Math

Laura Candler's Common Core Teaching Resources contains dozens of resources for teaching Common Core Math Standards in upper elementary classrooms.

A Complete System for 100% Mastery of Multiplication Concepts and Facts

I'm a big believer in the importance of daily math problem solving. It's far more effective to integrate problem solving into other instruction than it is to teach problem solving in isolation. For years, I struggled with how to include problem solving lessons in my regular math instruction, and I finally developed an easy plan that takes just ten or fifteen minutes a day. This was the start of my Daily Math Puzzler program, a series of four ebooks with problems on different instructional levels. Recently, several people have asked me if my Daily Math Puzzler program is aligned with the Common Core. The answer is not as simple as it might seem because of the design of the Common Core Math Standards.

What if you could improve your students' problem-solving abilities in just 15 minutes a day? What if your students actually began to look forward to those 15 minutes of problem-solving and even asked you for MORE????

Spring is the perfect time to use math games with your students. Either you are finished with testing and the kids are restless, or you still have testing ahead of you and your kids are restless! Math games will motivate your students, keep them on task, and also help them review important skills ... while giving them the chance to put some of that restless energy to good use.

Like most kids, my students were intimidated by word problems, so I decided to integrate calculator skills into our problem-solving lessons. I quickly discovered that learning to use a calculator had a tremendous positive impact on my students' mathematical thinking. Furthermore, because I still taught computation skills, I didn't see any detrimental impact on their ability to solve basic problems without a calculator.

Students often fear math, especially problem solving, and feeling intimidated by math keeps them from being able to relax and apply their knowledge to the task at hand. The resulting brain freeze serves to reinforce the idea that mathematics is scary and difficult. Standards keep getting tougher each year, and students are expected to become even more proficient at solving complex problems. Fortunately, there are many tools and strategies you can use to show your kids that math isn't all that scary after all.

Who doesn't love a game? In the math classroom, games offer an engaging alternative to worksheets, allowing students to work with others and have fun while learning. They’re perfect for practicing new skills or reviewing previously-learned content. Math games are extremely versatile and can be used in cooperative learning teams, in small group instruction, or in math centers.

Need a quick way to introduce new content that will grab your students' attention? You can be sure that at least one of these five engaging strategies will be perfect for your lesson!

Last week, while in the midst of teaching a lesson on cuboids, I quickly realised that I had to do something drastic to get the attention of my most easily distracted student. I mean, there I was feeling all proud of myself for having everything I needed, I had my examples and non-examples for the students to handle, observe and compare attributes. My classroom was buzzing with excitement; hands were fervently flying up during Q & A time as I selected students to answer questions.

This activity allows students to work cooperatively with their classmates to solve math word problems. Students mix around the room as music is played. When the music stops, students solve problems with a partner.

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Try to solve each problem on your own. Show your work using numbers, pictures, words, or symbols. We will discuss the problems together and correct them in class.

Try to solve each problem on your own. Show your work using numbers, pictures, words, or symbols. We will discuss the problems together and correct them in class.

Try to solve each problem on your own. Show your work using numbers, pictures, words, or symbols. We will discuss the problems together and correct them in class.

Try to solve each problem on your own. Show your work using numbers, pictures, words, or symbols. We will discuss the problems together and correct them in class.

Linda Schuman, a multi-age teacher, developed the following method for differentiating word problem instruction with the Daily Math Puzzler series. She teaches a grade 3/4 class, but has students who range from emergent readers to those working on a middle school math level! Read below to find out how she’s able to meet the wide variety of needs in her classroom:

STEM is a curriculum based on the idea of educating students in four specific disciplines - science, technology, engineering and mathematics - in an interdisciplinary and applied approach.

Label each point on the number lines below, including the values of 1 whole