How to Keep Students Engaged in Math During Halloween Week

Halloween week in middle school can be one of the toughest times to keep students focused. The excitement is high, energy levels spike, and attention spans drop fast. But instead of fighting the Halloween hype, you can use it to your advantage. With the right mix of structure and creativity, your students can stay engaged, learn, and even have fun while doing math.

Channel the Halloween Energy

Trying to power through your normal lessons rarely works this week. The key is to lean into the energy and give it a productive direction. Themed math lessons turn distractions into motivation—students are more likely to participate when lessons feel festive and relevant.

Keep Routines Steady

Consistency is your best friend. Start class the same way you always do—with bell ringers, clear expectations, and familiar transitions. Routine provides a sense of stability even during the most exciting weeks of the school year.

Use Short, High-Energy Activities

Avoid long lectures or extended worksheets. Instead, try math stations, task card games, or partner challenges. Short, varied activities give students chances to move and reset their focus. They’ll stay engaged longer, and you’ll get quick formative feedback on who’s mastering the content.

Add a Light Halloween Twist

You don’t need to decorate the entire classroom or plan an elaborate party. Simply changing the context can make math more fun. Try problems involving:

• Candy ratios and percentages

• Pumpkin prices and proportions

• Graphing ghosts or bats on the coordinate plane

These quick tweaks make ordinary review feel exciting and new.

Encourage Reflection

Build in moments for students to connect math to real life. Have them write short reflections like:

“How did you use math in your Halloween prep?”
They might talk about estimating candy bags, dividing treats with friends, or calculating decoration costs. Writing helps strengthen mathematical reasoning and reflection—without adding extra grading.

 

Ready-to-Use Halloween Math Activities

If you’re short on prep time (because, let’s face it, October gets busy!), I’ve created a few classroom-tested resources that make Halloween math both engaging and effective:

🎃 Halloween Activities for Grades 6–8 (Differentiable)
🧡 Halloween Adding and Subtracting Integers Coloring Activity
👻 Halloween Scientific Notation Conversions Coloring Activity
🕸️ Halloween Graphing Linear Equations Mystery Picture

Each activity reinforces key middle school math standards, looks festive, and keeps students learning even when they’re full of Halloween energy.

Final Thoughts

Halloween week doesn’t have to be chaotic—it can be an opportunity to create memorable, meaningful math experiences. With a little planning, a solid routine, and a sprinkle of creativity, you can keep students engaged and excited about math all week long.

Read more »

Michelle Sigaran

How to Boost Math Retention with Spiral Review and Writing

If you’ve ever taught a concept in September only to have students stare blankly at you in November when it comes up again… you know the frustration. Retention is one of the biggest challenges in middle school math.

Students don’t just forget formulas or steps—they forget the connections that make math make sense.

So, how can we help our students retain what they’ve learned for the long term?

Let’s talk about one simple, powerful strategy: spiral review with writing.

Why Students Forget So Quickly

Math builds on itself. When students move from one unit to the next without revisiting previous concepts, their understanding fades fast. It’s not that they never learned it—it’s that their brains haven’t had enough chances to use it in meaningful ways.

Spiral review gives students those opportunities by revisiting old topics regularly. But adding a writing component to that review takes it to the next level.

The Power of Writing in Math

Writing helps students process their thinking.
When they explain how they solved a problem—or why one strategy worked better than another—they’re doing more than recalling steps. They’re connecting ideas, using math vocabulary, and reinforcing conceptual understanding.

A few examples of math writing prompts that promote deeper thinking: 

• “Explain how you know if an equation has one solution, no solution, or infinitely many.”

• “Describe a time you made a math mistake and what it taught you.”

• “Compare solving proportions by cross multiplying and by finding unit rate. Which do you prefer and why?”

These types of questions encourage reflection and critical thinking—skills that naturally lead to better retention.

How to Implement Spiral Review with Writing

Here are a few simple ways to make this strategy part of your routine:

1. Warm-Ups: Start class with one or two review problems and a short writing prompt.

2. Weekly Reflection: Have students choose one concept from the week to write about—what they learned, where they struggled, and what strategies helped.

3. Exit Tickets: End class with a quick math writing prompt to reinforce that day’s learning.

You don’t need to overhaul your lesson plans—just sprinkle small, consistent writing opportunities into your existing spiral reviews.

A Ready-to-Use Resource

To save you time, I’ve created a set of Math Writing Prompts designed specifically for middle school spiral review. These prompts cover key math concepts and can be used in warm-ups, journals, or exit tickets.

They’re quick to implement, encourage deeper thinking, and help your students remember what they’ve worked so hard to learn. 

⭐ 6th Grade Math Writing Prompts → Digital version

⭐ 7th Grade Math Writing Prompts → Digital version

⭐ 8th Grade Math Writing Prompts → Digital version

Retention doesn’t have to be a constant struggle. With a little intentional spiral review and purposeful writing, you can help your students strengthen their understanding—and make math stick for good.

Read more »

Michelle Sigaran

How to Boost Student Engagement in Middle School Math

If you’ve ever looked out at your class and seen glazed-over eyes, you know how hard student engagement can be in middle school math. You work hard planning a lesson, but if your students aren’t with you, it feels like all that effort goes to waste.

The truth is, engagement doesn’t mean adding more “fun” or gimmicks. It’s about helping students feel involved, active, and successful in the learning process. When students are engaged, they not only enjoy math more, but they also understand it on a deeper level.

Why Engagement Is So Important  

When students are engaged, they:

• Participate in class discussions

• Stay on task longer

• Make stronger connections between concepts

• Build the confidence to keep trying, even when math is hard

But when engagement is low, lessons drag, reteaching becomes constant, and both you and your students end up frustrated.

Simple Shifts to Increase Engagement

Here are a few strategies you can use tomorrow to bring more energy into your math classroom:

• Math Talk – Have students explain their thinking to a partner instead of just giving an answer.

• Whiteboards – Quick write-and-hold-up activities keep everyone accountable.

• Real-Life Connections – Bring in examples from sports, recipes, or money to show why math matters.

• Movement – Get students up and moving with a gallery walk or scavenger hunt.

• Stations – Rotate through different activities so students stay focused and active.

Why I Love Using Stations

Stations are one of my favorite ways to keep students engaged because they: 

• Break lessons into smaller, more manageable parts 
  
  

• Give students a chance to collaborate

• Add variety so students don’t get bored

• Let you check in with small groups instead of the whole class at once

Instead of working through one long worksheet, students move, talk, and solve problems in different ways. This structure gives them choice and variety while keeping the math meaningful.

Try Math Stations in Your Classroom

If you’ve never tried stations before, I encourage you to start small. Even one or two stations can make a big difference.

To make it easier, I’ve created ready-to-use resources that take the prep off your plate. You can check out my Middle School Math Stations Bundle to get everything you need for stations across the year.

Not ready for the full bundle? Start with my FREE Adding and Subtracting Integers Stations to see how stations can transform engagement in your classroom.

Final Thoughts

Engagement doesn’t have to mean adding more work for you. Small changes, like using stations, can make a huge difference in how students experience math.

When students are engaged, they don’t just go through the motions—they actually make sense of math.

Read more »

Michelle Sigaran

What to Do on the First Day of  Middle School Math Class

If you start the first day of math class with a syllabus and a pretest...you are going to have students shut down on day one. The first day sets the tone for the entire school year. Middle school students, in particular, walk into math class with a wide mix of emotions: excitement, nervousness, and sometimes even anxiety. As teachers, we have an incredible opportunity to make that first impression a positive one.

So, what should middle school math teachers actually do on day one? The answer comes down to two key priorities: building relationships and establishing routines. When students feel connected and know what to expect, they are more willing to engage, take risks, and develop confidence in math.

Let’s break down what this looks like in practice.

1. Building Relationships on Day One

Middle schoolers want to know their teacher cares about them before they care about math. Strong relationships are the foundation for engagement and classroom management. When students feel seen and valued, they are more likely to participate, persist through challenges, and take ownership of their learning.

Here are a few ways to connect on the first day:

• Greet students at the door. A smile and personal hello make students feel welcome right away.

• Share about yourself. Talk briefly about why you love math or a personal struggle you overcame. Students respect teachers who are real.

• Use an activity that gets students talking about themselves. One of my favorites is All About Me: Math Style. Students introduce themselves math style. Great for building classroom community and making math class engaging from day one. 

Relationship-building doesn’t need to be complicated—it’s about showing students from day one that you value them as people.

2. Establishing Routines Early

Relationships set the tone, but routines keep your classroom running smoothly. Middle school students thrive on structure and predictability. The first day is the perfect time to model and practice the routines that will support learning all year.

Here are a few routines worth practicing on day one:

• Entering the classroom: How should students come in, find their seats, and get started?

• Materials: Where do supplies live, and how are they used?

• Transitions: What does moving between activities look and sound like?

• Attention signals: How will you get everyone’s focus quickly and respectfully?

When you introduce an activity like All About Me or a collaborative math task, use it to model these routines in action. For example, if students are rotating through stations, demonstrate how to transition before they begin. This way, you’re teaching expectations while also engaging students.

3. Engaging Students in Math from the Start

While it’s tempting to save “real math” for later in the week, doing math on day one sends a clear message: this class is about learning, not just rules. The key is to start with activities that are approachable but still meaningful.

Some ideas include:

• Low-floor, high-ceiling problems that every student can start, but that allow for multiple strategies and solutions.  These Back to School Math Activities are perfect to engage your students from day one. 

• Math talks or puzzles that encourage discussion and reasoning instead of just finding answers.

• Collaborative problem solving where students work in pairs or groups, helping you observe teamwork and communication.

By starting with an engaging math activity, you show students that math class is a place for thinking, sharing, and exploring—not just memorizing formulas.

4. Reflection and Community Building

The way you end class matters just as much as how you begin. A short reflection gives students the chance to process and share, while also reinforcing the idea that their voice matters.

Here are a few easy reflection prompts for the first day:

• “One thing I learned about my classmates today is…”

• “One thing about me in math is…”

• “Something I’m looking forward to in this class is…”

You can collect responses on notecards, exit slips, or even through a quick partner share. This not only builds community, but it also gives you insight into your students’ attitudes and expectations.

5. A Sample First Day Plan

Here’s how you might put it all together:

• Welcome & Greeting (5 min): Meet students at the door and introduce yourself.

• Relationship Activity (15–20 min): Use All About Me: Math Style or a similar activity to learn about students.

• Teach & Practice a Routine (10 min): Model and practice one key routine, like transitions or attention signals.

• Quick Math Task (10–15 min): Engage students with a puzzle, number talk, or short problem-solving task.

• Reflection & Share-Out (5–10 min): Have students reflect on what they learned and how they felt.

By focusing on just a few well-chosen activities, you create a first day that is welcoming, structured, and engaging.

Conclusion

The first day of math class is your chance to set the foundation for the rest of the year. By prioritizing relationships and routines, and giving students a chance to do math right away, you create a safe and engaging classroom environment.

Remember—students won’t always remember what math problem you gave them on the first day, but they will remember how you made them feel. A thoughtful mix of connection, structure, and learning ensures your students feel welcome and ready to succeed in math. 

Want more middle school math ideas sent straight to your inbox?
⭐⭐ Join thousands of  teachers who get weekly tips, freebies, and inspiration. JOIN BELOW 👇

Read more »

Michelle Sigaran