Looking for structure in word problems
By grade 4, students have worked with all four operations and are expected to solve multi-step word problems. Research tells …
Category Archives: Grade 6 / Course 1
Understanding Cross Multiplication
Students seem to love using cross multiplication to compare fractions and check for equivalence; this simple, mysterious procedure will assure …
Count around the circle with fractions
Here is an activity for middle school students that borrows a familiar number sense routine to have students think deeply …
Place Value: Why all the fuss?
Our students “get” place value, right? I mean it’s not rocket science; we teach them to know the names of …
Packing Cupcakes and Subtracting Across Zeroes
Do your students struggle with subtraction across zeroes? Here’s an activity that might help them make sense of regrouping. Let’s …
Changing Direction in Inequalities: Why?
The writers of the Common Core Standards for Mathematics have provided us with several Progressions Documents that track the progression …
What kind of understanding do we want for our students?
How often have you taught a topic, which your students seem to understand, only to be confronted by their inability to …
More Number Line Lessons and Activities
Here’s a great resource that explains how to think about all four operations using an empty number line. Here’s a …
NCTM Annual Meeting
Click here to watch NCTM President Linda Gojak’s excellent presentation on Eight Instructional Practices to Promote Grades K – 8 Number Sense. …
Free Preview Articles from NCTM!
The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics has shared two free preview articles from their journals. Click here to download The …
The Math SPOT 