Understanding Expressions
Instead of asking students to write expressions that represent real life situations, this task defines the variables, presents expressions, and asks …
Previous articles
What does it mean to multiply by a fraction?
Help students understand multiplication by a fraction with this activity, where two students discuss different models of fraction multiplication and …
Comparing a number and a product
Build rational number sense with this activity that asks students to consider which number is greater without performing the multiplication.
Understanding function notation
Click here for an activity that gauges student understanding of function notation.
Multiplication or Division?
Click here for an activity that has students think about whether they need to multiply or divide to solve a …
Place the Point
Click here for an activity that helps students understand the placement of the decimal point in division.
Linear Equations
Click here for an “I have…who has..?” game that helps students identify slopes and intercepts as well as find parallel …
Frac-tangles
Click here for a great activity that promotes understanding of fractions, ratio, equivalence, and proportion.
Understanding the Equal Sign
Researchers have found that students in the United States often view the equal sign as a “do something” signal. What …
Borrowing vs. Decomposing
Here’s a great example of how language can affect conceptual understanding. The following is from a third grade teacher in China, quoted in Liping …
The Math SPOT 