A Summary of Nita’s Notebook

Recognized internationally for her work in early childhood mathematics, Dr. Juanita (Nita) Copley has published books for the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Now Dr. Copley brings her notebook of intentional, hands-on mathematics activities directly to you. These activities, which compliment the math instruction in Opening the World of Learning™, engage children in mathematical ideas and problem-solving.

Nita’s Notebook Manipulative Activities

35 lessons in English, 35 lessons in Spanish — to be used with the OWL math manipulatives

Research tells us that young children need to touch, investigate, and move concrete materials as they develop their mathematical understanding of geometry, spatial sense, and measurement, as well as number concepts. Nita’s Manipulative Activities help teachers use manipulatives as effective tools for teaching mathematics. Each activity uses one of the math manipulatives from the OWL manipulative kit to develop a mathematical concept, while addressing one or more Texas Pre-Kindergarten Mathematics Outcomes. With these lessons, Nita shows teachers how to use attribute shapes, two-colored counters, farm counters, jumbo rods, color cubes, measuring worms, and tangrams appropriately and intentionally.

Nita’s Notebook 4th Read Lessons

32 lessons in English, 32 lessons in Spanish — one for each OWL Trade Book

Nita’s 4th Read Lessons are designed to integrate mathematics and language arts. Each lesson addresses one or more of the Texas Pre-Kindergarten Mathematics Outcomes and generally addresses the following Language and Literacy Outcomes.

• II.A.1. Child shows understanding by responding appropriately.

• II.B.2. Child engages in conversations in appropriate ways.

• II.B.3. Child provides appropriate information for various situations.

• II.D.1. Child uses a wide variety of words to label and describe people, places, things, and actions.

• III.A.1. Child engages in pre-reading and reading related activities.

• III.A.2. Child uses books and other written materials to engage in pre-reading behaviors.

• IV.A.1. Child intentionally uses scribbles/writing to convey meaning.

• IV.B.2. Child writes own name.

Copy

right

© P

ears

on E

duca

tion,

Inc.

4TH Read Lessons begin with a mathematically-focused reading of an

OWL Trade Book. During this reading, children are introduced to a math concept

that becomes the basis for a student-created book. Lessons address two types

of student-created math books — problem-solving books and conceptual books. Problem-solving books

contain number problems designed by children; conceptual books contain illustrations or designs related

to a specific mathematics idea. Children are taught how to write the book with a specific lesson.

Each lesson contains three parts:

1) a whole group activity where the concept is introduced,

2) a partner activity where children interact in pairs to plan their pages, and

3) an independent activity where each child completes a page.

Lessons culminate with a whole-group shared writing activity where children create a cover and title

page for the class book.

Copy

right

© P

ears

on E

duca

tion,

Inc.