Made in First Grade: What's in a Place? And Spread the Valentine Cheer

For the past couple of weeks our mathematical focus has been on place value. Understanding place value is HUGE! First graders need to be able to understand that the two digits of a 2-digit number represent tens and ones. They need to be able to compare 2 digit numbers using greater than, less than, and equal symbols. And they need to be able to add within 100, including adding a 2-digit number with a 1 digit number (56+5), and adding a two-digit number and a multiple of 10 (56+10). Like I said....HUGE!
The great thing about place value though is that it is very hands on. This makes learning tangible and concrete. We use base ten blocks, unifix cubes, and mats to build and represent 2 digit numbers. We model numbers using drawings of our representations. We use multiple "tens frame" mats to show growing numbers. Place Value is also embedded in our daily calendar as we count the days of school. Read on to learn a bit more about how we're learning what's in a place (of a digit that is)!

Anchors Away!
I like to anchor learning with an anchor chart. We revisit this chart at the start of almost every lesson. By doing this I am reinforcing important vocabulary and linking old and new learning.

GAMES!GAMES!GAMES!
It's no secret that children learn best while having fun. Most of our hands on practice involves games with partners. Here is a place value favorite!

Math partners are playing base ten concentration. They flip over cards to find a match.
They are matching a 2 digit number with it's model (see model form in the anchor chart)