Blog - Sum Math Fun

How to Use Game Boards to Increase Engagement

How do you increase engagement in your elementary classroom? Do you use game boards to increase engagement? That bored look. I know you’re familiar with it, too. You can just see them thinking, “I already know this.” “Practicing this is boring.” “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! To increase engagement, bring on the game boards! Over 40 FREE Game Boards are Available in our Free Resource Library. I started using game boards as a way to get my kids to practice skills in… Read More

Word Problems Before Christmas Break – Four Simple Strategies

Can you actually successfully teach word problems 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? You can absolutely use their excitement. Really! Make everything a challenge. Keep on giving them new learning. Make it FUN. Furthermore, center your lessons 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… 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. In addition to that, shouldn’t my kids be able to: Recognize coins? Know… Read More

8 Creative, Easy, Fast Back to School Student Gifts

Need back to school student gifts? Back-to-school time??? Wow! It seemed so far away in May. Now, the summer has flown by and, we need student gifts for a super start to our first day of school! 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… 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! The free download at the end of this post… Read More

Do You Want Free Teacher Resources?

If you love finding free teacher resources for your Kindergarten, first grade, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, or 5th graders, you are in the right place! Here you can gain access to exclusive print and digital resources that you can’t find anywhere else! I am so excited to announce the launch of my FREE RESOURCE LIBRARY! I know you’re probably thinking, “What’s the big deal? You already have lots of free teacher resources in your Teachers Pay Teachers store and in your Online Store.” You’re right! And I’m really glad you thought that because now I can tell you what’s different about… Read More

Back to School No Prep Printables For An Incredible Start

Back to school time already? Every summer seems shorter and shorter. There is always so-o-o much to do to get ready for those first few days. And, having a great packet ready to go is one of the first things that’s always on my list. Whether you are a new or veteran teacher, being ready for that first day of school can be quite overwhelming. Planning is much easier after you’ve set your expectations, routines, and procedures. But this takes a while. So, that first day, or even week, is a time to get to know your kids and establish… Read More

Early Finishers and Gifted – {Free} Printables

Do you dread having early finishers in your 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade classroom? Every classroom has them. Keeping early finishers engaged and challenged can be difficult for new, as well as experienced, teachers. They can bring mayhem into your classroom if they don’t have targeted extensions. Read on to find out how to “tame the speedsters” (a.k.a. early finishers) in your classroom and also control the math extension beast. PLANNING FOR EARLY FINISHERS I thoroughly planned my math lesson. It was hands-on with a terrific recording sheet and reflection page. I even thought of a “bonus question” for my… Read More