We all want this- but how do we achieve this!? I love to complete this anchor chart activity at the beginning of the school year. I also did it with my summer school studnets- and look at their amazing responses! I am always surprised with how each class brings a new perspective to the topic. I am also proud of the converations it leads to. Whenever we are laying out ground rules for students (especially middles!!!) it’s important to share the why. When students cultivate this themselves (without even knowing it) it becomes even more effective.
I partnered with 4 other teachers on Instagram to share a week’s worth of book recommendations specifically for math teachers! We have saved these on our highlights, so be sure to find each of us on Instagram for more details.
My reccomended number talks book for fractions, decimals, and percentages provides video examples for various grades through 6th grade, but we know students need practice with these problem types well beyond 6th grade. The problem types are perfect for my 7th graders. For those not familiar, number talks are a quick 5-15 minute mental math routine that you can incorproate in your classroom as a warm up or at the end of a lesson. (I personally prefer a warm up.) There are hand signals I used with my elementary students that can be found on Pinterest, but in middle school I mostly use the thumbs up in front of your chest when you have an answer. I love to make these a big deal with my students because in math it always seems we are asking them to show all their work, and for good reason. This is a mental excercise with no paper or pencil, so I try to hype it up.
The number talks have a specific progression, and problem types are grouped together for you- so it is very low prep! I keep a notebook and document students who share responses and what strategies they used. Having multiple classes, this also helps so I can show different classes various strategies. A huge takeaway from number talks is to have a mathematical conversation about various strategies, utilize number sense, and discuss reasonable answers. I utilized these 3 days a week when I taught 1st and 3rd grade, but in middle school with my quick 55 minute periods, I incorporate them as often as I can. This means that some classes may get more than others- I have some classes who start the period more urgently than others! (;
Please be sure to check out those highlights on my Instagram for an exclusive peek inside this book!
Once students watch the video, we discussed what we noticed. A student was quick to point out how he could have made the order easier by combining things that were the same, such as the fries.
So, I gave the students the script & challenged them to make the order easier! I got the script from Math With Meaning’s Blog Post. Once they analyzed the script, we had another discussion and I have included a photo of a sample.
This lead us into a combining like terms lesson. I started with some notes and a color by number to work in partners. Here was my favorite part! My students last year would always want to combine every term with the same variable. For example, if x was squared, they would combine it with any term that had an x. So today, we discussed how junior fries and fries were both fries, but different sizes so they couldn’t be put together. LIGHT BULBS went off! We color coded our work because that strategy has really helped in the past when it came to included signs with the terms.
Here is a link to the color activity we did. It is a perfect intro activity. Here are notes and quick checks for combining like terms as well that I use in my own classroom.
I hope if you teach combining like terms, you try this activity!
I used these Estimation Slides during quarantine virtually as well as this past school year in person! It was a perfect warm-up at the end of the year, but would also be a great activity to incorporate on a regular basis! I was inspired by @mathtothe6thpower on Instagram.
In person this past year, I used these as our bellringers at the end of the year. We did 3-4 a day. Students disucssed as a group and decided on an estimate. They were given one minute to discuss and put their final answer on a whiteboard.
When the timer went off, the group with the closest number without going over got a point. At the end of the slides that day, I entered each winning group for a drawing. Whoever was chosen in the drawing got a prize. (Tickets, candy, sticker, etc.) You can of course have students individually estimate as well.
Who else likes to spice up their review every now and then!? It’s always important to keep my middle schoolers enagaged.. or else! This is a super simple and low prep way to add in some extra fun + focus.
I like to take a paper study guide and cut up the questions, or simply use task cards.
The, I display them one at a time for students to work in groups to solve. I usually set a timer to keep them on task. The time depends on the level of difficulty for each quesiton. Sometimes I give them a minute, or maybe I give them 3 if it’s a challenge or requires multiple steps.
When time is up, I have the groups hold up their answers. (I usually use white boards!) If the whole group has the same correct answer (more about that below), they get to participate in a spin! This is where it gets interesting. I put lots of different points- plus, minus, large, and small. So sometimes they gain 100, or maybe they lose 50! I reward the team with the highest points AND the lowest points, because sometimes there are a lot of teams in the negatives from getting a quesition right, but it was a negative spin.
What I also like about the game rules: Everyone in the group has to have the same answer to gain the spin points. This ensures communication. If one student has a different answer but eveyone else has the correct answer, they still don’t get the points from the spin. Trust me, after this happens 1-2 times, they are over not getting the spin and will communicate!
If you use this idea in your classroom, please tag me on social media- I would love to see it! @brooklynsbrightest on Instagram, and @brooklynsclass on Twitter.
I have always loved task cards because they are such great practice, low prep, and easy to implement. But, my middle school students were not as engaged-or focused- with them as my elementary student were. (In elementary, we would do write the room- tape them around the room and it was magic!) So, here are a few simple twists you can add in to make them a little more exciting, and keep students focused on actually solving them and not getting distracted. (:
After passing out an answer document, I always start by choosing a few to complete together. I call this their head start. Then I set a timer for an allotted time. I personally tell my students if you do not finish all of the cards in the time frame, that is okay- but get as many completed as possible. Quality>Quantity.
After the timer is finished, we go over the answers. I use the app Popsicle Sticks (I use the paid version) to boost participation for answers. Students get one point for each correct answer, including the head start we did together.
At the end, students count how many they got correct. This is their number of ‘points’. I then pass out a 100 chart and students can mark off however many points they have. So if they got 14 task cards correct, they get to choose 14 numbers to mark off. This is a huge incentive for accuracy and engagement as they are solving the cards.
After students have marked off their numbners, I make them put their pencils down and hold the 100 chart in their hands. This ensures a fair game! I Google a random number generator for 1-100 and generate a number. If a student has that number marked off, they get a prize. (I usually do candy but you can choose your own reward of course.) I do three numbers personally. If it chooses a number that no student picked, I just don’t count that.
I also use this stragegy for group work. If you do not prefer for students to walk around the room solving task cards taped on the wall, place a few in a bag and do group rotations. YouTube has cute timers! When the timer goes off, rotate the bags. At the end of all the rotations, do the same process. Go over the answers and collect points, etc. The group can decide together what numbers to mark off , & the winning group gets the prize. If I do this method, I just have one winning group- the first group who has a number that is generated.
As I am currenlty teaching summer school, I added a new spin. I am letting students keep thier 100 chart and as we keep doing tihs over the course, they can add to their numbers. Just adding another incentive for getting questions right and collaborating. (: How do you like to add a spin on task cards? I would love to know!
As you are headed back to school, virtually or traditionally, I wanted to offer some great resources from my math friends. Hopefully you will find these inspiring and useful for your classroom!
So you made a teacher Instagram page.. now what!? The first year that I had my teacher page, I struggled with what content to post. So, if you are new to this & feel you aren’t sure where to start- here is a little inspiration!
Classroom Pictures
I love seeing pictures of other classrooms! It is so refreshing.
Management Ideas
Share ways that you manage your classroom- big or small!
A Good Book
This can be an actual student book for a classroom library and/or a professional read!
Something You’ve Created or Used
Share something you have made or used in your classroom. This could be something you made for your own TPT or it can be something you purchased that was great! Try to tag the creator if you do the latter- we love seeing you use personal material!
A Teacher Outfit
Teacher t-shirts are an obsession of mine. But many teachers even just share comfy outfit ideas. This may not be something everyone is interested in, but I personally love sharing my t-shirts. On a plus side, they are usually from teacher owned businesses or a small business, so it’s great to give them a boost of support.
Organization Ideas
I love seeing how other teachers organize things. From manipulatives to notebooks, share how you do you!
Activities
Share something in action & elaborate a bit on how you made it work for your classroom.
Classroom Buys
Fun or educational- share something you’ve purchased for your classroom. I share things that I purchase with personal money (such as a lanyard) as well as things I purchase with school fee replacement money (such as good classroom supplies).
Get Personal!
Audiences like to know YOU, so post some personal content occasionally. I like to share travel photos when I go on a trip. These are also great to use for introduction posts as you gain followers.
If you are new to the teacher Instagram world, comment with your handle and I’ll be sure to follow you!
This is likely the most beloved part of my classroom. (On Instagram I am asked if it is real!) There are actually multiple patterns available, but this city brick style is my favorite. I use frog tape to hang it, but most importantly use a razor blade to cut is- so it will be exact. (And hey if your school lets you use hot glue, a dab of that doesn’t hurt on the edges!) If you hate painting, this is for you. (-:
This document camera is the best!! It gives such a sharp and crisp image. My favorite part is that when online learning began, I was able to bring this home (it’s so lightweight and small!) to use on my Mac. You know how most software only has one product key? And that’s the WORST!!! Well, this is not the case with Hue. You can use it multiple times!! I love that. I am able to use this with Google Meet when I use the project screen option. It’s great since I teach math and my students could follow along with the math steps.
These are great for organizing centers, games, laminated things, and more. I love how there is a perfect spot on the side to add a label too! (I hot glued those on myself fyi.) These are incredibly durable and will last for years.
I use these as a positive management system and you can read about that here. I basically used them for a positive ticket drawing every Friday. These tickets are never ending- I have about 150 students and I have plenty leftover for next year. Even with school dismissing early this year, I still would have had some rolls left.
Yes, this toolbox is a beautiful in person as it is in this photo. I could not find this exact size on Amazon anymore, but there are several other options. I got my labels from Miss 5th on TPT and printed those myself.
This is my quarantine project!! So I had plans to use this for spring test review and it never happened. However, I am still adding this to my list because it’s one of my Amazon purchases that I was most excited about this year. I have seen many teachers use this on Instagram for engaging activities so I cannot wait! I will update here with a blog post when I am able to finally implement my ideas. (:
It is quite possible that spinning this wheel was the biggest temptation in my classroom. I had to keep it behind my desk haha but when the students did earn a prize and I got to bring it out.. JOY! I actually have a blog post about what students have to earn to spin this, so you can check it out there. It came with markers to write with too!
I aesthetically regret in this moment that I don’t have a photo of these in my classroom but I will just have to patient and do that in the future! (: These dice are super fun. I used them in 1st grade and this year in 7th. Dice can be used for ALL the things- so if you like using dice, these are a must.
I really wish that I had used this strategy since year one.. but I didn’t until year five!! It is so simple and positive. I got both my tickets and fishbowls from Amazon. I have five different class periods, so I use five different fishbowls. I let students write their names on tickets for positive actions such as participation, being kind, or a great explanation for a strategy. I have my students sit in groups, so sometimes if one table is extra great, everyone at that table can have a ticket. We use IXL for math, and if they get a smart score of 90, I let them have a ticket. I think you get the point- there are many reasons you can award a ticket.
Right now through virtual learning, I am awarding tickets for students who receive a specific SmartScore on IXL math for skillsI have assigned. I am then drawing a ticket for who gets a pizza delivered to their house! So tickets can even be engaging through distance learning.
A little incentive for distance learning.
On Friday’s I pull tickets for candy. (You can of course draw for whatever incentive you want!) Last year I started by only drawing 5 tickets per class period. But as the year went on, I pulled as many as I wanted. I kept the tickets in for 9 weeks since we have four 9-week grading periods. At the start of a new grading period I throw them away and start over. So towards the end of a grading period when there was a LOT in there, I drew plenty.. say 15 or so. My 7th graders love this. They remind me if I forget and they would ask every Friday like clockwork if I was drawing!! I would also tell a substitute that they could tell students to put their name in the ticket jar as a little trick for their sleeve.
How i keep my jars displayed for each period.
This is a very versatile idea. If you teach elementary grades where you don’t change classes, you could have a fishbowl for each table or group. If you use a house system in your classroom, you could have one per house. Or of course, you could have one fishbowl and that’s it.
How would you use this in your classroom? I would love to know!
