After seeing Create Teach Share’s post about her Close Reading Toolkits, I knew I wanted to do something similar for math tools. Math centers are a huge part of math instruction in my classroom, so I created a toolbox of math tools and hands-on math supplies that my students use on a regular basis. I have included quite a bit of stuff in my toolbox, but some of the charts will be gradually introduced as we need them. Let’s take a look inside!
This post includes affiliate links if you wish to purchase the storage containers mentioned in this post.
Math Supplies
Here are the math tools and hands-on math supplies that I placed in each toolkit:
- A highlighter to highlight important information in word problems.
- An eraser because mistakes happen in math (and we learn from them!).
- Sticky notes for when students need to redo a problem or want to work out a problem in a different way.
- A pair of dice and game pieces for when the students are playing a math game.
- A dry erase marker and eraser when using marker boards or laminated games.
I used a label on the inside of the top to let the students know what each supply was to be used for. To print these labels (and the label on the front of the container), I used full-sheet labels
and then cut them.
Math Charts
I created these charts with 5th grade math in mind, but many of these will work for 4th grade skills (Edited on 7/29/2016 to include three numbers and place value charts for 3rd grade and 8/2/2016 to include 100s charts and 120s charts). I will probably introduce the charts and put them in the math toolbox throughout the year. I may even eventually place them on rings. I created the charts because my students are constantly referring to charts and other math tools like these in our interactive notebooks. Now, when we are working in math centers or even in another classroom (or outside), we can have our math charts in our toolkits.
These math tools fit perfectly into these photo and craft containers
I purchased from Amazon which are then stored in a larger container.
How Will I Use the Math Toolkits?
I plan to start the year with six of these toolkits (which is the number that comes in each set of the containers), and have them easily accessible to students during their math centers. I may eventually create another six toolkits so I can have half of them for centers and half of them for my small group table.
How Do I Get The Charts and Labels?
Easy! These charts and labels are FREE to anyone who signs up to my email list. Just enter your information below and you will receive an email from me with your freebie!
Join My Email List to Grab Your Math Toolkit Freebie!
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You can buy the containers that I used to store the math tools and charts from Amazon by clicking here. Let me know in the comments if you think you will try these out this year!
OMG I just LOVE this idea! Thanks so much for all your hard work!
Tonya
Tonya’s Treats for Teachers
I am glad you like it! I had so much fun making it!
My team is very interested in using this in our classroom! You mentioned you started out with six kits so did the students share them at the centers? Or did you have them at a particular center? I look forward to hearing from you!
Looking for suggestions. I know it is helpful to give students several strategies for solving math problems. What do you do when the students mix the strategies up and are confused? We are adding and subtracting fractions with unlike denominators. Open to suggestions. I need help. First time teaching 5th grade math.
Love it!
This is great! Thank you so much for sharing!!
You are so welcome!
Thank you so much!! I am ready to print and laminate these awesome cards. I have math bins that my students use. They were 1 dollar and have: wipe off mat, white board marker, eraser pad, ruler, dice, foam base ten blocks, counters, and anything that will help them with their math skills. Thank you again! Love it!
Where did you purchase your math bins?
I love this idea! I teach 3rd so this wouldn’t work for me, but I might adapt for my students. Thanks for sharing!
I love this! I was wondering if you could add the fraction number line to the download. I can definitely use this next year and am so thankful for your generosity!
Hi Deb, I just added it in. Not sure how I accidentally deleted it. Thanks!
Thank you!
I really appreciate that these are upper elementary level resources in the kit – that can be hard to find!
What size photo boxes did you use?
HI Jennifer, I used the small ones. I linked the exact ones in the post, but I have also heard you may be able to find them at Michaels. Thanks!
Michael’s does have these boxes!! They also have sets of 16 for $39.99– you can use a 50% off coupon and your teachers discount!!
this is amazing ty, ty
Thank you so much for sharing your math creation! I know my students will love the little boxes. I might even make a few traveling ones for when my students take a vacation during the middle of the year.
Jen,
Thanks so much for sharing! I was going to make tools similar for my interactive notebooks, and you just saved me a TON of time my friend!!
Would love something similar for K – 3. These are great for the upper grades. Thanks for sharing,
This is amazing! Thank you for sharing!
Thank you so much for this fabulous freebie!!! I am ecstatic to use these this year~
I already printed & laminated these!!! Thank you!
Are you printing on card stock or regular paper?
Hi, I print on cardstock for extra durability and so I can reuse them.
These are amazing! Do you have any for K-2? I teach second grade and these would be awesome.
This is an incredible resource! Thank you so much for sharing your hard work. Would love to have a fourth gradr version ????
Thank you!
Thank you so much for making these! It is awesome when teachers can share with each other.
You did it again! Love these!! Question for you – would you make me a Math supplies page, but without the dice and game pieces? I just want the landscape one. Just let me know! Thanks!
Hi Wendi, can you email me at [email protected]? Thanks!
Printing now! I think these will give my rising 4th grader a bit of “moral support” as she begins the new school year. Love this idea! Thanks so much for sharing. God bless!
So bummed! For some reason when I print, there are huge numbers printing all over your cards! Almost like a watermark?
So odd, Audra. Are you opening the file in the most updated version of Adobe?
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this! When I downloaded it, the fraction number line did not show up. Is there any way to get this? Thank you so much for this resource!
Jennifer, I cannot thank you enough for this awesome resource.
Love this idea. I think I might create one for each student so I can differentiate their tools. I found a case of 16 boxes at ltdcommodities.
So excited to have the kids use these! Had a couple of helpers cutting out a BUNCH of laminating yesterday, now I can’t find the toolkits that I had laminated. Printing more now! ????
I love your resource, is there any way you could alter the place value chart, number forms and decimal models to represent the basic place value up to hundred thousands for my 3rd graders.
Hi Nickiesha, I just added those versions to the file! Thanks!
Thank you, you are so awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you for sharing. I am a homeschooling mom and my daughter hates math! These cards should really help!
Thank you so much for this resource! I’ve been scouring the Internet looking for these. One requested addition: 120 chart!
Thank you so much! These will be invaluable this year!!
This is wonderful, I am going to use most for my 6th graders!! Thank you so much.
In case anyone is looking I found a set with 16 of the small boxes at Michaels Craft Store.
http://www.michaels.com/iris-photo-box-16-cases/10174559.html#q=photo+box&start=2
Thanks again.
I love these! I’m going to put them on rings and see how that works!
I have made 6 kits and have them ready for the school year. I am seriously considering doing them for all my students because I will have one group of about 6 students in above grade level content and 18-20 on grade level. Because of that, my math workshop has to be organized and when I am with a small group, the rest need to be independent. This should be the answer to my prayers! Thanks for sharing!
is there a way you can send blank template to create more tools. Please send me a response. I will be teaching 4th grade
Hi Melissa, I just replied to your email. Thanks!
LOVE this!! Thank you so much for sharing! I make toolkits for all of my students. Is there any possibility that you could create the label with a boy on it too? I would be happy to purchase it if it is available!! 🙂 Thank you!
Hi Juli, I just added a label option with a boy on it. Check the file again! Thanks for the suggestion!
Love this ! I can’t wait to use it! I am having trouble though printing the pages. Big letters are printing in the middle of the pictures. Any idea what I can do? I would love to have these set up for my first day of school. Thank you!
I got my Tech dept to check my printer. All is good and I was able to print out the pages perfectly.
Thank you so much! These resources are amazing!
Yay! I am so glad you got it working!
Thank you so much for sharing this. I teach Title 1 Math and will be working with 3rd & 4th graders this year. I am going to make some of these for each of the classroom teachers to keep in their rooms for the kiddos to use.
Thank you! I appreciate your kindness!
Jennifer, these are awesome! Thank you!
Do you have a place value chart that includes the billion’s place?
Thank you!
Thanks
We bought these in sets of 16. I have clear and multiple colors boxes from Michaels. They are also perfect for task card storage.
http://www.michaels.com/iris-color-photo-craft-keeper/10468242.html?productsource=PDPZ1
Great resource! What is the font used for the titles on each card? I looked at KG Fonts, but there are so many I can’t find it! Thanks so much for putting this together. I have a binding machine and am thinking of laminating the cover and back pages, printing the rest on card stock and then binding them along the top. One per table of 2 or group of 4, and I’ll be all set!
Thank you so much for including third grade in this resource. I was just moved up to third after 12 years of teaching 2nd grade. I am starting guided math/math centers and these resources will be so helpful! I’m planning on keeping some at my guided math table and putting some at the centers to help scaffold my students that need the help. I am looking forward to any math center materials you make for 3rd grade! Thank you again!
Amazing…thanks so much!
I absolutely LOOOOVE this idea! Will definitely be utilizing it once I start pulling my intervention groups! Thanks…
Thank you. This is awesome! We had been talking about making tool kits for the students at the elementary school where I teach math, and I started putting some ideas together and I said yo myself: I know there’s someone who has done this already,and I found your website and templates, Thanks so much; these are great!
Bless your heart!!!!!
I work as Behavior Analyst with kids with autism and they are truly visual learners. I have so many that struggle with word problems. I will be able to use this resource to increase learning and skills! Thank you for the hard work! Love it!
Thank you once again for helping to make teaching math easier. Your work is amazing and appreciated.
I teach fourth grade co teach and this would be perfect for my students! Thank you so much for the resource. I was hoping to print them on index cards for easy laminating and printing (no cutting) is there anyway there could be included in the download a PDF with just one image on the page?
I created 4 sets of toolkits for my 4th grade class. I plan on using them in my math rotations. Thank you for a wonderful resource! One question – Do you store the game pieces, dice, marker, highlighter, and eraser in each tool kit? I haven’t tried them to see if they fit. I bought cute emoji dry erasers and they are washable!
We are planning a family math night and I wanted to make them a take-home math toolkit! This is a perfect addition! THANK YOU!
Thank you so much for sharing these wonderful resources!! They will be very useful to me and my students!
Thank you for sharing these wonderful resources!!!! They will be very useful to me and my students!
Thank you! These are great! And I love the photo boxes idea! That’s such a great way to store it all!
Thank you for sharing this wonderful resource! I can’t wait to share it with my students!
I’m OBSESSED with the way you used the photo holders for the toolkits. Do you have any other links and suggestions for various tubs that would work for math intervention/ math group organization? I’m obsessed with ways to organize and store things more easily. Thanks!
Hi Jennifer,
I’ve tried adding my email to your email list so I can get the math toolkit freebies, but it keeps saying the link doesn’t work. Can you add me to your list/send me the math toolkit freebies?
Thanks!
Nicole
Hi Nicole, I just put your email in so you should be receiving an email to confirm and get the freebie. Let me know if you don’t!
I just tried clicking on the link, but it says the website doesn’t exist. Is it possible for you to send me the file as an email attachment? Thanks!
Great idea! I am teaching a co- taught class next year , and these boxes are going to be awesome.
Hello! I signed up and received the email, however when i click to download it says the file doesn’t exist. Could you please send me another link or forward me the math toolkit resources? I am so eager to put them to use in my classroom this year! Thank you so much.
HI Kelly, I just emailed you. 🙂
This is so incredibly helpful, thank you. Are you able to please add the colour version of the 100s chart?
Hi, love this resource and can’t wait to put them together. Was wondering if there is a way I can edit them for Australian spelling? There isn’t much to change but it says I need a password to edit. Thanks!
Last year was my first year teaching 5th grade, and your stuff (blog posts, TpT bundles, etc.) SAVED MY BACON! Thank you!!! You are my go-to person for how to teach pretty much anything effectively! I think I probably own 90% of your TpT items, haha.
Thanks for the free math and writing toolkits. I am FINALLY putting them together for the upcoming school year; it was one thing I didn’t get to during my busy first year!
Thanks for EVERYTHING!
These are the EXACT math tools I’ve been looking for. Thank you for sharing your resources and making them visually appealing!
I can not wait to make these! Thank you for sharing.