Preparing to Teach Number Corner

Many of you are preparing for a new school year. For some, that means the first year teaching Number Corner. Here are some hints to get you started...

Each lesson is supposed to be limited to 15-20 minutes. Although the lessons are rich and it can be tempting to go over time, stop when you reach the time limit. Due to the nature of the lessons themselves, you'll come back to the lesson (or a very similar one) within a week. Stopping the lesson while the class excitement is still high can be a very effective tool in maintaining the enthusiasm for the next week. In the case of some components, such as Calendar Grid and Calendar Collector (gr. 4/5), students can even look at it on their own time between formal sessions. If you want to force yourself to stop, back Number Corner up to a natural stopping point: lunch, recess, going home.

Plan for the month at least a week or so before the new month starts. If you are part of a team of teachers who are using it, you can share the prep work by using support materials on the Math Learning Center website.

Under Implementation Guides you'll find meeting agendas for planning and preparing the next month's Number Corner with your grade level team. If you go to Support for Materials and click on your grade level you'll find "Sharing Responsibilities for Advance Preparation" charts to divide the work of preparing for the next month's Number Corner. If you are the only person using it, you can still use the chart as a checklist for what needs to be prepared ahead of time. You might consider making two sets of copies and sticking them in a folder now in preparation for the next year. Have parents or responsible students help with some of the prep. Helpers can post the calendar area by looking at the teacher's book. They can also do any cutting or taping involved.

On the same grade level Support for Materials page you'll also find "Number Corner Planners," a calendar that lays out which lesson is to be done each day of that month in your grade level. While your school calendar probably won't match exactly, it's helpful to follow that planner, even copying it straight into your teacher plan book.

While Number Corner is a critical part of Bridges, it's also okay to start the year without every component. Choose several components that are most appealing to you (and helpful for your particular class) and start with those. You can always add new components during the year as you become more comfortable with the planning aspect. Each year is going to get easier. And the results are very well worth it!!