Do your kids rely too heavily on the calculator? Do you want something fun and engaging, yet challenging for their mind over the summer? It's important to keep up mental math skills like adding, subtracting and multiplication or they will be forgotten. It's also a good workout for the brain to be challenged and to work out math problems that might otherwise be plugged into the calculator! I know my kids don't always jump for joy at the Keep Reading...
Let’s Get Cooking! {Math Fun in the Kitchen}
One of the best ways to engage reluctant math learners is to make math fun and relevant. We use math every single day, but it's not always clear or obvious to our kids! One way that I use math all the time (usually without even thinking about it) is in the kitchen. Measuring correctly, converting measures, doubling a recipe for the freezer-these are all important ways to apply math in our everyday life and a very easy way to include my kids and Keep Reading...
Problem Solving by Drawing a Picture
I am a very visual learner. Whenever I am facing a word problem of any kind, my initial reaction is to draw a picture. Even if it is a fairly simple problem and I think I already know how to solve it (or even already know the answer), I will almost always still draw a picture. While this is an especially useful strategy for visual learners, I believe that problem solving by drawing a picture can be helpful for any student! -->Pssst! Do your Keep Reading...
The King’s Chessboard Problem {Free Printables!}
Today's math story problem is a classic problem that is seen in the book: The King's Chessboard by David Birch Similar to The Lion's Share, this classic folktale teaches important lessons on character and the dangers of pride, while also presenting a fascinating mathematical problem. When a King forces the wise man to choose a reward for his service, the man says he simply wants one grain of rice for the first square on the chessboard, then Keep Reading...
The Lion’s Share: Lessons and Printables!
I am SO excited to share my newest math story resource with you! If you have not already, please check out the book, The Lion's Share by Matthew McElligott. The Lion's Share It is a wonderfully simple and yet math packed story about a lion's hospitality and an ant's good manners. Not only will your kids explore exciting math (fractions, patterns and multiplication), they will learn an important lesson about the dangers of pride and Keep Reading...
From Caterpillar to Butterfly: Our Plans for the Week {And FREE Math Worksheets!}
This week we will be learning first hand just what takes place when a caterpillar makes the transformation into a butterfly. To say my kids are excited is a bit of an understatement! ;) Although I don't usually have a theme for the week, with all the excitement surrounding our new critters, and the excitement to get outside and explore, I decided this whole week would be butterfly themed. First, we have a wonderful stack of books from the Keep Reading...
Sir Cumference Lesson! {Euler’s Law}
There are so many benefits to reading and engaging with math stories. But I think students will get even more out of the story if the learning doesn't stop once the last page is read. Therefore, I have been creating activities to go along with some of my favorite math books! (If you missed the activities for Math Curse by Jon Scieszka, be sure to check it out!). Honestly, I love all the Sir Cumference books by Cindy Neuschwander. They are Keep Reading...
Fraction Puzzles {FREE Download!}
Using puzzles was such a fun way to help my daughter practice and recognize place value, I decided to create some more fun puzzles! These puzzles are meant to help students understand fractions, as well as practice learning equivalent fractions. Learning how to rewrite the fraction 2/8 as 1/4 is an important skill, and I think it is equally important that students understand early on that they are NOT changing the fraction. These two fractions Keep Reading...
Math Curse Activity Pack! {FREE!}
Math stories are such a fun way to engage kids in math learning, as well as help them see math in the world around them. Stories can make math come alive and get kids excited! One of my favorite (and highly engaging) stories is Math Curse by Jon Sciezka. This hilarious tale can be enjoyed by kids of all ages. To help you incorporate this into your math curriculum, I've created this Math Curse Activity Pack! This is such a fun book, and I Keep Reading...
FREE Elementary Math Worksheets and Games
Instead of my weekly round-up of assorted math freebies, this week I am sharing a new discovery of mine: Math Salamanders! As a middle and high school teacher, I know where to look for extra practice worksheets (such as Kuta Software). I have not always been aware of or familiar with, however, resources and practice for elementary math classes. But now that I'm teaching my little ones, as well as tutoring a third grader, I have been on the Keep Reading...
