#MTBoS 2016 Blogging Initiative Week 2
My Favorite Paper Cutting Method
Being a math coach, I’m in a lot of classrooms. Hands down, my favorite tool as a math coach is the plastic name tent, which I address in an earlier post: I Never Enter a Classroom Without ‘Em. I’ll admit, this was a busy week and I was tempted to recycle my name tent post and call it good. BUT … something happened today that changed my mind.
I was co-teaching in Mrs. Becker’s 6th grade math class. We were on day 2 of our Algebra Tile Introduction using a Desmos Activity Builder. To start, we planned a short recap. Each student needed a half sheet of paper. By the time Mrs. Becker grabbed scissors, I was done cutting the sheets in two. She was in awe!
I had cut the paper using a straight edge. It takes a fraction of the time. Click here to watch a short video!
Mrs. Becker immediately made me show her my method and then tried it herself. Whenever I cut paper using a straight edge, students and (some) adults are amazed. I often hear:
- How’d you do that?
- Do that again!
- That was so fast!
- Can I try?
So, for WEEK 2, of the #MTBoS 2016 Blogging Initiative, I wish to share “my favorite” paper cutting method. Enjoy and happy “cutting”! 🙂
Communicating Mathematically 
Excellent idea. Thanks for sharing. We used to do this with sandpaper when I was in the wood shop too. It’s the little things! Heading to look at your name tents next.
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Great idea. I’ll teach my high school kids how to do this for themselves. We often use half sheets of scrap paper for warm-ups. Thanks for sharing.
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So will any straightedge work – plastic, wood, metal? Great tip – thanks for sharing!
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Some edges work better than others. I most often use a ruler (metal, plastic or wood) or my 3-hole puncher. Any item with crisp edge will do. Once you do it a few times you easily tell which objects will work and which ones won’t. 🙂
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