Using Guided Notes for Review and Mastery in Math

Guided notes aren’t just for introducing new concepts—they can be a powerful review tool after students have already learned a topic. When used strategically, guided notes help students organize their thinking, identify gaps in understanding, and solidify key concepts before assessments or cumulative activities.

Here’s how you can use guided notes after students have been introduced to a topic to reinforce learning and promote long-term retention.

Why Use Guided Notes for Review?

✔️Organizes Key Information – Students can compile everything they’ve learned in a structured way, making it easier to study.

✔️ Strengthens Retention – Rewriting and summarizing information helps move concepts from short-term to long-term memory.

✔️ Identifies Misconceptions – Students can revisit tricky concepts and clarify misunderstandings before a test.

✔️ Encourages Independent Learning – Instead of relying on re-teaching, guided notes allow students to self-check and fill in knowledge gaps.

Ways to Use Guided Notes for Review

1. Fill in the Gaps with a Second Look

Have students return to their original guided notes and reflect:

• What still feels confusing?
• Are there any missing steps or concepts?
• Can they explain each section in their own words?

You can provide a completed version of the notes so students can compare and correct their work.

2. Partner or Group Study Sessions

Pair students up and have them use their guided notes to:

•  Quiz each other on definitions, formulas, and strategies
•  Explain steps for solving problems in their own words
•  Compare notes and discuss different problem-solving methods

This helps reinforce understanding and fills in knowledge gaps.

3. Create a ‘Cheat Sheet’ from Guided Notes

Ask students to condense their guided notes into a one-page reference sheet. This helps them prioritize key information and practice summarizing.

💡 Bonus: Allow them to use the sheet for a small portion of their test—this encourages thoughtful note-taking rather than memorization.

4. Use Notes for Self-Reflection

At the end of a unit, have students revisit their guided notes and answer:

• What are the three most important takeaways from this unit?
• What strategies helped me understand this topic best?
• What do I still need to work on before the test?

This metacognitive practice strengthens problem-solving skills and builds independent learners.

Guided Notes: More Than Just a Learning Tool

Using guided notes after learning a topic turns them into a valuable review resource. They help students organize, reflect, and prepare—without feeling overwhelmed. Whether for test prep, group discussions, or interactive review games, guided notes can help students reinforce their understanding and master challenging math concepts.

Want to try this in your classroom? 

Check out my Guided Notes for Middle School Math!

⭐⭐ These links below are for the grade bundles.  You can also get the individual topics, if needed. Look at the individual links in the bundle description.  ⭐⭐

• 6th Grade Math Notes
• 7th Grade Math Notes
• 8th Grade Math Notes

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Michelle Sigaran

Engaging End-of-Year Math Review with Flipbooks!

As the school year winds down, keeping students engaged while reinforcing key math concepts can be a challenge. That’s where math review flipbooks come in! Designed for 6th, 7th, and 8th grade math, these interactive resources make test prep and end-of-year review both effective and fun.

Why Use Flipbooks for Math Review?

Traditional review methods, like packets and worksheets, can feel repetitive and overwhelming for students. Flipbooks provide a structured yet engaging way for students to organize and review important concepts in a hands-on format. Here’s why teachers love using them:

✅ Comprehensive Topic Coverage – Each flipbook includes key skills tailored to its grade level, ensuring students review exactly what they need.

✅ Easy to Assemble – Just print, cut, and staple! These flipbooks are a low-prep, high-impact resource.

✅ Interactive Learning – Students take an active role in their review, making concepts stick better than traditional worksheets.

✅ Perfect for Test Prep – Whether you’re gearing up for standardized tests or final exams, these flipbooks help students review in an organized way.

✅ Flexible Use – Great for independent work, small group stations, or whole-class review sessions.

What’s Included in Each Flipbook?

Each grade level flipbook is specifically designed to cover essential math concepts in an easy-to-follow format. Here’s a sneak peek at what’s inside:

• 6th Grade Math Flipbook: Covers fractions, decimals, percents, absolute value, unit rates, one-step equations, inequalities, geometry, statistics, and more.

• 7th Grade Math Flipbook: Focuses on rational numbers, multi-step equations, proportional relationships, probability, surface area, volume, and statistics.

• 8th Grade Math Flipbook: Includes linear equations, systems of equations, exponents, functions, transformations, the Pythagorean Theorem, and more advanced topics.

How to Use These Flipbooks in Your Classroom

Not sure how to incorporate these flipbooks into your lesson plans? Here are some easy and effective ways to use them:

📌 End-of-Year Review – A fun alternative to traditional review packets that keeps students engaged.

📌 Test Prep – Use as an organized reference tool before big assessments.

📌 Small Group or Partner Work – Encourage collaboration by having students work together to complete sections.

📌 Independent Practice – A self-paced activity that allows students to reinforce what they’ve learned throughout the year.

Get Your Math Review Flipbooks Today!

If you’re looking for an engaging, low-prep, and effective way to review math concepts with your students, these flipbooks are the perfect solution. Available for 6th, 7th, and 8th grade math, they help students stay organized, build confidence, and prepare for success.

Ready to make math review stress-free and effective? Grab your flipbooks today and watch your students thrive!

SAVE FOR LATER

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Michelle Sigaran

Transforming Math: Engaging Hands-On Learning Over Traditional Lectures

Middle school math can often feel like a sit-and-listen subject, but it doesn’t have to be! Shifting the focus from teacher-led instruction to hands-on learning keeps students engaged, encourages deeper understanding, and helps them retain concepts longer. Instead of spending the majority of class time lecturing, let’s explore ways to make math more interactive.

Why Hands-On Learning Works in Math

Research shows that students grasp concepts more effectively when they are actively engaged. Hands-on learning allows students to explore math in a meaningful way, making abstract concepts more concrete. By incorporating activities where students manipulate objects, discuss ideas, and work through problems collaboratively, they develop a stronger foundation for future learning.

Strategies to Make Math More Hands-On

1. Use Manipulatives for Conceptual Understanding

Manipulatives aren’t just for elementary students! Algebra tiles, fraction strips, and geometric shapes help middle schoolers visualize math concepts. For example:

• Use algebra tiles to model solving equations.
• Use graphing mats for slope and proportional relationships.
• Use cut-out composite shapes for finding area and perimeter.

2. Implement Math Stations or Centers

Instead of standing at the front of the room the entire period, set up stations where students rotate through different activities. Each station can focus on a different skill:

• A hands-on activity (using manipulatives or matching tasks)
• A problem-solving station with real-world applications
• A digital station with an interactive math game or video explanation

EXPLORE READY-TO-USE MIDDLE SCHOOL MATH STATIONS HERE

3. Get Students Moving with Scavenger Hunts & Task Cards

Movement increases engagement! Try:

• Task Card Scoot – Place task cards around the room; students move from one to the next solving problems.
• Math Scavenger Hunt – Hide problems around the classroom and let students search for them while solving each step.

4. Encourage Peer Teaching and Collaboration

Instead of explaining every new concept yourself, let students work in pairs or small groups to discover patterns and explain their thinking. Some ideas:

• Think-Pair-Share – Students solve a problem, discuss with a partner, then share with the class.
• Reciprocal Teaching – One student teaches the concept to a classmate, reinforcing their own understanding.

5. Integrate Real-World Problem Solving

Hands-on doesn’t always mean using physical objects—it can also mean applying math to real-life situations. Some ideas:

• Project-Based Learning (PBL) – Have students design a blueprint of their dream bedroom using scale and proportions.
• Budget Challenges – Give students a set amount of “money” to plan a party, incorporating tax, discounts, and unit rates.

Making the Shift: Small Changes for Big Impact

Transitioning to a more hands-on approach doesn’t mean you have to overhaul your entire teaching style overnight. Try these small changes:

• Start each lesson with an exploration activity rather than direct instruction.
• Give students math tools and let them discover patterns before formally introducing a rule or formula.
• Use exit tickets to reflect on what they learned through hands-on activities.

Final Thoughts

Middle schoolers thrive when they’re active participants in their learning. By making math more hands-on, we shift the focus from passive note-taking to active discovery. Not only does this approach boost engagement, but it also helps students develop problem-solving skills and a deeper understanding of math concepts.

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Michelle Sigaran

How Understanding Unit Rate Helps Students Master Slope

When teaching slope in middle school math, many students struggle to connect the concept to real-world situations. However, one powerful way to build their understanding is through unit rate—a skill they’ve likely encountered in earlier grades. By helping students see the connection between unit rate and slope, we can make this challenging topic more intuitive and meaningful.

What Is Unit Rate?

Unit rate is a comparison of two different quantities where one of the values is 1. It’s often used in real-life situations like speed (miles per hour), cost per item (price per ounce), or efficiency (words per minute).

For example, if a car travels 150 miles in 3 hours, students can find the unit rate by dividing:

$$\frac{150 \text{ miles}}{3 \text{ hours}} = 50 \text{ miles per hour}$$

This unit rate tells us how much the car travels per one hour.

What Is Slope?

Slope describes how steep a line is on a graph and is calculated as the change in y-values divided by the change in x-values (often remembered as "rise over run"). The slope formula is:

$$m = \frac{\Delta y}{\Delta x}$$

For example, if a line passes through the points (2, 4) and (6, 12), we find the slope by calculating:

$$m = \frac{12 - 4}{6 - 2} = \frac{8}{4} = 2$$

This means for every 1 unit increase in $x$, $y$ increases by 2.

How Unit Rate and Slope Are Connected

Slope is essentially a unit rate of change between two variables. Instead of measuring speed (miles per hour), slope measures how much $y$ changes for every 1 unit of $x$.

Here’s how unit rate helps students grasp slope:

• Familiar Concept, New Application – Students already understand unit rate from real-life contexts. When they see slope as a unit rate of change, it becomes less intimidating.

• Consistent Structure – Both unit rate and slope require division, reinforcing the idea of ratios and proportional relationships.

• Real-World Meaning – Students can interpret slope in word problems more easily when they connect it to something practical, like price per item or distance per time.

Classroom Strategies to Bridge the Gap

1. Use Word Problems First

Before jumping into graphing, give students unit rate problems and then transition to linear relationships. 

Example:

• A babysitter earns $40 in 4 hours. What is the unit rate?
• How does this compare to the slope of the equation $y = 10x$?

2. Relate Graphs to Proportional Relationships

Start with proportional graphs where students find the constant of proportionality (unit rate), which is also the slope. Then, introduce graphs where the y-intercept is not zero.

3. Have Students Create Their Own Real-World Scenarios

Ask students to write and graph a situation that involves unit rate (e.g., dollars per hour, miles per gallon). Then, have them identify the slope.

Final Thoughts

Helping students connect unit rate to slope makes learning linear equations more approachable. When students recognize that slope is just a unit rate of change, they gain confidence in graphing, interpreting, and solving problems with linear relationships. By reinforcing this connection through real-world examples and hands-on practice, we set students up for success in algebra and beyond!

Check out these guided notes that help connect unit rate and slope. Already made for you. Print and share. 

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Michelle Sigaran