Finding Factors and Common Factors
Being able to find factors and common factors is an important skill that shows up in a number of areas of mathematics. Students use factors to recognize prime and composite…
Grades 3-5
Volume, From the Ground Up
Take a look at the figure below. How many cubes is it made of? A student might answer 16. Can you figure out why? If you look closely, there are…
- Fractions & Decimals · Grades 3-5 · Grades K-2 · Instructional Strategies · Number Sense · Operations · Teacher Tips
Why the Concrete-Representational-Abstract (CRA) Sequence Matters
First, I have a quiz for you. If you speak and write Hindi, you can skip this part! For everyone else, look at the symbols below. Can you tell which…
Too Much Glue: A Fun Math Journal Mini Lesson
As you’re planning for the new school year (or maybe you’re one of the lucky ones still enjoying summer!), you’re probably thinking about how you’ll introduce math journals. One of…
Reasoning About Decimal Multiplication and Division
Multiplying and dividing decimals can be tricky for students, but it’s often not for the reason we think. Once they know the algorithm, the computation is really just like dividing…
Building Mathematical Communication from the First Day of School
One of the most important things we do at the beginning of the school year is establish the expectation that students will communicate their mathematical thinking. Learning mathematics is a…
Math? Yes, You Can! Fostering a Growth Mindset
“Why is it that as a society we’re willing to freely admit that we’re not competent mathematicians but would disguise any struggle we had with being literate? What if we…
Part/Whole Thinking for Fractions in Second Grade
Fractions are often one of the most challenging concepts students encounter in elementary mathematics. That’s why the elementary standards are carefully designed to build fraction understanding over several years, beginning…
Teaching Place Value with Base-Ten Blocks: Free Place Value Mats & Activities
If you’re not familiar with CRA, it stands for Concrete, Representational, and Abstract. It’s a research-based instructional sequence that helps students develop a deeper understanding of mathematical concepts. If you’d…
