Tagged: middle school math

How to Make Math Class Student Centered

Fresh teaching ideas engulf math teachers each fall. Which strategies take priority as we seek to help students have the best year ever? Teacher and coach Mona Iehl recommends three: build classroom community, review and augment resources, and select engaging lesson formats.

4 Moves to Help Tweens Overcome Math Anxiety

Math class brings certain challenges and requires special attention when forming a community, writes middle grades teacher Mona Iehl. “Many of my students come with negative math experiences and associations. My goal is that each student feels a sense of safety and belonging.”

A Math Strategy to Unlock Student Thinking

Math teacher Robert Kaplinsky wanted his students debating about the best way to solve a problem, using strategic thinking and not just the formula. He also wanted to know when students had misconceptions so he could reshape his lessons. His solution? Open Middle Math.

How We Become Skillful Math Teachers

Tracy Zager’s professor told students it would take five years to become a skillful math teacher. In this message to beginning educators, Zager shares insights that can help push the process. Most important: “Become addicted to listening to students’ mathematical ideas.”

How to Help Students Crush Math Anxiety

When teacher Michelle Russell surveyed her students about personal interests and learning preferences, she found over one-third have anxious or negative feelings about math. She’s begun her search for strategies to address the problem – and she welcomes your ideas!

Why We Need CCSS Math

MS math teacher Kathy Felt makes her case for the Common Core standards and the need for educators to “teach mathematics in deep and engaging ways.”

Must-Have CCSS Math Guide

MS teachers looking for a quick reference to Common Core math standards or a text to stimulate deeper thinking will find it in Common Core Standards For Middle School Mathematics: A Quick-Start Guide, says teacher Rebecca Anderson.