Growing Brains & Bravery: First Grade Perseveres Through Math Challenges

Starting first grade is an exciting milestone, but it can also stir up a lot of emotions for young learners as they step into a new classroom. 

On our first day of school, we took a feelings poll in which students chose an emotion that best described how they felt: excited, nervous, happy, sad, proud, or tired. Luckily, most students were happy and excited but quite a few also felt nervous. When asked their reason for being nervous, most said because the math would be harder. As a result, students were reminded that math may be a little more challenging but it just means that our brains are growing when we persevere through tough problems. 

We’ve just ended week three and I am proud to announce that first grade has been tackling challenging math problems with enthusiasm and determination! To deepen conceptual understanding, students used a variety of methods to assist with solving problems such as using manipulatives (counters, cubes), drawing dots and circles, and counting on with fingers, as well as using mental math.

Using multiple strategies helps students see why math works, not just how to get an answer. It also helps support diverse learning styles, as well as encourages students to approach problems from different angles, which strengthens critical thinking. 

Next week, we will explore some similarities and differences as we dig more into collecting and analyzing data by using surveys and graphs. We’re so excited to continue building our class community by discussing some of our “favorites,” as well as use Curiosity and Creativity by answering “why” and “what if” questions that drive deeper thinking about data.