If you can engage students in the math that they're learning, they are more likely to learn it and retain it. Finding a way to actually engage them, however, can sometimes prove difficult, especially if they already have a distaste for math or have decided they are not a "math person." There are many ways to try and engage reluctant math learners, but one way that is effective as well as practical is to make math relevant. Use the topics, hobbies Keep Reading...
Telling Time Early Math Reader {FREE Printable}
Telling time is one of the most important math skills. As you begin to help your kids learn to tell time, let them practice and experience telling time in real life. There are many ways to do this, even if you're not actually sitting at a clock determining the hour and the minutes. Have conversations throughout the day about morning, afternoon and night. Discuss what time certain events are happening, and how much time has passed. Engaging your Keep Reading...
Hot Chocolate Math Investigation: Estimation and Measurement!
My kids love hot chocolate. It's such a special treat! When the weather is nice, they love to curl up in the yard at night and star gaze with a large cup of hot chocolate. When the weather is cold and snowy, they love to warm up with a cup! The problem is, they tend to fight over silly things, like who gets which cup. Whether they want a particular mug, or a certain color, it drives me insane to have them argue over which cup they get! However, Keep Reading...
Solving Problems Using Guess and Check
Welcome to the last week in my series on problem solving strategies! There are so many different ways to approach math word problems, but it’s important that we share these various methods with kids so that they can be equipped to tackle them! This week I’m explaining a strategy that doesn’t sound overly mathematical, but can be extremely useful when done properly: solving problems using guess and check! As with the other strategies I’ve Keep Reading...
How Much Does a Pumpkin Cost? {FREE Algebra Lesson!}
For many students, the transition from math computations in the upper elementary grades to Algebra is a challenge. Suddenly, they are having to write mathematical equations and use symbols and letters rather than just numbers. (Although hopefully they have at least been introduced to some of these things prior to formal Algebra). One way to help students ease the transition and make sense of it all is by looking at real and meaningful examples. Keep Reading...
Problem Solving by Making a List
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...
FREE Pigs Will Be Pigs Money Lessons!
There may not be any math topic that is more relevant to our everyday life than that of money. It's essential that we teach our kids to add and subtract money, to use it wisely and understand how to handle their money! The book Pigs Will Be Pigs by Amy Axelrod is an excellent introduction to money for kids and helps them understand not only how to add money, but also to realize that it is finite. These Pigs will Be Pigs money lessons are intended Keep Reading...
Summer Math Camp Week 5: Time and Elapsed Time
Welcome to week 5 of Summer Math Camp here at Math Geek Mama! This week we worked on time problems! Telling time, adding and subtracting time, and figuring out elapsed time! It was so fun! If you've missed the rest of this series, check out each week so far {there are FREE resources each week!}: Week 1: Operations with Large Numbers-Comparing, Rounding, Adding and Subtracting Week 2: Exploring the Meaning of Multiplication and Solving Keep Reading...
Summer Math Camp: All About Money!
I'm so excited to bring you the next part in my Summer Math Camp series! This week we worked on all things money: counting coins, adding money, making change, and even considered fractions of a dollar! If you've missed the rest of this series so far, we started with operations with large numbers, then worked on understanding multiplication in week 2, then discussed fractions and equivalent fractions in week 3! Be sure to check out those as Keep Reading...
