I'm a little late getting this post up, but there are some great freebies out there this week and I hope you will find them helpful! :) Kindergarten-3rd: This math review is a great way to brush up on skills. Each page includes a variety of math topics for early learners! 4th-12th: Check out these fun and engaging STEM (Science, technology, engineering and math) activities from Well Nurtured Plants and Pillars! This post 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...
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...
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...
Quadratic Equations Project (with FREE printables!)
One of the best ways to really learn something so that it sticks with you is to teach it to someone else. Giving students a project that gets them thinking through a mathematical process and allows them to express their creative side is always a win-win! The following example involves solving quadratic equations. A skill in Algebra that, while important, can very easily become boring and meaningless. And while I believe it is always helpful Keep Reading...
