One Teacher's Adventures

One of my favorite things about teaching middle school math is when students’ curiosity drives the lesson. It doesn’t always happen on its own; sometimes I need to create the conditions for wonder to bubble up. Over the years, I’ve leaned on two approaches that consistently spark inquiry: Which One Doesn’t Belong? and Show Me Your Math . Which One Doesn’t Belong? Inspired by Christopher Danielson’s books, this routine invites students to look at four numbers, shapes, or images and decide which one doesn’t belong. The beauty of this activity is that there isn’t just one right answer.  In the image below, students might say that D doesn't belong because it's the only circle, while C doesn't belong because it's the only blue shape, and A doesn't belong because it's the only shape broken into thirds. Once students can find reasons why one item doesn't belong, you can challenge them to find a reason why each of the items doesn't belong. What I love about ...

We've all heard it: "I hate math!" Whether it's frustration, past struggles, or just disinterest, some students come into our classrooms with their minds made up. But as teachers, we know that math isn't the enemy — and we can change the way our students see it. By making math hands-on, relevant, and interactive, we can help them develop confidence and maybe even enjoy it. Here are some strategies to make math more engaging in middle school: 1. Get Hands-On Math can feel abstract, but giving students something to touch can make a huge difference. Use manipulatives like fraction tiles, algebra tiles, and pattern blocks. Bring in real-world connections like planning a trip on a budget, doubling or halving a recipe (then having students make the dish!), or designing a dream bedroom with area and perimeter. I've had students plan field trips that they'd like to take - looking at bus schedules, budgets, and timetables. Not only did it engage them in their le...

As middle school teachers, we know that math can be a challenging subject for many students. The abstract concepts, the layers of operations, and the sheer volume of practice required to master skills can sometimes overwhelm even the most diligent learners. This is where math routines come into play. By incorporating structured, predictable math routines into your classroom, you can create a supportive environment where students build confidence, deepen their understanding, and develop essential problem-solving skills. Why Use Math Routines? Math routines are consistent practices or activities that students engage in regularly. These routines help establish a classroom culture where math is seen as a daily habit rather than a daunting task. Here are some key benefits of using math routines: Builds Mathematical Fluency: Regular practice through routines helps students develop fluency with numbers, operations, and problem-solving strategies. Over time, students become more comfortable a...

Dividing fractions can be a difficult concept for students to understand, but using models such as diagrams or number lines can help to visualize the process and make it more concrete. Here is an explanation of how to divide fractions using fraction strips: Use fraction strips to solve 1/2 ÷ 3/4. 1.      Think through the problem as "How many groups of 3/4 are needed to cover the area of 1/2?" 2.      Draw fraction strips to represent each fraction. Make sure they are both the same size. 3.    Using the diagram, we can see that we would need two out of three of the green boxes to cover the blue area, so we would need 2/3 of a group of 3/4. So, we can solve the question. 1/2 ÷ 3/4 = 2/3. Here is another example:  Use fraction strips to solve 2/3 ÷ 5/12. 1.      Think through the problem as "How many groups of 5/12 are needed to cover the area of 2/3?" 2.      Draw fraction strips to represent each fraction....

Are you looking for a way to help your middle school students understand probability? These hands-on math stations are a great way to help students understand the difference between theoretical and experimental probability.  In these stations, students use common materials to complete simple tests in order to calculate probability of a specific event. My students loved these stations so much that they asked if we could spend an extra day with them to see whether the experimental probability would change.  These allowed for rich classroom discussions on the difference between theory and practice, and some students were able to show extension of the topics by suggesting further tests and trials - including testing 50 times instead of 20, with a hypothesis that the experimental probability would more closely match the theoretical probability with more trials.  My probability stations come with 8 different station cards, teacher notes, and almost all materials needed to run t...

This activity is a great low floor, high ceiling hands-on math activity that takes zero prep and had all of my kids fully engaged.  My 6th graders this year love to use their hands and build. So, to help them better understand ratios, I decided to bring out the manipulatives.  First, I asked my students to find one or two partners, then in their groups select a collection of items from our manipulatives bins. I had tangrams, pattern blocks, beads, unifix cubes, cuisinaire rods, and place value blocks, but this could work with any manipulatives that you may have in your classroom. When they had their items, I asked them to find as many ratios they could to describe relationships between their items.  For the collection above, they might find the following ratios. triangles to hexagons = 7:3 unifix cubes to beads = 5:20 green triangles to triangles = 4:7 yellow to red = 9:3 I gave my students about 15 minutes to find and record as many ratio relationships as they could, in ...

I love to add games into my Middle School math lessons. So much learning happens when students play games, not just because the content of the games relates to curriculum, but because when they are playing, they are engaged in the material and are applying theory in a context that makes sense. Here are 10 of my favourite games to play during my math blocks. 1. Cribbage Cribbage is a great game for mental math skills, addition, and strategy. Materials: Cribbage Board, Deck of Cards Objective: Be the first to score 121 points Number of Players: 2-3 How to Play Play Online 2. Achi Achi is a simple game, but takes concentration and strategy. Materials: Achi Board, 4 pieces for each player Objective: be the first player to get three pieces in a row Number of Players: 2 How to Play Download a printable Achi Board 3. Make 100 This game is great to practice basic operations. My students really love it, especially the end when everyone is hovering around 100 and they need to add, then subtract...