Calendar Math -- the routine

Now that you have the Calendar set up, the next step is to figure out how you are going to teach it to your class.  Below is the basic procedure that I follow with my students.

Here is the "script" I use when running through Calendar.  Click on it to download.

Each day begins with me asking the kids, "What is today?"  They then respond with "Today is December 19, 2011.  Also written 12/19/11.  It is the 56th day of school."  

I find this is a good focal point for the kids, gets them interacting right away, and starts off the Calendar in a nice way. 

I then go through the pieces of the Calendar in this order:

School Day Fraction
Odd/Even
Today's Arrays
Factors
Prime or Composite
Prime Factorization
How Many Ways to Make ___
Big Number -- Standard, Expanded, Word Forms
Place Value
Rounding
Daily Multiplication and Division
Geometry for Today
Today's M&Ms
Number Line


Some days, this order changes, depending upon my mood or the mood of the kids, but in general, it stays the same.  I may leave parts out for time, I may go over some parts very in depth, I may race through it all one day but slow down the next.  It is a VERY fluid time for me.

Another key to this is that it is INCREDIBLY interactive for the kids.  They aren't just sitting their watching me do all of the pieces and telling them the answers.  They are calling and responding, using gestures, using various modes of response, talking to their neighbor, coming up to help me write the answers, and other things that keep them engaged and motivated.  The students are not bored by the repetitiveness of it all because they are constantly involved in the process.   

Be sure to read about what you do the first week you implement Calendar.