Learned helplessness is something we want to avoid at all costs. How we interact and work with students and the language we use can help combat learned helplessness and encourage student confidence and independence. This post shares math strategies for helping students with math practice (independent work at school or homework). The next two sections provide ... Read More
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Free Math Tools for K-5
Being a classroom teacher for seven years taught me the importance of having tools or references for my student to use while they were working independently or in small groups. In the regular classroom, those tools were often anchor charts and students' interactive notebooks. However, after spending a few years in support positions where I "pushed in" or "pulled out" to ... Read More
Around the Room : An Engaging Review Activity
Reviewing is a must in any classroom and subject area. My favorite ways to review are review activities that are low-prep, collaborative, and involve movement. Around the Room is one of my favorite ways to review that incorporates all of these characteristics. Keep reading to learn more about this low-prep engaging review activity that gets students moving and ... Read More
Free Back to School Math Activities
One of the best parts about the beginning of the school year is having the time to get to know our students and their interests, including their interests in different subjects. I love using activities that allow me to get to know my students' interests as well as their math skills. This post shares my favorite back to school math activities for grades 4-5 (free download ... Read More
Free Math I Can Statements for 4th Grade
Having ready-made I Can Statements can help speed up your lesson planning and prep-time. Grab FREE 4th Grade Math I Can Statements (based on the common core standards) to help enhance your math instruction and save you time. Need 4th Grade Literacy I Can Statements? Click here! About the Math I Can Statements The Math I Can Statements are aligned to the 4th grade ... Read More
Free Math I Can Statements for 5th Grade
Posting I Can Statements on a regular basis can really help keep your students informed about what they are learning each week. This post will share FREE 5th Grade Math I Can Statements (based on the common core standards). Need 5th Grade Literacy I Can Statements? Click here! About the Math I Can Statements These I Can Statements are based on the common core ... Read More
Free Error Analysis Math Printables for Multi-Step Word Probems
One of my (and my students') favorite math centers and activities is definitely the Find the Error math activity that requires the students to analyze example work to find and explain the error made by the "student". On this post, I will share how you can get multi-step error analysis math tasks for free! Why Use Error Analysis in Math? Error analysis is when ... Read More
Free Test Prep Activities — 10 Days of Test Prep Freebies!
Test prep is definitely something that I implement all year through best practices and implementing strategies that translate to testing situations. However, I do spend the month before testing on review and using resources specifically created for test prep. No matter how many test prep resources I have, I still find that I am always on the look out for (or creating) ... Read More
Free Decimal Word Problems Sort
Word problems are something I incorporate into my instruction all year to best help my students succeed with them. I also like to use a variety of engaging resources and strategies so it doesn't get boring and monotonous. On this post, I will share some general tips for teaching decimal word problems and a free decimal word problems sort. Tips for Teaching Decimal ... Read More
Free Rounding Activities | Rounding Whole Numbers & Rounding Decimals
Rounding whole numbers and rounding decimals (if taught correctly using visuals and not tricks) is one of those skills that I love to teach. It is fairly easy for all of my students to master it and find success. So, I always enjoy using this skill to push and challenge their thinking further. This post will share two simple but higher-level rounding activities that will ... Read More
Fraction Word Problems | Multiplying and Dividing Fractions
Word problems + fractions = a lot of struggle for many students. Especially when you throw in new concepts like multiplying and dividing fractions. Those fraction word problems are always pretty tricky for my students. The first year that I taught multiplying and dividing fractions, I really had to spend some time breaking down the concepts myself in order to best help my ... Read More
Free 4th Grade Fractions Pre-Assessment and Checklist
Teaching 4th grade fractions is one of my favorite math skills to teach, but it can get tricky. In my opinion, the 4th grade fraction skills are pivotal for students' success in later grades with more advanced fraction skills. Unfortunately, many 4th grade fraction skills can be taught with tricks that don't build necessarily conceptual understanding, which can really ... Read More
