Why do students struggle with fractions? Are they inherently more challenging to work with than their decimal counterparts? Is there data to link students' success with fractions to their overall success in math? Let’s dive into 3 reasons why students struggle with fractions, and what we can do about it as teachers. What does the data say? Multiple studies (this study published ...
Are your 5th graders ready for the middle school transition?
If you are a 5th grade teacher wondering how to best prepare your students for middle school, then reader, keep reading. The middle school transition is drastic! Many 5th grade students will transition from straight lines in the hallway to moving freely from class to class. Not to mention - lockers, locker combinations, and making it to class on time! It is an exciting time, but it ...
Adding and Subtracting Fractions with Models
If your students would rather convert fractions to decimals then add and subtract fractions, then this post is for you! I don’t blame students for being more comfortable with decimals - I am too! But anytime I am confronted with a sewing or home improvement project, and I need to use a standard ruler, I am grateful that I can add and subtract fractions with ease. Let’s see if some of ...
15 Ideas for Math Test Prep Season
Math Test prep season is upon us. It will be only a few more weeks before teachers begin wrapping up new content and reviewing content from the year. Here are a few ideas and tips to try in your classroom to review. 1. Be Strategic Review what students actually need to know. If your state provides a blueprint, focus on the skills that make up most of the test. 2. Brain ...
Ideas for Multiplication Fact Fluency
Multiplication facts are pivotal to middle school math! I saw firsthand how my students' lack of fluency slowed them down in regards to simplifying fractions, proportional relationships, and solving equations. If that sounds like your classroom, we have compiled teacher-generated practices to help your middle school students catch up and internalize their multiplication ...
6 Strategies for Multiplying Decimals
There are so many ways to successfully teach multiplying decimals. This skill is introduced in 5th grade, so let’s talk about 4 strategies to make sure this concept is understood beyond the standard algorithm (which I love too). If you want to jump straight into the standard algorithm and call it a day, I think you will most likely feel a little frustration when students struggle ...
10 Low-Prep Probability Activities
As promised, I have returned to present Probability activities I found after scouring the internet. To make this list, the activity had to be straightforward, engaging for students, and have good value. Also, Maneuvering the Middle resources will be on this list because I have used and loved them! Helpful Tools to Support Activities Before we jump into activities, you will want to ...
Creative and Free Incentives for 5th Grade
What motivates a 5th grade student? They are still eager to please, but are developing their own unique tastes and interests. They love adult praise, but also want to be accepted by their peers. And we all know that providing incentives for 5th grade can add up quickly, so when brainstorming this list, I only chose ideas that can be implemented without spending any money and without ...
Teaching Probability in 7th Grade
Probability is a great way to end the school year! There are ample opportunities for hands-on practice, experiments, and the computation is fairly simple. Let’s talk about tips for making the most out of this 7th grade skill. Note: I found so many great probability activities as I was researching that I am going to put together another blog post dedicated to just that, so be sure to ...
10 System of Equations Activities
System of Equations - there is so much to cover that it can feel overwhelming! Let’s keep this substantial math concept light and bright with some fun and engaging activities for your 8th grade and Algebra 1 students. I will be honest, I did not expect all of this goodness to exist out there for Systems of Equations! While I will definitely be linking to our fantastic resources, I am ...