Math+Bulletin+Boards

__//**Math Bulletin Boards**//__ //**by Caroline Dela Victoria**//
Bulletin boards are a useful tool to enhance student's learning. Bulletin boards serve as a number of purposes: 1) provide student's with information; 2) can serve as a learning center; and 3) may display student's work. The bulletin boards below are several examples of what a math bulletin board can and should contain. A math bulletin board should display mathematical content that is related to the content that student's are learning, as well as serve as a learning tool that student's can refer to daily.

//A. First Grade Math Center - Money//
This bulletin board displays the mathematical content of counting money and the vocabulary terms that are associated with counting money. For example, the Money chart displays the name of the coin (//penny)//, its denomination (//1 cent)//, and how to write its denomination (//1c//). For the penny, pictures of how a penny looks from the front and back are displayed. The rest of the coins follow this manner. The board also displays numbers 1 through 10 written in standard form and written form, as well as showing each value in quantity with manipulative pictures to represent each number.

Students may use this board as a learning tool to refer to on how to identify and count coins/money. Students may refer to this math center to obtain the sequence of numbers, how to write numbers in standard and written form, and may read books that are related to money. 

//B. Third Grade Math Center - Decimals and Place Values//
This bulletin board displays mathematical content of learning decimals and place values. Vocabulary terms relating to the place value of a number are clearly displayed and provide an example for students to refer to. Other vocabulary terms that relate to statistics is also displayed. For example, key word definitions are provided for //maximum, minimum, and mode// to name a few. Examples of Fact Families may remind students what factors are. The math center provides math flashcards and hands-on manipulatives that are stored below the bulletin board in basket containers.

Students may use this board as a learning tool to refer to when working with decimals, new vocabulary, or flashcard and manipulative practice. A math bulletin board should be interactive and fun, so students are involved in their learning. This math center can be used as a learning tool as it may remind students on certain mathematical concepts learned and can help remind students.

//C. Example of Student's Work//
You can use student's work to create a math bulletin board. This bulletin board displays students work of problem solving. Students created their own word problem, drew an illustration representing the problem, and solved the word problem. Post-it notes were attached to the paper to cover the answer, so that other students may answer the questions on their own.

This board can be used as a learning tool as students will be able to have a chance to read other student's word problems and attempt to solve it themselves. The mathematical focus is on word problems: breaking down the structure of a word problem mathematically.