How to Differentiate in the First Grade Classroom

I've been hearing a lot from first grade teachers lately. At the beginning of the year, when they are carefully teaching "firsties" the concept of addition and subtraction by using manipulatives and pictures, they have a handful of students that not only understand the concept, but can work with the numbers easily, with little effort. So how to challenge these students while giving others the time they need to practice? 

One activity that may fill in the gap for a couple of days are missing addend flashcards. I included addition sentences with missing start, change and end numbers. I used numbers that were a little less friendly and a little larger to make it a bit more challenging. I also laminated them so they could use an Expo marker and be able to use them many times. 

Laminated addition sentences. 

One unexpected benefit from using these cards, was the connection to place value. Any missing addend paired with a 10, like ___ + 10 = 15, became easy for students once they knew to look at the ones column of the sum.



Students also began to learn about the commutative property of addition - 8 + 3 = 11 and 3 + 8 = 11. 

There is also just something about being able to use markers that kids find irresistible!

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Math-It-Works

Great Way To Organize Math Manipulatives

What a nice surprise waited for me when I opened up my teaching partner's math cupboard! She had all her math manipulatives organized in tubs. This makes it easy to grab what you need in a hurry. She said it works well - when her first graders are done with the materials, they know to put them back into the tub and snap on the lid. 

Most of the smaller tubs are "Ziplock" brand tubs that are meant for several uses. This is her second year of using them and they still look brand new!

The Organized Math Cupboard

Math - It Works