Calendar Math -- The Video

teachinginroom6.blogspot.com   Teaching in Room 6
One of the things I love about Calendar Math is how engaging and interactive it is.  We don't just sit down and review the answers, rather, the kids are moving, talking, and interacting with the board the entire review.  To better illustrate this for you, I created a video of myself modeling all of the motions and gestures the students do during Calendar Math review.

Now, I know this would be SO much better if the kids were in the video...but they were at recess, so you will have to bear with me alone.  It still gives you a pretty good idea of what is going on while the review is taking place.

Please ignore the fact that the video is only in the middle of the box.  I took it on my iPhone, and am not quite sure how everything on it works yet.  OY!



So there you have it!  I know many of you are actually doing Calendar Math in your room already.  How is it going?  Anything you are doing that is successful and you want to share?  (I am always looking for ways to improve CM)


If you are new to Calendar Math, click on any of the links below to get a better idea of what it is all about.

The Basics (a good place to begin)
The Routine
The First Week
Calendar Math in Pictures

26 comments

  1. Hi, Stephanie! I came across your blog via Pinterest. I have needed a change in my math lessons so that I could have more one-on-one instruction with my 5th graders and help struggling students enjoy math more. I started doing a version of your calendar math about three weeks ago. Now when it's math time, my students say, "Yes! Math time!" I'm really enjoying their enthusiasm! Thanks for sharing your experiences and ideas.

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    1. That is so wonderful to hear Emily! I am so glad that the kids are enjoying math so much and that you are now able to find time to help the struggling students. Win-win for everyone!

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  2. What great post Steph!!!! Loved the video! - You rock!

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  3. Stephanie,

    This is awesome! I love calendar math, too. Great video!!!!

    Selina

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  4. Hey Stephanie! I featured you on my blog today. Hop on over if you get a chance and check it out. :)

    Loose Shoelaces

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  5. Steph, I swear you are my teaching idol!! I always think how I wish I could spend the day in your classroom, and you've made it possible with this video! I love, love, love the hand motions!! I do use them informally, but I am not consistent with them in math and I can see how it would make a huge difference for the students. I can't thank you enough for sharing this! You are awesome!!

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    1. You know just how to brighten my day Kristen :) You are so sweet!

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  6. Wow! Thank you so much for this video. I've really learned so much from you. I'm so glad that you video yourself. It has helped so many of us :)

    Elizabeth

    Fun in Room 4B

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  7. Thank you for your video! I love motions too! For graphing coordinate pairs, I have my kids say we go down the hallway (point to right) then up the elevator (and bend elbow 90 degrees to point up) I had a former student now in 8th day he CANNOT gra[h coordinate pairs wo the motions!

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  8. You have found your calling. I also found you via pintrest, I think that you will have to be the first blog that I follow. I am so excited that you teach the older students using these strategies.

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  9. I have used calendar math in first and third grades but cut it out when I started teaching fourth grade because I was afraid that it was too "elementary." You may have just changed my mind! Can you give me an idea of how long it takes you to run through your routine and if you do it every day of the week? Thanks for the great ideas!

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  10. I do this daily. It takes 10 minutes for the kids to fill out the sheet and another 10 - 15 minutes for whole class review.

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  11. Thanks for the video, I love how interactive you've made it! I am getting ready to implement calendar math this upcoming school year and the one section I wasn't sure about was the number line, can you explain how the students complete that section and where the numbers come from? Thank You!

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  12. I LOVE your idea of spiral review for Math homework. I teach third grade in a low performing school and decided toward the end of the year as we began to review for End of Year Tests that I was going to design my HW for the upcoming school year in the same fashion. Thank you so much for your amazing ideas! I know it's going to be A LOT of work on my part this year, but hopefully it will be worth it!

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  13. Stephanie,

    Where do you find the Big Number for the day??

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    1. The big number is made up of the date. So if it was for today it could be 121,613 or 1,216.13 or 12,162,013 or any combination I thought my kids would need to work on. But I use the numbers in the date for the big number.

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  14. Stephanie,

    When you do the review, do the kids have their calendar math page with them? Do they ever correct their calendar math?

    Thanks :)

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  15. I read your blog and love this idea, I had a "kind of" calendar routine, but i wasn't consistent and lacked skills that I wanted them to regularly work on. I purchased your editable 4th grade bundle with hopes of implementing calendar again, but I do not understand how you do the area/perimeter or geometry today. Can you please explain how you use those pieces? Thanks!

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  16. I have learned a lot this summer just from your blog. Thank you so much for sharing and I will be practicing as much as my students because I want this to work! I am so excited to use all your ideas for Calendar Math and your Daily Math review! Wish me luck.

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  17. Thanks so much for sharing, I love your video it really helps to learn new ideas from great teachers as yourself.

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  18. I've been really enjoying your blog yesterday and today. Thank you for all of your tips, and the video. I'm looking forward to seeing my students on Monday, as I begin my new year as a New Year in 5th grade.

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  19. Stephanie, I'm already thinking of next year and wondered how long your math block is. If you take about 10-15 mins for this and then the same to review the spiral homework, how long do you have to teach the lesson of the day?

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  20. Thank you for such a great blog and TPT store - just found you today as I am getting very nervous about teaching Grade 5 in a few weeks. Do the gestures just happen intuitively or is this something I can learn from another one of your resources? I just am not sure I can do these intuitively - thank you!!

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  21. This looks fabulous. I have changed grade levels from 1st to 3rd this year and was searching for a spiral review to do with my class. This is perfect. When you have the kids complete the worksheet, it is before you meet for calendar. Correct? How do they know which numbers to include? Did they just get into the routine and know or do you tell them each day? Thanks!

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    1. Yes, they do it before we meet to review. I give them the worksheet to complete each day, so they just complete that entire page for the day. I have all of the numbers pre-filled for them.

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