This year, I changed schools. I was bummed that I left my math Alphabet at my old school. Ok, all I had to do was print another one, but you how it is at the beginning of school ---There is a million and one things to do. So this is how this idea was born. I decided to let my students create a math alphabet for my classroom. I gave each student a letter and asked them to find a math word beginning with their letter. Then, I told them to to illustrate the word they selected. I was so pleased with how this activity turned out, I plan to do this every year. If you would like to do this activit ..read more

We have been studying the Civil Rights Movement for several weeks. My students have had some thoughtful discussions. I am so proud of the love they have show to one another all year. Today, during a teachable moment, we decided to investigate the various hues of skin in our classroom. What a beautiful picture of diversity. I am proud of how far we have come in the last 50 years, and cannot wait to see what positive changes are in store for the next generation ..read more

I love letting my students create a decimal number line during our fraction unit. My students work together as a group, they color each decimal from zero to one. This helps them visualize the decimal in relation to the whole. They attach the colored decimal squares in order on a piece of 3 inch receipt paper. Click here to get your FREE decimal Number Line. I also have a version that may be printed Decimal Number Line available in my TpT store. After students create their own number lines, I like to have this version for the neatness and accuracy.  ..read more

I know many of you are teaching division with partial quotients right now. I have always found it helpful if my kiddos have a graphic organizer to keep their numbers straight when first learning this skill. Click on the pic below to get your free partial quotient division graphic organizer. In my TpT store I have a set of division printables that great for instruction and assessment. This set is available with and without an answer key box at the bottom of the page. My student find an answer box helpful when self correcting. They tend to identify and correct their own mistakes when using ..read more

Imagine your students wanting to increase their vocabulary knowledge and actively listening to every word you say. Sounds like something out of science fiction, right?  I thought so too; until I started playing a simple game with my students. This game is quick and easy to implement. Simply select a word frequently used by you and your students---such as good. Then, create an anchor chart of the synonyms of the word you selected. Whenever students hear you say the word or one of its synonyms, they should immediately say “ding, ding, ding.” Students will be allowed to toss a soft ball ..read more

I love coming up with new math games. Hearing my students beg to play a game or complain when it’s time to stop playing is one of my favorite sounds. I seem to create a ton of multiplication games in an attempt to make learning these facts fun for my students. This year, I have created my most successful game yet and I just must share.                                             ..read more

Place value is one of those skills that help build true number sense. Giving students time to compare numbers and justify their answers increases their place value understanding. I have a set of 7 questions I like to use with my students. I call these questions the Sweet Seven. Students paste a copy of the question in their journals. Then, I provide them with three numbers to evaluate and answer in their journals. The numbers I select increase in difficulty as my students' skill level advances. Click here to get your FREE copy of the Sweet Seven ..read more

My students enjoy playing Hot Potato to review. Not only is Hot Potato a fun game, it works for any subject! All you need a soft ball to serve as your "potato" and kid friendly music. Begin by setting some ground rules for the students. I tell my students the boys must throw to a girl that is seated and the girls must throw to a boy that is seated. I usually make it a competition between the boys and girls because fourth graders love it. You can play without competing or you can compete by groups. Play a kid friendly song and let the students begin tossing the "potato." When the music stop ..read more

Rounding is definitely one of those skills my kiddos need to practice all year. It gets included in my math centers, spiral reviews, and basically anywhere I can pop estimating in. I have created a fun Christmas rounding review using Christmas themed world records. Click here to grab yourFREE copy of this set ..read more

My kiddos love working in cooperative groups. Let’s face it, they love to talk. I am tickled pink when they are talking about math, not so much when they get distracted and start talking about their weekends. Each time we start a new task, I let my students select their own group. My rule is they are only allowed one person to be the same from the last group. I tell them to stand up push in their chairs and then I give them 1 minute to find a new seat. If they are not seated after one minute, I find a seat for them. For some classes, I have a few students that do not work well together. In ..read more