Teaching systems of equations is always a challenge for me. It’s a culmination of so many things that we’ve done during the year. Some students seem to memorize the steps, but I find that it doesn’t really stick unless they understand what they are doing. We use the interactive notebook throughout the unit. We add information, synthesize, practice, and reflect, all in the interactive notebook. Let’s break down what this whole systems of equations unit looks like in our interactive notebooks. [Read more…] about How to Teach Systems of Equations with Interactive Notebooks
Math Teaching Tips
How to Teach Math with Interactive Notebooks
I’ve used interactive notebooks in my middle school math classroom for years. When you teach the same topics year after year, you tend to add new things. As I reflected on all of my experiences with interactive notebooks, I realized that there are 5 components that are staples in my interactive math notebook. Each of these 5 components serves a different purpose and they all are very supportive of learning. I can’t imagine my math interactive notebooks without all five of these pieces.
So what does a math unit in an interactive notebook entail? Today I’ll share with you more about each of these components and how they work together to make a comprehensive unit in my students’ notebooks.
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Simple, Super Tools to Make Your Math Classroom More Fun!
In my opinion, there’s no higher praise than when students say they’re having fun while we’re learning and practicing math. Learning math doesn’t always have to be super-dooper exciting, but it really shouldn’t be drudgery either. Luckily, it can be pretty simple to step up the fun and engagement with just a little preparation. Part of that preparation is having a few tools that go a long way to creating fun review games or hands-on ways to explore math concepts. [Read more…] about Simple, Super Tools to Make Your Math Classroom More Fun!
14 Ways to Practice Adding and Subtracting Fractions with Unlike Denominators
Adding and subtracting fractions with unlike denominators is a basic skill that students will use in math for a long time. When they get to 7th and 8th grade they have to remember how to do this in the context when they’re solving other types of problems including equations. I notice that some students just need a little reminder of how to add and subtract fractions, while other students don’t seem to remember what to do at all. [Read more…] about 14 Ways to Practice Adding and Subtracting Fractions with Unlike Denominators
9 How Many Solutions Activities
In 8th grade math when we introduce the concept of how many solutions there can be to a system of equations, it pretty much blows students minds. They get so used to everything having one right answer and it being one number. But when we start talking about the different number of solutions, now they have to identify how many answers it may have, and some of them fight against that idea. In our scope and sequence we introduce this topic when we learn about solving multi-step equations that have a variable on both sides because you can have infinite solutions or no solutions in these cases. We teach it again later in the year when we get to solving systems of equations. Check out these nine activities sure to help students understand and find how many solutions exist in a system of equations. [Read more…] about 9 How Many Solutions Activities
