Teaching Math: Tricks of the Trade

Both my educational training and experience as a new teacher give me a lot to share about teaching math. Summarized below are best practices I used in the classroom during my first year as a fourth grade teacher.

Notebooks

When I first started teaching math in my own classroom, I found that students were often unengaged during the instructional portion. As a result, students had difficulty understanding the skill that was being taught. The students each had a graph paper notebook, but it was not utilized aside from pasting vocabulary and anchor charts.

I made the decision to have students write with me in their notebooks during our daily lessons. The combination of using their motor skills in conjunction with their listening and processing skills was beneficial in many ways. I noticed an immediate change in engagement and excitement. My students proudly showed me the work they had written in their notebooks. I also observed a decrease in frustration because students were processing the steps of the lesson while they were writing it.

One unanticipated benefit was the ability for students to return to their notebooks when they were stuck on math problems. The notebook thus served as a personal tool for students to understand and reinforce mathematical concepts.

Grouping Cards + Differentiation

In my educational training, one of my professors had sorted our class into groups based on cards with different numbers, letters, shapes, and shape colors on it. She had explained that it served as a tool for teachers to be able to group students efficiently, but also intentionally. I can use this strategy when playing math games and teaching art projects.

Finding Creative Ways to Apply Concepts

One main focus of my first year of teaching was finding ways to engage all my students in math. For some students, they were able to understand concepts better. They also had more fun when a math lesson on angles was turned into an art project. We would practice using a protractor and draw lines in pencil first. Once students got the hang of it, they were so excited to finish their project! The engagement allowed me time to assist students who were still building their fine motor skills and needed more practice using mathematical tools effectively.

Additionally, I would create assessments that were standards aligned but outside of the curriculum provided test. For example, students looked forward to sorting candy colors on line plots, which was different from a traditional assessment. It was fun and simultaneously demonstrated an understanding of line plots. I strongly believe it provided them a mental break as well.

Math Talks

Math talks are essentially what math is all about – the process of problem solving. I learned about math talks through my program and also implemented it into my classroom. Students would be presented with a problem on the board and take time for themselves to try and solve it. During this time, I would walk around the room, scanning for different solutions and making note of the different strategies I would want to share with my students. I would then ask volunteers or partners of volunteers to share about their thought process and how they got to their answer. Sometimes this would look like having students write on the whiteboard. Other times I would project their work on the screen. This activity emphasized process over product, which I believe is an essential part of math. This mindset also helps build resiliency in mathematics.

As I continue to refine these strategies in the classroom, I will reflect and share them on this blog site. Please share your best practices in the comment section below to support all new teachers learning to teach common core standards math.

Kids’ Learning with AI

I was born in 1981, which puts me just on the cusp of generations.  I’m at the tail end of the Gen X generation by some timelines and right at the beginning of the Millennial generation on others.  Some sociologists even label people born within a few years of my birthday as Xennials, a microgeneration to mark the small and transitional period during which I was born.  Personally, I feel that the other Xennials and I got the best of both worlds.  We experienced the care-free and independent lifestyle of the Gen Xers, but I got to live my teenage years as the world shifted into the fully digital age.  This means I also have a blend of characteristics from the two generations: independent and adaptive. I am also adventurous, creative, tech-savvy, and plugged into the idea that the world is accessible to me, both in terms of information and in opportunity.

Is Techonology Hurting Our Kids?

My daughter was born in 2018, a time much different than the early years of the eighties.  She is a member of Gen Alpha.  Her life is fully immersed in technology and she is going to come of age in a time when she and her peers are at risk of losing many soft skills and interpersonal skills, including critical thinking and problem-solving.  One of the challenges this generation faces is the sheer amount of information and technological capability available in her pocket.  Some schools are fully tech-based. This is a characteristic that used to be touted as a unique feature at a school just a decade ago.  Now, experts are questioning whether the amount of time students spend on technology is advantageous in the long run.  Students are learning 21^st century skills, but are they losing something else that is hugely important to success in life?  Are they losing their ability to identify, think through, and solve their own problems without the support of technology?  The recent introduction of AI into education may further exacerbate this situation for our children.

Balancing Technology Use at Home

Per my previous posts, I am a proponent of technology in education. I have written about the benefits of AI in our lives, as well as in the lives of students.  I still hold to those beliefs about technology. My goal today is to advocate for a better balance in our schools and in the lives of our children.  Instead of having our kids go from using tech all day in school to staring at our screens in the living room at home, make sure your children have time at home to solve problems.  Play board games that require problem solving and strategic thinking. Include your children in solving everyday problems at home. Also have your kids help you cook and figure out how to fix their own inevitable mistakes in the process.  Technology is a wonderful tool.  As with most things in our lives, we need to ensure our approach is one of moderation.  Technology will continue to be one of our greatest tools and resources. It will also continue to present new social and ethical problems as it develops.  As parents, let’s make sure our kids learn to use new tools while also providing opportunities for our kids to engage, socialize, and problem-solve using the tools that were naturally developed in the world of previous generations.

Student Report Cards

Parents try a wide range of strategies to ensure their children are putting in the effort needed to bring home a strong report card. Many parents offer incentives, special meals, trips, events, and even cash to get kids to put in the work for their grades. While these tactics may work in the short term, the real goal should be to build intrinsic motivation for kids to do their best. Research shows that these external rewards (also known as extrinsic motivation) may fall short in the long run.

Talk About Academic Performance

So, what will work? Research shows that increasing motivation requires a focus on long term outcomes, values, and goal setting. These are not fully developed skillsets in children. Parents need to step in and help kids along the way. Here are some things you can do to help build this motivation from home:

1. Don’t wait for report cards to discuss grades. Teaching kids the importance of grades and to always try their best are values that are developed through regular discussion about expectations. These are not only expectations for grades, but for all activities: sports, art, music, and school.  As my mother used to say, “Anything worth doing is worth doing right.”  Whether kids are cleaning their room, working on a project, or studying for a test, we have to constantly teach them to put their best foot forward.
2. Help kids set goals. Whether kids are knocking it out of the park or they are performing below your expectations, there is always room for growth. Help kids choose tangible steps for growth that will help get them to the next step. At times you will have to temper kids’ expectations and other times you will need to push a bit. Finding the sweet spot for steps towards growth is a process in and of itself. Kids need help to learn this important skill.
3. Continually remind kids that they are not alone. You are there with them to help along the way. They need to be reminded of this. Kids will need you to plan. They will need you when they succeed. Most importantly, they will need you when they fail. Kids need to know that you are in their corner and you are with them for the journey, no matter what.
4. Celebrate the wins! Yes, I realize this may sound contradictory to my opening comments, but it’s important to recognize growth and effort. I would advise against grandiose gestures. Be sure to talk up your child. Tell your child that you are proud of their accomplishments. Maybe, get some dessert to recognize their efforts and growth. If they put in the work, it’s important to be there to celebrate and to continue to encourage that effort. The words and tone you use with your child becomes their inner monologue. You have the opportunity to build an inner voice that encourages growth and effort, or one that is self-defeating. When you’re there to celebrate the wins and to offer encouragement in the losses, your kid will learn to speak encouragement to themselves without even realizing it!

How to Help Struggling Students Learn

It is a new school year with lots of exciting learning opportunities for my students. After completing several weeks of assessing and observing my students’ academic strengths and challenges, I have modified my teaching strategies based on best practices for children with English acquisition, behavior, and struggling reader needs. Listed below are successful strategies I am using to support some specific learning challenges.

English Learners

English learners receive weekly academic tutoring support from staff in a school-wide pull-out program. Additionally, English learners are seated next to compassionate and supportive English-speaking classmates who can interpret and guide their English learner peers with various assignments. Creating a safe environment is critical for my non-native speakers. Sentence frames and charted models were essential for them to use before they were willing to try on their own. Native speakers learn how to become effective tutors while guiding their English learner classmates. Additionally, to encourage organic speaking opportunities in the classroom, I moved to having student-teachers. After math tests were corrected, students who demonstrated understanding of a particular math problem from the test became the teacher for that problem. Even students who needed to work 1:1 with me during the test had an opportunity to articulate how to solve the problem to their peers. It was a natural way for them to reprocess their learning, raise their social status in the classroom, and build confidence.

Overly Active and Aggressive Students

Students with an undiagnosed learning challenge that may also include hyperactive/ attention deficit disorder can be frustrated and disruptive in traditional classroom settings. Some benefit from using sensory fidget toys to relieve stress and anxiety. Other students benefit from sitting apart from their classmates. Finding the proper setting for individual students takes time and patience. I also have the students evaluate what strategies work best when separating them from their peers. After a meeting with the parent and student, together we develop a plan that involves modifying a targeted behavior, a monitoring system, and a reward chart. For example, one student is motivated to cooperate with class work by sitting alone and earning a beef jerky treat at the end of class while another works with his classmates to earn fruit clusters. Extrinsic motivation is key for these high energy students.

Fearful, Anxious, and High Functioning Autistic Learners

Some students are overwhelmed with specific assignments. When assessing their academic skills, I find that these students are capable but can become emotionally anxious or will not perform when asked to complete a rigorous academic assignment. When students are overwhelmed, I break down the assignment into smaller tasks for each student. These smaller tasks will eventually meet the requirements of a rigorous assignment. Frequent check-ins help encourage these students to move beyond their discomfort. Once many of these students get started, most are very successful and achieve beyond their anticipated abilities.

Delayed Learners

Unfortunately, some of my students do not test well and are significantly behind their grade level abilities. They have not yet qualified for special education services, but still must complete their assignments in class. Once I have identified their academic needs, I use computer adaptive online assignments for reading and math assignments. When teaching reading and math, I use small group instruction to reinforce basic reading and math skill development. I also seat learning challenged students with classmates who can help them complete grade level assignments. This year I discovered the power of personal notes. Boosting a student’s confidence in the area that you see growth helps them build self-esteem and lets them know you see them. I would attach a handwritten note to important assignments letting them know how hard they tried, commenting on an area of strength, and then letting them know where they could grow. A delayed learner needs their teacher to be their biggest cheerleader because the struggle can be overwhelming.

Overall Classroom Success that Supports Cooperation at Home

When I am responsive to the individual needs of each of student, they feel validated, respected, and work harder to achieve success. As a class, we set milestone achievement celebrations that might include a tech play day, pajama and cuddly critter day, and a pizza movie day. As a class, we evaluate our class performance each day and earn points towards participating in these larger classroom celebration days.

The strategies we use in class also work effectively at home for most students. Wishing you much success in supporting your child’s learning this school year.

Beyond Backpacks: Setting Up for School Success (Part 1)

As summer starts to wrap up and the back-to-school excitement kicks in, most of us are thinking about new backpacks, fresh school supplies, and meeting this year’s teacher. Those things matter—but there’s something even more important that often gets missed: executive function skills. These behind-the-scenes brain skills are what really help kids start the year strong, no matter what grade they’re in.

As a special education teacher, I know that school success isn’t just about what kids know—it’s about how they use what they know. That’s where executive function skills come in. Think of them as the brain’s “CEO”—they help kids plan, stay organized, manage their time, stay on task, handle emotions, and roll with the punches when things change. These skills are a huge part of how kids do in school, with friends, and even at home. And here’s the best part: they’re not set in stone. We can help kids build and strengthen these skills with the right support and practice.

With the start of a new school year upon us, now is the perfect time to intentionally cultivate these vital abilities. Here’s how you can support your child’s executive function skills for a smoother, more successful academic journey.

The Power of Planning: Establishing Routines and Organization

A predictable routine provides a sense of security and significantly reduces mental load, freeing up brainpower for learning.

• Create a Centralized “Command Center”: Dedicate a visible spot in your home (a bulletin board, a whiteboard in the kitchen) for a family calendar. Mark school holidays, extracurricular activities, project due dates, and even family appointments. For older students, encourage them to maintain their own digital or physical planner.
• Morning and Evening Rituals: Establish consistent routines for before and after school. This isn’t just about brushing teeth; it includes packing lunches, laying out clothes, organizing backpacks, and deciding on a consistent homework time. Write these routines down for younger children using pictures, or a checklist for older ones.
• Designated Study Space: Help your child set up a clutter-free, consistent workspace. This doesn’t need to be elaborate; it could be a corner of their room or a specific spot at the kitchen table. The key is that it’s reliably available and conducive to focus, equipped with necessary supplies.

Time Management: Making Time Tangible

Time is an abstract concept, especially for elementary students. Making it concrete helps them manage tasks effectively.

Visual Timers: For younger children, use sand timers or visual timers that show time ticking down. This helps them understand how long 10 or 20 minutes really is for a task.

• “Chunking” Tasks: Large assignments can feel overwhelming. Help your child break down big projects into smaller, manageable steps. Instead of “Write a report,” suggest “First, research topic. Next, create an outline. Then, write introduction.”
• Estimating Time: Practice estimating how long tasks will take. “How long do you think it will take to clean your room? Let’s set a timer and see!” This builds self-awareness and improves future planning.
• The Pomodoro Technique (for older students): Encourage focused work sessions ( 25 minutes) followed by short breaks (5 minutes). This can dramatically improve focus and prevent burnout. Check out your phone’s app store and grab a timer for free.

These executive function skills are not just helpful for school. They are critical for life. My next blog will describe the power of planning, how to sustain attention, and increase our child’s working memory.