If you have been around the blog a while, then you know that I am all about conceptual understanding and love incorporating manipulatives. Manipulatives are some of the best ways to introduce a new mathematical concept and are the foundation of the C-R-A. They help to form a solid foundation. Previously, we have written about the different math supplies and teacher supplies that we ...
5 WAYS TO USE PEAR DECK
One of my favorite ways to introduce new content to my students is to use the website Pear Deck. If you are using Google Slides or PowerPoints to share new content with your students, Pear Deck is a tool that needs to be in your digital toolbox. Today, I wanted to share 5 ways to use Pear Deck in your classroom: Pear Deck has generously offered readers an extended trial on the ...
Tips for Managing Small Group Instruction
One of the biggest hindrances to pulling students into small groups is the big question of, “What are the other kids doing while I am working with my small group?” About half of the questions I get about small group instruction revolve around the idea of how to keep students who are not at the small group table engaged and working. Here are a few tips on managing small group ...
Why intervention should be skill based
Over the past several months, I have been sharing quite a bit about best practices that surround the concept of math intervention. We have discussed strategies for improving number sense, getting started, and what to do when your students are all on different pages. Today, I want to discuss why I believe that a skill-based approach is the best one to take. SKILL-BASED MATH ...
Building Staff Culture
If you are interested in implementing some small things that go along way to increase positive staff culture, then this post is for you! Personally, I believe administrators should take charge of implementing (though I’m not sure if many administrators read this blog) these school-wide activities because I think it has a greater impact on the entire staff culture. However, I do think ...
5 Steps to Effective Small Group Instruction
Anyone who has taught a day or two can tell you that it is a rare event that you might teach a new concept and 100% of your students master said concept. I would say that 99.99% of the time, there is a student or a group of students who are not ready for mastery. Potentially they have gaps in the skills needed to master the concept, or maybe they just need more time. Today, I am ...
How to Get Started with Math Intervention
For the past several weeks, we have been sharing ideas about number sense in middle school and discussing how students who struggle with math concepts generally also struggle with number sense. If your campus implements the RTI (response to intervention) process, then you know these students who struggle need a Tier 2 intervention. Today, I want to share some ideas on how to get started ...
Using the Guided Math Framework in Math Intervention
When we first started working on a resource for math intervention, I picked up #allthebooks. I was quickly becoming Amazon’s favorite customer! Guided math: A framework for mathematics instruction, was the first one that I dug into. I liked its very step-by-step approach to small groups and the various sample schedules and routines. Looking for more ideas for math ...
2018 Ultimate Teacher Gift Guide
If you are like me, then you are always struggling with what to ask for at the holidays. Some gifts seem too personal (clothes) and some are difficult to explain aside from sending a specific link. Our 2018 Teacher Gift Guide is broken down by cost so that you can find a small way to express your thanks for as little as $10. 2018 HOLIDAY TEACHER GIFT GUIDE UP to $10 Seven fairly ...
Using CRA to Teach Difficult Math Concepts
You name the grade level, and I will name a difficult math concept. Maybe it’s percent change in 7th grade or integer operations in 6th grade. Teaching difficult math concepts to students who struggle is a huge challenge! Each year, students are tasked with mastering new math content and building upon their math foundation. Unfortunately, some students have a pretty shaky math ...