As I’ve mentioned many times, one of the main goals in mathematics education is to raise up confident problem solvers. And while there are many ways to go about solving math problems, and we as adults may often see strategies as common sense, these are things that need to be taught. Giving kids as many tools as possible will set them up for success so that you can “let them loose” and see their creative minds work and explore. To continue my Keep Reading...
Problem Solving by Working Backwards
As I’ve shared before, there are many different ways to go about solving a math problem, and equipping kids to be successful problem solvers is just as important as teaching computation and algorithms. In my experience, students’ frustration often comes from not knowing where to start. Providing them with strategies enables them to at least get the ideas flowing and hopefully get some things down on paper. As in all areas of life, the hardest Keep Reading...
5 Things You Should Never Say to the Child Who Struggles with Math
It can often be hard and frustrating trying to teach a child who struggles with math. No matter what you do or how you teach a concept, they just seem to fight to grasp the concepts. I know that in those moments it can be easy to lose patience, or join them in their frustrations, but in the long run, saying the following when they are frustrated or struggling will not help them. Here are some common things you should never say to the child who Keep Reading...
8 Reasons Making Mistakes in Math is a GOOD Thing!
Far too often, math is seen as a subject that is either right or wrong, and so you better get the answers right or you’ll fail the test. And while it is technically true that we want students to understand math concepts deeply and be able to correctly solve math problems, creating this kind of mindset can cause students to feel frustration and a sense of failure anytime a mistake is made. The reality, however, is that mistakes are a part of the Keep Reading...
Math is a Foreign Language: So Treat it Like One!
*This post contains affiliate links, which support the work of this site. Feel free to read our full disclosure policy here.* Math is one of those subjects that strikes fear in the hearts of students everywhere. It is a four letter word that dare not be uttered. As a teacher, I often got complaints about the difficulty of this crazy subject that made no sense. Math was supposed to be about numbers, and yet here were all these letters-x,y, even i Keep Reading...
The 20+ Best Math Card Games That Are Easy To Learn
Looking for simple and fun math card games to engage your learners? This list includes a huge variety, organized by skill, will help you find a "just right" game to practice math skills. And the best part? All you need is a simple deck of cards and perhaps some dice! A great way to engage kids who would otherwise loathe math practice (and also just a fun way for anyone to review important skills!) is to play a game. My son has a hard time Keep Reading...
Dyscalculia: What it Looks Like and How to Get Help {An Interview with Sharon Harding}
I'm fairly confident that just about everyone reading this has heard of dyslexia, a reading disorder that affects reading and language abilities. I'm almost as confident, however, that most of you will be unfamiliar with the term dyscalculia. Photo Credit: MIKI Yoshihito (´･ω･) via Compfight cc {text added} Dyscalculia is a math learning disability that experts estimate affects the same number of people, and yet very little is known about Keep Reading...
Have You Checked Out Noodle Education?
Have you heard of the education website Noodle Education? I've been exploring the site quite a bit and I have to say, it seems to be a wealth of information regarding all different aspects of education! There are tips and advice for finding schools from preschool all the way to college, as well as a simple place to search for tutors, no matter what subject. If you are not familiar with the site, I thought I would tell you about some of the Keep Reading...
FREE Online Summer Math Program!
Have you heard? This summer (starting sometime in May) TenMarks.com is offering their summer math program (normally $39.95) for FREE! Their goal is to help students retain the math they worked so hard to learn or maybe even get ahead during the summer months so they can be ready and confident to jump back in in the fall. I'm very excited about this because my daughter loves doing math and playing games on the computer, so this 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...
