Practice & Review Activities

1. Practice & Review Activities Jennifer Abler Livonia Public Schools jabler@livoniapublicschools.org This presentation is available on www.dactm.org

2. Standards for Student Mathematical Practices

3. Practice & Review Activities Every one of these are activities that can be made with an existing worksheet or review sheet I use these because they encourage more discussion than doing a worksheet

4. White Boards • Individually • Put a problem on the board/projector and have students hold up boards as they complete each problem. • Use a seating chart to gather formative assessment data • Provide immediate feedback to individual students • Row Races • For multi-step problems, have each student in a group or in a row do one step of the given problem then pass the board. This encourages checking and thinking about each step. • Answer Boards • Use for other games and activities to show work

5. Large White Boards These are fabulous for group work at tables instead of poster paper Assign students to put answers on each board Use boards to compare process to do the same problem

6. Game Boards Begin by giving students a board with problems already make up. Students check each other to determine correct answers (can use whiteboards to work or work in notebooks). When students are familiar with game board, give each group a board to create a game of their own. Students can switch games for more practice.

7. Carousel Activity(My Favorite!) Display problems on cards around the room. Students work in pairs and write problems on the answer document (this is important!). Students can rotate at their own pace or with a timer. At the last problem, students write the answer on a sticky note attached to the card. Students “carousel” around the room to check answers.

8. Carousel Activity(My Favorite!) Variations: Provide a “hints” page next to each station so kids can help one another. Teacher is a “station” so that he/she can provide help, do assessment, etc. Students can rotate to different desks for each problem (or use as “musical chairs”). Students can sit and pass cards.

9. Color/Point cards Designate cards blue, red, green, yellow, etc. by the marker, print, or background color. Assign values for each color (ex: red = 4 points, blue = 3 points, green = 2 points, yellow = 1 point). The most difficult problems are the “red” cards, the easiest are “yellow” cards. Students need to solve problems until they get a given number of points (20-25?). Students can work on any combination of colors. GREAT for differentiation .

10. Bingo Give each student a blank bingo card with a free space in the center. Give students 24 (or more) answers in random order and have students fill in their own board – every board should be different! Put problems up and have students cross off answers as they are solved. If students get a “bingo” they get a prize but keep playing. If you plan ahead, there are online bingo board makers!

11. Correct the Teacher’s Quiz Change values on a quiz or use a review sheet you have. Solve each problem and make several mistakes that students are likely to make. Instead of doing the worksheet on their own, students have to “correct” the quiz – they have to find the mistake (if any) and correctly solve the problem. This is addresses “critique the work of others” in the mathematical practices.

12. Problem Sort Provide problems and solutions on cards. Students have to match the problem and answer. Use a “map” to help guide students and/or scaffold for students needing more assistance Variation: Instead of solving the problem/answers, have students just organize the problems – by first step, common answers, etc.

13. Puzzle Map This is another sorting activity useful for classifying functions by specific criteria. Students first cut out puzzle pieces Sort the pieces into the categories in which they belong A “map” may or may not be used – it is most helpful for work that will be checked but not useful. This is also great for organizing steps – like solving problems. Students would get strips of paper each with one step, they would have to organize them into the correct order (use a variety of variables).

14. Missing Values Tables These are the most challenging for students When organized into a table, students have to rethink what they know instead of just following a process. Create a table with the characteristics that students need to compare, contrast, determine. Provide some information and allow students to do fill in the missing values of the table.

15. Jeopardy Jeopardy seems to work best as a review. Create problems in categories and display categories on board (or use a template). Students work in groups of 3-5 to solve the problems. Display a problem and students solve individually on whiteboards. The team that called the problem gets first shot at answering – then go with next lowest score or in order around room. No need to give extra time for any groups – they should all be working during the same time interval.

16. “Dumb” Dittos Students create a ditto of their own and a solution guide that includes the solution process not just an answer. If needed, provide students with a riddle from old workbooks. Use a rubric to grade dittos – this will help students be certain they have included all necessary parts.

17. Journals • Have students respond to any of the following prompts: • Explain to a student who is absent three things we learned today. • In a telephone conversation, (instant message, letter, sequence of text messages, etc.) describe to someone how to… • Explain why this problem is incorrect and how to correct it. • Tell me what you know about (a certain topic) or describe the problems you are having. • Compare and contrast how you would solve these two problems…

18. Flip Books A flip chart is useful when reviewing sections or separate ideas. Each section should explain a particular topic and provide at least one example. Flip charts can be used as review or built as concepts are learned throughout a chapter. Rubrics help to make sure students include all necessary information.

19. Multiple Choice Answers

20. Mind Maps/ Flow Charts Mind maps are a useful tool to understand what a student knows about a particular topic or set of topics. Mind maps can be used to show how concepts are related. Flow charts can be re-used to help students solve problems. Mind maps and flow charts are especially useful to visual learners!

21. Practice Tests Students generate practice test problems. Give students specific topics to write questions about. Have students create different types of questions (short answer, multiple choice, evaluate the wrong answers, etc.) If possible use some of these on the actual assessment! This is an activity where a rubric is especially helpful.