Idea Galaxy

Adventures in Junior High and Mathematics

Rachel

5 Books for math teachers

by

Every summer my nightstand piles up with the books that I’ve collected over the year. I like to unwind over the summer with a mix of fiction and teaching books. When it comes to math teaching books, I love stepping back from the classroom and exploring new ideas to try.

There’s a range of teaching books that I’ve read over the years. Some books are motivational. Some have clever ideas that get my wheels turning about new things to try in my classroom. But there are some books that I keep going back to long after summertime is over. Let’s dive into each of these books for math teachers that I think are well worth their place on your bookshelf.

[Read more…] about 5 Books for math teachers

How to Teach Comparing Functions with Interactive Notebooks

by

When we talk about comparing functions in 8th grade math, we’re really focusing on slope and y-intercept in multiple representations. I’ve found that it can become very confusing and complicated for students if we go too fast or if we skip over key information. Because teaching students to compare functions has so many parts for students to understand, this unit is one that takes more time than most.

Overall, we want students to be able to read graphs, tables, coordinate points, equations, and written descriptions and identify the slope and y-intercept in all those forms by the end of the unit. So, how do we introduce all of this? In this post I’ll break down step-by-step what this unit looks like in my students’ interactive notebooks. [Read more…] about How to Teach Comparing Functions with Interactive Notebooks

How to Teach Functions with Interactive Notebooks

by

We introduce the word “functions” to students in 8th grade math. They, of course, have worked with functions in earlier grades. However, functions were previously referred to as input/output tables. Often teachers show input/output tables as a machine with a rule giving students their first introduction to the topic. But just because students should have some background with the concept of functions, it definitely doesn’t mean that you don’t have to teach this topic to students. They need to have a deeper understanding of functions before going into comparing functions and unit rates later on. Today I’m sharing with you the step by step way that I use interactive notebooks to introduce functions  and activate students’ prior knowledge. By the end of this unit, students are prepared for other 8th grade topics with functions.

[Read more…] about How to Teach Functions with Interactive Notebooks

10 Ideas for 6th Grade Math Test Prep

by

In our math teaching world we have to administer a plethora of tests throughout the year. Sometimes our students get tired of the same old ways of practicing and reviewing. Today I’d like to share some test prep and review ideas with you for those tests that have all the 6th grade level standards on them. I believe that students really need to be engaged when they review, or they will not remember and carry it with them. Also, I like to make test prep a collaborative effort between students. So, many of the activities below don’t just review the math, they also get students working together and having fun.

[Read more…] about 10 Ideas for 6th Grade Math Test Prep

How to teach unit rate and slope with interactive notebooks

by

Every year I pledge to get students to understand slope better than the year before. So, I pay close attention to exactly what makes slope tricky for students. One thing I’ve noticed over time is that it seems like they get the concept behind slope better than the abstract idea of slope. Also, there are 5 representations that we use for slope, and each one of those has its own details. It’s a lot for students to grasp. Then, they have to hold on to that newfound knowledge and apply it in unfamiliar situations. So, how do we teach unit rate and slope in a way that sticks? Today I’ll share with the way I break down this topic with students, and how I use their interactive notebooks to help them get a solid foundation with slope and unit rate. [Read more…] about How to teach unit rate and slope with interactive notebooks