Staying Focused on the Main Thing in Math Instruction

As math educators, it's crucial to ensure that students grasp core concepts without getting overwhelmed by unnecessary distractions—like working with overly complex numbers. Using simpler numbers allows students to focus on understanding the fundamental ideas rather than getting lost in the mechanics of calculation.  

My school director (who luckily was a former math teacher) brought this to my attention my first year when I was making copies of a worksheet I had just made. Students were practicing postive and negative fraction operations. Practically every problem was a weird non-sense fraction.  Nobody uses 3/57 or 5/21 in the real-world. Students have a hard time making sense of these numbers and quickly get overwhelmed by the abstract fractions.

Use numbers that make sense while you are building their foundations.  Integer operations, fractions, equations, scientific operations, slope, proportions are all examples.

You need to create a strong foundation for these concepts. Students need to practice the MAIN THING, and not get distracted by large or obscure numbers.  I would practice basic numbers for the entire year. If students have a solid foundation of the concepts, then moving on to larger numbers will be natural.

By simplifying numbers, students build confidence in the underlying principles. Once the concept is solidified, more complex problems can gradually be introduced. This approach ensures clarity and reduces reteaching, keeping the "main thing"—conceptual understanding—at the forefront of your lessons.  

What strategies do you use to streamline your teaching? Share your thoughts below!  

Share this with your fellow educators.

Image created using OpenAI's DALL·E

Read more »

Michelle Sigaran

Build a strong mathematical foundation.

A solid foundation is essential to a growing tower.

Mathematics continually builds on itself, without a solid foundation the tower will crumble.

Math foundations are built with conceptual understanding of mathematical properties.

Students must understand the "why" to mathematical practices. If students simply memorize an algorithm or learn by tips and tricks, their foundation is weak and will not sustain them throughout the mathematical journey.

Effective math teachers emphasize understanding and reasoning over rote memorization.

Here are 7 tips to build a strong mathematical foundation.

1. Introduce Concepts Visually: Use visual aids, manipulatives, and real-world examples to introduce mathematical concepts. I love using algebra tiles for algebra topics, and real-world examples for proportions, graphing, and statistics concepts. Make sure your students can concretely demonstrate a problem before moving to abstract representations. Bar models are also great for number sense.

2. Encourage Exploration and Inquiry: Use open-ended task problems that have multiple solution paths and promote critical thinking. I like to answer the students' question with a question to constnatly encourage thinking.

3. Emphasize Understanding: Focus on ensuring that students understand the why behind mathematical procedures and algorithms, rather than just memorizing steps. For example, when teaching multiplication, explore the concept as repeated addition or arrays before introducing standard algorithms.

4. Make Connections: Help students see connections between different

mathematical concepts and how they relate to each other. Using anchor charts is a great strategy to help students recall information and make connections from other topics.

5. Provide Opportunities for Discussion: Encourage students to discuss and explain their mathematical thinking. Students can do this in pairs, small groups, or as a class. Encourage students to share their strategies, justify their reasoning, and critique the reasoning of others. Putting converstaion starters on your wall is a good strategy to help your students with discussions.

6. Gradually Build Fluency: Once students have a solid conceptual understanding of a mathematical concept, gradually introduce opportunities for practice and fluency. Students love fun worksheets, games and activities as a way to practice and reinforce conceptual understanding.

             

7. Use Formative Assessments: Continuously assess student understanding throughout the learning process. Using formative assessments such as as: exit tickets, quizzes and observations is a great way to gauge students' progress and adjust instruction accordingly.

By teaching math conceptually first and then focusing on fluency, you lay a strong foundation for deeper mathematical understanding and promote long-term retention of skills and concepts. This approach not only helps students develop mathematical proficiency but also fosters a positive attitude towards learning math.

Save this post for later

Read more »

Michelle Sigaran

10 + 2 Tips to Help with Student Apathy in Middle School Math Class

I recently did a survey asking middle school math teachers what is their greatest challenge when teaching middle school math.

I received hundreds of responses, and by far, the number one response was student apathy.  

It is definitely a hard battle.  How do you teach math, when students' just are interested in learning about math.  

Here are my Top 10 + 2 Tips to help combat student apathy. 

1. Create a positive learning environment
2. Connect math to real-life applications
3. Make math fun and engaging
4. Set clear expectations
5. Differentiate instruction
6. Relate math to student interests
7. Break down complex concepts
8. Celebrate achievements
9. provide real-world challenges
10. Offer choices and autonomy
11. Show the beauty of math
12. Encourage a growth mindset

This Growth Mindset Personal Evaluation is a great way to encourage a growth mindset in your classroom. This activity helps students become self-aware of their math mindset and aim for growth.

Save this post for later

Clipart on Top Image and Pin Designed by Freepik

Read more »

Michelle Sigaran

Using Anchor Charts in the Middle School Math Classroom

Anchor charts are one of the best tools to use in your middle school math classroom.

Anchor charts are visuals that summarize key concepts, visual models, strategies and problem-solving techniques.

Anchor charts are key to helping students activate prior knowledge.

Check out the different ways to use anchor charts in your math classroom. 

Posters

Posters hung up around your classroom act as a great visual aid when teaching a math lesson. If you like to hang these on your wall you can either print out one per page and place on a bulletin board, or if you are looking to make bigger posters, then you can make a poster using 4 pages to make one poster.

Another alternative is going to a local print shop and having them create some magical posters to use in your classroom.  Laminating the posters will help them last longer, though definitely not required. 

Interactive Notebooks

Do you use interactive notebooks in your classroom?  If you used the bounded journals, the pages are a little smaller than 8.5 x 11.  

I like to print my anchor charts to either 2 or 4 to a page. Cut up and hand your students to glue in their notebooks. 

They can also add little notes around the anchor chart.  

You can mark the page with a little tab so your students can quickly refer to the anchor chart.

Little Rings

I think printing 4 to a page is the perfect size to make these little rings.  You can make a few to either keep in your classroom, or have each students make their own ring that they can easily add on to. 

Notebooks

Do you use 3-ring binders in your classroom?

Simply print out your anchor charts one per page, 3-hole punch, and have your students and it to their binders.  You can also add little tabs or have the students number the anchor charts and create a table of contents for quick reference.

Grab some Middle School Math Anchor Charts to use in your classroom today!

Save this post for later

Read more »

Michelle Sigaran