Word problems have long been a source of frustration for both students and teachers. But, in the real world, numbers aren’t found in isolation! Math is about recognizing the problem we are trying to solve, developing a plan to solve that problem and then carrying out the plan and checking
When I first learned about the different types of word problems (many, many years ago) I thought that we were overcomplicating the issue. Our program had students spending a lot of time reading word problems and identifying which problem type they were. Students were spending days writing “situation equations” and
So you have a student—or maybe a handful—who need extra support to succeed in math. You’re using math differentiation strategies to adjust instruction, but it’s not always clear when that’s enough… or when it’s time for a more targeted math intervention plan. Let’s break down the difference between math differentiation
If you haven’t yet implemented a strategy for your math intervention program you may be wondering exactly how you can get started. When Will You Meet With Your Math Intervention Groups? First and foremost, you have a logistical challenge. When will you meet with your math intervention group? How often
Math intervention is intended as a tool to support students who are not yet successful in the tier 1, general education curriculum without additional supports. So should you pre teach math skills in math intervention? The answer is: maybe! But there is much to consider when determining whether pre-teaching tier
Whether you are a classroom teacher, special education teacher, or interventionist you play a role in the math intervention cycle. But what, exactly, is your role and how does it connect to the work being done by other teachers working with the same student? What Is Your Math Intervention Role?
Far and away, the math topic I am asked most about this time of year is rounding. Why is rounding numbers so tricky for our students? Let’s dive into the reasons why rounding is so difficult for some of our students, what we can do to mitigate those difficulties and
A common reason to be hesitant of using math manipulatives is the need to, ultimately, demonstrate math skills without math manipulatives. But we don’t need to throw our math manipulatives out the window to reach this end! Let’s talk about how to use math manipulatives in your classroom knowing that,
When you are planning your math intervention schedule you have one main goal: Support your students in filling gaps in understanding after initial instruction. While focused on this singular goal, it’s not as easy as identifying a gap and “filling it up”– even in math intervention our students will have
The hardest part about trying something new is just getting started. Set yourself up for success in the year ahead by getting out in front of your math intervention plan. When your students arrive and when needs start to become apparent, you will already have a plan in place so