Brain Muscles

A few years ago I read an article that radically changed my teaching practice. According to this article, research shows that, contrary to what we have assumed in the past, praise can have a negative effect on student achievement. For example, being identified as gifted can cause some students to go into an academic tailspin and refuse to even try any activity that looks challenging. I had seen this in my classroom, and it puzzled me. Some of my highest achievers would usually sail through math with ease, but if they were confronted with a problem they couldn't solve immediately, they would shut down. The problem is that when children are praised for being smart, their self image gets caught up with the idea of being intelligent. They would rather fail because they didn't even try than to make an effort and feel like they're not smart. Fortunately there is a solution for this problem. Researchers have found that when students are taught that the brain is like a muscle and if they work hard they can become smarter, this makes a huge difference.

I took this idea into my classroom, and I was amazed at how well it worked. Now I do this every year, and the results are fabulous. I explain that the brain is like a muscle so that if you work your brain, it will get stronger. Then I ask, "If you only lift light things like a pencil or a piece of paper, will that make your muscles strong?" The children are so serious as they shake their heads. "Did the Broncos (I live in Colorado where it's pretty much mandatory to be a Broncos fan) get to be a great team by just sitting around and doing easy things? No way! They train hard every day. If I just ask you easy questions that you can answer right away, you are not going to get a strong brain. I am going to ask you hard questions. You are going to need to really think hard to get the answer, and you might get it wrong the first time. But if you keep trying, you will get it right and your brain will be so strong!" Then I teach them the "strong brain" cheer where they flex their muscles to show that their brains are getting stronger.

Of course, this means that I need to hold up my end of the bargain. I have to ask challenging questions and give the students problems that they may not be able to answer on the first try. They need to see that effort pays off. Sometimes after my students have been working on something really challenging, I'll wipe my hand across my brow, and say, "Wow, that was really hard. Can you feel how much stronger your brain has gotten?" I knew I was on the right track when a little boy told me, "Mrs. Tefft, if I keep reading chapter books, my brain will be a strong as a dinosaur!"

The Number Pull

This is a number pull. I love it because it helps students to develop a strong number sense. It consists of two parallel rows of beads, ten on the top and ten on the bottom. Then students can show a number by pulling beads to the other side. The real fun begins when you challenge children to show a number greater than ten in two pulls. This can be done in different ways.

Here is twelve shown as two pulls of six.

This shows twelve done as one pull of ten and one pull of two.

You can challenge the students to try to see how many different ways they can make a number with two pulls. The kids really get a kick out of it, and it helps them to think about numbers in a more flexible way.

They are inexpensive and easy to make. I was able to buy everything that I needed from Hobby Lobby for a class set for under $15. You will need pipe cleaners, 5 X 8 inch foam sheets, beads in two colors, a hole puncher, and a ruler.

Punch two holes on the 5 inch side of the foam sheet. The hole should be about two inches from the corner.

Secure the pipe cleaners in the holes on one side.

String ten beads on each pipe cleaner using five beads of each color.

Push the ends of the pipe cleaners through the holes on the other side of the foam sheet. Bend the ends of the pipe cleaner to secure it.

Students can use these to gain fluency with addition and subtraction. It really helps them to understand place value as well.

Common Core Map: August

The Common Core standards are coming. At last count, 45 states and 3 territories have signed on to the Common Core standards, found here.

The standards are meant to be rigorous and to target higher order thinking. They are definitely going to be different from what we are used to teaching under the old state standards. They are supposed to be rolling out new tests that are aligned with the standards in 2014. People are already concerned that the new tests are going to be a problem.

I believe in being proactive. I've started mapping out the school year so that I can cover all of the standards. It will be challenging. The English Language standards are broken down into six main categories with up to ten subdivisions for each of these. Our school starts in mid-August, so this is my map for August.

Curriculum Map Common Core