Fraction strips are probably the most well-known and used fractions manipulative in math classrooms far and wide. They provide a concrete way to model fraction notation, partitioning, equivalency, magnitude and more. Research has shown time and time again that using fraction strips to...
When a child first begins to count, they immediately begin to be encouraged by their adults to count a multitude of things: fingers, blocks, claps, steps etc. Associating a number with a specific quantity is the very cornerstone of number sense. So much so that if you peek inside any...
When it comes to working with fractions, you can never have enough tricks up your sleeve. Whether it is a way to help your students remember the correct order of several steps to solve a confusing problem, or just a trick that provides a less complicated way of doing things, we’ve got...
For many students in late elementary school, the return from winter break will kick off a different kind of season: Fraction Season! Fractions are mission critical for success in late elementary, middle and high school math but are often a source of frustration and confusion for students,...
Students who have an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) that includes a goal in the area of math need more support as well as understanding from the people in their lives that have the potential to impact their learning and progress the most: their grade level teacher, their special education...
This stretch of the school year between Halloween and Christmas is filled with exciting days for kids, with more fun and less work as time is made for classroom parties and activities. As a teacher these days can be exhausting and if I’m honest, a little frustrating. Not because...
I think we can all agree that math homework is important. The time that teachers have in a math class period is constrained. Just trying to take attendance, work in some kind of bellringer for review (which is also important) and check homework eats up a significant amount of class....
By this point in the school year, most everyone has reached or is approaching the end of the first nine weeks of the school year. The report card grades will soon be coming in and It's a good time to congratulate your student(s) on the skills they mastered and also reflect on what skills...
It’s that time of the school year again where the official end to the first nine weeks is here and more than likely you have received instructions from your child’s teacher for options to set up a parent teacher conference. I’ve noticed lots of questions and comments from...
The digital age is in full force in schools across the country as students are more frequently completing and turning in assignments online rather than with paper and pencil. Despite the nature of math being a show your work subject, it is not an exception to the online shift currently...
As an adult, have you ever looked at a math problem and thought, I know I learned how to do this in school, BUT I can’t remember how to do it now!? We all have been there! This happens not only in math, but also in other subject areas and in tasks we encounter in life. There is...
We've all been there. Finally reaching that point at the end of the day where you are home from all of the running around, everyone is fed and settling in, and as a glimpse of taking a moment to exhale comes into view so does your child and they say the dreaded words, "I have a math test...
