Hello teachers! 

Do you use math sentence frames during your math instruction?  

If you do, then you know how they can solidify comprehension not only with second language learners, but all students.  Let’s take a deeper look at using sentence frames in Math.

What is a sentence frame?

A sentence frame is a question or sentence with words removed to provide language or writing support for students.  Usually, the sentence frame consists of a subject and a predicate.  Examples of simple frames are I like___ or I can___.  

 

Why use sentence frames in Math instruction?

By using sentence frames in math, teachers can offer a method of scaffolding for students as they build and develop math skills.  Sentence frames give students an opportunity to access the math concepts and to engage in the classroom conversation of math by answering questions. Giving students part of the language of a sentence, or the structure of a sentence allows a focus on the concept, not the language.  A sentence frame helps students see what an answer might look like. Sentence frames give students a chance to use the new math vocabulary in a meaningful way.  Sentence frames support students' ability to produce language at a higher language level than they are at.

 

How to Use Math Frames During Instruction? 

Sentence frames during math:

• Teacher models the use of the sentence frames including the new math vocabulary presented in the lesson.

• Teacher practices with class.

• Partners or small groups practice together.

• During the rest of the lesson integrate this practice.

• At the end of the instruction, students use the sentence frames to write about what they were learning.

Examples of sentence frames:

 

Click here to download a copy of this chart!

 

 

Happy Teaching, 

Lori 

👀Learning and Math Centers💃

Hello everyone! 

Welcome to a center-based classroom!

Imagine walking into your classroom and seeing students in small groups working cooperatively. One group sits at a center with the teacher for guided reading instruction. Another group of children works at a thematic center sequencing the life cycle of an insect. At the next center, students work together solving Math word problelms with sentence strips. The teacher signals for attention; the students are quiet for directions. Students clean up their centers and rotate to the next center, going right to work.  Centers can be done simply with the helpful hints we give you here. Read on and

make centers a reality in your classroom!

How is your school year starting off?  Are things running smoothly?  How are your math centers and stations working out?  Let's talk about centers!

💜💜💜

Let's start with the basics! 🅱

What does a center-based classroom look like?

A well-run center-based classroom will have small groups of children working independently at all of the centers, the teacher leading a small group at the guided reading center, and perhaps a parent facilitating another center.  The children will be engaged in the activities, well trained about the procedures, and involved in their own learning.

What's the rationale?

Learning centers facilitate growth and learning!

💭 Learning centers provide an opportunity for small-group

reading instruction.

💭  Learning centers enhance student learning.

💭  Learning centers teach students responsibility.

💭  Learning centers allow you to teach to a variety of

learning styles.

💭  Learning centers offer a wider variety of activities for

students to learn from.

💭  Learning centers allow students to work at their own level

while reviewing and practicing skills.

💭  Learning centers promote cooperative learning

What is a center?

A center is a physical area in a classroom set aside for a specific

learning purpose. The center has appropriate materials and supplies so students can work individually or in cooperative groups.

How many students should I put in each group?

We recommend three to four students in each group at each center.

How long do students spend at each center?

Twenty to thirty minutes at each center is an adequate amount of time for students to complete most center activities.

How do students know where to go when it is time to rotate centers?

By teaching and practicing the routines and procedures you want to be followed at center time, your students will know what you want them to do. We suggest you follow a clockwise rotation pattern to rotate students through centers.

How do I group my students for centers?

To teach to the varied levels in all classrooms, we suggest you group your students by reading abilities. By grouping students this way, you can meet the instructional needs of all your students in Math. Learning centers will allow you to teach to your low, medium, and high ability groups and move everyone forward.

How does a center-based classroom look?

Many teachers use tables and desks against the walls in

their classrooms. You can use student desks as a center, too.

During center time, the desks will be empty and small groups of children will be sitting at centers throughout the room. The teacher at a small group math center will have her/his back to the wall in order to see all centers at a glance from where she/he sits.

How many adults do I need to run centers in my classroom?

 Just you! When you teach the routines and procedures of

your centers well, your students will learn how to work without supervision during center time.

How long is center time?

That depends on you and on how many centers you have each day. If you have five groups of students rotating through five centers and spending 15 minutes at each center, then you will need 1 hour and 15 minutes for center time. Six groups of children rotating through six centers will need an hour and a half. Remember to add a little extra time for the rotation of

groups when determining the time you will allot for centers.

When it is time to change centers, how do I get my students’ attention?

Ringing a bell or calling out “freeze” or “give me five” are great ways to call your students to attention. Teach your students to “freeze” when the signal is given and to listen for instructions.

By providing a center-based environment in your classroom, you will be able to give your attention to small groups of children during “guided reading.” Research shows that this small-group instruction is one of the primary components that leads to strong readers.  Centers are perfect for differentiation and making sure you are reaching and teaching your
English learners. Centers also allow you to teach to all the student levels that are in your classroom. Your choice to run centers in your classroom will also teach your students how to work cooperatively in small groups. Learning centers allow you to teach “responsibility” as students work independently, practicing and

reviewing skills and concepts at each center. 

💜💜💜

Happy Teaching,

Lori

For more in-depth information on running centers in an elementary classroom Click Here! 

 

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3. Complete the Rafflecopter Contest Application at the bottom of this post to enter to win $100 in Pay Pal Cash! 

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ESL Year-Long Lesson plans| ELD Teacher Resource Bundle is for all Language Levels!

All in one bundle of year-long ESL Curriculum that provides ELD resources for all English Language Learner (ELL) levels. The activities in this month-by-month ELD bundle provide your English Language Learners the opportunity to acquire and practice English to improve fluency, parts of speech, vocabulary, and grammar.
 

The best part is that we have done the heavy lifting for you! This bundle requires minimal PREP on your end!

Each week gives your ELL students the opportunity to learn and practice targeted parts of speech and vocabulary. It's the bundle every teacher of ELLs needs.

 

ESL Year-Long Lesson plans| ELD Teacher Resource Bundle is for all Language Levels!

• ELL Newcomers
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The games and activities in this bundle are great practice for all your English language learners. Use these engaging resources in centers, independent work time, whole class, or small groups.

 

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ESL & ELD K-5 Curriculum Map - a FREE year-long pacing guide!

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It is easy to win!

Hello everyone and happy summer!

Getting ready to go back to school and so very happy about that!  
To celebrate Back to School here is a chance to win an Amazon Gift Card! Yahoo!

Okay ready to win?  Before you forget, here is what you do:

Click here to go to Fun To Teach's Teachers pay Teachers store by clicking here.
Once you are at the store:

1. Follow Fun To Teach TpT Store
2. To earn one entry, click the FOLLOW ME button.  If you are already following this TpT Store, write the number of followers this TpT Store has in the box. 
3. Complete the Rafflecopter Contest Application at the bottom of this post to enter to win a $100 Amazon Gift Card! 

or 

Join Fun To Teach's  Email List
Visit Fun To Teach's email permission form at http://eepurl.com/iOryn

1. To earn one entry, complete the email permission form and type OK in the box.  If you have already subscribed to this mailing list, write your name and ALREADY SUBSCRIBED in the box.   

The $100 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway will end at 12:00 A.M. on September 2, 2021, Pacific Time.

The winner will be announced at our blog, The Best of Teacher Entrepreneurs - http://www.thebestofteacherentrepreneurs.net.

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

Oh by the way did I mention I am having a sale? :)

Happy Teaching!
Lori 
xoxo

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Back to School Word Wall - BTS copy, cut, and go!

It’s time for BTS school! Get ready with these colorful BACK TO SCHOOL Word Wall Cards. This 48-page vocabulary word wall package includes:

• 51 BACK TO SCHOOL Word Wall cards
• alphabet headers
• activities.

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• a theme wall
• flashcards to send home
• use as a matching game.

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This great ELA unit has 50 great back-to-school sentence starters to get your students writing. You can learn about your students as they complete these open-ended BTS writing pieces. Let your students pick the sentence starter that will get them engaged in writing or choose one for the whole class.

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Back to School Freebies

 Hello everyone!

I hope you are enjoying the summer!

I have been working in the garden~ ha-ha, that is not new!

I am teaching summer school this year and am really excited.  We are learning English through a variety of science experiments.  My students are loving it and so am I!

Growing Kidney Beans
in Paper Towels!

     

Freebie Time!

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Check out this great back-to-school Word Wall from Fun To Teach!

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Happy Teaching,

Lori 

If you have ELLs you need Sentence Frames!

Hello everyone!  💜💛💚

Sentence Frames &
Sentence Starters

Language frames work!

As culturally responsive teachers 

we want all of our students to be comfortable in our classrooms.  Sentence starters and sentence frames are some of the English as a Second Language (ESL) tools teachers can offer our low language and English learners.  This English Language Development (ELD) technique offers the support these at-risk students need to succeed.  Sentence frames work great for ESL Newcomers, intermediate English speakers, and advanced English Learners.

A sentence frame (also called a language frame) 

is a fantastic teaching tool that offers oral and written language support to English Language Learners (ELLs).  Sentence frames can be used for any subject, ELA, science, history, pullouts (Speech, ELD, and Reading and Math intervention).

Sentence frames or starters should be used as a scaffold

intended to support students in using language that they would not be able to produce on their own.  As the language becomes more familiar these scaffolds are gradually removed or replaced with new language the student does not use.  Sentence frames shift the focus of informal language to higher academic language.

Below is an example of different language frames 

Classroom teachers or ESL teachers can use.  They are listed by language function with examples at 3 different language levels.

Read more about using sentence frames while teaching Math!

💜💛💚 Happy Teaching,  💜💛💚

Vocabulary ELLs need to know to understand Math

 

Vocabulary ELLs need to know to understand Math

Hello everyone,

This is Lori from FUN TO TEACH!

Do your English Language Learners (ELLs) struggle with understanding Math?  Many ELLs do.  If you are working with English Language Learners (ELLs) studying Math here are a few things to make sure you cover!

Common English Words in Math

First let's look at the many English words that have totally new meanings when used in Math.  Here are just a few:

• positive and negative
• times
• cone
• mean
• net
• bring down
• area
• face
• plane
• tree

Before each lesson, take a moment and look for the Math vocabulary you are using in your lesson and identify which words you want to point out and make sure to explain.  For example, students should think 'multiplication' when a word problem uses words like times, every, double, and per.

Prepositions in Math

Make a point to teach, explain, review and practice prepositions.  Prepositions can signal the operation in a word problem.  Make sure your ELLs understand these important words in Math:

• by
• with 
• to
• into
• from
• and more!

Teach ELLs Content Words

All students benefit from using a Math Vocabulary Journal, but it is essential for the ELLs in your Math classes.  Before each unit present the Math vocabulary that will be used in that unit.  Pre-teaching Math Content Words and using a Math Journal will set your ELLs up for success.

Math Prefixes and Suffixes

Don't forget word parts that have keys to the meanings of the words you use in your math lessons.   Here are a few to get you started:

1. bi
2. tri
3. poly
4. oct
5. gon 

Passive Voice

Many ELLs are unaccustomed to hearing and understanding the Passive Voice, yet many math word problems use it.  The word by gives you a clue to the passive.  In the passive voice, the action is performed on the subject.  ELLs have problems understanding statements such as:  seven multiplied by 6.  Point out and explain the passive voice to your students when it occurs in Math word problems.  

Vocabulary that is associated with mathematical operations

According to 'Limited English Proficient (LEP) Students'  A Supplemental Resource to the K-12 Mathematics Standards of Learning Enhanced Scope and Sequence  Virginia Department of Education Division of Instruction April 2004  in order to understand mathematics, students must:  

Know that mathematical operations are associated with many different words.  EXAMPLES: 

Addition: add, plus, and, combine, sum, total of, more than, increased by, greater than  

Subtraction: subtract, minus, less, less than, fewer than, decreased by, difference, lower, take away, from, shorter  

Multiplication: multiply, times, product, as a factor, twice, double, triple, groups of  

Division: divide, divided by, quotient, separated into equal groups, shared equally, over, into, how many groups  

Equal: is, are, result, make  

Here is a quick list from www.englishstudyhere.com

These are some ways to help your English language learners excel in Math!

Happy Teaching,

Lori 

FUN TO TEACH