Making Math Accessible for All Students
Plotting points is challenging for some students, even in high school. This approach uses the analogy of setting up a ladder for the x-value and climbing the ladder for the y-value. Jamboard with Ladder This activity is conducted on a Google Jamboard with moveable objects (see photo at the bottom on how to access it).The …
The idea is that the student will have to count squares and eventually skip count by how many rows. By doing so the student is more engaged (or less passive) in determining the product byy engaging the visual representation. I am interested in feedback and will revise if this could be useful. Here is a …
Continue reading “Modified Multiplication Table – Area Model Included”
Several special ed teachers identified solving multi-step equations as the most challenging math topic to teach in middle school math. Here is my approach to teaching multi-step equations like 3m + 4m + 1 = 15. . First, I use a task analysis approach to break down the math topic like we cut up a …
Continue reading “Simplifying not so Simple Equation Solving”
Here is a Jamboard (see photo at very bottom for how to make a copy to edit) that presents like terms as visual manipulatives and then eases into the symbolic form – the “mathy” stuff. The following shows each slide as is and how it looks after completion. Start with two groups of common items, …
Continue reading “Combining Like Terms – From Concrete to Symbolic Form”
I introduce key characteristics with parabolas and use the analogy of a rollercoaster. Riding once (and never a again) the Superman rollercoaster at Six Flags New England got me thinking about this. At one point the roller coaster hits ground level (a zero) and then goes underground (negative y values). Handout Here is a handout …
Here is a link to the Jamboard (make a copy to edit – see photo at the very bottom). The directions are on each slide. The photos below show what the results should look like. To make a copy, click 3 dots and choose copy.
Here is a matching activity on a Google Slides file for various representations of a set of linear functions: verbal, symbolic (equation), graphical, and tabular (or data). The students use gallery view of the slides and sort them by function. Then they can change the background color with a different color for each function. This …
Continue reading “Matching Activity for Linear Function Representations”
Here is a matching activity on a Google Slides file for various multiplication word problems and matching groups of items. The students use gallery view of the slides and sort them to match. Then they can change the background color with a different color for each word problem and groups. This allows them a visual …
Continue reading “Matching Activity for Multiplication Word Problems (and Creating)”
When my son was in preschool I asked him who was in his class. He replied, ” Natalie, she’s the yellow heart.” Children learn color before they learn words because it is easier to process. This is found in children’s toys with color used to guide use of toys. The obvious use of color in …
Click on a topic to see related blog posts. Color Coding Meaning Making allows information to be processed and there for retrieved more effectively. This can be accomplished by activating prior knowledge or making information relevant. CRA is a process of presenting information first though concrete representations, then visually, and finally the symbolic or abstract …
