Early Finishers

An early finisher is a student who completes the ST Math Journey before the end of the school year.

Rather than moving an early finisher to the next grade level, teachers have several options in ST Math to help students go deeper with their understanding of the current grade level content.

What is an early finisher?

Options for early finishers to gain a deeper understanding of their grade level experience in ST Math include:

  • Bonus Journey
  • Optional Objectives 
  • Student Journey Review
  • ST Math Activity Pages
  • ST Math Special Projects

Deeper Grade Level Learning

Early Finishers

The Bonus Journey automatically appears when a student finishes the grade-level Journey, providing even more great ST Math games which are added to the student's puzzle count.

 

The Bonus Journey games can also be assigned to individual students or the entire class throughout the year.

Bonus Journey

Early Finishers

Early Finishers - notes to finish section 

Bonus Journey descriptions are consistent with Instructional notes

 

The Bonus Journey includes:

  • Math Challenge Objectives
  • Challenge Objectives
  • Cognitive Training (grades 3+)
  • Summer Bridge Objectives (grades 6-8)

Bonus Journey | Features

Early Finishers

Math Challenge Objective:

  • Challenging puzzles that extend grade-level topics across a variety of content domains.

Bonus Journey | Features

Early Finishers

Challenge Objective:

  • These multi-step puzzles require the use of spatial reasoning to explore symmetry, reflections, rotations, and analytical thinking.

Bonus Journey | Features

Early Finishers

Cognitive Training (grades 3+):

  • Experimental, research-backed tasks designed to strengthen working memory throughout the school year.

  • Students can replay levels to try to beat their high scores.

Early Finishers

Bonus Journey | Features

Early Finishers

Bonus Journey | Features

Summer Bridge Objectives (grades 6-8):

  • Designed for students to play during the summer to have a 'best of’ experience of ST Math.

  • A review of the core concepts and a preview of the upcoming topics in order to reinforce the core understanding and minimize learning loss over the summer.

Early Finishers

Bonus Journey | Features

These are automatic - What if teacher rearrange the journey will this affect that 

Optional objectives provide fluency practice for students and can be assigned at any point in the school year. There are two fluency objectives:

  • addition and subtraction facts (first grade and above),
  • multiplication and division (second grade and above).

Optional Objectives

Early Finishers

Early Finishers

Strategic Replay of ST Math Objectives 

Tool use 

Step 1:

 

Early Finishers - notes to finish section 

Needs

  • Process
  • Tool
    • Culminating tool - to review
      • Teacher section - easy 4 questions on student
      • student section
      • extend understanding
      • connect understanding 

 

First, review student data and identify areas where the student struggled or had low post-quiz scores throughout the ST Math Journey.

Early Finishers

Student Journey Review

Early Finishers

Student Journey Review

Then, after sharing your findings, the student can replay these objectives by going into their history.

While replaying these games, have the student complete a math journal to explain what they learned and how their learning connects to classroom instruction.

Early Finishers

Click to see all of the ST Math Journal Pages

Student Journey Review

Click for a PDF copy

Early Finishers

ST Math Special Projects

The Jiji Choice Board gives students a way to highlight and share their understanding of the concepts learned in ST Math.

 

Students select a JiJi Math game/puzzle and complete one of the ST Math Special Projects based on that puzzle.

Click for a PDF copy

The accompanying Project Checklist includes directions, a rubric, and the necessary recording tools for each of the projects listed on the Jiji Choice Board.

Early Finishers

ST Math Special Projects

Click for a PDF copy

Teacher Tip - Have copies of recording tools ready for students.

Early Finishers

ST Math Special Projects | How To

Step 1:

Students read through the options on the Jiji Choice Board and choose an ST Math Special Project to highlight their understanding of the concepts learned in ST Math.

Click for a PDF copy

Teacher Tip - Check for understanding before letting them work solo.

Early Finishers

ST Math Special Projects | How To

Step 2:

Once students have chosen a project from the Jiji Choice Board, review the list of criteria on the first page of the Project Checklist.

Click for a PDF copy

Step 3:

Allow time for students to work on their projects using the provided recording tools.

Early Finishers

ST Math Special Projects | How To

Teacher Tip - While students work. check in regularly to avoid confusion.

Early Finishers

ST Math Special Projects | How To

Teacher Tip - Allow for multiple forms of sharing (individual, group, etc.).

Step 4:

Provide students with the space to share their ST Math Special Projects.

Click for a PDF copy

Early Finishers

ST Math Activity Pages | Features

Teacher guide image

 

Links?

A teacher guide and answer keys are provided with the ST Math Activity Pages.

Step 1:

Create a space for students to work on the ST Math Activity Pages at a station, a center, or in a small group.

Early Finishers

ST Math Activity Pages | How To

Early Finishers

ST Math Activity Pages | How To

Step 2:

Scan the QR code included on each ST Math Activity Page to access level 1 of that specific game.

Step 3:

Then students can work individually or in small groups to finish the activity pages.

Early Finishers

ST Math Activity Pages | How To

Closing or Tips