Gresham Gina - TAG: Math is it! Grades 3: 5

Photography by Linda S. Brumbaugh.

Dr. Larry A. Clever, an education professional, provided editorial assistance. We are grateful to him for his time and effort.

All of our teachers, colleagues, and students have helped form us into who we are as professionals. We owe a special thanks each of them.

People help mold us and what we become. Each person listed here is special. Our family and loved ones are obviously connected to us and have had a tremendous impact on us. Beyond that are all those we have met in the classroom, too countless to name, and yet each has exerted some level of influence on us. To all of you, we say - - THANX!

In loving memory of:
Pat and Web Brumbaugh
Ana Celia Reccy-Castro
Randal Randy F. Harwood, Jr.
Enrique Ortiz, Sr.
Ramn and Juana Scott
To:
Ray Gresham, my beloved husband
Ginas diddy, Ronnie Harwood and mom, Glenda Knowles
My loving, supportive family, and my god-daughter Madison, whom I adore
Very special friends Brian and Gina-2 for their loving friendship & believing in me.
Shawn, Mike, Jennifer, and Laura, Dougs kids
Linda Brumbaugh, simply the best
Rosalina Scott, Enriques mother for her unconditional love
Castro-Reccy for unselfish support
Castro-Mojica for unselfish support
Rivera-Scott for unselfish support
The Daytona Beach extended families for unselfish support
To Enrique Gabriel, Samuel Enrique, and Natalie Marie, Enriques kids
To Diana Ortiz, patience, perseverance, and kindness are your gifts

To all our teachers
To students: past, present, and future

ISBN 978-0-615-25622-1

Lulu.com ID: 4250285

Library of Congress Control Number: 2008908592

Copyright 2007 by Regina Harwood Gresham, Douglas K. Brumbaugh, & Enrique Ortiz
All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in retrieval systems, or
transmitted in any form or by any means, digital, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording,
or otherwise, or conveyed via Internet or a Web site without permission of the publisher, except in
the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This book is designed to provide you with ideas you can apply in your classroom. We have used these entries with garden-variety children. We know they work. You may have to alter the event somewhat to fit your style, your children, or your curriculum, but our intent is to keep such alterations at a minimum for you.

An experienced elementary teacher who reviewed this manuscript made the following comments:

The annotated Table of Contents is very helpful when looking for an activity and saves the teacher a lot of time.

The ideas are cool.

This is a good, handy reference that covers a lot of things I will be able to use in my classroom.

Another experienced elementary teacher, college teacher, and school administrator said:

Were I still teaching elementary school mathematics or training elementary school teachers, I would find this book to be a valuable resource.

Your creativity and knowledge of your students will be beneficial as you alter these ideas. You are encouraged to examine each entry in this book and massage it so it benefits the children in your classroom. We would be honored to discuss your ideas via email, and perhaps help alter any entry.

Dr. Gina Gresham ggresham@mail.ucf.edu

Dr. Enrique Ortiz ortiz@mail.ucf.edu

Dr. Doug Brumbaugh brumbad@mail.ucf.edu

Wow! How blessed I am! I have been touched by so many people throughout my teaching career; my parents, family, loved ones, friends, students...what an endless list. Many very special people have entered into my life. Many of you know who you are, but one I must particularly thank is my friend, my guide, my supporter, my inspiration, my mentor, Capn. Dougie Brumbaugh. I am so thankful and forever grateful to you! If only I can become half the person you are.

Since 1988, I have been in education. I earned my undergraduate degree from Jacksonville State University in Gadsden, Alabama. I received my masters, Educational Specialist, and Ph. D. from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. I adopted a motto at a young age and have always had it somewhere, on my wall at home, in my office, in my classroom. It is: If you believe in yourself and have dedication and pride, youll be a winner. The price of victory is high, but so are the rewards. (Paul Bear Bryant).

I hope you can take this motto, combine it with this book and know and appreciate the rewards of teaching. The career is demanding, but the rewards are priceless. Take this text to heart and challenge each of those you teach with the same desire. Good luck to each of you in your academic endeavors. I will remain with you, Partners in Education!

Depending on how you count, I taught for more than 45 years. I received my BS from Adrian College, and my masters and doctorate in mathematics education from the University of Georgia. The entries in this book are classroom-tested success stories. These tricks, activities, and games are designed to stretch you and your children while adding to your collection of classroom ideas. Learn, expand your horizons, and teach. It is the only way to go!

I was born in Raleigh, North Carolina, but grew up in Puerto Rico. In 1982 I came back to the United States and in 1987 earned my doctorate at the Louisiana State University. I now reside in Florida with my wife, two sons, and daughter. From 1976 to 1987, I worked as a middle school teacher of mathematics, curriculum specialist, instructor, and supervisor in Puerto Rico and the United States. I was an assistant professor for the University of New Orleans from 1987 to 1989. Since 1989, I have been an elementary and middle school mathematics education assistant and associate professor for the University of Central Florida. I am active in the educational community by presenting papers and in-service workshops locally, nationally, and internationally developing curriculum materials, writing professional books and articles, teaching methods courses, supervising pre-service teachers, advising students in their academic pursuits, participating in action research, thesis and dissertation development, and conducting research grants and studies in mathematics education. My major research interests include algebraic thinking, instructional games, professional development, problem solving, and technology. I am certain that the ideas presented in this book will inspire and challenge you to become a star elementary school teacher of mathematics.