Dear Parents,
As we prepare for this unusual year, I wanted to take the time to share with you my list of suggested supplies. A Chromebook will be provided to you by the district and, as long as we are distance learning, this is pretty much your biggest resource. However, it is very difficult to understand and process new math concepts if we don't take the time to write down the problems and show our work.
I recommend making sure your child has writing materials with them at their work station as they complete lessons virtually. I personally LOVE graph paper. It is hands down my favorite math tool as it makes graphing, drawing diagrams, and organizing work that much easier. That said, most students are highly motivated to write when they get to use a whiteboard. If you feel your child would be more motivated to work on a whiteboard, this would be an acceptable way for them to work through problems during distance learning. They even make whiteboards with grids so students can graph and create diagrams.
In short, as we start the year, the only thing your child needs is a space to work and something to write on. Even when we return to campus, I only request that students have graph paper and pencils available to them (I always keep some in my classroom, but we'll have to be cautious with rules for sharing supplies)
This was my list for suggested supplies last year:
As we prepare for this unusual year, I wanted to take the time to share with you my list of suggested supplies. A Chromebook will be provided to you by the district and, as long as we are distance learning, this is pretty much your biggest resource. However, it is very difficult to understand and process new math concepts if we don't take the time to write down the problems and show our work.
I recommend making sure your child has writing materials with them at their work station as they complete lessons virtually. I personally LOVE graph paper. It is hands down my favorite math tool as it makes graphing, drawing diagrams, and organizing work that much easier. That said, most students are highly motivated to write when they get to use a whiteboard. If you feel your child would be more motivated to work on a whiteboard, this would be an acceptable way for them to work through problems during distance learning. They even make whiteboards with grids so students can graph and create diagrams.
In short, as we start the year, the only thing your child needs is a space to work and something to write on. Even when we return to campus, I only request that students have graph paper and pencils available to them (I always keep some in my classroom, but we'll have to be cautious with rules for sharing supplies)
This was my list for suggested supplies last year:
- PENCILS: we make mistakes in math class, we embrace these mistakes, and we learn from these mistakes. However, we also use pencil instead of pen for this reason.
- GRAPH PAPER: graph paper is really critical for your success this year and we will use it almost daily. Sixth and seventh graders will need graph paper in almost every unit, 8th graders will need graph paper in every unit.
- TWO-POCKET FOLDER: We will have some worksheets to keep track of and a two-pocket folder is much easier to keep clean and tidy than a 3-ring binder. This item is 100% optional, but I recommend it if you know you have trouble keeping organized. A little math folder will help you keep track of any loose papers. In the past, I've had students organize it so that items on the right need to be completed and items on the left need to be turned in.
- DRY-ERASE MARKERS: We do a lot of collaborative work on large whiteboards. I will always provide markers, but some students really care about the color and condition of the markers they use. My markers will be really awesome the first few uses and then all bets are off. If you really want nice markers, you can always bring your own.
- HIGHLIGHTERS – these are handy for all kinds of puzzles and activities. I will always have some on hand.