Engaging Fractions, Decimals, and Percentages Activities for 6th Grade Math
Fractions, decimals, and percentages are foundational math concepts that students will use throughout their lives, from handling money to understanding data. However students can struggle with switching between forms and recognizing that, for example three fourths, 75% and 0.75 have the same value and are parts of a whole. By using engaging activities—like visual models, […]
Teaching Percentages in Small Steps: Using Benchmark Percents From 1% to 100%
Find the Percent of a Number using Benchmark Percentages Years ago, as a new teacher, I remember one particular day when I asked my class what 5% of 50 was and the variety of answers and calculations I received in response was wide ranging and an eye opener! It certainly highlighted the confusion that students […]
The Butterfly Method for Fractions – A Guide for Teachers
What is the Butterfly Method? Fractions with unlike denominators can be tricky for 4th and 5th graders to understand. Students are moving from something relatively straightforward when adding, subtracting and comparing fractions with like denominators to something requiring more complex calculations. The butterfly method is a simple, visual way to help students compare, add, and […]
How to Help Students Learn Long Division in Upper Elementary
Long division is both challenging to learn and to teach! Students often have a broad range of understanding of this concept. It requires a strong prior understanding of all other operations: addition, subtraction and multiplication facts and methods, which may still be developing in many students. Challenges Upper elementary students need to understand that division […]
How to Create an Effective Math Working Wall in Upper Elementary and Middle School Classrooms
The Value of a Math Working Wall When I first started teaching I was lucky enough to have a teaching aide who was incredibly creative. I’d ask her to think of a creative way to display student work and I always loved seeing the excitement and pride these displays ignited in my students. It is […]
Identifying and Supporting Students with Math Difficulties in Upper Elementary
What Type of Math Difficulties Do Students Have? Many students find math challenging today and over the years I have supported and now specialize in teaching students who have math difficulties. Students all have their own potential to reach and I enjoy finding ways to enable that journey. I tell all my students that there […]
The Place Value Division Strategy Step by Step Guide
What is place value chart division? The place value chart division method is a great way for introducing the division of larger numbers. My students have always responded well to this visual version of the box method and I find it helps those struggling to master division make more sense of how division works. I’ve […]
Get Ready for Math: 20 Tips to Start the School Year Strong
It’s time to get ready for math in upper elementary! Back-to-school season can be an exciting yet stressful time for all teachers. The summer break is a time that I like to recharge energy levels however I also schedule time each week to prepare for the academic year ahead. I have found that this helps: […]
How to Use the Big Seven Division Method
What is Big Seven strategy for division? The Big 7 division method is a useful way to introduce long division using partial quotients. By partial quotient, we refer to the factor or number that we multiply the divisor by. I often use this partial quotient method to introduce students to division. The name comes from […]
Why Area Model Multiplication Should be a Staple in your Curriculum.
While some upper elementary students I have taught find multiplying larger numbers using the standard method effective, for others it can cause a lot of confusion! What is that placeholder zero all about? Why am I carrying over numbers? I’m sure you’ve had to answer these questions before! Using an area model method gives many […]