See all the major concepts involved in graphing linear equations in one clear, color-coded summary.
Linear Equations “Cheat Sheet”
How to Stop Hating Fractions
O Lord, have mercy on us and save us from fractions! I have never seen a bigger stumbling block in teaching math than those poor God-forsaken fractions. Kids absolutely recoil at them. I have even had a parent say to
Quick Line and Rotational Symmetry Project
A quick project to introduce symmetry: You can either provide or have them use a protractor to draw some simple geometric shapes on construction paper. I typically require a square, an equilateral triangle, and a third polygon of their choice.Â
Building Number Sense: Estimation 180
Estimation 180 helps students build number sense and practice using different units of measurement. Designed by math teacher Andrew Stadel, the website presents students with a different photo each day and asks them to estimate some quantity shown. Each day
Popsicle Stick Snowflakes: A Holiday Craft
I saw this Popsicle stick snowflake craft on Pinterest and immediately fell in love! My preschooler loves Popsicle stick crafts, and he has been itching to get ready for Christmas, so this was a perfect fit for a recent Saturday
Ron Paul Curriculum Trial
As part of our summer plans, we wanted to have some actual academic time amidst all the running through the sprinkler and playing in the pool. I have had my eye on Ron Paul’s home school curriculum for a while,
Math Storybooks: Sir Cumference
I am always on the lookout for resources that make math more fun and exciting for kids. Several years ago, a colleague of mine loaned me a copy of Sir Cumference and the Great Knight of Angleland to read to
Tessellation Tip
In order to keep them from crawling up the walls in their last week before summer vacation, I’ve given my seventh graders a tessellation project. There are about ten million youtube videos explaining how to do this, so I won’t
Area of Mixed Polygons
In 7th grade math, we’re working on area. Â We’ve gone through all of the basic formulas with careful attention to how they are related to one another — the triangle being half of a rectangle, the trapezoid being a combination
Units vs. Square Units (vs. Cubic Units)
When teaching basic geometry concepts, such as perimeter and area, you will save yourself quite a bit of grief if you start by making clear the difference between units and square units. Our common abbreviations for these, such as cm