We are Rounding Stars! Freebie rounding centers, parent page and song!!

My kids are rounding stars!!

This year I decided to teach rounding a little differently. I really thought about when and how I use rounding- when I'm shopping, of course! Since we were moving I had more newspaper ads than usual so I set to work making this chart.

I told the kids that I like to get my Christmas shopping done before everyone else to avoid the crowds. I also explained that I like to make sure I was getting a deal and asked for their help in rounding these prices. Visualizing them on a # line from the very beginning helped to solidify the concept for the majority of kids. For those that didn't grasp it right away I already knew that they were lacking strength is number sense so I worked  more on that with them during our small group time. 

After our chart we did some practice in our journals. Obviously we're not going to draw a number line every time we need to round a number. After some practice kids really got it though and didn't need to draw the number line.

As another strategy I introduced the rhyme:
4 or less let it rest
5 or more raise the score
We practiced using these steps:
1. Underline the place you're rounding to
2. Circle the neighbor aka the boss
3. If it's 4 or less let our neighbor rest and I it's 5 or more up the score.
4. Everything to the right turns to 0's

I'm sure you know the schpiel, schpee??? (uh, is that even a word?) so we'll move on :P

In my homework binder I always include a page in our "help" section when we begin anything new. This helps families when they are feeling stuck at home. Here is the help page I used for rounding:

You can grab yours by clicking the picture!

I've explained my math block before. You can check it out here.

After a few whole group lessons we started some rounding centers while strengthening our skills in small groups. We have been playing roll n' round, spin n' round and pumpkin round! I promise I'm not trying to brag, but the kids are so engaged and independent during this time that you could literally hear a pin drop! These centers are in my TpT store for the price of FREE. All I ask is that you pretty please leave your feedback!! Click the picture below to download yours. 

And I have one last thing for you! This is really just for funzies and keeping em engaged. I have a lot of fun rewriting familiar songs to the tune of learning. This time I decided to go with "Rounding Stars" to the tune of Counting Stars by One Republic. Whatever gets them pumped for learning right?!?! Enjoy!

Click the picture for your copy.