Looking for a fun and hands on way to model fractions with your students? Candy bar fractions are the perfect introduction to adding and subtraction fractions with unlike denominators-plus, kids get a tasty treat when they finish! Although it is not an everyday occurrence (or monthly even), one of my favorite ways to help kids make sense of big math topics is with candy. Yes, I know we have to be careful about sugar intake, and no, my kids Keep Reading...
St. Patrick’s Day Make Ten Mats {FREE}
Want to provide some hands on practice with making ten and composing the number ten? This adorable set of St. Patrick's Day Make Ten mats is low-prep & fun! Incorporating ten frames into your math learning is an easy way to help kids develop number sense in our base ten system. Ten frames can help students "see" numbers to compose and decompose within 10, or easily visualize ways to make ten, an important foundational skill. If your kids Keep Reading...
Build Math Habits: Model with Math & Visual Tools
Want to encourage independent math thinking? Help your kids learn how to model with math & visual tools as they seek to solve problems. Find ideas & free resources to help below! Welcome back to my series on the Standards for Mathematical Practice! In each article I'm trying to unpack these standards in a way that makes sense so that you can help your students develop these math habits. This will help them to move beyond memorization Keep Reading...
Printable Math Manipulatives | FREE Download
Looking for an easy way to provide visual, hands on math tools for your kids without spending a fortune? This FREE set of printable math manipulatives is just what you need. As we gear up for possibly the strangest, hardest back to school season any of us have ever seen, there are unique needs for teachers and students. As I discussed things with a teacher friend, I asked how I could help her prepare and meet the needs of students and one Keep Reading...
FREE Online Math Manipulatives for At Home Learning
Looking for an alternative to hands on math manipulatives? This huge, growing list of FREE online math manipulatives is a great way to provide 'hands on' math practice remotely. There's no denying that hands on visuals and manipulatives help students see, understand and learn math. But what if your child or student doesn't have access to hands on manipulatives? If you are a classroom teacher, it's great having these math tools available and on Keep Reading...
Ultimate Collection of Pumpkin Math Ideas for K-12
"I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers." (Anne of Green Gables, chapter 16). Living in the gorgeous mountains of east Tennessee, I can deeply resonate with Anne's sentiment. Fall is the most beautiful time of the year here, and I love everything about it. But one of the things I love most (and definitely the thing my kids love most) is pumpkins. The excitement of going to a farm and exploring, picking out the very best one. Keep Reading...
