dimensional representations. Students use front, top, and side views to create structures with centimeter cubes. If students build on cardboard sheets or lunchtrays, cube structures can be easily transported to the document camera.