A few days back I gave my students a few”numbers crosses” to solve as part of an escape room activity. I call them number crosses because instead of words you write numbers on the tiles and you describe those numbers in words. They work like puzzles and they can get …

Symmetry surrounds us. People, animals, plants, everything on the earth and outside is symmetrical. Symmetry is nature’s artwork that creates harmony and balance. So why not have a symmetry lesson outside, in nature. Spring and fall are the best seasons for this activity. Finding symmetrical objects with students while on …

Fostering a positive attitude towards math from a very young age prepares children for success in math. Studies have found that a positive attitude toward math boosts the brain’s memory center and improves math performance. Every child can be successful in math with good teaching, coaching, practice, encouragement, and motivation. …

The Hindu Multiplication or Lattice multiplication is an algorithm that was first founded in the 10th century in India. This method was later adopted and introduced in Europe by Leonardo Fibonacci in his Liber Abaci. The method is also called Lattice Multiplication because it requires a rectangular lattice with diagonals drawn through the cells. Each cell …

When students struggle with multiplication facts, solving complicated problems (like for example finding common denominators to add fractions) becomes hard. When they use most of their working memory on simple calculations they have little mental space left for understanding new concepts. Students start learning the multiplication facts in grade 3 …

What makes fractions challenging for students? I recently came across a few articles about teaching fractions and realized that educators and parents share the opinion that fractions and their operations are one of the most difficult concepts for students to grasp. Learning the various fraction operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, comparing, simplifying) …

Math word problems are an important aspect of mathematics and that is why they appear in every stage of learning math. They involve a lot more than just solving equations and applying algorithms.  They require good reading comprehension skills, critical thinking, and creativity. They help children realize the connection between …

There are many different ways to solve a math problem, and equipping students with problem-solving strategies is just as important as teaching computation and algorithms. Problem-solving strategies help students visualize the problem or present the given information in a way that can lead them to the solution. Solving word problems using …

Differentiating math instruction In a typical classroom of 25 students a teacher will find a variety of academic needs. Different academic needs means different abilities in the understanding of math concepts and different learning styles. Therefore, the instruction needs to be organized and adjusted to meet all the students’ needs …

Math games in the classroom or at home are a valuable instructional strategy that allows parents and teachers to review skills, offer more practice, promote social skills and more. Here are 10 benefits of incorporating math games in your teaching at home or in the classroom. Strategic thinking Strategic thinking is …