The patterns made when a parallel lines are cut by a transversal are really cool to recognize. I feel like once you see the pattern then you can understand why the angles are either congruent or supplementary. Unfortunately, it’s not always so easy for students to see the pattern. So, teaching students about transversals offers a great opportunity to reinforce with students the good mathematical practice of always looking for patterns in mathematics. Many of the practice activities listed below for this topic bring a chance to look at things visually. [Read more…] about 13 Activities for Making Parallel Lines Cut by a Transversal Memorable
How to Get the Most Out of Your Slope Intercept Form Foldable
Slope Intercept Form Foldable
Sometimes the most simple foldables are the best ones. That’s how I feel about the slope intercept form foldable. Students struggle to understand slope and y-intercept because there are so many parts to it. This foldable is an excellent reference that simply shows what the different parts of slope intercept form formula stand for. This gives students a basic understanding that each part of the formula can be replace by something. (Click here to get this foldable. All you have to do is print and go.) [Read more…] about How to Get the Most Out of Your Slope Intercept Form Foldable
8 Activities to Make Approximating Square Roots Magical
Teaching approximating irrational numbers is probably my favorite topic that I teach all year. It’s the second thing that we teach in the fall, and I get pretty stoked for it. I’m not quite sure why I like it so much. It’s probably the cool pattern that it makes. Also, the idea that numbers are irrational and that they actually don’t have a place on a number line makes me giddy (and yes, I know how math nerdy that sounds!). To help you find engaging ways to practice approximating irrational numbers, I’ve compiled a list of some of the activities and resources that I like to use. They get students just as excited about approximating irrational numbers as I am! [Read more…] about 8 Activities to Make Approximating Square Roots Magical
Teaching Square Roots Through Discovery
Discovery Learning with Square Roots
A few years ago I learned about the idea of discovery learning. It was revolutionary to me at the time. Math was taught to me in the most traditional ways for most of my life and I taught it that same way. You know- the teacher gives notes and the students take notes. Then, after seeing a few examples, the students do work and we go over the work together. This framework has been so ingrained in my that it was and still is to some degree hard to let students do the work of discovering. [Read more…] about Teaching Square Roots Through Discovery
12 Square Roots and Cube Roots Activities with Big Impact
At the beginning of the school year each year, I teach square roots and cube roots. It’s a topic that’s both simple and fun. I like that we do this at the beginning of the year because it’s a win for students. They can “get it” and they start off with some confidence. This lays the groundwork for approximating irrationals numbers and lets us ease into the school year. [Read more…] about 12 Square Roots and Cube Roots Activities with Big Impact