Factoring trinomials relies on many prerequisite skills (distributing, multiplying polynomials, finding a greatest common factor, exponent rules, and integer operations… I’m sure there are more). It also sets the stage for future success in solving quadratic equations and graphing quadratic functions. This makes factoring polynomials so important for students to conquer. As a student, ...
Pi Day Activities
Pi Day (3.14 - March 14) is on a Saturday in 2026. Embrace the chance to celebrate this mathematical holiday by circling back (see what I did there?) to these FREE activities for your students! We are happy to share that we have the perfect FREE activities (that’s right, plural!) for your students! Download your free resources below and read our best tips on teaching ...
Using Atomic Habits To Improve Student Outcomes
At the beginning of this year, I reread Atomic Habits to jump start all of the better choices I would be making in 2026. If you haven’t read Atomic Habits, the author, James Clear, provides a framework for how to effectively change your habits to get 1% better every day – I highly recommend it! When I initially read the book, I focused on how I could use this framework to be ...
15 Creative Incentives for Middle School
Incentives for middle school are vital for your classroom! In the early months of my first year of teaching, class periods competed for points that were awarded based on seamless transitions, highest test averages, and being on task. While my students were working on earning points, I had learned that the cupcake reward was not feasible due to a school policy. *Cue palm to ...
Tips for Managing Large Classes
It doesn’t matter the exact number of students, managing large classes is a challenge. Let's talk about how to be the best teacher to a big class and not lose your voice in the process. Tips for Managing Large Classes 1. Maintain high expectations but be reasonable In order for a large class to function, it is important for you to maintain the same high expectations you would ...
3 Math Review Games to Get Students Moving
During a very long professional development, my principal looked at her watch and said, “We have just hit 75 minutes -- the length of a class period.” I was shocked at how much my body just wanted to escape my chair for a walk or a stretch break. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, “Movement increases the heart rate and stimulates brain function, ...
8+ Ideas for Using Study Guides
When preparing my students for an upcoming unit assessment, I consider it due diligence to spend at least one day reviewing the material from the unit. Our unit study guides make review days so much easier! Here’s why: Marissa breaks down some of her best practices for using the study guide: Here are some (more) ideas from the teachers in our community (and a few from ...
Solving Equations in Middle School Math
Solving equations is foundational for middle and high school math. Students actually have been doing this since first grade! However, students can make careless errors or struggle when it comes to following the many procedural steps required to solve an equation. The Standard In 6th grade CCSS, students are asked to solve one-step equations with positive whole numbers (6.EE.7). ...
Utilizing Learning Styles in Math
Our classrooms are full of diverse students who learn math in a variety of ways. For some students, they excel when they can converse about math with a partner. For others, they need to see the concepts they are learning about. Lastly, there are students who need to physically move to engage in math. As teachers, we can use and blend auditory, visual, and kinesthetic learning ...
The October Slump: Survival Tips
October is just around the corner! While there are so many fun things that autumn brings, it can be a challenging month to be a teacher. Let’s dive into some ways that we can thrive during this month. LISTEN ON: APPLE PODCAST | SPOTIFY Why is October so challenging? October is just days away. Labor day was 16 work days ago, and Thanksgiving is approximately 30 work days ...