If you have access to technology in your classroom, and you aren’t using Google Forms to collect work from students, then this post is for you! My school is increasing the number of Chromebooks per grade level, so I will be able to use Google Forms in math more proactively. I researched in preparation for this next school year, and I thought I would share my newfound knowledge with you ...
Math TED Talks for Teachers & Students
TED Talks provide viewers with an opportunity to learn from experts in their field about anything. Their videos provide resources for teachers to learn from other educators and for students to further their thinking in any topic of interest. In fact, a fellow teacher spent a unit teaching students to give their own TED Talks about a topic they felt passionate about. Students spent time ...
5 Homeroom Ideas To Keep You Sane
Homeroom- good gracious that can be such a struggle! On various campuses where I taught there were different homeroom ideas and what took place varied greatly. Our schedule typically paired it with lunch and it was intended for tutorial use. But, it wasn't uncommon that students wouldn't have work to do, or not have a book, or ... the list goes on and on. Today, is week five of ...
Math Intervention and Number Sense Roundup
This week Noelle and I presented on Implementing Small Group Instruction at the Conference for the Advancement of Mathematical Teaching. It was exciting to share what we have learned in the classroom with other teachers, so they too can implement small group instruction more effectively! I thought a little small group roundup would be a good refresh before the school year starts for ...
How to Handle Student Conflict Resolution
As teachers, we teach our students content. We teach them to find the common denominator, to find the percent of a number, to solve for a variable, and the list goes on and on. We teach them routines like how to enter our classroom, how to glue the right way, and how to trade and grade papers. One of the most important skills that we should be teaching them is student conflict ...
Engaging Websites for Middle School Math
Students love technology, so why not use it as often as possible to engage students in the best subject in the world, math? It can be used as a regular means of daily practice, as an incentive, and as a way to track data easier than pen and paper. Here are some of the websites for middle school math that I have used or plan to use in my classroom. ENgAGING WEBSITES FOR ...
20 Must Have Math Teacher Supplies
In the summer, I excitedly anticipate the release of classroom decorations to the Target Dollar Spot. Since that is weeks away, I thought I would use my energy to create a list of supplies that every math teacher should have in their classroom. All of these items can be found in use in my classroom any given day (with the exception of the whiteboard clipboards which I will be purchasing ...
15 More Must Teach Middle School Routines
Year five is in the books! Each year I try new things, and learn how to best set students up for success. This year I have found that there are middle school routines that I did not explain in my first post, 20 Must Teacher Middle School Routines and Procedures, and ended up incorporating throughout the year. Thus, I present to you 15 MORE must teach middle school routines and ...
Alternative Assessments in Math
Test days are equally as exciting as they are dread inducing. I communicate to students that it is their opportunity to show me what they know, but then I begin to feel doubtful. Today, I am going to share four alternative assessments in math that you might consider using. What if they all fail? Did I review this concept enough? Did they study? Is the test too hard? Is the test ...
Confessions of an End of Year Teacher
By the end of the year, the number of gray hairs on my head has grown exponentially. I attribute this to the final month of school where pretty much the entire year is raveling before you and you are trying to hold it all together like a giant house of cards. Balancing the busyness, the tiredness, and the energy of students ready to be on summer break, all while willing the minutes to ...