Building Math Fluency in Middle School
No matter what the grade level, the one common issue I hear from math teachers is kids' lack of fluency. When students lack math fluency, it makes every concept more difficult, and it hurts their confidence. While most teachers see fluency as a problem, many teachers aren’t sure what to do to solve this problem in middle school or later. I’m going to share some resources and solutions that will help your students build math fluency.
Math Manipulatives for Elementary, Middle, and High School Students that You Can Print!
Manipulatives have the power to make math come to life! They make math concepts tangible and accessible to students. Whenever we have the chance to make math lessons hands-on, they instantly become more engaging and meaningful.
In middle and high school, manipulatives are less common than elementary school. However, they are appropriate for all grade levels and all abilities. A common misconception is that manipulatives are only needed in early grades or for students who struggle. Let’s bust that myth! Manipulatives encourage deeper thinking and sense-making. Instead of following procedures without thinking, we can use manipulatives to help students reason and make sense of the math.
Free Math Bulletin Board Ideas for Middle School
Classroom decorations suitable for middle school math can be difficult to find, but I’ve gathered a few of my favorites. The best part is that each of these are free to download, print, and create in your classroom. These decorations are great for motivating middle school students. They are fun, colorful, and appropriate for older students.
Teaching Angle Relationships in 8th Grade Math
Angle relationships are one of the geometry topics 8th graders learn. Most students have been exposed to angle measures in previous grade levels, but they learn new concepts including interior angle sums and parallel lines cut by a transversal. Let’s discuss why angle relationships are an important concept to learn, and tips for teaching angles in a limited timeframe.
8th Grade Math Classroom Decorations and Back to School Ideas
Welcome your 8th graders back to school with these ideas! Classroom decorations and get-to-know-know you ideas can help set the tone for the year and give them a glimpse of what they’ll learn this year.
I’ve gathered some of my favorite resources for the first day and the beginning of the year for 8th grade math. Included are ideas for back-to-school classroom decorations, activities for the first day, and routines we can establish from the start.
Math Word Problems Can Help Students Make Sense of Math
We know real world application and context is an important part of math class, but do your students see word problems as a challenge or as a tool? The truth is they can be both!