Logic puzzlers are one of those activities that feel fun to students, but as teachers, we know they are doing some serious thinking behind the scenes. They are problem-solving, reading carefully, making connections, using math skills, and explaining their reasoning without even realizing how much work their brains are doing.

And honestly? That is the best kind of math practice.

If you are looking for an engaging way to challenge your students, add enrichment to your math block, or give early finishers something meaningful to work on, logic puzzlers are a great option.

Let’s talk about what logic puzzlers are and 5 benefits of using them in your classroom.

What Are Logic Puzzlers?

Logic puzzlers are fun and challenging brain-teaser activities that encourage students to think deeply, stay organized, and use reasoning to solve a problem.

I first started using logic puzzlers when I was looking for enrichment activities for my students. I wanted something more meaningful than “extra work,” but I also needed it to be easy to use. Logic puzzlers were the perfect fit because they gave students a challenge while still keeping them engaged.

A logic puzzler kit may include activities like:

Logic Grid Challenges: Students use deductive reasoning and clues to solve a story-based puzzle.

Cool Math: Students solve math equations with different operations as they work down the column.

Complex Mazes: Students use focus and problem-solving skills to make their way through a maze.

Letter Challenges: Students use a set of letters to create as many words as possible.

Symbol Sudoku: Students cut and paste patterned symbols to complete a Sudoku-style grid.

Sequence Task Cards: Students identify the rule and continue the pattern.

Math Mobile Task Cards: Students determine the value of each emoji to balance the math mobiles.

Symbol Sums Task Cards: Students use addition equations to figure out the value of each symbol.

The best part? These activities can be used in so many ways. They work for enrichment, early finishers, math centers, morning work, partner activities, small groups, team-building challenges, or even a fun Friday math activity.

1. Logic Puzzlers Build Deductive Reasoning

One of the biggest benefits of using logic puzzlers is that they help students build deductive reasoning skills.

When students work through a logic puzzle, they have to use the information they are given and figure out what must be true, what cannot be true, and what still needs to be solved.

This is such an important math skill.

Students are not just guessing. They are thinking through clues, eliminating possibilities, and making logical decisions. They quickly learn that there may be different ways to approach a problem, but their answer still has to make sense based on the information provided.

For example, in a logic grid challenge, students may be given a short story and several clues. They have to organize the clues, connect the information, and use reasoning to find the solution.

That kind of thinking strengthens the same skills students need when solving multi-step math problems, analyzing patterns, and explaining their answers.

2. Logic Puzzlers Strengthen Following Directions

Let’s be honest. Following directions is a skill students need constant practice with.

Logic puzzlers are a great way to strengthen that skill because students have to slow down, read carefully, and pay attention to exactly what the activity is asking them to do.

If they skip a direction or rush through the instructions, they may end up with an incorrect answer. That gives students a natural reason to go back, reread, and try again.

For example, a letter challenge might ask students to use a group of letters to make words, but the words must be at least four letters long. If students miss that part, their answers will not fit the challenge.

This is simple, but powerful.

Logic puzzlers help students practice reading directions closely in a way that does not feel like another worksheet. They learn that details matter, and that careful reading can completely change the outcome.

3. Logic Puzzlers Promote Problem Solving

Problem-solving is at the heart of every logic puzzler.

Students are not just completing math facts or filling in blanks. They are figuring things out.

That is what makes these activities so valuable.

In Symbol Sudoku, students have to think about placement and patterns as they complete the grid. In Sequence Task Cards, students have to identify a rule and continue the pattern. In Math Mobile Task Cards, students have to determine the value of each emoji so the mobile stays balanced.

Each activity asks students to think, test ideas, make adjustments, and keep going.

That perseverance piece is huge.

So often in math, students want to know the exact steps right away. Logic puzzlers help them get more comfortable sitting with a challenge. They learn that it is okay not to know the answer immediately. They learn how to try one approach, rethink it, and keep working.

That kind of confidence carries over into the rest of your math block.

4. Logic Puzzlers Promote Creativity

One of my favorite things about logic puzzlers is that they allow students to solve problems in different ways.

As teachers, we know that not every student thinks the same way. Logic puzzlers make that so clear.

I especially love using these as partner or team-building activities because you get to hear students talk through their thinking. One student may organize the clues one way, while another student sees a pattern completely differently. Both may be using logical thinking, but their process looks different.

That is a beautiful thing.

When students explain how they got an answer, we learn so much about how their brains work. We can see if they are making connections, using math vocabulary, reasoning through clues, and thinking creatively.

Logic puzzlers remind students that math is not always about memorizing one procedure. Sometimes math is about exploring, testing, connecting, and explaining.

And that is where the real thinking happens.

5. Logic Puzzlers Bring Storytelling Back Into Math

When most teachers hear “storytelling in math,” they probably think of word problems.

But let’s be real. Most word problems are not actually stories.

A student buys oranges. Two cars leave the mall. Someone has a bunch of pencils. There is usually a little setup, a few numbers, and a question mark at the end.

Those types of problems still have a place in math instruction, but they are usually stripped down. The story part is barely there.

That is where logic puzzlers can add something different.

Story-based math puzzlers bring back a true story element. Students are given a short, high-interest situation with a problem to solve. Then they use the story, clues, and a number grid to make connections and find the solution.

This makes math feel more engaging and meaningful.

Stories can spark student interest, support memory, reduce math anxiety, and motivate students to dig into the problem. When students care about the situation, they are more likely to stay engaged and think through the challenge.

These types of logic puzzlers combine reading, reasoning, math computation, and problem-solving all in one activity.

That is a big win.

Why Teachers Love Logic Puzzlers

Logic puzzlers are one of those classroom resources that can serve so many purposes.

They can help you:

• Add meaningful enrichment to your math block
• Keep early finishers engaged
• Build problem-solving and reasoning skills
• Strengthen following directions
• Encourage teamwork and math discussions
• Practice basic computation in a more engaging way
• Challenge students without adding a ton of prep

They also work both sides of the brain. Students are using logic, computation, reading, creativity, and reasoning all at once.

That is exactly the kind of math practice we want more of.

Make Logic Puzzlers Easy to Use

If you want to try logic puzzlers in your classroom, start small.

Use one puzzler as a class challenge. Model how to read the story, look at the clues, and organize information. Then let students try one with a partner or small group.

Once students understand how the activities work, logic puzzlers can easily become part of your regular routine.

You can use them for:

• Math centers
• Early finishers
• Enrichment groups
• Morning work
• Partner challenges
• Team-building activities
• Test prep review
• Fun Friday math
• Sub plans

Logic puzzlers are engaging for students, but they are also helpful for teachers because they are easy to plug into your day.

Final Thoughts

Logic puzzlers are more than just fun brain teasers.

They help students build deductive reasoning, strengthen following directions, promote problem solving, encourage creativity, and bring storytelling back into math.

They challenge students in a way that feels exciting instead of overwhelming. They give students a chance to think differently, explain their reasoning, and build confidence as problem solvers.

And as teachers, we get to watch their brains light up while they work through the challenge.

That is why logic puzzlers are such a powerful addition to any K–8 math classroom.

Ready to bring more problem-solving, reasoning, and engagement into your math block? Try logic puzzlers with your students and watch how quickly they get hooked.

#5 PUZZLERS WORK BOTH SIDES OF THE BRAIN

Speaking of the creative side of the brain, did you know that brain teaser activities like logic puzzlers actually work both sides of the brain?! This is a win for both students and teachers! Logic puzzlers are designed so that students can work both the left logical side of the brain plus the right creative side of the brain!

How to Store Logic Puzzlers

Did you read all 5 benefits of using logic puzzlers in your classroom? Logic puzzlers can easily be stored in storage bins, large envelopes, file folders or ziplock bags. They do not need to take up a lot of space in your classroom or be a daunting task. Plus, digital options are also available that still have moving pieces!

Are you planning to try logic puzzlers in your classroom yet?!

The post 5 Benefits to Using Logic Puzzlers appeared first on Tanya Yero Teaching.

Providing enrichment activities or finding resources for early finishers should typically follow some key guidelines. Don’t stress about providing enrichment opportunities to those that need it. You may want to read 3 Ways to Make Enrichment Easy for You and Your Students.

Here are 5 ways to challenge students who need enrichment:

1. COMPLEXITY

First, find activities that are on the higher end of complexity in reading level, information, and math skills for your students. This could look like reading on the next grade level or assigning some higher-level word problems in math.

2. PROCESS

Second, the process of enrichment should promote choice and flexibility for the student.

Try these ideas:

• Choice boards: Try Digital Early Finisher Activities for Upper Elementary Students. They are themed monthly activities that are ready to go for students to CHOOSE from. They include- logic puzzlers, word scrambles, mystery squares, number grids, fluency pixels and read & learn passages. Plus, they are NO-PREP, auto-graded and interactive with moveable pieces that are already built in. Your students will hopefully find these tasks to be full of hands-on fun!

• Technology-infused activities: We live in a technological world and must embrace all of it.

• Auto-graded activities: Did you know that a lot of digital activities can give students immediate feedback on how they performed? One of these is Digital Early Finisher Activities for Upper Elementary Students.

• Built-in Moveable Pieces: These are great at helping students stay engaged by keeping their hands busy. Plus, the Digital Early Finisher Activities for Upper Elementary Students have built-in movable pieces too!

• ​​Themed activities: Students typically enjoy a good themed unit or resource. The reasons being that it’s visually appealing and there is more buy-in for them. Check out these Themed Enrichment Kits for your students who finish early and need more opportunity for learning.

3. PROBLEM-SOLVING ACTIVITIES

Next, activities that involve deductive reasoning and are high-interest topics for students will absolutely engage them more.

4. ACCELERATION

These students can probably handle bumping the complexity up to the next grade level. Work with teachers at the next grade level to find opportunities for students to push-in to their math block.

5. TECHNOLOGY

Finally, kids LOVE interactive digital resources, and there are a lot of great options right now. Try Prodigy or Buzz Math for enhancing math skills. 

Prodigy is FREE for teachers! It works on over 1200 crucial math skills in fun and engaging ways. Its geared for grades 1-8 and can be set at a higher grade level for the students that need it.

Buzz Math focuses on middle school math. It’s perfect for 4th and 5th-graders who are up for a challenge. It contains high-quality problems, gives immediate feedback, and lets students progress at their own pace. In addition, Buzz Math gives teachers detailed feedback about students’ progress.

Programming is now a VITAL skill for all ages to learn and understand. Many opportunities will open for students who understand basic programming and coding.

More about programming:

• It boosts creativity through the process of trial and error
• Let’s students develop their problem-solving skills on a deeper level 
• enhances written language
• helps students use math skills in real-life situations

*Try these 10 FREE coding programs for kids*

REMINDER-DON’T LET STUDENTS BE “BORED”

Remember, challenging students who academically can handle more is absolutely part of every teacher’s job. Please don’t “settle” and just let students meet the standard and stop learning. Students should always be engaged and thinking!

In what ways do you challenge your students that need it?

The post 5 Ways To Challenge Students Needing Enrichment appeared first on Tanya Yero Teaching.

WHAT ARE LOGIC PUZZLERS?

First, you may be wondering what logic puzzlers are. Logic puzzlers were designed when I began searching for enrichment activities for my students. Each kit typically includes 8 different enrichment activities such as:

1. Logic Grid Challenges– Using deductive reasoning, students will use the clues provided to find the solution to the story. Logic Grid Challenges require students to stay organized and see beyond the clues provided.
2. Cool Math– Students will solve various math equations with different operations to make their way down the column in under one minute!
3. Complex Maze– Can your students find their way thru this complex and fun maze?
4. Letter Challenge– Students will be provided a set of letters and asked to create as many 4 letter words as they can think of.
5. Symbol Sudoku– Students will cut and paste 9 different patterned symbols to successfully complete the Sudoku grid.
6. Sequence Task Cards– 12 complex sequences that students must identify the rule and continue the pattern.
7. Math Mobile Task Cards– Students must figure out the value of each emoji to balance out the math mobiles.
8. Symbol Sums Task Cards– Students will be provided addition equation to help identify the value of each symbol provided.

STUDENTS LOVE LOGIC PUZZLERS

Students love logic puzzlers for many reasons: They love the challenging activities. They appreciate having hands-on activities to do if they finish early. Finally, they are just plain FUN! That is still what school is about, right? Having fun while learning!

There are so MANY different ways to incorporate these into your classroom. Here are 8 ways to use logic puzzlers in your class today:

#1 EARLY FINISHER ACTIVITIES

Using logic puzzlers for early finishers is honestly the main reason that they were created. I always needed something for students to do when they finished with the assigned work early. It was difficult to find activities that felt challenging and fun, but did not feel like “busy work” for students. This is how logic puzzlers were born! Simply pass one out at the beginning of the week or keep on a shelf in your room for students to grab when they are finished. You could assign extra credit for completing these.

#2 EMERGENCY SUB PLANS

I have had many teachers tell me that this is the main way that they use logic puzzlers. These are perfect for emergency sub plans so you don’t have to try to get together a math lesson at the last minute if you need to be out! Print out some non-holiday ones and stick them in your sub folder! However, I would recommend trying them with your students at least once before having a substitute use them.

#3 FUN FRIDAY ACTIVITIES

Another great way to use logic puzzlers is to make them a Fun Friday Activity. Whether you try having a fun Friday once per week or once per month, students (and you) will look forward to the change of plans in the schedule. Set aside about an hour of math time for students to work on these, or just set aside an hour at the end of the day once curriculum is complete.

#4 TEAM BUILDING ACTIVITY

In addition to using these for Fun Friday activities, logic puzzlers are awesome team building activities! Break up your class into partners and have them race to finish one of these activities together!

#5 TAKE HOME ACTIVITY

Logic puzzlers can also be used as a take home activity. In the past, I have assigned a set on a Monday and made it due the following Monday. This gave students the entire week and weekend to complete the set on top of other school work. I like to use incentives to have students complete this electively and earn rewards such as these Emoji Reward Coupons.

#6 PROMOTE PROBLEM SOLVING & DEDUCTIVE REASONING

Within these 8 ways to use logic puzzlers, promoting problem solving and deductive reasoning is HUGE! As teachers, we should always be striving to have students using problem solving and deductive reasoning skills. What better way than to sneak in some math as well?!

#7 CLASS REWARD

Another way to use logic puzzlers is as a whole class reward. You could even tie this into Fun Friday. For example, once students earn 10 days of good behavior as a class-they can earn a fun Friday. Try making logic puzzlers one of the Fun Friday stations.

#8 INDOOR RECESS

Finally, indoor recess is one more great way to put logic puzzlers to use. Students in upper elementary grades especially like to have something to do during indoor recess. I like to set these on a shelf for students to easily grab who want a challenge during indoor recess.

Want to try a Logic Puzzler for FREE?! Grab it here!

Grab the Logic Puzzler Bundle and be set for year!

What do you use for early finishers in your classroom?

The post 8 Ways to use Logic Puzzlers in Your Classroom appeared first on Tanya Yero Teaching.

1. SMALL GROUP INSTRUCTION

As teachers, we should constantly be providing small group instruction to students in all subject areas. There have been quite a few years in which I’ve had a wide range of learners in my class. Pulling small groups and providing tailored support is extremely important so that you can provide every student with what they need. Some may need more support, and some may need enrichment, depending on the lesson taught. For instance, you may have 5 or 6 different levels of math groups in your room. Check out How to Start Differentiating During Your Math Block for help with how to group students. 

Power Math Reference Mats

One activity that I love to use during small groups for differentiation is POWER Math Reference Mats. POWER Math Reference Mats help assist teachers during math rotations. Each math target skill comes with various problems for you to give to your students when working in small groups. Group A is for students who are in need of remediation, Group B is for students working on grade level, and Group C is for students who need enrichment. Each mat comes with target skills that match the needs of each student level in your class. In addition, there are questions/problems for each target skill to give to your students. The best part is that these are LOW PREP which is every teacher’s dream! All you need is whiteboards and expo markers or paper and pencils to go with them.

2. ASSIGN AUTO-GRADING ACTIVITIES

Have you ever tried assigning auto-grading activities? It is seriously life-changing as a teacher! How many times have we given up part of our personal life to grade student papers at 8 pm on a Friday night? For those moments when you can’t be there, auto-grading resources are a great way to differentiate. Why? They provide immediate feedback to students and you when the activity is complete.  If you use or create activities in Google Sheets or Google Forms, they most likely have an auto-grading feature. Read more on why digital math activities are perfect for the classroom.

Digital Pixel Mystery Pictures

My favorite auto-grading activities for math differentiation are Digital Pixel Art Mystery Pictures. My students go crazy for these! These are ready-to-go activities for Google Excel that review a specific math skill. As students correctly answer various questions (both procedural and conceptual based) a fun mystery picture will start to reveal. This activity is both self-grading and interactive for students! These work perfectly to see if students grasped the new concept after whole group instruction. You can also add them into math centers, use for morning work or just use for fun! These are especially great because they are ALL DIGITAL. This means that there’s no sloppy coloring or students taking too long to color in each answer.

2ND GRADE BUNDLE

4TH GRADE BUNDLE

3RD GRADE BUNDLE

5TH GRADE BUNDLE

4-5 HOLIDAY BUNDLE

6TH GRADE BUNDLE

3. USE TIERED ASSIGNMENTS

The next best thing besides you providing support is pulling resources that have BUILT-IN scaffolding. I’m talking about using resources that support different levels of understanding . Tiered assignments have the same content and objectives, but the levels are differentiated depending on student needs. This is what is so great about them! Level On Differentiated Math Tasks are the perfect assignments for math practice that do this.

Level On Differentiated Math Tasks

These are ready to print math tasks with high interest topics. The questions build in complexity are tiered so you can differentiate your classroom based on student ability. All students get the same information sheet. Then there are 3 levels of differentiated questions about it. There are small (discrete) icons at the top of each question sheet so you can give students the questions that apply to their math level.

ALWAYS TRY TO DIFFERENTIATE MATH PRACTICE

Remember, not all students are on the same level in your classroom. Differentiation is very important in all subject areas, especially math and ELA. When you differentiate instruction, your students will be happier and more confident in math. Once you start to plan for differentiation in math, it becomes easier each week. Use these tips for 3 ways to differentiate math practice for students and let me know how it goes!

The post 3 Ways to Differentiate Math Practice for Students appeared first on Tanya Yero Teaching.

Halloween Paperless Math Prompts

Celebrating the holidays with your students doesn’t mean every activity has to be over the top. Our Paperless Math Prompts are themed and include ready to display math questions. These prompts promote problem solving and number sense!

Halloween Logic Puzzlers

Students love these things. They really love the challenge of them and I love them because they promote deductive reasoning; forcing students to read between the lines. I use logic puzzlers during the month of October and I even keep some in my emergency sub folder for those “Oh no, I need to call out!” days. Our logic puzzlers can be found in our early finisher kits and you can choose between print logic puzzlers or digital ones!

Halloween Digital Escape Rooms

I always try to do one WOW Halloween activity with my students, usually on Halloween or the Friday before. This is my “one big moment” to pack my Halloween punch! Students love escape rooms. They love the mystery and thrill! They especially love BREAKING OUT! DIGITAL escape rooms are a personal favorite of mine because I don’t need to prep locks, boxes, folders, and a million copies. Our Digital Halloween Escape Rooms have been used by thousands of students and are a fan favorite. Our pumpkin themed escape room does not mention Halloween or any corresponding characters for schools that do not participate in spooky season.

Differentiated Math Tasks

You need to maintain the same level of instruction during these holiday months. I use differentiated math activities that are Halloween themed to review curriculum that I introduced in the months leading up to October 31st. These math projects include a high interest passage with 3 pages of differentiated math questions. I love that I’m providing practice that is specific to a child’s needs and they enjoy the themed presentation!

Print Halloween Escape Rooms

If digital escape rooms aren’t your thing, print escape rooms are just as fun! Our Case File Math Challenges are logic puzzles and mysteries rolled into one fun, collaborative Math game. Students will begin with a short themed introductory passage which will outline the mystery or problem that needs to be solved. Next, students will complete fun math problem solving challenges to receive clues to the case file. The clues from correctly solving the math challenges will help students solve the greater mystery or problem introduced in the passage. Our print Halloween escape room is LOW prep too! Each group needs 5 pages to complete this challenge with NO cutting or gluing!

Halloween Scavenger Hunt

I challenge you to find me a child that doesn’t love a good scavenger hunt. Teachers love scavenger hunts because it gets students up and moving. Those wiggly students really shine in such activities. This Halloween themed scavenger hunt has ready to display prompts for objects that are easily found in the classroom (and for those virtual teachers and homeschool moms there is an “at home” version too!)

Whether you implement one activity from this list or all five you can rest knowing that you are reviewing key math skills in the classroom, no stressing about administration walking in and questioning your lesson. But most importantly your students will have fun and appreciate celebrating the holiday with you!

If you’re looking for holiday book recommendations beyond these Halloween activities head here!

The post 6 Halloween Activities for Upper Elementary appeared first on Tanya Yero Teaching.

Be realistic

Teachers are some of the most generous people I know. They will go to great lengths for their students and often times carry the weight of their students’ struggles with them even when they’re outside of the classroom. It’s hard to be reasonable about the improvement your students will make.

Years ago, I had a student who was several years behind. Despite being a 3^rd grader, his beginning of the year assessments showed he was working on a kindergarten level in math. I worked with him all year whenever I could, but it still wasn’t enough to pass the 3^rd grade state test. I was devastated- I felt like I had failed him and I carried that with me for a while.

What I failed to realize, is that I should have been celebrating the growth he achieved by finishing the year at a 2^nd grade level in math.

Be kind to yourself. You’re not going to completely close gaps that are years wide. Do the best you can and the development will come at a healthy pace. On the flip side, don’t modify grade level expectations by providing certain students with a curriculum that requires less work. Find the right balance for both you and the student in need and celebrate successes no matter how small with that student.

Understanding the intervention process

I have worked with a lot of teachers on intervention and there are occasions where the teacher isn’t familiar with the tiers of remediation.

“Jimmy struggles with every new skill in math”

“How often do you work with Jimmy in small groups or 1:1?”

“I work with Jimmy when I’m teaching the whole class.”

The most basic level of intervention occurs when you are with the whole class, but the most critical steps of remediation take place in a more isolated setting such as small group instruction or 1:1. This is not easy. You are short on time. Try carving out 10-15 minutes a day to provide Tier II and III interventions. There will never be enough time in the school day to achieve everything you want, so go back to prioritizing the skills that are most important. For one student in particular, it might be just multiplication; just one skill that you cover both procedurally and conceptually.

Have a baseline set of data

You need to identify the academic deficiencies of your students. Before you can provide intervention, you need to know the skills to reteach. I use these beginning of the year assessments to pinpoint class needs and specific needs of individual students. These free assessments have questions that specifically target procedural and conceptual understanding for each standard.

It can feel overwhelming when you look at student scores. It feels as though the needs of just one student are so wide and impossible to achieve. In this case scale it back. Focus on prerequisite skills that are continuously needed. Focus on the four operations of math, number sense, fluency, and problem solving. Quadrilaterals are important but not as important as conceptually understanding multiplication.

Keep it short and sweet

The #1 struggle with implementing intervention is TIME. There is never enough time to achieve everything you as it is, and adding another thing to your schedule seems impossible. Allocate 10-15 minutes a day for intervention, that’s it! In the past I have had students silent read for 10-15 while I worked with a small group or one student. It’s not always perfect but you make it work.

Monitoring progress

Without a doubt the most important part of intervention is to decide how you will track student progress. Administration, parents, support staff, and of course you will want to know if the remediation is actually working. In the past, I have used a schedule that provides intervention on a new topic/standard for 4 days. Then I assessed on Fridays. You don’t want to assess too often nor do you want to wait too long. I find that most intervention plans last about 6 weeks before the team wants to meet and discuss progress. With this schedule you can collect 6 points of data to share during those meetings.

Using standards based mini assessments

What will the assessments you use to track data look like? Use quick and easy to complete assessments that isolate and focus on specific skills. These will be the skills that you are reviewing during intervention time. I use assessments that are standards based so I know exactly where the student’s understanding lies. The assessments I use also cover procedural and conceptual understanding.

Keep records of everything

Data tracking is EVERYTHING in intervention. Keep records of student work, assessments, and notes. This will help you during parent conferences, RTI meetings, and/or conferences with admin. Here are the four pieces of data I bring to every meeting related to the remediation needs of a child:

1. Standardized test scores – from previous year to current year
2. Graphs showing student progress – this includes the mini assessments I administered during the intervention process
3. Graphs comparing the student in RTI with the class – class averages and student averages of assessments that everyone is completing
4. Work samples of the resources and activities we completed together during small group/ 1:1 instruction

Don’t give up

It may be hard to see the effect of your efforts and hard work but it will come. Stay consistent and it will start to pay off. Remember you and your students are doing a great job! Our Math Intervention Resources for grades K-8 eliminates all the prep work for you so you can focus on what really matters- helping your students!

The post Short and Effective Strategies for Math Intervention appeared first on Tanya Yero Teaching.

In science class the definition of kinetic energy is energy that is in motion. In social studies the Revolutionary War happened between 1775-1783. These are all answers that only have one correct response. But math is different. It is fluid and open to interpretation whether in the answer or the reasoning one took to arrive at that answer. And for this fact I love using open ended math tasks in my classroom.

What are open ended math tasks?

Open ended math tasks are problems with more than one answer. They encourage higher order thinking and justifying mathematical reasoning. They are more than “Solve: 13 x 4.”

I have always encouraged creativity amongst my students by modeling different ways to approach a problem and open ended tasks support all of this and more. Here are 3 reasons why you should be using open ended math tasks in your classroom.

Open ended tasks promote math discussion.

I use Which One Doesn’t Belong math prompts to start the day. Students are encouraged to share their responses and EXPLAIN why they chose the answer they did. Students will debate with one another to defend their answer. You’ll hear logical reasoning being used and perhaps some misconceptions that you can address.

Open ended math tasks will build student confidence.

When I introduce WODB to my students I tell them there are NO wrong answers! They love the idea of NOT being told “no” or “incorrect” and they start to take greater risks. Watch out for over-the-top abstract responses or ideas that are very basic and redirect students back to reasoning that is math based and appropriate for their grade level. Open ended tasks celebrate the variety of ability in your classroom. In the example below the two student responses are both correct and illustrates different levels of understanding.

Open ended prompts build engagement

As teachers we’re always looking for ways to hook our students and increase interest. These types of prompts will engage students! Keep your tasks and questions short and vague and watch the ideas fly! Your students’ problem solving skills will also improve. Ask questions that cover different topics in different presentations such as manipulatives, models, number lines, and more!

Any type of open ended math task is sure to build student confidence, problem solving skills, and creativity. Just keep the practice routine. If you want your students to be comfortable with this type of questioning, they need to routinely see it. Grab our set of Which One Doesn’t Belong Math Prompts for grades 4-5 or grades 2-3 HERE. Each resource includes 150 ready to go open ended math prompts—ZERO prep for you!

Want to try a sampler first? We have a FREE set of 20 prompts waiting for you below!

The post 3 Reasons to Use Open Ended Math Tasks appeared first on Tanya Yero Teaching.

I teach my students how to decode word problems. I provide them strategies to use, model my thinking and create a blueprint for them. Using such strategies as CUBES or other acronyms is TOTALLY OKAY, but I suggest implementing other problem solving strategies as well.

It takes 8 days but it’s well worth it. Here is the schedule I follow for walking my students through a program that teaches them how to problem solve to answer math questions.

Day 1 – Introduction

The first day is about the introduction to the program. Start by unpacking what a word problem is with your students. There are no wrong answers- you’re trying to get an idea of how your students see math questions that are not procedural based. You’ll probably find that your students have negative feelings towards word problems.

Encourage them by explaining that we will gain insight and strategies that will make us better problem solvers and therefore more comfortable with word problems. We also cover the power of mental visualization. We practice painting mental pictures of the events in the story. This helps students realize that word problems require comprehension and not just math skills.

Days 2-4 – Teaching reading strategies for solving word problems

These lessons unpack reading strategies that students can use to comprehend what is happening in the story. They need to see beyond the numbers in the word problem to see the story that is unfolding. Here are the reading strategies we cover:

• Asking questions
• Determining importance
• Making connections
• Inferring
• Summarizing
• Mental monitoring/ visualizing

We also introduce a PNC chart. This chart breaks down the information that is provided, needed, and circumstantial.  

Days 5-6 – Teaching math strategies for solving word problems

Days 5-6 swings away from the reading comprehension of word problems back to the problem solving. This is more than “circle the keywords” or “box the numbers out.” These are a set of strategies that support numerical reasoning and accuracy. These strategies help students establish, model, and organize the numerical information in the word problem. Here are the math strategies we cover:

• Model/picture it
• Using patterns
• Work backwards
• Make a table/list
• Logic reasoning
• Guess and check

Days 7-8 – Practice

This is where I start to move away from instruction and into practice. The practice comes in two forms. First, I want my students to decode questions in groups or pairs. I’m looking to hear what we have learned over the last six days in the form of math discussion. I’m also looking to see who is still struggling and may need additional support. This is also a great time to use multi-step word problems.

On the last day I have my students work on eight questions independently. This is my formative assessment of what they have learned. I’m not trying to assess new math skills, so I select questions students can use previously taught skills to solve. Giving your students a toolkit to revisit time and time again will better serve their ability to problem solve. Not only are you providing them with a set of strategies to help them in times of need, you’re also providing them with the confidence they often lack to decode and effectively solve word problems. Teach your students not to be calculators, but instead problem solvers.

Grab our 8 Days To Word Problem Mastery Program for grades 4-5 with ready to go instructional lessons, lesson plans, and student printables. All the work is done for you!

The post How To Help Students Solve Word Problems appeared first on Tanya Yero Teaching.

Daily schedules and demands leave us with not a lot of time. To maximize child development (and time!) parents should focus on the following skills: real word application, problem solving and number sense.

Real World Math

The greatest gift we can give to our children is to continuously reinforce the fact that math is part of every day life. It’s more than questions in a textbook; more than algorithms and memorizing steps. Math is real and required in everyone’s day to day routines.

Use any real world event to spark math discussion. Ask questions related to the costs of running appliances in the home, interest on credit cards, and making baby formula. Show them how you write the amount on a check in both word and standard form. These problems may not seem relevant to your elementary learners yet, but the problems are related to real life situations they are likely to encounter in the future.

Problem Solving

Nowadays time is precious. Time is fleeting and our schedules are crazier than ever. Whether you are homeschooling your child or just looking to build strong math skills asking the right questions to promote problem solving skills takes priority. Avoid questions that hover on the side of procedural understanding and simply memorizing algorithms. Grab a set of FREE math word problems here that encourage conceptual understanding and require problem solving skills.

Instead of asking “What is 2,657 rounded to the nearest hundred?”

Try… “When rounded to the nearest hundred, I become 2,700. What numbers could I be?”

In addition, ask questions while doing activities such cooking and baking. For example, in the kitchen baking cookies, asking how many ways can we make the number 15 is more powerful than “How many chocolate chips are there?”

Many children are are tactile learners; they learn best by experiencing and literally feeling materials by using manipulatives. For example, use Cheez-Its or similar square shaped crackers to measure area and perimeter. Also, check out virtual manipulatives to illustrate and practice place value, graphs, and more! Our new differentiated digital math centers have built in movable pieces to make learning more interactive!

Number Sense

Number sense and the confidence to mentally solve equations doesn’t come overnight for students. It takes time, repetition, and lots of exposure. Every student is capable of learning number sense. These at home daily math prompts include questions to build number sense and mental math skills. If you need tips and tricks for helping your children learn strategies to mentally manipulating numbers check out this blog post.

Building a love for math, fostering a deeper math thinker, and problem solver doesn’t happen overnight. It takes lots of practice and supportive parents to bring it all together for young learners.

The post How Parents Can Promote Math Skills At Home appeared first on Tanya Yero Teaching.

Why Should You Use Virtual Manipulatives in Your Math Classroom?

Research shows that hands-on learning helps students visualize mathematical concepts (National Council of Teachers of Mathematics). Overall, digital manipulatives make this possible. First, abstract concepts become more concrete with the power of virtual manipulatives. Next, using manipulatives promotes conceptual understanding of math standards.

Another reason to use digital manipulatives comes from John Dewey. Of course, even educators in the early twentieth century knew that students learned best by experiencing learning concepts hands-on. Of course, allowing students to experience math by putting materials in their hands is the definition of learning by doing. In addition, experiential learning using manipulatives makes math come alive online.

What Math Concepts Work with Virtual Manipulatives?

From counting to algebraic expressions, virtual manipulatives have a place in every math classroom.

First, use virtual manipulatives with these math standards and units available in my ready-to-use digital math centers. These digital math activities are differentiated; there are A/B slides included for each standard.

In addition, these digital activities also use moveable pieces as manipulatives to help your students solve algebraic equations, represent parts to a whole in fractions, make shapes, and also review place value. Overall, digital math centers with virtual manipulatives are the perfect way to help your students with problem solving and critical thinking.

Where Do You Find Digital Manipulatives Online?

In addition to the moveable manipulatives in the digital math centers, there are also many places to find complementary virtual manipulatives to support student learning. Here are two of my favorite websites to find online manipulatives.

Didax

First, Didax includes a digital plethora of hands-on math manipulatives. Cubes, counters, dice, ten-frames, tiles, geoboards, disks, and more can be used with any of the digital math centers for 3rd-5th grades. To begin, try this site for simple, ready to use digital manipulatives.

National Library of Virtual Manipulatives

When it comes to finding free online digital manipulatives, the National Library of Virtual Manipulatives is the best site for PreK-12 learners. The site is divided into five topics: Number & Operations, Algebra, Geometry, Measurement Data, and Analysis & Probability

Of course, each topic has resources for PreK-2, Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, and Grades 9-12 to use with learners at any level. Because of the vast amount of resources on the site, you can use these manipulatives to differentiate instruction for any student in your classroom. First, help your students that need additional scaffolding by using an Abacus of factor trees. Finally, challenge your students with function machines and circle puzzles.

Along with standard virtual manipulatives, this site also has measurement tools that integrate well with science class, clocks to practice telling time, and dozens of graphs.

The power of manipulatives not only help your students “see” math in front of them with hands-on learning, they provide tools that are safe and affordable even while students are participating in distance learning. Having hundreds of manipulatives at their fingertips gives students their own personal virtual manipulative toolkit.

Try using virtual manipulatives with digital math centers during independent learning, small group work, or station rotations. Overall, virtual manipulatives help promote problem solving and critical thinking for all students.

Want to try a sample of our differentiated digital math centers >>>> CLICK HERE!

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