When you tell your students you will be working on word problems, do you hear a chorus of groans? If so, you are not alone! Teaching students how to solve math word problems tends to not be the most exciting math exercise in an elementary math curriculum (especially not learning
I’ve blogged in the past about how math instruction used to be a huge struggle in my classroom and how I solved that problem by using a guided math workshop approach. This allowed me to greatly increase student engagement, easily meet the diverse needs of every single student, and best
A math picture book, which is also commonly referred to as a math read aloud or math story, is an effective tool to introduce, teach, and review math concepts, skills, and vocabulary in meaningful contexts. They can be presented in the format of shared reading, a read aloud, or a
Before I go into detail about math exit tickets and how to use them in your classroom, let me share my journey and how I got here. Throughout the school year, I used progress monitoring assessments to collect and track data on my students’ progress towards proficiency with each standard.
In order for elementary students to improve their problem solving skills, they need to grow in their logical thinking, critical thinking, and reasoning skills. How do you promote these skills in your classroom? One of the best ways to address these skills during math is through the implementation of logic
Does your current math instruction involve only situations where there is one answer? Are students expected to solve problems following rigid procedures that do not require critical or creative thinking? These components are important; however, it’s time to take your math instruction to the next level! The answer: open ended
Hands-on math experiences offer students unique learning opportunities that paper and pencil tasks simply just can’t. For example, have you ever had a student be able to seamlessly recite their multiplication facts, but are unable to 1) explain how they solved it and 2) apply it to a real world
Standardized testing in elementary schools has become the norm, and while we can’t completely take away the stress and anxiety it brings our students (and us as teachers), there are some steps teachers can take to get through testing with as little stress as possible. This post will support you
Integrating writing and math is critical in twenty-first century classrooms. Elementary students not only need to be able to accurately solve grade level problems, but also be able to explain their thinking and strategies both orally (e.g. number talks) and in writing (e.g. math journal). Mathematical writing is a great
You might think that math sorting activities are just for kindergarten students, but they are actually a very powerful instructional tool that can be used as a way to introduce, reinforce, or assess a grade level concept in grades 1-5 as well. A great way to implement a math sorting
Do you ever hear your students say, “This is too hard!” or “I can’t do this!”? Perhaps you have heard some of them say, “I am terrible at math!” or “I will never be good at math!” These students, along with the rest of your students, need to be explicitly
If you are looking for tips and ideas for how to teach word problems to your elementary students, then you’ve found the right place! We know that teaching elementary students how to solve word problems is important for math concept and skill application, but it sure can feel like a
