Blog - Sum Math Fun

Any Time Is Math Time – 5 {FREE} Quick Math Activities

Any time is math time – or can be math time. Throughout the school day, there are many transitions when there are a few minutes of waiting time for students. Having some quick activities at your fingertips and ready-to-go can be a life-saver. Use these quick activities any time you have a few minutes to fill. MATH IN YOUR SHOES Ask students to look at their shoes and the shoes of their classmates. Tell them you’d like to learn more about them – but, you want to get your information in the form of fractions. For example: What fraction of… Read More

Cultivate A Deep Understanding of Word Problems

Do your students struggle with word problems? After many experiences of watching students who had solid computation skills struggle solving word problems, I finally found a solution – having students write their own! Writing their own word problems gives students a deep understanding of why one problem requires addition to solve while another requires multiplication, subtraction, division, or another problem solving strategy like “make a list”. SETTING CRITERIA Give your students a fun way to write word problems! Set criteria for them such as: Write a word problem that: can be solved using multiplication has extra information needs two steps… Read More

How to Get Astonishing Results Teaching Mental Math

Are you pulling your hair out trying to get your kids to remember and actually use computation strategies? Try these mental math tips. I promise that you and your kids will LOVE using computation strategies. Your kids will become mental math masterminds and beg for more. Really! I’m not kidding. ❶ Start by explaining how we use mental math every day (why it’s an important skill). ❷ Encourage and stress visual thinking. ❸ Start Simply, Progress Slowly, and Practice, Practice, Practice. ❹ Be prepared to back up. ❺ Take time to discuss how students solve problems. THE DETAILS ❶ Using Mental Math … Read More

How to Use Game Boards to Increase Engagement and Learning

That bored look. I know you’re familiar with it, too. You can just see them thinking, “I already know this.” “I don’t want to practice this.” “I want my iPad.” “It’s not FUN!” Getting kids to truly enjoy and look forward to practicing skills can be quite the teacher-task! Bring on the game boards! Game Boards are Available in the Sum Math Fun Free Resource Library. Just Click Here to Join! I started using game boards as a way to get my kids to practice skills in a fun way, without the boredom, and without “those looks”. My… Read More

Four Simple Strategies for Successful Teaching Before Christmas Break

Can you actually teach before Christmas break? There is so much excitement that just keeping control can be a teacher challenge. How do you keep students truly engaged and challenged when they are so excited? Well…use their excitement. Really! ► Make everything a challenge. ► Keep on giving them new learning. ► Make it FUN. ► Keep lessons centered around snow (even if you don’t have any). Frosty, the Whos, Rudolf, and other fun Christmas characters will help hold the attention of all those bundles of energy. You will actually build on their Christmas excitement for total teaching success! Using… Read More

How to Absolutely Love Teaching Money

Have you noticed, complained, lost sleep, and cried over the fact that teaching money to our young students seems to be left out of the Common Core Standards?! Teaching students to recognize and count money is just not there. Whoa! Big gap! A measurement standard for money first appears in second grade with standard 2.MD.C.8: “Solve word problems involving dollar bills, quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies, using $ and ¢ symbols appropriately.” Wait! What? Word problems? As the beginning?? Hmmm…there seem to be a few money concepts missing. Shouldn’t my kids be able to: Recognize coins? Know the value of coins?… Read More

8 Creative, Easy, Fast, and Cheap Back to School Student Gifts

Back-to-school time??? Wow! It seemed so far away in May. Now, the summer has flown by and, the first day of school is just around the corner! Getting everything done can be very overwhelming whether you’re a new teacher, almost new, or not new at all. Not only can students have the jitters on the first day back-to-school, but so can we. If you’re looking for a back to school printable, just click this link. Did I get it all finished? Is everything ready and accessible? Do I know what the plan for my day is? Have I thought of all… Read More

Free and Easy Back-to-School Student Gift

This free gift tag and easy, quick student gift for back-to-school or Meet the Teacher Night will be greatly appreciated by your students. You’ll love how fast and easy it is. Parents will love that it’s not candy and almost a “good for you” snack. 😉 These cheery Goldfish Cracker bags with cute tags are great welcome back student gifts to have on their desks as they enter the room and see that you are ready and excited to have each of them in your class as they o’FISHally start a new year! Here’s what you’ll need for your student back to… Read More