Making it real

I designed a lesson today for a large group of my lower math students involving place value. The past few days I have found a group of students that were just not comprehending the place value blocks. While continuing the lesson the next day (today), I used familiar objects like pennies and dimes to represent tens and ones. I also used small noodles and large noodles as well. Students were able to associate the the differentiated materials with the standard materials used for identifying and associating tens and ones. By the end of the lesson my lower the majority of my lower achieving students were able to positively use tens and ones blocks to assist them with place value. More differentiating will be needed to help those not getting it. Live what you learn, learn what you live.