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Friday, March 29, 2019

Math Test Anxiety Tips

Do your students have math test anxiety?

Do your students feel upset or uneasy about math test days?

There are 5 simple things you can do to put them at ease for math test days.

What is Math Test Anxiety?

Math Test Anxiety is having an unease and nervousness about a math test that will in turn lower your score. It creates a mental block and leads to inadequate test preparation. The concern and worry over the original problem leads to more apprehension and negative self talk.


How can I calm my nerves before a math test? 

There are many things that students can do before a test to calm their nerves and eliminate math test anxiety. Trying one or two of these strategies can lower math test anxiety of students. When students are able to not worry or be nervous about the math test, they will perform better.

1. Be Positive. 

Students need to think positive thoughts about themselves. Work on a math growth mindset activity or focus on an encouraging quote. Math confidence for students is key to creating a mindset for testing.

2. Read books about Testing

Reading about Math Test Anxiety is helpful for students to see how others struggle with it as well. The Big Test is a book about how Mrs. Hartwell prepares her class to take the Big Test. She teaches them all the test taking skills and then realizes she forgot to teach the most important one! It's a great read for students during test taking season. (Affiliate link included to book).


3. Prepare for the Test

The simplest tip to not having Math Test Anxiety is to prepare. Students want to know what is on the test and how to take the test to earn the highest possible grade. Instruction and preparation for math tests is key. With proper preparation students will feel better, have less concern, and not be nervous about the math test.

4. Letter to Parents

Writing a letter to the parents and students about the test can be helpful. Tell them what concepts are on the test, what pages to review, and any other important math facts to memorize. Knowing what to expect will help parents reassure their children and prepare them for the math test at home. Remind students to get a good night's sleep and eat breakfast. Having personal needs met helps students to be less concerned and better prepared.


5. Positive Note from Teacher

Writing a note to the students gives them extra confidence. Students may not know how you feel about their ability to take a math test. Writing a quick note to each student to identify their strengths and how they will do well on the math test will help their math test anxiety. Use these Testing Motivation Mint Notes for students. Give students a peppermint and note to tell them you believe they will do their best on the math test! You can print the notes on regular paper or on Avery address labels to quickly stick in place. These labels can be used on eggs, plastic bags, and more!


 


Try one or two of these tips with your students to relieve the math test anxiety. Students will feel better and earn higher scores when they are prepared for the math test. I hope you have a great testing season with your students.

Happy Testing!

Monday, March 25, 2019

Writing Math Vocabulary in April

Do your students need to expand their math vocabulary?

Can your students write math fluently?


Writing Math Vocabulary

It's a skill that needs to be practiced and applied frequently. When students are writing and applying their vocabulary terms properly they are better able to express the content. Getting students to become fluent in writing math is necessary not only for speaking math, but also teaching it to others to demonstrate mastery.

When students are able to write their math vocabulary terms in a sentence by themselves without scaffolded support, that is mastery. To get students to this point they need guidance with how to construct a sentence with the correct math terms applied. Giving students the practice in the classroom helps them to build math confidence in this skill and be better able to write extended responses on homework, classwork, and tests.


Best Strategy to Boost Scores

The one question I'm always asked is, "How do I improve my students' test scores?" The answer is with vocabulary practice. Do you practice spelling words? Yes. Do you practice definition of words? Yes. Why would you not do the same with math terms? Math is a language that needs to be taught well to be spoken and written well.

Teaching students to write math vocabulary in turn helps them to speak math vocabulary. When you are using math vocabulary in your classroom on a weekly or monthly basis, you will see your students knowledge of content increase. Students need to know the math content inside and out so that they can make sense of it and explain it for themselves. It's simple, teach students to write math vocabulary and they will increase their math subject knowledge.

Write the Room with Math 

Get your students writing math vocabulary in April with WRITE THE ROOM with Math. Students write key math terms, have scaffolded practice, and write their own sentences. Engaging students in writing math will have a great impact on their extended response skills. 


Happy Teaching!

Tuesday, March 19, 2019

Spring Math 8th Grade April

 Do your eighth graders need math review? 


Do you need a fun math activity for April? 


This Spring Math packet that will keep your eighth graders engaged! This packet is just plain fun. Not only is it PACKED with eighth grade math problems, it also gives students fun coloring, puzzles, and problem solving. Use this packet for bell work, classwork, extra credit, fast finishers, or homework!


THIS APRIL NO PREP MATH PACKET FEATURES:

  • 20 different math puzzle worksheets
  • FUN activities and puzzles centered on reviewing math curriculum.
  • Packed with 8th grade common core math problems for review and practice.
  • An ANSWER KEY for each worksheet.
  • Lots of coloring fun. I’ve intentionally designed this packet with lots of pictures and borders to color. A MUST: Using a set of crayons or markers.


Topics Covered:

  1. Operations with Real Numbers
  2. Operations with Exponents
  3. Scientific Notation
  4. Graphing
  5. Writing and Solving Equations
  6. Functions
  7. Systems of Equations
  8. Transversals
  9. Area of Cylinders and Cones







Giving your students the opportunity for math fluency and enrichment in number sense helps all their other math skills flourish. Increasing time to practice math fluency and different math challenges helps students think critically about the math process. Other teachers have commented, "Great resource!" and "Loved using this for a sub."  I hope your students enjoy them too. 

Happy Teaching! 

Spring Math 7th Grade April

Do your seventh graders need math review? 


Do you need a fun math activity for April? 


This Spring Math packet that will keep your sixth graders engaged! This packet is just plain fun. Not only is it PACKED with seventh grade math problems, it also gives students fun coloring, puzzles, and problem solving. Use this packet for bell work, classwork, extra credit, fast finishers, or homework!


THIS APRIL NO PREP MATH PACKET FEATURES:

  • 25 different math puzzle worksheets
  • FUN activities and puzzles centered on reviewing math curriculum.
  • Packed with 7th grade common core math problems for review and practice.
  • An ANSWER KEY for each worksheet.
  • Lots of coloring fun. I’ve intentionally designed this packet with lots of pictures and borders to color. A MUST: Using a set of crayons or markers.

Topics Covered:

  1. Operations with Rational Numbers
  2. Rates and Unit Rates
  3. Graphing on a Coordinate Plane
  4. Proportions
  5. Expressions & Equations
  6. Inequalities
  7. Area of Circles
  8. Triangles
  9. Volume
  10. Surface Area





Giving your students the opportunity for math fluency and enrichment in number sense helps all their other math skills flourish. Increasing time to practice math fluency and different math challenges helps students think critically about the math process. Other teachers have commented, "Great resource!" and "Loved using this for a sub."  I hope your students enjoy them too. 

Happy Teaching! 

Spring Math 6th Grade April

Do your sixth graders need math review? 

Do you need a fun math activity for April? 


This Spring Math packet that will keep your sixth graders engaged! This packet is just plain fun. Not only is it PACKED with sixth-grade common core math problems, it also gives students fun coloring, puzzles, and problem solving. Use this packet for bellwork, classwork, extra credit, fast finishers, or homework!


THIS APRIL NO PREP MATH PACKET FEATURES:

*25 different math puzzle worksheets
*FUN activities and puzzles centered on reviewing math curriculum.
*Packed with 6th grade common core math problems for review and practice. 
*An ANSWER KEY for each worksheet.
*Lots of coloring fun. I’ve intentionally designed this packet with lots of pictures and borders to color. A MUST: Using a set of crayons or markers.

Topics Covered: 

Operations with Decimals, Graphing, Fractions, Ratios, Unit Rates, Expressions, Equations, Inequalities, Area of Rectangles, and Area of Triangles



Giving your students the opportunity for math fluency and enrichment in number sense helps all their other math skills flourish. Increasing time to practice math fluency and different math challenges helps students think critically about the math process. Other teachers have commented, "Great resource!" and "Loved using this for a sub."  I hope your students enjoy them too. 

Happy Teaching! 

Spring Math 5th Grade April

Do your fifth graders need math review? 

Do you have a substitute coming in April? 


These Spring Math activities will keep your fifth graders engaged! This packet is just plain fun. Not only is it PACKED with fifth-grade common core math problems, it also gives students fun coloring, puzzles, and problem solving. Use this packet for bellwork, classwork, extra credit, fast finishers, or homework!


THIS SPRING MATH 5TH GRADE APRIL PACKET FEATURES:

*25 different math puzzle worksheets
*FUN activities and puzzles centered on reviewing math curriculum.
*Packed with 5th grade common core math problems for review and practice. 
*An ANSWER KEY for each worksheet.
*Lots of coloring fun. I’ve intentionally designed this packet with lots of pictures and borders to color. A MUST: Using a set of crayons or markers.

Topics Covered:
-Adding Decimals
-Subtracting Decimals
-Multiplying Decimals
-Dividing Decimals
-Comparing Fractions
-Adding & Subtracting Fractions with unlike denominators
-Multiplying Fractions
-Dividing Fractions
-Graphing Coordinates
-Converting Measurements
-Line Plots
-Volume of Cubes

Each Spring math activity reviews a key grade level skill. 


Giving your students the opportunity for math fluency and enrichment in number sense helps all their other math skills flourish. Increasing time to practice math fluency and different math challenges helps students think critically about the math process. Other teachers have commented, "Used it to make a packet so my kid stayed active over spring break! Thanks!" and "Loved using this for a sub. I hope your students enjoy them too. 

Happy Teaching! 

Monday, March 11, 2019

March TpT Gift Card Winners



Congratulations to Dawn, Renae, and Stacy! 

They each won a $25.00 TpT Gift Card. 

How did they win? They subscribe to the FREE math email.

Click Here to Join=>


Happy Teaching!