What the Heck is a Rekenrek?
Rekenreks are a manipulative often used in primary grades. You will see that STEMscopes references them in many lessons. For many of us, this is a new tool. Check out …
Addition/Subtraction Triangle Fact Cards
This video shows how Triangle Fact cards can be used to build quick recall with addition and related subtraction facts. These cards take the place of traditional flash cards, and …
Multiplication/Division Triangle Fact Cards
This video shows how Triangle Fact cards can be used to build quick recall with multiplication and related division facts. These cards take the place of traditional flash cards, and …
Getting to know your students
The first days of school are great for getting first impressions of your new students. Collecting information from students is interesting and fun when they are given open ended sentences …
Solving with Multiple Methods
If you are familiar with the Common Core Progressions documents, you may recognize the name Bill McCallum. He is a Common Core Standards author as well as an author of …
Dividing Fractions for Understanding
Student understanding of dividing with fractions is usually regulated to something to the effect of, “You need to flip the fraction and you need to multiply.” As a teacher, I …
Are your students “Number Shoppers” instead of “Problem Solvers”? Try numberless word problems!
“Number Shoppers”….we’ve all encountered them: students who just plow through a story problem, pulling numbers out as if they were just grabbing their favorite snacks off the shelf and tossing …
Connecting Academics and Parents- 4th Grade Relating Fractions to Decimals
Digging deeper into decimal fractions? …there is a CAP for that! View the “Train the Trainer” video on “Relating Fractions to Decimals” below to ensure that your instruction has truly …
Inside Mathematics Illuminates the Standards for Mathematical Practice
Do you ever find it difficult to to wrap your head around what each of the 8 Standards for Mathematical Practice might look like in your specific grade level? Or …
Reboot Your Regrouping Reteach!
What is the one math concept that you still feel students have not quiet mastered in second grade? “Regrouping,” you say. Well before you pull another small group to line …
Math Journaling in Kindergarten
Check out this video on using Math Journal in Kindergarten as a tool for informal formative assessment!
Connecting Academics and Parents- 4th grade Equivalent Fractions
Students struggling with using fraction models to explain WHY two fractions are equivalent? …there is a CAP for that! View the “Train the Trainer” video on “Equivalent Fractions” below to …
3 Strategies to Keep Math Convo Moving
Most of us have some “go-to” questions to initiate math conversations…”How did you get that?” “Did anyone solve it another way?” “Does anyone disagree and why?”… But what do we …
Connecting Academics and Parents- 4th Grade Division
Looking to build your content knowledge of 4th grade division strategies? YES…there is a CAP for that! View the “Train the Trainer” video on “Division Strategies” below to ensure that …
Nervous about Number Talks? Now is the time to give them a try!
You most likely have heard the buzz about number talks, but the pressure of state testing may have had you feeling like you didn’t have the time to implement them …
Connecting Academics and Parents- 4th Grade Multi-Digit Multiplication
Have you checked out the CAP Parent Trainings on the Elementary Mathematics Icon? Don’t worry….it’s not too late! While it is true that these trainings were designed with parents in …
Building Math Talk
As part of the Standards for Mathematical Practice, students should be able to construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others. Check out the video below to think about …
Assessing Mathematical Fluency
It is the end of the school year. You’ve spent time and energy teaching various math concepts so that your students have a conceptual understanding of content. Students in your …
Stop Perpetuating Math Anxiety
“Do not worry about your difficulties in mathematics; I assure you that mine are greater.” – Albert Einstein Are teachers increasing students’ anxiety levels in mathematics, especially as state testing …
Subitizing and Shapes
Check out this video by Graham Fletcher on connecting subtizing and geometry! https://gfletchy.com/fresh-ideas/