Splat! Math
Steve Wyborney has come up with one of my favorite math strategies and made it available for free on his blog - Steve Wyborney's Blog: I'm on a Learning Mission. The Splat! Strategy is a highly interactive number sense strategy that can be used at all grade levels.
I'm a big fan of starting with why. I truly believe that as educators, we need to know why we're using a strategy. Let's face it, time is our most precious resource and we can protect it by only spending time on the strategies that give us the most 'bang for our buck' so to speak.
Here's my top 3 reasons why you should implement Splat! math with your students:
Introduction to algebraic thinking - is it really realistic to expect our secondary aged students to be ready for algebra if we haven't taught them algebraic thinking all along the way? Check out this article in Education Week called Introduction to Algebra: It's Elementary.
Increase number sense - when we build a child's number sense it promotes thinking, instead of just computing. This is where we build a deeper understanding of mathematics and reduce confusion and frustration.
Mathematical Discourse - because let's face it, whoever is doing the talking is doing the learning. We want that to be the students. The days of the teacher being the 'sage on the stage' are over. Learn more about Mathematical Discourse and find additional resources here.
View my 10 Math Minutes Youtube video as I explain the why and walk you through a piece of a lesson.