Many of my students have great odds to overcome, and they need many opportunities for positive experiences and interactions, to balance risk factors with protective factors in their lives.  While they are young, it is most important to foster their innate curiosity and intrinsic motivation.  I believe in the constructivist approach to teaching and learning with hands on materials, so our classroom needs vary based on where students take their learning.  As this is my first year of teaching, I do not have a supply of pre-made or pre-bought items.  I shop and plan every weekend for the following week, adjusting instruction and differentiating as much as possible to reach each individual child.  Most recently, I have purchased supplies to make Montessori materials for students (multiple colors of beads, pipe cleaners, organization trays and boxes, felt mats, number tiles etc.).  After learning about rekenreks as a powerful tool for teaching composing and decomposing, I purchased materials to make them for my students, as well as a teacher rekenrek.  I also spend quite a bit on card stock paper and printing to make math games, and buy supporting materials such as dice, connecting cubes, counters, etc.  Students check out games to play at home with family members, an experience that they cherish!  In the near future, I plan to purchase more Montessori materials as well as a printer so that we can print games, and have more hands on experience with mathematics.  Here are links to items:

Brother HLL8350CDW Wireless Color Laser Printer ($339.23): http://www.amazon.com/Brother-HLL8350CDW-Wireless-Color-Printer/dp/B00JBVWDB8/ref=sr_1_6?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1445908447&sr=1-6&keywords=color+laser+printer

Montessori Large Wooden Number Cards with Box ($26.95) http://www.amazon.com/Montessori-Large-Wooden-Number-Cards/dp/B00DAHA1N6/ref=sr_1_22?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1445909752&sr=1-22&keywords=montessori+math

Kid Advance Montessori Elementary Negative Snake Game ($75.99) http://www.amazon.com/Kid-Advance-Montessori-Elementary-Negative/dp/B012ORO81I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1445910559&sr=8-1&keywords=negative+snake+game

Montessori Addition Snake Game ($37.99) http://www.amazon.com/Kid-Advance-Montessori-Addition-Snake/dp/B00J7X9ZXE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1445910603&sr=8-1&keywords=addition+snake+game

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