Imagine with me. It’s transition time. Your math block is well under way. You’ve engaged students in a quick warm-up to gently get the left sides of their brains moving. They’re (finally!) excited about math. You’re just wrapping up the day’s group lesson and moving towards math centers. It’s ... read more
How to: Math Centers Planning & Organization
So, once your students are all warmed up and pumped for math...what happens next? Of course you’ll often have a quick group lesson, learning new skills or reviewing old ones. But, as with literacy, new math skills should be taught and practiced many times in many different contexts before students ... read more
Winter Math Games for Kindergarten
Math games increase engagement and achievement. Simple as that. Games can be scary. Games can especially be scary for teachers who feel that constant pressure to show accountability. I've felt that pressure, too. Despite that constant nagging in the back of my mind (and sometimes out loud), I ... read more
Thankful for Math Games
What does your classroom look like during your math block? No, really. Stop and think about it for a moment. Are your children quietly working on a printable worksheet or consumable workbook? Do they get excited for math, or are they just going with the flow? I'll share that in my classroom ... read more
When it’s OK for Math to be a Little Scary
Is it ever OK for math to be a little scary? I say yes. While spooky may be a better word for what I'm sharing today, math centers don't have to be scary. Yes, it is possible to have math centers early in the year and be successful (and it doesn't even have to be a scary process)! It's ... read more