Over recent years, Math has quickly become my favorite subject to teach. So when I was tasked with the challenge of being an online teacher this year, my first thought was, "How can I engage my mathematicians?"
I am going to share a couple of the tools that I have used to create Math lessons that are interactive, collaborative, and are tools to see what my students CAN do!
Google Jamboard & Google Slides
Google Slides is a comfort tool for me! I know that I can build quick slide decks without a lot of energy. But my updated way to make this learning interactive is to save my slides and add them to a Jamboard!
Jamboard is a way to get all of my students engaged at the same time. And now that they have added the feature that you can create your own background, I can easily add my Google Slide as the background.
Step 1:
Once you have made your slide deck, click on File and go down to Download.
Step 2:
Save the image as a PNG image (you can also do a JPEG image, but I just prefer PNG image).
Step 3:
Open up a Google Jamboard and along the top toolbar, click on the Set Background button. Hit the image with a + to input your saved PNG image.
TIP: In my experience so far, students have needed the Jamboard app to open up each 'Jam'. You can find that in the App Portal.
TIP: You will want to make sure you change the settings. Students will need to be able to edit your 'Jam'.
TIP: If you want students to show their Math thinking, create multiple slides and put a sticky note with the students name on the page. Then they know which page is theirs!
Another great feature that I like is that I can share my screen through Zoom (or even AirPlay in the classroom), and use my iPad to work directly on the 'Jam'. This allows me to actively use it as a teaching tool AND be able to share student work as we work through Math activities.
Seesaw
There are many games that are part of the EveryDay Math curriculum that are engaging for students to use when in the classroom. BUT how could I take some of the games that I love and make them interactive? Seesaw was an easy entry point for me to do this work.
When I have used these interactive games during Zoom meetings, students have the opportunity to lead the activity, versus me doing all the talking! They love to be the facilitator and often ask for me to share the games with them so they can play at home with others.
I've linked an example of a game that we use often in our Math small groups.
Nearpod
Nearpod is a new tool to me but one that I am quickly growing to love! Plus, it is a tool that I can build in Google Slides (by adding the Nearpod Add-on). I learned how to build my own Nearpod by watching a video from a fellow teacher in her YouTube account: Pocketful of Primary
I have started using Nearpods as checks for understanding at the end of a Math small group and this allows me to build my lesson for the next small group.
I enjoy that you can select student-paced or live participation. The best part... you are collecting data in each Nearpod (which if you know me, you know I love).
Here is an example of what I can see after the Nearpod is complete.
I'm also going to link to a Nearpod that I created so you can see a sample of what you could do!
I hope these ideas are ones that you can use- not only in a virtual setting BUT in an in-person setting, as well.
Nicole Walters
Virtual 1st Grade Teacher & Learning Specialist at White River Elementary
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