Do you want fun math activities that are engaging?     These Solve the Mystery activities are a great way to review at the end of a unit, as a spiral review, before the state test, or at the end of the year.     They are also great to use around the different holidays throughout the year.     Prep for this activity : Print  out the story   to read   to   the   class   or   you   could   project   it   onto   your   smartboard. Print out   the   task   cards.    I   printed   3   of   each in color or black and white.  I laminated them so I could use them several times without having to reprint them each time.  Put these around the room so the students have access to them.   You   can   also   pr int out the signs and hang them where each task cards are located. Print and cut out the clue cards.  You will need a clue card for each group of students.  I put these in envelopes according to the task they go along with.   Put these   near   where   you   are   going   to   be   grading.    ...

As I begin to prepare for back to school, I am reminded that teaching factors and multiples at the beginning of the year aids in teaching future units. Check Out How I Have Organized My First Unit in 6th Grade Math. Chapter 1: Factors and Multiples In my first chapter, I start by talk to my students about factors and factor pairs.  I show them how to find all the factors of a number by finding factor pairs using a factor rainbow.  This leads to a conversation about prime. composite, and square numbers.  By looking at all the factors of a number, students can identify if that number is prime, composite, square, or a combination of these.  Finally, in chapter 1, I introduce multiples. Chapter 2: Common Factors and Common Multiples In chapter two, I take the students knowledge from factors and multiples, and start discussing common factors and common multiples.  I start with common factors and discuss that the number 1 is ALWAYS a common factor of any two numbers.  I also ha...

After 20+ years of teaching, I have found that using Google in the classroom has many benefits.  It has been a game changer for me as a teacher and for my students!   Here are my top 3 reasons why I love using Google in the classroom. As a disclaimer, I teach 6th and 7th grade math in a junior high school.  I use Google Classroom to share the assignments that I want my students to complete. 1. Student Access When I use Google in my classroom, students have access to all of my notes, practice worksheets, and quiz reviews anywhere they have wifi.  This allows students that are absent to make up their work, especially the students that are absent for multiple days in a row.  Using Google in the classroom also allows students that are going on vacation to have the notes and their work while they are gone.  No more preparing work ahead of time for these students or playing "catch-up".  My students have told me that they love to be able to look back at the notes while th...