In my math cupboard ...

We have 9 days with students ... 5 class days, and 4 exam days.  Our students are mentally checked out.  They have taken all the required state tests ... 5 of them ... and because of those state tests, they do not have final exams in core classes but they are "required" to attend class.  I am giving the last test of the six weeks on Monday.  The final 8 days will be a challenge ... for sure!  The Algebra PLC has created a "kickball" math packet ... hoping to play a little and work a little.  I'd like to show Stand and Deliver ... thinking about creating a problem or two to go with the movie.  We'll see how it goes!

In the meanwhile, I've been cleaning out my filing cabinet, filing ideas away, and generally preparing my room for the summer.  As I am organizing, I am also creating a catalog of the cool math tools in my cupboard.

1. Hands-On Equations  (thank you http://www.donorschoose.org/)
2. Algebra Tiles (student sets)    (thank you http://www.donorschoose.org/)
3. Magnetic Tiles for my whiteboard    (thank you http://www.donorschoose.org/)
4. Power Blocks
5. Algebra Base 10 Blocks    (thank you http://www.donorschoose.org/)
6. Measuring tapes, rulers, yardsticks
7. Blue painters' tape
8. Paper plates
9. Paper cups (3 oz), Styrofoam cups
10. Construction Paper
11. Stack of Graph Paper
12. Collection of partially used spiral notebooks & composition books
13. Chart Paper (1 inch graph)
14. Yarn/String
15. Dice
16. Bingo markers for counting chips
17. Sheet protectors
18. Dry Erase Sleeves  ... I like these much better than whiteboards for individual student use
19. Markers, crayons, colored pencils, dry erase markers
20. Jolly Ranchers, Tootsie Roll Pops, Dum-Dums, and Smarties

In a shared closet ... 

... Rubber - Band Cannons ... exploration of linear and quadratic functions

Thinking about for next year ... 

• a set of barbies for barbie bungee (goodwill???)
• a set of matchbox cars (pretty sure my grandson has enough to share)
• a set of acrylic frames to post stations around the room  (Amazon)
• a set of large (24 x 32) whiteboards for group work