Monday, February 16, 2015

Math Monday - Bar Model Anchor Chart

                                      


Welcome and thank you for stopping by Math Monday, 
I hope you will consider joining the conversation.





I love conferring during math workshop.  As with literacy, it truly lets you get a snapshot up closer of a student's thinking.  While working with a student last week I realized he didn't know how to get started using a bar model.  Depending on the resource you use, you will find bar models, tape diagrams, and model drawing are all synonyms for the the same idea. All three of these help mathematicians make sense of a problem.  They help the students visually see what the words are all about.  During our conference, I realized my words were not enough to help this student.  He sat there with the same puzzled look on his face after he read the problem and before I started talking about the steps we take to create a bar model.  I asked him if pictures might be helpful with my words and referenced other charts in our classroom and he said, "Yes, I think that would be helpful."  Together we sketched a rough draft for this anchor chart and here are my final touches.

Having students use bar models/tape diagrams/model drawings is new to me this year.  If you have any tips or thoughts or experiences please join in the conversation by leaving a comment today.  I'd love to know more from you.



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8 comments:

  1. Mandy-
    Thanks for hosting, and bar models are new to me too, but your graphic leaves me wondering if all mathematical thinking comes down to these basic steps of processing and problem.

    Here's my post this week Math Investigations and Twitter
    http://deb-frazier.blogspot.com/2015/02/math-investigations-and-twitter.html,

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    1. Processing the problem is so crucial for solving and understanding. I've got an old resource for problem solving various strategies - draw a picture, make a table, guess and check, etc. I'm thinking bar models are similar or an extension. I'll get back to you on this.

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  2. Mandy, thanks for writing about math workshop! I didn't know about Math Monday. I wrote a post a little while back about what my math classroom looks like and how it's enhanced through the use of technology. Would love to get your feedback! https://teachitivity.wordpress.com/2014/07/13/essentials-for-math-workshop/

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    1. Thanks for sharing your link from a bit ago, I'm headed over to read it and hope you will join us in the future.

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  3. Love this anchor chart! We don't exactly use bar models in first grade but we do use part-part-whole diagrams for problem solving that lead to bar models in older grades. I can't wait to adapt this and use it with my class! Thanks for sharing!
    Carol
    Still Teaching After All These Years

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    1. I hope you will consider sharing what you create for part - part - whole. They do lead to bar models and your work is important for later thinking.

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  4. Thank you for sharing Math Mondays.

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    1. Thanks for letting me know you are stopping by.

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