Order of operations can be frustrating to teach, but it doesn’t have to be. There’s no question that this is an extremely challenging topic for
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Order of operations can be frustrating to teach, but it doesn’t have to be. There’s no question that this is an extremely challenging topic for
Kids often get confused between area and perimeter, so they need lots of practice with these skills. When I noticed that my 4th graders were
Teaching kids to how to solve math problems is a huge challenge, but often the biggest challenge is knowing where to begin instruction. Without administering
Did you know that National Jelly Bean Day is observed every year on April 22nd? Sounds like a great day for jelly bean math lessons!
When North Carolina first began to allow calculators on state tests, many elementary teachers (including me) were shocked! What? Kids need to develop basic computation
No doubt about it … comparing fractions is tough for kids, especially when those fractions have different denominators! In fact, some might argue that this
Fractions can be a tough concept at any grade, so I’m always looking for fun ways to teach them. A few months ago I decided
Pumpkin Predictions is a perfect fall-themed activity for upper elementary students because it’s not a Halloween activity, but it seems like one. The lesson is
Is homework effective? Educators seem to be evenly split on this question. Some insist that homework is essential because students need to review and practice
There’s a reason math teachers start the year by introducing or reviewing place value concepts. Understanding place value is essential to developing a solid foundation
Spring is the perfect time to use math games with your students. Either you are finished with testing and the kids are restless, or you
Who doesn’t love a game? In the mathematics classroom, games offer an engaging alternative to worksheets, allowing students to work with others and have fun while learning.
Order of operations can be frustrating to teach, but it doesn’t have to be. There’s no question that this is an extremely challenging topic for elementary students. Fortunately, there are loads of strategies for teaching order of operations that are both fun and effective. One reason kids struggle with this
Kids often get confused between area and perimeter, so they need lots of practice with these skills. When I noticed that my 4th graders were struggling with these concepts, I created a math partner game to give them a fun way to practice area and perimeter. They helped me name
Teaching kids to how to solve math problems is a huge challenge, but often the biggest challenge is knowing where to begin instruction. Without administering some type of pretest, you risk boring your students with problems that are too easy or frustrating them with problems that may seem impossible. Before
Did you know that National Jelly Bean Day is observed every year on April 22nd? Sounds like a great day for jelly bean math lessons! I’ll admit that until a few years ago, I didn’t see the value in jelly bean math activities, especially in the upper elementary classroom. Sure,
When North Carolina first began to allow calculators on state tests, many elementary teachers (including me) were shocked! What? Kids need to develop basic computation skills before they are allowed to use calculators! Then we got a look at the new state math test. Holy moly! The test was divided
No doubt about it … comparing fractions is tough for kids, especially when those fractions have different denominators! In fact, some might argue that this skill is too challenging for 3rd and 4th graders, which might be true if they have to find least common denominators. But if kids develop
Fractions can be a tough concept at any grade, so I’m always looking for fun ways to teach them. A few months ago I decided to create a hands-on sorting activity with a penguin theme. I created activity cards with penguins having fractions on their tummies and matching fraction bars
Pumpkin Predictions is a perfect fall-themed activity for upper elementary students because it’s not a Halloween activity, but it seems like one. The lesson is actually a great math review since it involves estimation and hands-on measurement. The activity is designed as cooperative learning lesson that requires students to work
Is homework effective? Educators seem to be evenly split on this question. Some insist that homework is essential because students need to review and practice skills at home. Others argue that it’s a waste of time and a burden on families, especially when some parents are not willing or able
There’s a reason math teachers start the year by introducing or reviewing place value concepts. Understanding place value is essential to developing a solid foundation of mathematical understanding. Introducing Place Value Whether you’re introducing whole number concepts or decimal place value, it’s important to start at the concrete level, and
Spring is the perfect time to use math games with your students. Either you are finished with testing and the kids are restless, or you still have testing ahead of you and your kids are restless! Math games will motivate your students, keep them on task, and also help them
Who doesn’t love a game? In the mathematics classroom, games offer an engaging alternative to worksheets, allowing students to work with others and have fun while learning. They’re perfect for practicing new skills or reviewing previously-learned content. Math games are extremely versatile and can be used in cooperative learning teams, in small
