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My humorous thoughts about life.

"My Humorous and Helpful Thoughts About Teaching / Educational Resources for Your Classroom / Music and Random Fun"

Sunday, February 16, 2020

Adding and Subtracting Positive and Negative Numbers and Stories

When kids are tasked with having to add and subtract negative numbers, the easiest way to teach this is to pull out a numberline. Although a line has arrows at the ends and never ends, notice how teachers always tell students to, "Get in a line!" I was a weird teacher because I told mine to get into a line segment or make two parallel line segments. Sometimes when we were waiting outside the bathroom, I asked the kids to make perpendicular lines, or I'd ask them to count off using prime numbers. That was always fun! But back to the old number line.


using a number line for teaching addition and subtraction of positive and negative numbers

The number line above goes in both directions, as a middle school number line should, so when you go to solve a problem, you simply count in the direction of the number's sign. Ie., if there is not a negative sign in front of it, you will head right or in the positive direction. If the number is negative move to the left.

 -10 + 5 = -5

Number lines to solve problems involving positive and negative integers

A number line makes teaching this concept so much easier than trying to teach without one.

But, what if kids are tasked with adding numbers such as:

- 4 + 8 =

To solve this problem, I tell kids to use the commutative property of addition.


-4 + 8 = 8 + -4 = 8 - 4

You can turn this problem into a first grade problem!


If you are interested in a resource for teaching middle school math, check this out!
Tune in next week for tips on how to teach minus a negative number.

Monday Music Moves Me

This week is all about songs that tell stories, so here is the ultimate classic in that department.

American Pie, by Don McLean

This musical number tells a farewell story to the 50s and 60s and how music died with the plane crash that killed Ritchie Valens, Buddy Holly, and the Big Bopper. The music is filled with hidden messages involving the Vietnam War and Jackie Kennedy, "the widowed bride" in some accounts, while others believe the song is referring to Buddy Holly's pregnant wife who miscarried. One could spend the year analyzing the story of American Pie, but I'd rather just listen to it.



Next up is Paul Simon with Me and Julio Down at the School Yard.

This is the story of a couple of kids in trouble for the unknown actions down at the school yard. Simon purposely kept the actions vague; but whatever it was, Mama and Papa didn't like it!



This last song is one I had to post because I believe history has gotten it all wrong with blaming poor Mrs. O'Leary and her cow for the Chicago Fire of 1871. I've written a different version of this story that you can purchase at my TpT Store.



Historical Fiction Story about Chicago Fire of 1871, theory of what really happened


9 comments:

bookworm said...

American Pie came out in my first year of college and it was an instant hit, as I recall - I still love it. Me and Julio is one of my favorite videos (especially watching the girls who were double-Dutch jumproping, and seeing Mickey Mantle and John Madden in their cameo roles) As for the Hot Time song, Bessie Smith's classic but with different lyrics - I have never heard any version singing about the Chicago Fire. Alana ramblinwitham.blogspot.com

XmasDolly said...

Those movies about American Pie & the others including the singers were awesome to say the least & then to get cut off at the height of their career was devastating to everyone. American Pie came out at the most perfect time to say the least. I mean heck it's still a favorite by everyone! Thanks for sharing and joining us. Hope you had a great Valentines too! hugs

DrillerAA said...

Two great songs from my younger days. American Pie seemed to stay on the charts forever. I was a big fan of Paul as his songs seemed to tell a story that I could relate to. We've all done something on the school grounds that got us in some sort of trouble. Thanks for sharing your music. Have a blessed week.

songbird's crazy world said...

American Pie ...I remember when the song first came out how our local paper analyzed the lyrics. Great song. I’ve always loved Paul Simon. And the Chicago fire song I remember from when I was a child.

csuhpat1 said...

Nice songs and great math lesson. Thanks for both.

messymimi said...

Now if only someone could have taught me this sooner!

mail4rosey said...

My grade's a little higher but it's nice that you are so active on TPT. My co-worker who plans with me gets a lot of lessons there and shares. Can I say how much I love that? :) Have a wonderful day!

CAAC said...

Joyce,

American Pie is a good story telling song. Thanks for joining the 4M crew on the dance floor, my dear. Have a boogietastic wee! ;)

Catch My Words said...

When your co-worker buys on TpT, she has purchased for her class only. Sharing is stealing, and she needs to share a link, not a purchased lesson. She is breaking copyright laws!