Math Intervention is a class or a period of time devoted to helping students who have been unsuccessful (typically on standardized tests) by providing additional time and resources. Oftentimes, a math intervention class is smaller in size or might include a co-teacher. In my experience, there is not a lot of structure, direction, or resources to support math intervention. Today, I am ...
4 Classroom Procedures for Middle School
When I hear the phrase classroom management, I often think about how a teacher might handle an off-task student or a school wide behavior pyramid. However, more often than not, classroom management boils down to the systems in place that encourage students to be on-task and engaged in their learning. Today, I am sharing 4 Helpful Classroom Procedures for Middle School. Easy tips and ...
Grading Math Homework Made Easy
Grading math homework doesn't have to be a hassle! It is hard to believe when you have a 150+ students, but I am sharing an organization system that will make grading math homework much more efficient. This is a follow up to my Minimalist Approach to Homework post. The title was inspired by the Marie Kondo book, The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up. Though I utilized the homework ...
Teachers Around the Globe
One thing that I love about being a teacher is that you instantly bond with another teacher. Whether it be the line at Starbucks or your spouse's holiday party, when you meet another teacher there is no shortage of conversation topics. This I have found to be true with all teachers around the globe. I have personally loved getting to meet other teachers through blogging and ...
Developing Math Confidence
You can see it on their face during a new lesson. It is obvious in the way they show their work on a page. Some students exhibit math confidence and other have yet to have it fostered. Some people have brains that think in numbers. If you are math teacher, you are likely one of them. Is developing math confidence within a student possible? I believe the answer is ...
Math Interactive Notebooks and Vocabulary
Math interactive notebooks are a great hands-on tool to engage students in the content and process. It has been noted by researchers that interactive notebooks allow students to systematically organize information. Typically the right side of the notebook is teacher guided note taking, often in the form of a graphic organizer, foldable, or cut and paste. The left ...
5 Tech Tools for the Classroom
Technology can be the difference between a smooth and engaging lesson and a disaster of a day. Any teacher can relate to the difficulties that are associated with classroom technology. "The computer won’t let me login,” and “I can’t find the file I saved yesterday” are just two of the common phrases I hear when utilizing technology. It can be infuriating! However, today I am sharing ...
Utilizing Parent Volunteers in Middle School
Parent volunteers in middle school can be tricky to find. I admit that I was jealous of my elementary teacher friends. They had classroom parties, room moms, and parent volunteers for field trips. I mentioned this to a friend, and she asked, "Have you asked them? Just make a quick sign up form." So I did. I asked parents to return the form with various ways they would help checked. ...
I love Back to School
Yesterday, I wrote about how Back to School is daunting. Today, I am writing that I Love Back to School. Call me crazy. I do love Back to School. I do love an opportunity to save money. I do love awesome resources that save me time. I do love when my students are engaged and have "fun" in math. Not too much fun, let's not get any crazy ideas :) I do love an August TpT ...
Back to School Prep
When I think of "Back to School", I immediately feel a dark cloud come upon me. Kind of like those cartoons. Not because I don't enjoy setting up a classroom or because I don't have an affectionate relationship with school supplies, but because it is so daunting. The to-do lists are insane, the expectations are high, and my personal experience tells me that you don't get a re-do of day ...