What should I use in my math centers to keep my students engaged? This is a common question I hear teachers asking at my school, as well as in discussions on social media. Therefore, I wanted to give another idea for cards you can use in your math centers that have multiple benefits for your students. Task cards are very common,, but True or False sorting cards are also an amazing tool to use in your centers each week. For my classroom, I will use True or False sorting cards in my task card or my review center (if concentrating on a review skill). Although they are not technically task cards, they are still a hands-on means to practice and review. If you’d like more details on how I run my centers, you can check out my Math Centers in Upper Elementary blog post.
Here are THREE key student benefits to using True or False Cards:
Enhance Student Engagement:
Students are more engaged with centers when they are working hands on, versus a worksheet or another common way of practicing skills. True or false sorting cards add a game-like exercise for students on their current math skills. Adding True or False cards into your centers mixes up the routine and adds something new into their week. Whenusing True or False sorting cards in your math centers, students are working with a hands-on approach by actively sorting the cards into different piles. While students are placing cards into the correct piles, based on their understanding of the concept, they are also able to see commonalities across the cards in that pile. This would hopefully promote self correction if they notice a card does not match the rest of the ones in that pile. By having engaging centers, we create a positive learning environment for students to grow excited about math.
Enhance Critical Thinking Skills:
When students are sorting cards with an equation, comparison, statement, etc, they have to think critically by taking apart that situation in order to assess the accuracy of it. Then, they need to be able to justify their reasoning as to why they sorted the card in either the true or false group, using their mathematical understanding. This process helps students develop a stronger understanding of concepts, and problem solving skills, as well as verbal communication skills. In the meantime, students think they are simply sorting cards rather than practicing several critical thinking skills.
Promote Collaboration:
Similar to task cards and other hands-on centers, True or False sorting cards promote collaboration among your math groups. Students are able to work together to solve the cards, place them into the correct category, and discuss their reasoning. Through discussion of the statements, students are able to learn and change their reasoning.
Here are THREE key teacher benefits to using True or False Cards:
Make Classroom Management Easier:
I discussed a little about the classroom management side of things when talking about student engagement, but what does this mean for you? When students are engaged in their centers, you are better able to focus on your teacher group. If your students are not engaged in their centers, and you're trying to work with your small group, you will be distracted by correcting students and not able to focus on the students in your group. By using engaging centers and consistent expectations/routines, you will be able to work well with your small group and trust that your students are working in their centers appropriately.
Formative Assessments:
Using True or False sorting in your centers, allows you to formatively assess student understanding by how they are placing the statements and their reasoning behind it. You are able to quickly note any common misconceptions or gaps in student understanding. In order to see students’ thoughts, I usually have students fill out a recording sheet as they go so they aren’t just sorting the cards. I have also used the sorting cards in my teacher groups at the start for a quick assessment. I would have each student sort a card and then justify their reasoning behind putting the card where they put it.
Make Differentiation a Breeze:
True or False sorting cards can easily be differentiated. Whether you are swapping out the equations or statements being used or providing manipulatives for students to solve the statements, you are differentiating. You can also place students into heterogeneous groups to support the varying needs of your students. (Need student grouping ideas? Check out my Grouping Students for Success blog post.) Given the simplicity of creating correct and incorrect statements, it is easy to create challenging True or False sorting cards for all levels of student needs.
There are so many benefits to using True or False cards, that I use them for each of my math units. My most popular True or False Sorting Cards cover 4th grade decimals. Check them out here!
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