I recently stumbled upon an online resource that looked useful, especially since it is completely free. It’s from the people at Art of Problem Solving and this particular resource is called Alcumus. I wasn’t sure what to expect, especially since I haven’t used any other AoPS materials, and I do not have the curriculum that it is meant to complement. But after playing with it and experimenting, I am happy to say that it seems to be an Keep Reading...
Happy Pi Day!! 3.14.15
It's here, friends! Pi Day 2015, where we get to celebrate a once in a century event!! Today on March 14, 2015 at 9:26:53 we experience the first 10 digits (3.141592653) of the number pi! Today has become especially meaningful to me, not just because I'm a math geek, or just because I love pi(e), (though both of those things are true!), but because of my little "pi baby." She was born weighing Pi! Ok, so she didn't weigh exactly pi (3.14 Keep Reading...
Exploring Volume: FREE Lesson!
To continue with my study of 3-D shapes, I have created a lesson to begin exploring volume. Like surface area, this is something that is often rushed through, and students are told to just "plug it into the formula." But I have seen this lead to many unnecessary mistakes because students never actually understand where the formula comes from, and therefore they end up "plugging in" the wrong things. Understanding WHY the formula for prisms Keep Reading...
5 Tips to ROCK ACT or SAT Math!
Preparing for such a lengthy and cumbersome test such as the ACT (or SAT) can be daunting, especially if you are preparing for your first attempt. It can be overwhelming and scary, but it doesn’t have to be! There are plenty of ways to make sure you go in ready to do your absolute best, and come out with a fantastic math score! Here are some excellent tips to succeed at ACT or SAT math. *Please Note: Some of the links in this post are Keep Reading...
Surface Area Practice Worksheets
Since I posted some lessons to help students learn and understand surface area last week, I thought I would add a couple of practice worksheets to go with it! These are simple and short, but I hope you find them helpful! The first has various prisms and cylinders, while the second covers pyramids and cones. I tried to use fairly simple examples so that they would be appropriate for middle school or high school, so if you are looking for more Keep Reading...
Math Myths DEBUNKED: There is NO Such Thing as a Math Person!
I’ve heard the cop out from students and parents alike. The excuse that’s given and accepted as truth before a student even sets foot inside my classroom. As if there is some specific, genetic trait that has simply been lost to them. There is therefore no hope, so they shrug it off and just hope to goodness I am nice enough to let them pass. “I'll never catch on or do well. I’m just not a math person.” Well, I have news for you! Keep Reading...
Fun New Resource: Kidoku by Krazy Dad
How do you provide time for mathematical thinking, logic and problem solving outside of the textbook? How can we encourage students to think logically and problem solve, rather than simply memorizing facts? There are always ways to encourage higher order thinking in the math classroom, and I love it when I find resources that can encourage this kind of logical reasoning with my kindergartener! :) This week I have discovered a fun twist on Keep Reading...
We Have to Give Them Homework?!
The issue and numerous questions surrounding homework assignments always plagued me as a teacher. I tried many different approaches, especially as my student population changed, but I still struggled to figure out what the “right” approach was. When I was teaching disadvantaged students in a public school setting, I almost never gave them homework. I knew that for many, the home situation was rocky and their brains would not be able to engage Keep Reading...
3-D Shapes Worksheets! {FREE Printables!}
One Geometry topic that is introduced at a young age and then explored in more complex ways as kids get older is 3D shapes. Obviously, the first thing young mathematicians learn is to simply recognize the shapes, learn their names and discover them in the world around us. As kids get older, it's important to help them learn and understand polyhedron nets. Understanding what these shapes look like "flat" helps with spatial sense and reasoning and Keep Reading...
Help Kids Make Sense of Algebra Vocabulary: FREE Guided Notes
Some of the most common errors I have seen teaching algebra occur because students simply cannot accurately "translate" words into mathematical models, or because they do not understand math "jargon" such as evaluate or simplify. I think this problem could easily be avoided, however, if one or two days were spent focusing on these skills. We cannot expect students to walk into class with a clear understanding of "math words" if they were never Keep Reading...
