If I Could Turn Back Time.....

Last week we began focusing on telling time. We started with a week of telling time to the hour. Students quickly and easily mastered this skill. However, this week we have began telling time to the half hour and it has been more difficult. I guide my students through a "self talk" lesson of how to figure out the time. I tell them first we look at what two numbers the hour hand is in between. Then we use the physical movement of stepping back to tell them we aren't going to pick the number moving forward, but we are going to step back on the clock. That way we will pick our hour. Then we already know the minute hand equals 30. I also am using websites to help them each day. I am using:
brainpopjr.com:
Parts of a clock
Time to the Hour
Time to the quarter hour and half hour

Time to the Half Hour Website
http://www.fi.edu/time/Journey/JustInTime/time_quiz.html

Time to the Half Hour Website:
http://www.primarygames.com/time/question1.htm

Time to Go Website
http://www.beaconlearningcenter.com/WebLessons/TimeToGo/default.htm

I also read stories and have them make the time on individual clocks and then model the correct time on my big clock.

How do you approach teaching time?

I Want Candy........

The celebration of fall corresponded wonderfully to tie in with our literacy unit. We are reading "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," as part of our first grade common core ELA units. The students have really enjoyed hearing about little Charlie Bucket's life and were truly happy for him when he found a "Golden Ticket." In math we are learning addition strategies so I thought as a treat on Friday it would be neat to give each student a chance to find his or her own "Golden Ticket." I found a great template online and printed it out on white paper. Then I cut out the giant sized "tickets" and wrote an addition sentence on the back of each ticket. Then today I hid the tickets inside the students math books. When it is time for math instruction, I will tell them that a little something special has been left for them courtesy of Mr. Willy Wonka! They will then have to solve their individual math problems to get a piece of Willy Wonka candy. I can't want to see the look on their faces tomorrow. This also gives me a chance to do a type of "Quick Check, or Ticket out the Door" because each student has a different math problem and I also gave students addition sentences based on their level right now. Some students are still working with counting on 1 or 2. Some students are doing well with doubles facts, and some students are able to find missing addends so each child has a quick chance to practice at his or her own level. Students will then be able to take their "Golden Ticket" home to show their families.