Students Talking in Math: Activity to Get Students to Talk about Math

My favorite thing about teaching is hearing students talk about math. It is what brings me joy as a math teacher. But believe it or not, math is not a student's favorite thing to talk about. 

Why should students talk in math class?

1. Students want to talk! I want to give them as many opportunities to talk as possible-and keep it on topic as much as possible. 
2. When a student says something out loud, it helps solidify it in their brain.
3. When students hear their classmate say something out loud, they remember it better. 
4. Speaking about math helps students clarify what they are thinking until they understand it. 
5. Students will be more engaged when they have opportunities to talk to each other. 

Unfortunately, most students don't come to math class knowing how to talk about math and need scaffolding to get where we want them to be. 

One of the activities I have used to scaffold conversations about math is a True/False response. Each student gets a red and green card. They could also have different colored post its. Two colors are better so you can easily see the responses from the class. 

Before starting the activity, explain to students they are going to read the statements and determine if they are true or false. BUT, they cannot tell the class. Instead, they will turn to their neighbor or group and share their response. If students disagree, they will explain to each other why their answer is correct. If they change their mind, great. If they don't change their mind, great too. They don't have to be successful at convincing each other, the most important thing is talking. 

You put up a prompt--this can be done with any topic. I have an example below. 

Students talk with their neighbor group. When you are ready--give 1-2 minutes-tell everyone to hold up their red card for false and their green card for true. (Or whatever colors you have chosen)

These are low-stakes conversations. Students don't have to talk long--but any talking about math is a good start. The more confident they feel in their skills, the more they will talk. 

Click here to access a free True/False activity about integer operation models. 

Interested in other math activities? This has warmups for several 6th grade math topics that encourage students to talk about math. It can be used for STAAR review but also works throughout the year. 

FREE Classifying Rational Numbers Lesson and Activities

How to Teach Classifying Rational Numbers?

I love teaching classifying rational numbers. I don’t know why I like it so much but I think part of the reason is that the students already know pieces of this lesson and I am just helping them connect things they’ve learned in math previously to this new skill.

The best math lessons are the ones were students make connections to something they have learned before. Research shows that when students are able to make connections to things that they already know, then those new topics stick in their brain better.

This set of classifying rational number lessons has students use number lines and come up with their own definition of things like whole numbers, which they have been using since kindergarten.

This lesson plan was originally written to be used within a classroom that uses small groups. So you will see four days of lessons that should take 15 to 20 minutes each and then the teacher would pull small groups for intervention or extra practice on this topic. However, you could also condense the lesson into 2 to 3 days depending on the length of your class period. 

You can download the set of lessons here for free. The lesson plans are editable and there is also a set of activities that go with the lesson plans.

How to Practice Classifying Rational Numbers?

If you would like more ways to practice classifying rational numbers, I have tons of resources in my TPT store. I would use these additional resources for extra practice throughout the year, for homework, for substitute lesson plans, or for stations in a small group math classroom.

Modeling Adding Integers with Algebra Tiles Free Google Drive Resource

 Virtual. Learning. 

Remote. Learning.

Distance. Learning.

Online. Learning.

Whatever your district calls it--this isn't easy. Not that I expected it to be. But this is just so much harder than I thought. There are so many decision to be made as new circumstances come up. I worry that our online learners aren't getting what they need. I worry about our in-class learners. I worry about my math teams and the stress they are under. I am constantly worrying. 

Hopefully in a year we can all look back on this time glad that school is filled with students talking, laughing, not on the computer all day long, etc. 

We've been working on our integer operations lessons. I filmed a video today with my favorite lesson that really needs students talking to work! I was just sitting at my desk talking to myself about the excitement that is integer operations <--that is not sarcasm. 

I love algebra tiles so much. When I first learned out them 7 years ago, I loved them. Where were these when I learned algebra, where all my math problems began!

If you aren't using algebra tiles or colored counters to teach integer operations--start now. 

This assignment has students model simple addition expressions, create zero pairs, and simplify the expression. 

Click here to copy the activity into your Google Drive. 

Multiply or Divide Decimals Word Problem Sort | Google Classroom Resource

I have learned a lot about using Google Drive to create resources for math the last few months. My district does not use Google Classroom, but we do use an LMS that allows Google Drive resources to be assigned. 

When students read word problems, they may struggle with deciding on what operations to use. Throw some decimals in there, and some get really confused. 

I made this sort in Google Slides. It has 10 word problems which similar situations. Students have to sort them into columns based on whether they will use multiplication or division to solve. 

When I introduce this topic to students, I ask them to do 2 things. 

1. Replace the numbers in the word problem with whole numbers. Does that make it easier to decide the operation to use?

2. Look for the Total. Do you have the total? Or are you looking for the total? If you have the total and you are splitting it into equal groups, it is division. If you are looking for the total and you have equal groups you need to combine together to get the total--its multiplication. 

Click here to get the sort to add to your Google Drive. 

Rounding Decimals Using a Number Line Free Lesson and Activities

When I was in school, I always felt that rounding decimals and estimating numbers was a waste of time. That’s because nobody ever explain to me how rounding and estimating could help me solve problems. There is a lot of math that needs to be precise in the real world however I find that most the math I do on a daily basis can be an estimate. I think that rounding and estimating help students become flexible with numbers. 

The lesson that I am sharing today is rounding decimals. This is a topic that students have previous practice when they learned how to round whole numbers. The Texas TEKS 5.2C reads “round decimals to tenths or hundredths.” The common core standard reads “use place value understanding to round decimals to any place.” 

Most of us have probably heard a rhyme that similar to “Five or more? Raise the score. Four or less? Let it rest.” I am not 100% opposed to teaching students a rhyme, however I think students need to understand why the rhyme works. If students aren’t able to connect the rhyme to anything they will be less likely to remember it. This lesson uses number lines to help students round. The last lesson I share, comparing decimals, also used number lines. Number lines are becoming one of my favorite math tools because they help students become more flexible with numbers. I will try to incorporate them as much as possible. 

You can download the lesson and activities here.  The lesson plan is in editable form for you to change as needed. 

Free Digital Resources for Math to Use for Remote Learning

"This is crazy."

Something my current co-worker (my husband) and I said to each other several times a day at the beginning of this social distancing. Now, we mostly have settled into a schedule and it seems "normal" that we just stay home all the time. My kids haven't seen the inside of anywhere except their house in over a month. No church, no school, no dye-jobs (my poor gray roots). We are making it.

Transitioning to remote learning has been a learning curve. I have learned a lot about my school's LMS and Google Classroom and Boom Learning and Seesaw! So many tools to learn quickly for the students at my school and my own daughter's school work.

At the beginning of this, the other instructional coach and I worked quickly to get packets made and lessons up on our Canvas website. It was extremely helpful to turn to resources other teachers had shared. I would like to return the favor.

As much as my schedule will allow--(working from home, teaching a kindergarten, keeping a toddler entertained, and parenting), I am trying to create some quick digital resources that can be assigned virtually to students.

Check this space to see all my free digital resources . I will added free resources to this as I get finish them. Here are a few that are included.