math

Who doesn't like to be given a choice? My middle school math students love having options when it comes to homework tasks. I created a tic-tac-toe menu as a summary assignment for our Solving Equations unit. Students choose three tasks in a row either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. And the prized center spot even totes a free choice task! You can find additional ready-to-copy middle school math menus in this Differentiating Instruction with Menus book.

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In an effort to transition to the new Common Core State Standards, I created a lesson packet on proportional relationships.This reindeer-themed packet includes a mini-lesson on the definition of proportional relationships, a mini-lesson on equations of proportional relationships including a Showdown structure, and a mini-lesson on graphs of proportional relationships including an Inside-Outside Circle structure.

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Find Someone Who is a great structure to get students actively engaged in their review efforts. (You can find a .pub template from Springfield Public Schools.) The basic structure follows four simple steps of "I ask. You respond. I record. You initial." Students attach their record sheet to a clipboard and use the Stand Up, Hand Up, Pair Up structure to form pairs around the room. Each pair "gives one and gets one" following the four steps before moving on to a new partner. When students completed their record sheet, they met with me at our small group table to check for accuracy and receive their study guide. I loved this as a last chance to catch any misconceptions from our Complex Area unit before test day.