Image Map

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Middle School Math Curriculum Maps 2019-2020

Where is your instruction going?

Do you have a road map to guide your teaching?



At the beginning of the year we look for direction. What do the students need to learn? When do you teach it? There is a solution. A curriculum map to lead instruction towards the finish line.

Middle School Math Curriculum Maps


How do you get from your house to the grocery store? A map. How do you know what your students need to learn? A map. We all need a math map to guide instruction. 


What does a math curriculum map look like? 


A curriculum map shows what is taught in a grade level week by week. It can also be drawn out month by month or give a year overview.  A yearlong pacing guide gives a look at what should be taught in a 10-month school year. Quarterly content checklists give purpose and drive to continue instruction. 

A Curriculum Map Should Include: 
✔How to Plan the Math

✔Quarterly Sequence of CCSS Aligned

✔Weekly Sequence Checklist
✔1-Year Calendar Pacing Guide

✔Big Ideas to Review

✔Quarterly Activities and Pacing

✔1-Year Planning Calendar



Map Out Your Year



There are certain areas of math content that should be well planned for. Know which areas will be assessed on your end of course exam. Keep your focus on teaching those specific math concepts well. Plan extra days in your math curriculum schedule for those units. Prepare to have more activities to help students master the key math skills.

Plan For Your Students



There are many different ways to teach math. Students can learn with notes, games, math stations, task cards, or practice with a card sort activity. Try different activities with different classes to see how best they learn and master the skills. Remember to keep your focus on the students. The best curriculum is student centered!



Free Math Grades 6-8 Curriculum Checklist

    We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at anytime.
    Powered By ConvertKit


    Happy Planning!

    Tuesday, August 27, 2019

    Middle School Math Card Sorts - Grade 6

    Do you want your students to deepen their understanding? 

    What are your students struggling with in math?


    Getting students from struggling to mastery doesn't happen over night. Growing their understanding is a process. Card sorts are a great activity to get your students thinking about the why's and how's of the math. Students make sense of word problems and the steps to solve them.    


    Middle School Math Card Sorts


    Having students work with partners on card sort activities helps create math talk. When students are verbal about math, they are better able to sort through their understanding and draw a conclusion. The card sort picture above is of an sixth grade sort called Integer Cut and Paste Activity. Students start with a problem and work through all the information provided. The goal is to get students to find and solve integer problems. The process in getting there is broken down into manageable scaffolded steps for students. Students have to find the opposite of the integer in the word problem. Students then create a number line to show the value of the integers. Each card sort activity goes through the process of math discovery to mastery. The lesson units are intended to help you assess how well students are able to understand each grade level standard. 

    Included in each lesson are:


    • Directions, grade level common core standards, and mathematical practices

    • Formative assessment (pre-test) task

    • Card sort activity with concept development 

    • Extension activity for students to deepen their understanding

    • Summative assessment (post-test) task

    • Answer keys for all the assessments and activities

    Get your students thinking and mastering more math concepts this year. Engage your students in a math sort to deepen their understanding. Students can work independently alone or in groups to accomplish the tasks. Watch as your students go from struggling to mastery of math. 

    Would you like to try a math card sort activity with your students? Try one today!

    Get a FREE math card sort!

    Sign up to receive the activity and math activity emails.
      We won't send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time.
      Powered By ConvertKit

      Happy Teaching!  

      Tuesday, August 20, 2019

      Math Read Aloud MATH-terpieces


      Do you read aloud in math class?

      Do you want to start Math Read Alouds in your class?



      Math Read Aloud MATH-terpieces


      The Read Aloud Math series is a monthly blog post about one book that can be used for grades 3-5 and grades 6-8. Every month there is a Math Book Read Aloud that will be shared with different resources for elementary and middle school teachers to use.

      This month's Math Read Aloud is "MATH-terpieces" by Greg Tang. The book is not included in the Math Read Aloud packet. You can purchase the book separately HERE. The Math Read Aloud packet includes comprehension questions, discussion questions, activities, teacher directions, and a read aloud report.


      September's Read Aloud Math book "MATH-terpieces" is a great book to read to Upper Elementary and Middle School students. The number sense concepts make real world connections for students. A fun and engaging way to look at creating numbers.

      MATH-terpieces Math Activities for Grades 3-5 

      Features:

      ✔Discussion Questions {with answer key}

      ✔Math Masterpiece Activity {with student & teacher directions, and pictures}

      ✔Math Problem Solving Number Sense {2 versions}

      ✔Read Aloud Report {response paper with & w/out rubric}



      MATH-terpieces Math Activities for Grades 6-8

      Features: 

      ✔Discussion Questions {with answer key}

      ✔Math Masterpiece Activity {with student & teacher directions, and pictures}

      ✔Math Problem Solving Integers {2 versions}

      ✔Read Aloud Report {response paper with & w/out rubric}


      Looking to add more Read Alouds to your Math class this year? Join the Math Read Aloud Series today!

      Join the Math Read Aloud Series

      Subscribe to receive Math Read Aloud emails.
        We won't send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time.
        Powered By ConvertKit

        Happy Reading!

        Saturday, August 17, 2019

        Math Grades 6-8 Curriculum Support Group

        Ready to join a group of fabulous math educators? 

        Want more tips and tricks for teaching math?



        Math Grades 6-8 Curriculum Support Group with Kelly McCown 


        Join us on Facebook and collaborate with a great group of math teachers.  It's free to join.
        Gain access to this fantastic group today!
        Math Grades 6-8 Curriculum Support Group with Kelly McCown
        Closed group · 1 member
        Join Group
        Hello math teacher friends! This group is a support group just for math teachers who use Math Curriculum from Kelly McCown. It's a place to collaborat...


        Happy Teaching!

        Friday, August 16, 2019

        Practice Writing Extended Responses in Math

        Do your students struggle with writing in Math class? 


        Do your students need more practice writing extended responses?





        Getting students to write about Math can be a challenge at first, but with practice and persistence your students can master writing Math fluently. There are many different strategies to use in getting your students to write math. Daily practice during math warm ups (bell work) is one strategy that can be very effective.



        How to start writing math extended responses


        At the beginning of the school year is the time to assess students’ math writing. This will be invaluable. Look for certain aspects in the writing process. See how well they write sentences and problem solve. This will allow you to see their strengths and weaknesses in writing math. Do they need to work on calculations? Do they need to work on writing? Are they proficient in grade level vocabulary? 



        First Steps


        Mathematics is a thinking process that leads to more effective problem solving. Students need to practice problem solving more. Provide practice with Math vocabulary and writing Math prompts. The prompts are mostly open ended giving the student the ability to write openly about Math.



        Next Steps


        Apply and adapt a variety of appropriate strategies to solve math problems. Give students the opportunity to see and work through different problems. Have mathematical discourse about which strategies work best when solving these problems.



        Final Steps


        Monitor and reflect on the process of mathematical problem solving. Continue reviewing and evaluating each other’s responses. Show students a variety of responses to a math problem and discuss the errors in reasoning. This will be a powerful strategy and tool for students in building problem solving practice.




        Take Action


        Have you used a math writing journal? The math writing prompts provide practice problem solving for students. Sign up and try 2 weeks of math writing prompts today! 


        Would you like Math Writing Prompts?

          Powered By ConvertKit

          Happy Teaching!