Interactive bulletin boards are a great resource for tracking fluency gains! This board is a great example of how to celebrate students’ achievements.
From the creator:
“I used this board for kids to earn their name on the board by completing levels in our math fluency program.
For materials, I used a sports baseball bulletin board border (I used the Phillies), plastic bats and balls cut in half, clip art of baseballs and gloves, and the plastic/foam bases from the dollar store.
Then you just cut and paste your bulletin board title.”
How can you use this board with your students?
- First, set some goals with students for their math fluency in addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
- After students have a goal (master addition facts 0-12 shown by an online math program or a timed test or something simpler, such as master 1 and 2 multiplication facts), they will begin working towards that goal.
- As students hit their goal, they get to add it to their choice of a glove, ball, or jersey and pin it to the bulletin board.
Interactive Bulletin Boards Hit a Home Run
Materials Needed:
- Green background: Use as the “field” of your baseball diamond bulletin board.
- Baseball, Cap, and Glove Cut Outs: These will be used for the student skill awards.
- Baseball bulletin board border: A cute addition to tie it all together.
- Plastic bats and balls: These are cut in half to add a 3-dimensional aspect to your bulletin board and create interest.
Steps to Set Up:
- Begin by adding your green bulletin board paper to your wall.
- Staple your baseball border around the outside edges.
- Next, cut your plastic bats in half and hot glue them to the board according to the picture.
- Use a black permanent marker to write the letters of your title to the baseball cut outs. Staple your title “Batting 100% in Math Fluency” along the top of your board.
- Use a Word processing program to type up HOME PLATE, 1st BASE, 2nd BASE, and 3rd BASE signs. Staple those to the applicable spots on your board.
- The next step will be unique to your preferences. You will need to choose what is equivalent to reaching each base and home plate. One example: A student earns first base when he or she has mastered all addition facts fluently, second base for subtraction, third for multiplication, and home hit a home run when he or she masters division.
- Have students each choose their icon (a baseball, cap, jersey, glove, etc) and write their name at the top in black permanent marker. As the student masters individual fact families within their first goal (for example, 2s, 5s, and 10s for addition), you would add those to the student icon. They don’t get to “move” the icon until they have mastered all the facts for that operation.
Students will love being able to work towards a goal and see that goal come to life throughout the school year. Even adding small goals to their sports icon of choice will be a movement in the right direction.
Hitting that “Home Run” before year end will call for a serious classroom celebration!
How else could you use this bulletin board idea in your school? Feel free to leave a comment below.
Submitted by: Donna
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