Author Archives : therouttymathteacher

FREE Whole Number Operations Math Menus for Grades 3 – 5

This entry was posted in 3rd Grade 4th Grade 5th Grade FREE LESSONS on by (updated on )

What tools can be used to enrich the grade-level curriculum and challenge our students? 

A menu is a content-focused set of options from which students choose activities and tasks on which to work. Students can receive a menu for a specific time-period, such as a week, for a unit of study, or for a grading cycle. Menus provide instant opportunities for differentiation because students choose which activities they would like to complete based on their own interests and ability levels.

This free resource pack includes one choice board menu related to whole number operations. To complete this board, students will need to complete all of the activities in a row, column, diagonal, or the four corners. The pack also includes additional materials needed to complete the board, including a Cover Up game, a tiling task (with reproducible tiles), detailed directions and materials for product creation, recording sheets, project templates, and a “Free Choice” proposal form.
Click here or on the image above to grab your freebie from my Teachers Pay Teachers Store.
Want to know more? 
Head on over to The Routty Math Teacher website and read, “10 Examples of Math Menu Products with Pictures” where I share examples of my, and my students’, favorite math menu products. Read the post here or by clicking on the image below.

 

 

Enjoy!

FREE End-of-the-Year Math Reflection Questions

This entry was posted in 3rd Grade 4th Grade 5th Grade End of the Year MATH LESSONS on by (updated on )
 

How can we promote a growth mindset in math? 

The end of the school year provides a natural opportunity for students to reflect on the year and the work they have done. Promoting self-reflection not only encourages students to look back at failures but also to celebrate them, providing us with an opportunity to promote a growth mindset in our students and set them up for success for the next school year. This classroom freebie includes 8 self-reflection cards that promote a healthy mathematical mindset. The discussion cards can be used round-robin style, as a whole class discussion activity, or as journal prompts. Click here or on the image above to grab a free copy of the pack. 
Want to know more? 
Head on over to The Routty Math Teacher website and read, “Getting Ready to Wrap-up the Year: End-of-the-Year Math Activities that Emphasize an Entire Year of Learning” where I share three activities to help you end the year on a high note. Read the post here or by clicking on the image below.

 

Enjoy!

FREE Critical Thinking Challenges

This entry was posted in 3rd Grade 4th Grade 5th Grade MATH LESSONS on by (updated on )

What quick tasks can I use on a regular basis to promote critical thinking? 

Logic puzzles help students develop solid critical thinking and problem-solving skills in the early grades and are a great way to engage students. In addition, they are fun and provide lots of opportunities for students to share what they are thinking and how they determined the solutions. Weight Logic puzzles do exactly that and they reinforce algebraic thinking at the same time.

 

To complete the weight logic puzzles, students use the sum of the symbols shown on the scale to determine the value of each symbol. For many students, this task seems simple. You guess and check the values until you find a combination that works. But that level of thinking is just the beginning. The real critical thinking comes in when students use strategies, other than guess and check, to determine the value of each fruit.

Click here or on the image above to grab your freebie and learn more!
Want to know more? 
Head on over to The Routty Math Teacher website and read my latest post, “10 Problem Solving Resources Your Students Will Love” where I share ten of my favorite problem solving and critical thinking activities. I also share links to some great free resources. Read the post here or by clicking on the image below.
Enjoy!

FREE Math Talk Questions Poster

This entry was posted in 2nd Grade 3rd Grade 4th Grade 5th Grade 6th Grade MATH LESSONS on by (updated on )
 

What questions do I ask to encourage math talk? 

Creating a classroom where students are able to effectively use math talk during a classroom discussion can be challenging. Many of our
students do not know how to communicate their mathematical ideas and strategies using key math vocabulary and concepts. As teachers, we play an important role as we help students identify their thinking processes and build new knowledge by connecting to ideas and concepts that they already understand.
The Open-Ended Questions poster includes questions to promote mathematical communication in the classroom. You can use these questions to expand a conversation or to get one started. Click here or on the image above to grab a free copy of the poster. 
Want to know more? 
Head on over to The Routty Math Teacher website and read my latest post, “What Engagement Tools Do I Need to Teach Math” where I share five of my favorite ways to engage my math students. I also share a free resource with 26 ways to engage your students. Read the post here or by clicking on the image below.
Enjoy!

FREE Math Test Review Printable

This entry was posted in 3rd Grade 4th Grade 5th Grade 6th Grade 7th Grade 8th Grade FREE LESSONS MATH LESSONS TEST PREPARATION on by (updated on )
 

Looking for a different way to review math problems? 

The Rock ‘n’ Roll strategy encourages students to explore the different aspects of the problem-solving process when reviewing math problems. This is a great strategy for reviewing test questions or reviews that have multiple choice answers. This strategy works best for
reviewing a few problems, maybe the most missed ones from an assessment or review, but it’s very effective.
Click here or on the image above to grab a free copy of my “Rock ‘n’ Roll Math” printables. You can read more about how to use the “Rock ‘n’ Roll Math” strategy here.
Want to know more? 

Head on over to The Routty Math Teacher website and read my latest post, “Six Tips for a Successful Math Review” where I share tips for a great review and some of my favorite review strategies. Read the post here or by clicking on the image below.

 

Enjoy!

FREE Mathematical Discourse Resource

This entry was posted in 3rd Grade 4th Grade 5th Grade COMMON CORE MATH LESSONS on by (updated on )
 

Looking for a strategy to encourage mathematical discourse in your classroom? 

The “Who’s Correct?” strategy allows students the opportunity to evaluate the mathematical thinking of others and either agree or disagree with the person’s response. What I love about this strategy is that students do not just solve the problem, they must select a correct, or incorrect, response and provide a justification for the thinking of another. See the example above. 

Here’s how to use this strategy:
1. Create two responses to a problem (consider using a frequently missed test item).

2. Ask students to respond to the “Who’s Correct?” question and give a justification in pictures, words, or numbers.

3. Have students debate who’s response is correct (or incorrect) using appropriate models and mathematical vocabulary.

Click here or on the image above to grab a free copy of my “Who’s Correct?” images. To use them, insert them into PowerPoint slides and then add your own text. You can read more about how to use the “Who’s Correct?” strategy with your students here.
Want to know more? 
Head on over to The Routty Math Teacher website and read my latest post, “Why Having a Math Fight Can Actually Help You in the Classroom” where I share tips for ways to start a math fight and a strategy to get you started. Read the post here or by clicking on the image below.
Enjoy!

FREE Math Vocabulary Activity

This entry was posted in 3rd Grade 4th Grade 5th Grade MATH LESSONS on by (updated on )
 

Looking for a critical thinking activity to help your students with math vocabulary? 

The “Vocabulary Dominoes” activity requires students to compare and contrast terms, as well as, look for, analyze, justify, and communicate about relationships among the terms.


Here’s how it works:
1. Group students in groups of three. Assign students to be Student 1, 2, or 3. Note: This activity works best with at least 16 dominoes for a group of three.
2. Students spread out the face-down cards.
3. Each student takes 4 dominoes. Place the remaining cards in a face-down stack.
4. Student 1 turns over one of the remaining cards to use as the starter domino.
5. In turn, each student tries to connect one of the words on his/her domino to an end and justify the connection. If no connection is made, the student takes a card from the extra pile and tries to make a connection. If no connection can be made, the turn is lost.
6. The first student to place all of his/her dominoes is the winner.

Click here or on the image above to grab a free copy of my “Vocabulary Dominoes” template. To use the download: Insert the image into a Word document or PowerPoint slide. Just add a text box with each word you want to add and place it in the center of each half of the domino.
Want to know more? 
Head on over to The Routty Math Teacher website and read more about using Vocabulary Dominoes as an assessment strategy here. And, while you’re there, grab a free copy of my vocabulary activites eBook. Check it out here!
Enjoy!

FREE Editable Task Sheet Template for Math Stations

This entry was posted in 3rd Grade 4th Grade 5th Grade MATH LESSONS on by (updated on )
 

 

Looking for a quick template to use to create a standardized task sheet for math stations? 

One of the ways I like to manage and organize my math stations is by creating a standard game directions page to include with any game that I use, i.e. card and dice games, board games, etc. Taking the time to create these from the start makes it easier for students to locate the directions and get started right away. On the game sheet, I include the following: Concept/Skill, Number of Players, Materials, Objective, and Procedure.
To help you organize your stations, I’ve created an editable freebie task sheet for you!
Here’s how to use it:
1.) Download the file from Google Drive.
2.) Open the PowerPoint file in Microsoft PowerPoint.
3.) Insert text boxes and add text to create the task sheet. Be sure to add a title!

 

Note: Hello Literacy’s “Hello Doodle Print” font is used in the template. The clipart is courtesy of Krista Wallden.
Click here or on the image above to grab a free copy of my editable task sheet. Enjoy!
Want to know more? 
Head on over to The Routty Math Teacher website and check out my “Using Math Stations for Spiral Review” blog post. Read it here!
 
Enjoy!

FREE Critical Thinking with Pattern Blocks Activity

This entry was posted in 3rd Grade 4th Grade 5th Grade MATH LESSONS on by (updated on )

Looking for a fun critical thinking activity to challenge your students’ thinking about shapes? 

Pattern blocks. I know what you’re thinking. When you inherited your classroom, there were gobs of these random shapes, maybe even a few buckets of them. You thought to yourself, “What am supposed to do with these? We only teach geometry and shapes for three weeks!” Well, did you know that pattern blocks can be used for more than just your three-week geometry unit? Pattern blocks can be used all year long!

The “What’s the Common Attribute” activity involves critical thinking with pattern blocks. This activity can be used year-round and makes a great starter activity, especially during that three-week geometry unit. The only prerequisite skills needed are some basic vocabulary terms related to shapes, e.g. sides, angles, congruent, equal.

Here’s how the activity works:
1. Display the puzzler on a white board or wall.
2. Ask the students, “What’s the common attribute?”
3. Provide think time.
4. Ask students to “turn and talk” to a shoulder partner, face partner, neighbor, or classmate to discuss the answer.
5. Have students share their responses with the class.

Click here or on the image above to grab a free copy of my “What’s the Common Attribute” pack. It includes 5 puzzlers to use with your students. It also includes a solution guide. Enjoy!
Want to know more? 
Head on over to The Routty Math Teacher website and check out my “Critical Thinking with Pattern Blocks” series. Read it here!
 
Enjoy!

FREE Fraction Activity

This entry was posted in 4th Grade 5th Grade MATH LESSONS on by (updated on )

Looking for a great picture book to help your students understand multiplication with fractions? 

Fraction concepts are often the most challenging for students to grasp and teachers to teach. On top of that, fraction operations can be even more challenging to teach because students are unable to connect the actions of fraction operations with that of whole numbers. Students need a lot of experiences to develop these skills and build a solid understanding of the concepts.

 

One way to help students “see” the action of the operations is by using picture books. My favorite way to teach fraction multiplication is to start with Multiplying Menace. It’s a great springboard to introducing fraction multiplication. Not only will this book help your students “see” the operation, but it will allow students to compare the effects of multiplying whole numbers with the effects of multiplying by fractions.

 

To accompany the book, I created an activity to help students analyze the situations in the book. Click here or on the image to the right to grab a free copy the activity sheet. 

Want to know more? 
Head on over to The Routty Math Teacher website and check out my latest blog post, “Teaching Fractions with Math Picture Books” to read more about Multiplying Menace and learn about Multiplying Menace Divides. Read it here!

 

 

 
Enjoy!

FREE 5-E Model Lesson Planning Tool

This entry was posted in 3rd Grade 4th Grade 5th Grade MATH LESSONS on by (updated on )
 

Want to know more about the components of a 5-E model lesson plan? 

One of the best ways I have found to teach a good math lesson is through the use of the 5-E model. I love the 5-E model because it allows the students to explore and discover the content on their own before I provide additional information and strategies.

 

The 5-E model also allows me to facilitate the lesson through questioning and assess the students’ understanding throughout the lesson through my observations. While I regularly plan my lessons using this format, I have found it necessary to adapt the format to fit the needs of my students. With that in mind, I will add that this lesson format may take me more than one day to complete and I sometimes complete several explore and explain cycles before getting to the elaboration stage. It all depends on the students!

 

You can get a more detailed look at how I use the 5-E model lesson with my free lesson plan template. It includes a description of each of the five Es and activity ideas that can be used to address each component. 

Click here or on the image above to grab a free copy of my 5-E model lesson plan template. 
Want to know more? 
Head on over to The Routty Math Teacher website and check out my latest blog post, “5 Ways to Hook Your Math Students Right from the Start”to explore ways to “hook” your students. Read it here!

 

 
Enjoy!

FREE Math Station Game Bag Labels

This entry was posted in 1st Grade 2nd Grade 3rd Grade 4th Grade 5th Grade MATH LESSONS on by (updated on )

 

Need to organize your math station materials? 

One of the most challenging parts of implementing math stations is staying organized. Because math stations have a lot of moving parts, it can be time-consuming to manage all of the materials; however, if you invest the time upfront to organize your materials, it will save you hours of time later.
To help you get organized, I’m sharing a free copy of my math station game labels. The labels are formatted for Microsoft Word and can be printed on Avery (5163)-style shipping labels. After printing, write the name of the game in the center space.
Click here or on the image above to grab a free copy of my math station game bag labels. 
Want to know more? 
Head on over to The Routty Math Teacher website and check out my latest blog post, “Math Station Hacks to Save Time and Keep Your Organized”to find more tips and tricks for staying organized. Read it here!

 

 
Enjoy!

FREE Math Station Game Labels

This entry was posted in 3rd Grade 4th Grade 5th Grade CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT MATH LESSONS on by (updated on )
 

 

Need to get your math station materials organized? 

One of the most challenging parts of implementing math stations is staying organized. Because math stations have a lot of moving parts, it can be time-consuming to manage all of the materials; however, if you invest the time upfront to organize your materials, it will save you hours of time later.

One of the strategies that has been most useful for me is to keep station games and activities organized in labeled plastic bags that include all of the necessary materials. I can then store the bags in a file cabinet for easy access later.

Click here or on the image above to grab a free set of labels to use in your classroom to organize your game materials. The labels are formatted for Microsoft Word and can be printed on Avery (5163)-style shipping labels. After printing, write the name of the game in the center space. 

Want to know more? 
Head on over to The Routty Math Teacher website (or click the image below) for more ideas to organize your math station materials. Find it here!

 

 
Enjoy!

FREE Black History Month Crossword Puzzle

This entry was posted in 3rd Grade 4th Grade 5th Grade 6th Grade FREE LESSONS MATH LESSONS on by (updated on )
 

 

Looking for Black History Month activities? 

The movie Hidden Figures (20th century Fox, 2017) was by far one of the best movies I’ve ever seen. It is based on the stories of three African American women– Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, and Dorothy Vaughan. Initially hired by NASA to work as human computers, mathematicians who performed calculations for the work of NASA, each woman became an important contributor to NASA and the space race of the mid-twentieth century.

This crossword puzzle highlights the important contributions of these great African-American women. An answer key is included. Click here or on the image above to grab a free copy of “The Women Behind NASA’s Human Computers” crossword puzzle. 

Want to know more? 

Head on over to The Routty Math Teacher website (or click the image below) to read more about the movie, see a video clip, and find additional resources you can use with your students. Find it here!

 

 
Enjoy!

FREE Solve It! February Sampler Pack

This entry was posted in 3rd Grade 4th Grade 5th Grade FREE LESSONS MATH LESSONS Valentine's Day on by (updated on )

Want to bring a little Valentine’s Day fun to your classroom? 

Developing solid critical thinking and problem-solving skills in the early grades is essential to support higher-level mathematics in the later ones.This February-themed sampler pack includes 4 problem solving and critical thinking tasks that represent tasks from my Solve-It! series: traditional problem-solving scenario, number clue puzzle, weight logic, and logic puzzle. In addition, a solution guide is included for your convenience.
Click here or on the image above to grab a free copy of my “Solve It! February Sampler” pack. 
Want to know more? 

Head on over to The Routty Math Teacher website (or click the image below) to read about how to celebrate the season with a week of Valentine’s Day Math Starters. Find it here!

 

 
Enjoy!

FREE Valentine’s Day Weight Logic Pack!

This entry was posted in 3rd Grade 4th Grade 5th Grade FREE LESSONS MATH LESSONS Valentine's Day on by (updated on )
 

 

Want to bring a little Valentine’s Day fun to your classroom? 

Developing solid critical thinking and problem solving skills in the early grades is essential to support higher-level mathematics in the later ones. This pack provides three holiday-themed weight logic puzzles that are sure to engage your students’ strategic thinking and problem solving skills.
This holiday pack includes 3 sets of weight logic puzzles. Each set includes:
• a blackline master for student use
• a solution guideTo complete each puzzle, students use their strategic thinking skills to determine the value of each symbol based on the weight on each scale.
Click here or on the image above to grab a free copy of my “Valentine’s Day Weight Logic” pack. 
Want to know more? 

Head on over to The Routty Math Teacher website and check out my Solve It! Friday page where you can find a new task, similar to the one above, each week. You can even get free access to my library of nearly 100 problems. Find it here!

 

 
Enjoy!

FREE Operation Situations Chart

This entry was posted in 3rd Grade 4th Grade 5th Grade FREE LESSONS MATH LESSONS on by (updated on )

Want to teach your students to analyze word problems for meaning? 

The use of keywords focuses on looking at the words of math word problems in isolation and not in the context of the problem. Focusing on the word problem as a whole allows students to become better at solving math word problems.

Tina Cardone, author of “Nix the Tricks,” a guide to avoiding non-conceptually developmental short-cuts, suggests having students think about the words of the problem as a whole and focus on what is happening in the problem in context. Students can accomplish this by visualizing the situation and creating a mental picture of the actions that are taking place. Once they understand the actions, students can then connect them to symbols.
After students have had experience with a variety of problem situations, some patterns will begin to emerge as students begin to recognize recurring themes, such as joining, part-part-whole, separating, comparing, equal groups, sharing, and measuring– the operation situations.

Click here or on the image above to grab a free copy of my “Analyze Word Problems with Operation Situations” chart. 
Want to know more? 
Head on over to The Routty Math Teacher website to read more about the dangers of keywords, the power of the operation situations, and strategies for how to help students visualize a word problem. Find it here!
 
Enjoy!

FREE Reasoning About Fractions Activity

This entry was posted in 3rd Grade 4th Grade FREE LESSONS MATH LESSONS on by (updated on )
Do your students need help understanding fractions? 
In the 1980s, A&W, an American restaurant chain, unveiled a new menu item– a third of a pound burger meant to rival McDonald’s popular Quarter Pounder. After creating an expensive marketing campaign and a fan-fare filled roll-out, the A&W third-pound burger failed. It was only after soliciting feedback from their focus groups that A&W executives began to understand why. The American public believed the third-pound burger to be smaller than McDonald’s quarter pound burger. Misunderstanding the four in one-fourth to be larger than the three in one-third caused Americans to believe that A&W was cheating them out of their money by charging a price for the burger that did not equal the value. 

This story speaks volumes about how fractions are perceived by students and adults alike. It’s important that our students learn to understand fractions in the same way that they understand numbers in other forms. 


This activity focuses on comparing fractions by reasoning about their sizes. Development of this skill begins with a conceptual model. When presented with a variety of visual fractions, students begin to understand that the more pieces the whole is partitioned into, the smaller the value of each piece. 
Click here or on the image above to grab a free copy of my “Reasoning About Fractions” activity. 
Want to know more? 
Head on over to The Routty Math Teacher website to read this week’s blog post about making sense of fractions. Find it here!
 
Enjoy!

FREE Math Station Planning Guide

This entry was posted in 2nd Grade 3rd Grade 4th Grade 5th Grade MATH LESSONS on by (updated on )

 

Looking for a quick tool to help manage your math station prep work? 
Using math stations in the classroom is an excellent way to engage students and review skills at the same time. In fact, once organized, math stations can become a classroom routine that organizes and manages itself.

 

This station planning guide can be used to determine which stations will be used, what task to include for each, and what materials are needed. This tool can be kept with your lesson plans for the week so that you have it as a reference during weekly planning.
 
Click here or on the image above to grab a free copy of my “Math Station Planning Guide.”

Want to know more? Grab a free copy of my “Getting Started with Math Stations” eBook here and check out my YouTube video series entitled “Ready, Set, Rotate!” here.

 
Enjoy!

Free Boneyard Numbers Game

This entry was posted in 3rd Grade 4th Grade 5th Grade FREE LESSONS MATH LESSONS on by (updated on )
Looking for a fun game involving dominoes and the order of operations? 
Have you ever used dominoes in your classroom? Dominoes are one of those versatile tools
that have many purposes. Dominoes are generally not a standard math tool, but
they are great to have laying around. If you don’t have any in your classroom,
you can pick-up a cheap set at the dollar store.
The activity I am sharing with you today is called “Boneyard Numbers.” The basic idea is
that students turn over two dominoes and use the quantities on the dominoes to create
a number sentence that targets one of the uncovered quantities on the game
board.
 
The best thing about this activity is that it can be adapted to meet the needs of all
students! Whether a student just adds everything together or goes out on a limb
and tries to use all of the operations, the activity can meet his or her
ability level. “Boneyard Numbers” makes a great station and fast finisher
activity.
 
Click here or on the image above to grab a free copy of my “Boneyard Numbers” game.
 
Read more about using math tools to develop computational fluency skills here.
 
Enjoy!

Free Open-Ended Questions for Accountable Math Talk

This entry was posted in 2nd Grade 3rd Grade 4th Grade 5th Grade 6th Grade MATH LESSONS on by (updated on )
Looking for questions to support students during math talk? 
Questioning is one of the most powerful instructional strategies we can use in the classroom! In fact, NCTM’s Principles to Actions (2014) states that effective teachers use “purposeful questions to assess and advance students’ reasoning and sense-making about important mathematical ideas and relationships” (p. 35). However, creating an environment where students are able to respond to questions and effectively use math talk during a classroom discussion can be challenging. Many of our students do not know how to discuss their mathematical ideas and strategies using key math vocabulary and concepts. As teachers, we play an important role as we help students identify their thinking processes and build new knowledge by connecting to ideas and concepts that they already understand. Choosing the right questions is an essential part of this process. Read more about using questions and building effective math talk practices here.
 

 

Click here or on the image above to grab a free copy of my Open-Ended Questions for Accountable Math Talk” poster.
 
Enjoy!

Free Number Sense Tiling Task

This entry was posted in 3rd Grade 4th Grade 5th Grade FREE LESSONS MATH LESSONS on by (updated on )
Looking for a number sense building, critical thinking activity? 
With the challenges of today’s math curriculum, we do not always have time for a consistent focus on critical thinking. Using tiling tasks in the classroom is one strategy that can offer you an opportunity to increase the critical thinking skills of your students. These tasks involve using number tiles, a set of numbered tiles 0-9, to complete a set of problems. Each tile belongs to one space and only one space. Students use their reasoning skills to complete the task cards. Tiling task cards also make great menu activities or fast finisher challenges.
 
Click here or on the image above to grab a free copy of my “Number Sense Tiling Task” and a free set of tiles.
Read more about using math starters, like tiling tasks, in the classroom here. 
Enjoy!

Free “Rock and Roll Math Problems” Assessment Strategy Tool

This entry was posted in 3rd Grade 4th Grade 5th Grade 6th Grade 7th Grade 8th Grade FREE LESSONS MATH LESSONS on by (updated on )

 

Looking for an engaging strategy to use when reviewing multiple-choice math problems? 
“Rock and Roll Math Problems” provides engagement while students are completing multiple-choice math problems. This assessment tool encourages student groups to explore various parts of the problem-solving process.
Here’s how it works:
1. Pair students and assign them to be Partner A or Partner B.
2. Provide each pair with a number cube (die).
3. Provide each pair with a concept-based word problem or multiple-choice item.
4. Partner A rolls the number cube and then uses the Rock and Roll activity page to determine which task to complete.
5. Partner B completes the activity indicated on the number cube using the word problem or multiple-choice item.
6. If Partner A does not understand Partner B’s response, Partner A should ask clarifying questions until the response is understood.
7. Pairs should continue alternating rolls until all of the tasks have been completed or for the allotted amount of time.
8. As a class, have pairs discuss their responses to each of the tasks. Be sure to highlight any responses which reveal essential understandings or new strategies.
9. Begin the process again with a new problem if available. (Note: Sometimes, one well-developed question is more effective than several basic ones. Be sure to choose a task that will give you the most bang for your buck.)
Grab your copy here!
Enjoy!

Free Math Talk Moves Poster

This entry was posted in 2nd Grade 3rd Grade 4th Grade 5th Grade 6th Grade 7th Grade 8th Grade MATH LESSONS on by (updated on )

Using mathematical discussions in the classroom is a powerful way to increase our students’ critical thinking and communication skills. Effective communication about mathematics is essential to help students develop the thinking, self-questioning, and explanation skills needed to master required skills and concepts. 
A successful mathematics program emphasizes communicating mathematically frequently in the classroom. In fact, most state standards include competencies related to communicating effectively through mathematical language, justifying solutions, and evaluating the mathematical thinking of others. 
“Math Talk Moves” are moves made by the student during math talk in the classroom. Teachers can use the moves to teach students how to make connections and respond to others during a discussion of math problems. 
Grab a free copy of the poster here or click on the image. 
Want to know more about using math talk in the classroom? Click here.

Enjoy!

Free Solve It! Fall Problem Solving Sampler

This entry was posted in 3rd Grade 4th Grade 5th Grade 6th Grade MATH LESSONS on by (updated on )

 

 Build your students’ critical thinking skills from the first days of school with my Solve It! Fall Sampler Pack !

 
Developing solid critical thinking and problem solving skills in the early grades is essential to support higher-level mathematics in the later ones. Problem solving and critical thinking activities can be infused in a variety of ways. The most important thing is to get our students thinking and communicating about their thinking as often as we can. 

This sampler pack provides seven different types of critical thinking and problem solving tasks that are sure to engage your students’ strategic thinking and problem solving skills. All of these tasks can be used as starters, included on a math menu, or included as a problem solving station option. 

This sampler pack includes 7 problem solving, number clue tasks, and logic puzzles from the first four months of my “Solve It!” series. In addition, a solution guide is included for your convenience. 

Grab a free copy of my “Solve It! Fall Sampler” pack here or click the image above!

Enjoy!

Free Getting Started with Number Talks Pack

This entry was posted in 1st Grade 2nd Grade 3rd Grade 4th Grade 5th Grade 6th Grade 7th Grade 8th Grade Kindergarten MATH LESSONS on by (updated on )

 

 

Looking for a powerful routine to get your students thinking and communicating mathematically?
 
A new school year is a great time to try a new routine! Number talks is one of my personal favorites and one that will give you a lot of “bang for your buck.” Number talks is a powerful routine to help students develop flexibility with numbers and solve basic problems without using paper-and-pencil. In addition, students increase their ability to articulate their thinking and refine their mathematical communication skills through the use of number talks. Learn more about how to get started using number talks in the classroom here.
Grab a free copy of my “Getting Started with Number Talks” pack here or click the image above!
Enjoy!

Free Back-to-School Themed Problem Solving Tasks

This entry was posted in 3rd Grade 4th Grade 5th Grade 6th Grade MATH LESSONS on by (updated on )

 

Looking for some back-to-school themed problem-solving tasks for your students?
This problem solving pack emphasizes the use of a variety of problem solving strategies to address the seven differentiated tasks. The beauty of this pack is that there is not a specific strategy that has to be used to solve each problem; however, there are strategies that would be considered more efficient than others. This provides an excellent opportunity to discuss the various ways students solved each problem and expand their problem solving toolboxes with a little math talk. For a free poster of the most common problem solving strategies, check out my Problem Solving Strategies freebie!
Want to know more?
Learn more about how to begin creating your community of math learners right from the start here.
Grab a free copy of the problem solving pack here or click the image above!

Enjoy!

Free Back-to-School Themed Tiling Task

This entry was posted in 3rd Grade 4th Grade 5th Grade FREE LESSONS MATH LESSONS on by (updated on )

 

Looking for a great critical thinking challenge for your students?
Let’s get those critical thinking engines started! Check out this fun back-to-school themed tiling task to challenge your class. It’s a great way to set the tone for a year of building mathematically powerful students and practice algebraic thinking at the same time! In this task, students analyze equations and determine a number, from a set of 0 – 9 labeled tiles, to represent each symbol. Each tile represents one and only one symbol. An answer key is included in the download.
Want to know more? Read about using math talk to increase your students’ critical thinking and communication skills here.
Grab a free copy of the tiling task here!
Enjoy!

Free Easy Student Product Activity Page for Open House

This entry was posted in 3rd Grade 4th Grade 5th Grade MATH LESSONS on by (updated on )
Looking for some great student products for your Open House display?

I’ve got a great math-related activity to share with you! This activity is one that I have used to create a cover page in students’ math notebooks, but it’s such a fun activity that it makes for a great display for Open House or Back to School Night. It’s also a fun way to show students how they can communicate with numbers and an opportunity for students to get creative and show off their individual style.

I give students a guideline for how to format the page and a list of statements to get them started (see below), but the creativity level is left entirely to them.
As an optional way to present the numbers, you can have students write them in one of the following formats:
* expanded notation- (Example: 10,000 x 1 + 1,000 x 3 + 100 x 5 + 10 x 6 + 1 x 8 days on Earth.)
* expanded form- (Example: I traveled 1000 + 200 + 70 + 8 miles to the beach this summer.)
* mathematical expressions- (Example: My birthday is on the (75 + 30)th day of the year.)
Read the full blog post and find out about my SuperKid poetry-writing and art activity here!

Grab a free copy of the student activity page above here!

Enjoy!

Free Classroom Job Application for an Economy-Based Management System

This entry was posted in CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT on by (updated on )
When I first started teaching, I wanted a way to give my students a better understanding of how the world works, so I created an opportunity to infuse a little bit of economics into the classroom setting. The basic idea of the management system is that students each have a classroom job, earn classroom cash based on their job duties or for other contributions to our classroom society, and have the opportunity to spend their cash on things they want.
Just like in the real-world, the system includes different jobs with different pay structures: nine-week jobs and weekly jobs. Nine-week jobs require students to complete an application and interview for a position. They pay weekly for nine weeks and the salary is a great deal more than for the weekly jobs.
During the first week of school, I introduce the system and offer the students an opportunity to apply for a nine-week job. (I usually ask each student to find some way they can contribute to our classroom and encourage the students to apply for at least one job.) Then, I review each application and ask follow-up questions to determine which students are the best fit for each nine-week job. After the initial selections are made, I even do some on-the-job training with each student before setting them loose with their job responsibilities.
With their weekly earnings, students have the opportunity to make a purchase, a coupon for a reward of some type or a treasure box pick, or save them for later. After nine-weeks, I offer students another opportunity to apply for a nine-week job. As much as possible, I try to ensure each student get a nine-week job at least once during the school year.
Want to know more about the system? Read the full blog post here!

 Grab a free copy of my student job application here!

Enjoy!