When I begin to teach part, whole, and percent problems, I explain to my students that there is nothing that I teach in my class that I use more often in my real life. Students reflect on where they see percents: the grocery store, sales and discounts, and their grades. 6.RP.A.3.C Find a percent of a quantity as a rate per 100 (e.g., 30% of a quantity means 30/100 times the quantity); ...
The Ultimate Teacher Gift Guide
With Thanksgiving Break behind us and a mere 12 days until Winter Break (who's counting?!), it felt like the perfect time to kick off our 2017 Teacher Gift Guide. Last year, we categorized gifts by the type of teacher you might be shopping for, but this year, we are breaking down our gift guide by the amount of money you have to spend. Here we go! THE ULTIMATE TEACHER GIFT ...
Using Calculators in Middle School
Currently, I am teaching operations with decimals, and I have relied on calculators HEAVILY to check my work. Confession: When I was creating my answer key for a lesson on multiplying decimal numbers by decimal numbers with many, many digits, I first did all the math by hand and then went back to check using a calculator. My paper was not error-free! Calculators are such useful tools for ...
Implementing a Classroom Economy
Today’s post is to answer the many questions I have received regarding my classroom economy. Economy is a loose term because it isn’t tied to students completing classroom jobs but tied to their behavior. We call this system the paycheck system. Implementing a classroom economy Disclosure: None of this information is or was my idea. My school had this already in place long before I ...
Middle School Math Skills Students Must Master
Though I currently teach 6th grade math, I am well versed in high school math. I taught both Algebra 1 to freshman and Algebra 2 to sophomores a couple of years ago. Time and time again, I found myself reteaching math concepts students should have been proficient in before entering high school. The middle school transition to high school is going to be hard, but it shouldn’t be because ...
Using Google Forms in Math
If you have access to technology in your classroom, and you aren’t using Google Forms to collect work from students, then this post is for you! My school is increasing the number of Chromebooks per grade level, so I will be able to use Google Forms in math more proactively. I researched in preparation for this next school year, and I thought I would share my newfound knowledge with you ...
Math TED Talks for Teachers & Students
TED Talks provide viewers with an opportunity to learn from experts in their field about anything. Their videos provide resources for teachers to learn from other educators and for students to further their thinking in any topic of interest. In fact, a fellow teacher spent a unit teaching students to give their own TED Talks about a topic they felt passionate about. Students spent time ...
Math Intervention and Number Sense Roundup
This week Noelle and I presented on Implementing Small Group Instruction at the Conference for the Advancement of Mathematical Teaching. It was exciting to share what we have learned in the classroom with other teachers, so they too can implement small group instruction more effectively! I thought a little small group roundup would be a good refresh before the school year starts for ...
How to Handle Student Conflict Resolution
As teachers, we teach our students content. We teach them to find the common denominator, to find the percent of a number, to solve for a variable, and the list goes on and on. We teach them routines like how to enter our classroom, how to glue the right way, and how to trade and grade papers. One of the most important skills that we should be teaching them is student conflict ...
Engaging Websites for Middle School Math
Students love technology, so why not use it as often as possible to engage students in the best subject in the world, math? It can be used as a regular means of daily practice, as an incentive, and as a way to track data easier than pen and paper. Here are some of the websites for middle school math that I have used or plan to use in my classroom. ENgAGING WEBSITES FOR ...