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Free Number Sense Boosters
Could your students’ number sense use a boost? These quick and simple activities improve number sense while engaging your students.
Latest from the Blog
Comparing Fractions Through a Number Sense Building Lens
Building number sense doesn’t need to be a separate activity in your classroom. Teaching comparing fractions? Let’s boost your student’s number sense in the process! How can we build number sense? We can build our student’s flexibility with numbers by strengthening their understanding of number relationships including: Each of the
How to “Catch Up” a Student Who is Behind in Math
If you have a student who might be considered behind in math it can be hard to know where to start so that they can catch up. Sometimes it seems like your student needs “everything”. A few simple principles can help you to determine priorities and set you and your
Stuck on a Math Skill? Ask these 3 Questions!
We’ve all experienced the feeling when a student is stuck on a math skill. Getting unstuck can be as simple as asking these 3 questions. They will guide you in terms of the most effective steps you can take to get moving forward again! Question #1: Could My Student Demonstrate
Valentine’s Day Math Read Aloud & Activities
Lean into the Valentine’s Day fun this month with a Valentine’s Day math read aloud along with some other easy-to-implement Valentine’s Day math activities! Valentine’s Day Math Read Aloud This sweet book Valentine’s Day, Here I Come is a collection of short poems perfect for a pre-k through 1st grade
Organizing Your Fact Fluency Materials
When it comes to fact fluency it can be easy both to over-simplify *and* to over complicate. Having a clear plan with fact fluency materials at the ready can simplify the task of assessing, instructing and practicing math facts. What Fact Fluency Materials Should You Have On Hand? You will
Quick Start Math Intervention Resources
If, for whatever reason, math intervention is feeling overwhelming right now, this blog post is for you. These quick-start math intervention resources will help you move from no-plan to ready-to-go in a few short and simple steps. When a project feels too big or too overwhelming it can be easy
How to Respond to Significant Gaps In Mathematical Understanding
Whether you are a classroom teacher or an interventionist working primarily with small groups you may have encountered a student or group of students who have significant gaps in mathematical understanding. Determining the next steps can feel overwhelming when they seem to need “everything” but we can simplify the process
Should We Use the Alligator Number Comparison Strategy?
This may be the most controversial post I have written since “Key Words are NOT the Key To Word Problems” but here we go. Should we use the alligator number comparison strategy to support our students in comparing numbers? My answer is a resounding yes… and no. I take the
The Math Intervention Strategy that Lowers Prep AND Increases Understanding
Sometimes, planning fewer *new* activities is the math intervention strategy that will make the difference for your students. Any time you can spend less time planning while also maintaining engagement and increasing student understanding, it should be considered a win! When your students are developing their understanding of a new
Getting Started With Numberless Word Problems
Word problems are the place where numbers, operations, and comprehension collide. Numberless word problems are a tool you can use to boost comprehension so that your students can confidently apply their knowledge of numbers and operations to solve. If you’ve never used this tool before, or if you have tried
