How to Tackle a Word Problem

I hope everyone enjoyed Super Bowl Sunday!  Mine was filled with lots of sugary and salty snacks and a not so happy hubby.

Here are some steps to make sure tackling a word problem is not quite as painful as getting tackled by a football player!

Math Fact Friday: 3 Card Games

My students’ favorite Math Fact Fridays are always when we get to play games.  Any time I see playing cards (especially themed) in the Target “1-spot”, I buy them.  Something about that 1-spot has me addicted! (See what I do with the file folders here!)  I’ve also found plain playing cards and a set of six dice there!  I now have Hello Kitty, Cars, and plain playing cards.

Playing cards are easy resources for math games because they are so cheap and versatile.  You can write the directions on the board or print a hand out for each student to keep in their binder.  These math games can be used as a warm-up, a treat for the end of the day on Friday (which is what I usually did), or a station. 

Student Resource Page Updated!!

Check out the new student resource page at Alpha Delta Academy.  There are a ton of useful resources to math students including math games, practice exercises, and videos!  Follow this link to check it out.

Math Fact Friday: Dad’s Worksheets

When I taught sixth grade math last year, I noticed a common denominator (no pun intended) between the students that were struggling.  None of them knew their math facts. 

Now I am a very conceptual teacher; however, once students understand HOW to add, subtract, multiply, and divide, they need to know how to do it quickly.  This usually involves little to no conceptual teaching which is why, I think, it has been forgotten by many teachers recently during the latest education fad.  Students have to have their math facts memorized.  It leads to more confidence, less time doing homework, and over all more success in math. 

This is why I instituted “Math Fact Fridays”.  At the start of the year, two of my sixth graders were at a 4^th grade level in math, right before spring break, they were right on grade level.  I think a HUGE part of their success was Math Fact Fridays. 

This year I have started exclusively tutoring.  The students that are struggling in their classes don’t know their math facts.  Before I help them with their topics they are coving in class, I always have them learn their math facts.  The biggest improvement I have seen is by an in-depth review on math facts.

I’m going to be sharing resources I used with my sixth graders last year and those that I use with my tutoring students currently.  I hope you see as much success in your students with these resources as I have!