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Miss Glitter Teaches

Bringing a dash of sparkle to tired teachers

in Math , Middle School · November 22, 2022

Math Homework Ideas That Make Kids Think

I don’t know about you but homework is SUCH a battle for me. It doesn’t matter if I teach 3rd grade or 8th grade, homework is a struggle. Students don’t turn it in, or it’s late or it’s half done. I was in serious need of some math homework ideas.

Before I get any further, I feel like I need to state that homework was required at my schools. There wasn’t a way around giving homework on at least a weekly basis. However, I did find some ideas for homework that weren’t simply worksheets for math. If you are in the same boat, I feel you. There are more exciting things to give for homework.

On the flip side, if you don’t have to give homework but you want to you, I’m here for you too! Maybe parents are requesting extra practice, or maybe you see the value in nightly practice but are looking to shake things up. Either way, this blog post is all about different math homework ideas. So let’s dive in!

Homework Tips

To help me, and my students out, I only give homework once or twice a week. This is helpful for a few reasons. First, students know that it isn’t nightly which creates some buy-in from 6th graders. 

Second, I give students multiple days to complete the homework. This works because students have a few nights to work on it. So if they have soccer practice tonight, they can do the homework tomorrow. Students can see the assignments at the beginning of the week so they can plan out what nights they will work on math. 

Third, I give my students anywhere from 5-10 problems, which isn’t too much. Five is the mode, as I think that gives students practice without it being overwhelming. This is also the number that I find students are able to complete during homeroom time so if they forget to do it at home, they have time to work on it at school.

In addition to all of this, the homework I give is online. So students can check their work. This gives immediate feedback that I can’t provide. And this also helps students look for their mistakes. Which is honestly a life skill I’m in full support of!

Ideas for homework

Homework doesn’t have to be simply worksheets! I’ve found that students have more buy-in if it changes. So like a worksheet one week, a choice board the next, a self-checking maze, and a flipped classroom video the third week. The possibilities are endless but switching it up is key.

I feel like I should start with the math homework ideas basics here. Giving a worksheet is an easy way to give homework. There are spiral review assignments that are great for extra practice. I like the self-checking kind so that students can check their work even from home.

Another idea with this is to take morning work and flip it into homework. I like to use the number of the day to help build number sense and it is pretty easy to fill in the numbers and run a set of copies. That way students could work on a little bit each night, or do the whole thing in one evening. 

To save on copies, I try to print double-sided. Maybe a multiplication facts worksheet and then something that is within the unit to practice for homework. This idea works great for math homework for 4th graders or even middle school math.

Choice Board Templates

I love a good choice board template. While I typically use these as in-class or math station rotation ideas, choice boards can work just as well at home. I give students a board at the beginning of the unit to put into their math interactive notebook for easy reference. Then I can say for a sub day, or for homework, complete 1 activity from the board. 

This works for a few reasons. First students have a choice in what they want to complete. Second, this could take a few nights so if you are at a school that requires multiple days of homework, this works nicely. I used this tip when giving homework for 3rd graders.

I use this set of choice boards that are already created with prompts for 5th-grade math. If you are looking for a digital set of choice board templates, be sure to check out my Teachers Pay Teachers shop for a set that can be used with any content or grade level. 

Flipped Classroom

A flipped classroom is all about taking the main pieces of a lesson: learning and then practicing and flipping them. So instead of learning the lesson in school with you, they learn it at home. Then they come into class and practice with you. 

I love this approach because it seems a bit fairer. Some kids have engineers for parents so middle school math is easy. But some kids have parents who cry at the sight of fractions (true story from my own family!). 

With a flipped classroom, students watch a video and usually fill in some sort of notes sheet. I personally make my own videos and notes sheets but if you are looking for math lessons for 5th grade , I have a set already created! Simply print the notes sheets and post the video! Math homework ideas made easy!

This way of teaching does require students to have internet and a device which isn’t always feasible. I have also switched this method to be completed all in class. I use math learning centers in my classroom and this video/notes combo becomes the technology station. That way students are still seeing the video and filling in notes and steps. But they are completing it in class. If you want to learn more about creating a flipped classroom be sure to check out this blog post .

If you want to learn more about math stations then be sure to join the FREE 5-day video series all about math stations. I share with you the who, what, when, where, why, and how of running math stations in the 4th-6th grade math classroom. Simply drop your email below to get access to all of the videos and workbooks. Math stations changed my teaching life so let’s make them change yours!

Math Homework Ideas: Internet practice 

Need something quick and easy? I am totally right there with you! My textbook (Big Ideas) actually has an online homework component that is such a lifesaver. You can choose which problems students complete and it will check and grade for you. 

If you don’t have a similar option from your textbook, that’s ok! There are tons of different online practice sites for students to get homework practice on. With most of these platforms, you can assign particular lessons and practice for students to complete. With other options, students are able to work at their level with differentiated practice based on a pretest. 

My favorite math homework ideas include:

• Khan Academy 

I have used all of these platforms at some point or another. But if you have additional favorites, drop them in the comments. I’d love to add to this list!

Homework Help In Math

Homework help in math is such a battle. So many people are scared of math and I get where they are coming from. Upper-level math isn’t my favorite and while I know it, I don’t want to teach it!

With parents, it’s the same struggle. And I don’t want to cause my students (or families!) any additional stress and tears trying to get a homework assignment done.

To combat all of this, I turn to google. In our online learning platform, I provide links to videos for students to watch if they get confused at home. I just search youtube and provide a few different links for students. Sure students could search for these for themselves, but now there isn’t an excuse for them. 

I’ve linked a few of my favorite channels below:

• Math Antics
• Mario’s Math Tutoring
• Stand Up Maths
• Math & Learning Videos 4 Kids

More Math Homework Ideas

Looking for more math homework ideas? I’ve found some of my favorite bloggers and Instagrammers who share their math homework tips. Be sure to check them out if you want more ideas on how to tackle this sometimes decisive topic.

• 6 Tips for Math the Most of Math Homework
• Making Math Homework Work!
• Make Homework Meaningful & Manageable with Menus
• 7 Ways to Make Homework Fun for Back to School
• Turn Worksheets into Easy Math Activities
• Teaching Math without Homework: How and Why
• How to Use Google Forms to Steamline Homework Data Collection
• Homework Ideas for Elementary Teachers: Save Time and Make Learning More Purposeful

I’d love to hear from you! What are your math homework ideas? Drop your ideas in the comments below!

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15 Best & Fun Math Projects for Students

Super Easy and Super Fun Math Project Ideas for Grade 1 Students

Exploratory ideas for math projects for grade 2 students, project-based learning math ideas for grade 3 students, math project-based learning ideas for grade 4 students, advanced math projects for students in grade 5, frequently asked questions (faqs).

Math projects for students are a great way to get kids interested in math . They can be used to teach new concepts, review old ones, or just provide some fun and engaging math practice. There are tons of great math projects out there, but we’ve compiled a list of fifteen easy and engaging math projects for elementary school students—the best of the best!

1. Scoop and Cone Matching Game

What you need:

• Cones and scoops made from felt or cardstock
• Marker or sketch pens

Description:

Write a number on the cone. Write different combinations of addition and subtraction equations to represent the number on the scoop.

Students have to solve the equations and match the correct scoop to the cone.

Skills Learned:

Addition, subtraction, and the concept of equations

2. More or Less Dot Games

• Ten frame cards
• A set of dots (or colorful buttons or plastic corks to use as dots)
• A deck of cards

Give a student a card and add some dots to it. Ask them, “How many dots are there on the card?” Once students master this, you may ask them, “What number is one more/one less?” You can also give them two cards and ask which one has more or less dots.

For two or more students, card games are a gold mine! Take a deck of cards. Snip off their corners with numerals written on them. Place the cards with their face downward. Ask each student to turn up a card. Ask them to tell whose card is “more” or “less.” Each correct answer wins them a point!

Visualizing numbers, understanding the concept of more or less, comparing numbers, addition, and subtraction

3. Shape Graphs

• Different geometric shapes in different colors and sizes
• Graph papers with large rows and columns (with rows mentioning shape names and columns mentioning numbers)
• Some crayons

Distribute some graph paper among the children. Spread out some shapes in front of them. They have to find out how many shapes of each type there are and color that many boxes of relevant columns.

Recognition of geometric shapes by their names, and understanding and representing data in pictorial form

4. Elementary Architects

• Instructions and photos of room designing projects
• 2-page student project sheet to promote reading in math
• Note-taking forms
• Sample blueprints for reference
• Brainstorming sheet
• Grid paper templates

Ask the students to design their rooms, calculate areas, and estimate flooring needs by reading the instructions, looking at the photos, and taking notes.

Students love to play architects. Allow them sufficient room for being creative to promote their spatial awareness.

Reading comprehension, estimation, area, and perimeter calculation

5. M&M’s Math Game

• A box of colorful m&m’s
• Graph papers for kids

Let your students dig into the box of m&m’s and take a few each. They have to count how many m&m’s of each color they got. If they count m&m’s of each color correctly, they can eat them! Otherwise, they have to return the m&m’s to the box and try again!

As they master their skills, you can take this math game to the next level. They can make a graph using graph paper and crayons! You may have to help them label the graph and the graphing part itself.

Counting, addition, making graphs

6. Hit a Home Run for Math Fact Fluency

• DIY baseball game board with math facts
• Number cards
• Counters to use as baseball players—9 for each team

Write the numbers 1 to 9 in one row and 0 in the next row to make a baseball diamond.

Help your students write math facts such as doubles (2 + 2, 3 + 3, etc.), near doubles (9 + 8), addition/subtraction of 10 (8 + 2, 5 + 5), and related subtraction facts (7 – 3, 9 – 6) on the number cards.

To play, have each student roll two dice. They get to move one of their baseball players the number of spaces corresponding to the first die and then answer the math fact that corresponds to the number they landed on. If they answer correctly, they get to roll again. The first player to get three of their baseball players “home” wins!

Math facts fluency, addition, subtraction

7. Place Value in the Wild Math Project

• Digital and printable version of a student guide with detailed instructions and visuals
• Student printables or digital recording sheets guiding students on how to select a habitat, research animals of that habitat, note sizes and lifespans of these animals, etc.

As third graders research animals as expedition scouts for Wildlife Explorers International, they learn about place values through various activities, such as representing numbers in different ways, comparing numbers, and estimating lengths, heights, and lifespans of animals.

You can ask students to use standard numbers, expanded forms, and word forms of numbers. They may also be introduced to decimals through this project.

Place value, estimation, decimals

8. The Time of Your Life

• A printable or digital student guide with detailed instructions, visuals, and student printables
• Analog and digital clocks (one per student pair)

In this project, students learn to read the time on both analog and digital clocks. They also practice setting the time on these clocks.

As they work in pairs, they take turns being the “teacher” and the “student.” The teacher explains to the student how to read the time on a clock. Then, the student sets the time on the clock according to the teacher’s instructions.

Or they tell how many seconds, minutes, or hours have elapsed in doing an activity.

It’s a great activity for third graders, where students can win prizes for being the best timekeepers!

Telling time, elapsed time

9. What’s Your Angle, Pythagoras?

• A scorecard
• Child-safe compass (optional)

Pythagorean principles are put to the test in this game! Players use a protractor and ruler (or child-safe compass) to draw angles and then measure the length of the sides of right triangles. The goal is to have the longest hypotenuse at the end of the game.

You can call out “Right-Angled Triangle” randomly, and the students have to arrange themselves in the shape in a flash. Those who do it correctly win!

You may also call out “Right Angle”, “Acute Angle”, or “Obtuse Angle” where students have to pair up instantly. If some fail to do it, they are out.

Angles, Pythagorean theorem

10. Calendar Math in the Classroom

• A printable or digital calendar template

A perfect math review technique for fifth graders, calendar math is a great way to engage them in the concepts of days, weeks, months, and years. You have to display a calendar in the classroom and point out various aspects of it to the students. For example, you can ask them how many days there are in February, or how many months have 31 days, etc.

You can also use the calendar to teach place value. For instance, you can ask students to name the day on which their birthdays fall this year and write it down. Then, they can find out the day on which their birthdays will fall next year and so on.

This activity can be done with a physical calendar or a digital one. Students can use real-world objects like coins or candy to help them understand the concepts of place value, addition, and subtraction.

Days, weeks, months, years, place value, addition, subtraction

11. Run a Pizza Place

• Pizza boxes or paper plates
• Colorful cardboard pizzas

Bring fraction to life with this fun activity! Students run their own pizza place, where they take orders, make pizzas, and serve them to customers.

They can use play money to buy pizza toppings and then charge customers for their pizzas. They can also use fraction strips or circle fractions to create pizzas of different sizes.

Such math projects for students teach them concepts like halves, thirds, fourths, eighths, and more. And children will have a blast doing it!

Fractions, equivalent fractions, comparing fractions, adding and subtracting fractions

12. Hot Cocoa Project!

• Hot cocoa stall
• Marshmallows
• Whipped cream (optional)
• Chocolate shavings (optional)
• Recipe book
• Play money or real money

An excellent activity for young entrepreneurs (under adult supervision), this hot cocoa project simulates a hot cocoa stand. Students can make and sell hot cocoa to their classmates, using real or play money.

They can follow a recipe to make the hot cocoa mix, and then use it to make individual cups of hot cocoa. They can also add marshmallows, whipped cream, and chocolate shavings to their hot cocoa, and charge extra for these toppings.

This activity is a great way to teach children about money, measurement, and fractions. And they’ll love getting creative with the hot cocoa mix!

Money, measurement, fractions, addition, subtraction

13. Performance Math Art

• Props or costumes (optional)
• A video recording device (such as a smartphone)

Divide students into groups of 2 to 4 and ask them to prepare a performance art (dramatic poetry, song, or a skit) to explain the Order of Operations (or any other mathematical concepts, such as area and perimeter, exponents and roots, or geometry).

After they have practiced, film their final performance. Students can watch the videos to revise the concept later.

Students may also review each other’s performance in terms of delivery, clarity, and creativity to give constructive feedback.

Order of operations, area and perimeter, exponents and roots, geometry

14. Probably Probability

• DIY probability tables

An inspirational idea for kinesthetic learners, this activity gets students up and about as they experiment with probability.

Provide each student with a die (or multiple dice) and a coin. Ask them to roll the die (or dice), flip the coin, and record their results in a table. They can create their probability tables.

Once they have collected enough data, they can look for patterns and predict the probability of certain events.

Probability, independent and dependent events, expected values

15. The Theme Park Project

• Theme Park templates (for guidance)
• Construction paper
• Glue or tape
• Markers or crayons
• Small toys (optional)

This project is perfect for a math class that is learning about geometry and measurement. Students will use their knowledge of shapes, angles, and measurements to create a mini theme park.

They can start by choosing a template (or creating their own) and then cutting out the shapes from construction paper. Once they have all the pieces, they can assemble their theme park and add details with markers or crayons.

They can also add small toys to their theme park if they wish. Finally, they can measure the area and perimeter of their creation.

Children can dream up new rides, give them outlandish names, create menus for concession stands, and research healthy and junk foods!

A lot of math happens in everyday life if we just look for it.

Geometry, measurement, area, perimeter

By working on these fun projects, students can learn and practice various math skills, from basic counting and graphing to more advanced concepts such as fractions and decimals. These math projects for students can be used to supplement your regular math curriculum or as a standalone activity. Either way, your students are sure to enjoy them!

How can I make sure my students are engaged in the project?

Make sure to give your students a chance to be creative and have fun with the projects. For example, with the “Theme Park Project,” encourage them to develop their own designs and be as creative as possible with the details. With the “Probably Probability” project, let them experiment with different ways of collecting data and see what patterns they can find.

Do I need to prepare anything in advance?

It largely depends on the project you choose. For some projects, you may want to prepare templates in advance. For others, such as the “Probably Probability” project, you only need dice and coins.

How long should the projects take?

Again, it depends on the project. Some math projects for students require several days to complete. Others can be done in one class period or a few minutes.

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15 Creative Ways to Make Math Fun for Your Students

Written by Maria Kampen

Did you know?

Students who used Prodigy saw a significant, positive shift in their opinion towards math in just a few months.

• Teaching Activities
• How teachers can bring positive to math lessons

Why some kids don't enjoy math

15 secrets to make math fun.

• Turn the math classroom into a healthy environment

The bell rings, you tell students to take out their math work, and then...groans of disappointment. 

When it comes to learning math, not every student is a fan. But at Prodigy, we believe in making math fun and helping students love the learning journey. 

There’s no one-size-fits-all solution for engaging your math class, because it’s a process that looks different for every student. We’ve put together a list of ways to help every student in your class love math. 

Keep reading to find the one that’s right for your classroom!

Teachers can bring positivity to math lessons

Because every kid is different, they might have different reasons for dreading math class or avoiding their math homework. 

• Difficulty — If a student is struggling to keep up with their math homework or understand lessons, it’s very easy for them to disengage and get discouraged or anxious.
• Boredom — If students aren’t being challenged enough or need extra resources to stay occupied, math work they’ve already mastered can cause them to become bored and disengage. 
• General interest — Maybe your student really likes reading, science or art more than math facts. They could be prioritizing work in these classes, or simply be uninterested in paying attention to math. 
• Math anxiety — Testing and grades give some students a lot of anxiety. This stress is exacerbated when they’re struggling to master new concepts, causing them to become overwhelmed and lose focus.

Whether they’re bored or anxious, disengaged or struggling, these 15 math class secrets can help you engage every student in your class — regardless of how they feel about math. 

Keep reading to find some of the best ways to make math fun and help your students build a love of learning !

1. Math games

Math games are a tried-and-true method for bringing excitement and competition to your classroom. Whether online or in person, math games can engage your students and align to your lesson plan. 

Popular math games include:

• Card games like War, where two students use multiplication, subtraction or even exponent rules to build cards with a higher value than their opponent’s.
• Math stations filled with number blocks and other manipulatives during play-based learning activities for younger students.
• Math board games that help students learn basic math facts, while also building socio-emotional skills like turn-taking and collaboration. Try filling a tic-tac-toe board with math facts, or hosting a math bingo game for the whole class!

Prodigy Math Game is a video game-inspired learning platform that transforms math into an epic adventure. Created for first to eighth grade, students can complete quests, earn rewards and collect pets as they learn. 

Plus, your free teacher account gives you access to teacher tools that make differentiation , assessments and gathering student insights easier than ever. 

2. Visual aids and picture books

If you’ve got a classroom full of visual learners, then charts, picture books and other visual aids can help them make sense of new concepts and provide reference points as they work.

Printables, anchor charts and diagrams are readily available on sites like Teachers Pay Teachers to make classroom set up easy and stress-free. You can even have students make their own visual aids to help them remember key terms and concepts!

Picture books are also a great way to engage students that prefer seeing and reading to math work. Some of our favorites are:

• G is for Googol: A Math Alphabet Book by David M. Schwartz — Best for students in 4th to 8th grade, this math book explores interesting math concepts for every letter of the alphabet. 
• Bean Thirteen by Matt McElligot — Ralph and Flora are trying to get rid of the unlucky thirteenth bean, but it keeps coming back! This story is a goofy exploration of remainders and division.  
• Uno’s Garden by Graeme Base — Search for different plants and animals in the forest where Uno lives. Students have to complete skills, puzzles and multiplication questions to finish the adventure. 

Whether it’s reading or drawing, there’s something to help every student learn new math skills!

3. Using modern technology

When it comes to teaching math, modern technology can broaden perspectives and give students new ways to engage with the world around them. 

Math is Fun offers students games and math puzzles that balance fun with skills-building challenges. 

Tablets and smartphones give students new ways to engage with math on their own terms. We put together a list of the 13 best math apps for kids , but our favourites include:

• Prodigy Math Game , an adaptive math adventure game.
• Dragon Box , a colorful math app that turns concepts like algebra and multiplication into a fun game.
• Khan Academy , a non-profit organization that creates video lessons for a variety of different topics and levels.

4. Take a hands-on approach

Every teacher knows worksheets aren’t always the most engaging. 

A hands-on approach in the math classroom means finding real-life examples of formulas and concepts, or including student interests in relevant work problems. 

Try a beach ball toss with equations written on each section or bake with your students to learn about fractions! Math puzzles like KenKen, Magic Squares and tangram puzzles can also help kinesthetic learners practice their skills. 

The National Library of Virtual Manipulatives also put traditional math tools online for greater accessibility. Ideal for one-to-one device use or station rotations, it offers manipulation tasks for every grade level. 

5. Encourage communication with students and parents

Understanding students and connecting with parents are both equally important, for different reasons. Parent teacher conferences and quick notes home are ways for you to share positive notes and get valuable insights into how students feel about math.

Math journaling is a great way to have students reflect on what they’re struggling with, what they enjoy doing and where they think they need more practice. You might read things that confirm your insights, or find something new! 

6. Focus on your students

It’s easy to focus on just getting through your curriculum for the year — after all, isn’t that what students need to learn the most?

But a shift to student-centered learning techniques can help you support the needs of every student in your classroom. Student-centered learning involves kids in decisions about their studies, helps them build a growth mindset and encourages them to make connections between concepts. 

Some common student-centered techniques include:

• Interdisciplinary learning that mixes math with other subjects
• Service learning projects to combine academic goals with community service
• Personalized learning through regular formative assessments and pre-teaching
• Student-led conferences that involve students in feedback and decision-making about their learning

7. Stick to fixed routines

Building a fixed math class routine can help students feel settled and confident when math class starts, especially if they struggle with math anxiety. 

Outline expectations and what students need to show up to class with, whether that’s a sharp pencil and paper, or just a sharp mind. 

Pick something to start your lesson with, whether it’s introducing a new concept or reviewing an old one:

• Give students a discussion question and ask how they solved it
• Put some vocab words on the board and ask students to define them
• Challenge older students to analyze a piece of mathematical writing from another scholar

Spend the middle of your lesson teaching or giving your class hands-on experience with new concepts:

• Set up station rotation activities and small group instruction
• Use blended learning techniques to promote hands-on activities and group work
• Give a mini-lesson and then hands-on practice with worksheets or other activities

End class on a high note with quick activities that reinforce learning:

• Ask students to summarize what they learned, in writing or out loud
• Have students work individually or in pairs to answer a quick wrap-up question
• Set up an exit ticket activity so students can show you what they learned, either by submitting a piece of paper or answering a question before they leave

8. Use real objects

There are plenty of math tools that can help students picture abstract math concepts in the real world , including:

• Abacus for counting and number sense
• Spheres, prisms and other shapes for geometry
• Manipulatives like base ten blocks, number lines and clocks
• Small objects like gummy bears, buttons or rocks for pattern making
• Flashcards for subtraction, addition, multiplication and division facts, or other math vocabulary terms

Incorporate these items into problem-solving activities for more ways to learn. 

9. Physical involvement

Techniques that get students moving, out of their seats or just engaging in hands-on learning activities can help a variety of different learners. In your classroom, try:

• Writing and acting out skits about math concepts
• A scavenger hunt for geometric shapes or patterns
• Brain breaks to help students stay focused during long stretches of class
• Interactive games like flash cards, dice, manipulatives or “Around the World” with relevant math problems

Think-pair-share activities and flipped classrooms can also help students get hands-on experience and talk through new ideas with peers in real time. 

10. Use interesting and engaging questions

If you have two morph marbles, use one in a Prodigy math battle, and then earn two more, how many morph marbles do you have?

Word problems are a great way to connect student interests with your lesson plans. If you’re not sure what students like, send out a quick survey or ask them about their favorite books, TV shows or video games. 

They’ll be delighted when they find their favorite Prodigy character or TV show on your next handout, and you’ll have a class full of students actually excited about doing their homework. 

11. Address learning issues promptly

If you notice students falling behind (or racing ahead), address it early to avoid any long-term engagement problems. 

One-on-one instruction or small groups can help you pay attention to individual learning needs . A mixture of group and individual work can help all learners absorb information in the way they learn best, too. 

Use response to intervention (RTI) methods to address small and large learning issues promptly. RTI focuses on early and continuous identification, assessment and assistance of students who have learning and behavioural needs. 

If the learning needs are serious, talk to parents and administration about setting up an IEP or 504 plan to make sure students can access support that helps them succeed and stay engaged. 

12. Integrate math into other subjects

Whether it’s statistics in social studies or angles in art, there are endless ways to connect topics and inspire students to learn more. 

Incorporate math talk into other subjects as part of interdisciplinary teaching activities to help students stay engaged — especially if the second subject is something they’re more interested in. 

13. Keep lessons fun and interactive

Fun math activities can help you keep students engaged and learning, whether it’s short and silly brain breaks between worksheets or station rotations with a mix of small group and individual work. 

Be sure to offer lots of opportunities for students to get involved answering questions or helping with hands-on demonstrations.  For more interactive lessons, try modern teaching methods like inquiry-based learning that let students follow their own interests and passions!

14. Incorporate technology for personalized learning

One of the best ways to ensure students are excited about learning is to offer personalized learning opportunities and differentiated content. But in a big and busy classroom, that can be time-consuming and tricky!

Prodigy’s free teacher account comes with tools that help you gather insights while students play. Instead of spending hours grading assignments and developing differentiated math practice, Prodigy helps you tailor content for the learning needs of your students.

15. Apply lessons to life

“Are we really ever going to use this in real life?” is a common phrase heard in many math classrooms. 

To help students understand the benefits and wonder of math, relate what they’re learning to the real world! Have students research different career paths that use the concepts they’re learning, or invite members of the community to speak about how they use math in their jobs. 

Who knows where in life it could lead your students?

Turning the math classroom into a healthy environment

No matter what students are learning, a fun and positive environment is a foundation for academic and personal success. 

Don’t be afraid to mix it up and try several different techniques to make math fun in your classroom! See which ones students respond to best, then use them to keep your students loving math class. 

Prodigy Math Game makes math class an epic adventure with quests, rewards and new worlds to explore. As students play and answer math questions, you can differentiate and collect insights with free and effective teacher tools. Try it today!

Math Projects : 20 Simple and Interesting Ideas

Table of Contents

23 January 2021

Reading Time: 7 minutes

Mathematics is not about understanding different things and concepts; it is about getting used to them by applying the concepts in everyday tasks.

What could be a better way to learn these applications other than interesting maths projects which facilitate both creativity and knowledge.

These projects on mathematics give an understanding of how mathematics works. Mathematics is in and around you everywhere in the form of numbers, shapes, sizes, volume, weight, etc.

Our task is to figure out and identify these numerous situations and things around us to play with numbers and concepts. 

• Fun Math activities for Class 3

Math projects  

Here is a downloadable PDF that consists of Math projects for Grades 6-10. Click on the download button to explore them. Understanding and grasping the ideas of mathematics in a better way.

These maths projects help in developing very important mathematical skills like:-

Correlating the concepts taught in the classes with the practical applications of those concepts

Proving a hand on experience to the children 

Fostering teamwork, coordination, and communication along with creativity and knowledge

Understanding and grasping the ideas of mathematics in a better way

Visualizing the concepts in the form of diagrams, graphs, and images facilitates a better understanding

Improving their problem-solving skills, reasoning, and planning skills, etc.

Making real-life decisions that leads to a holistic approach to learning.

In this article, we have brought for you 20 topics for maths projects which will help you develop simple maths projects.

Maths project ideas for Class 6

Some of the ideas for simple maths projects for class 6 are:

Number System Tree

The number system is one of the most basic concepts in mathematics. It is very important to understand the different types of numbers (order and even numbers, fractions and decimals, natural numbers, whole numbers, positive and negative numbers, etc.) and the different properties of numbers. A project for the same will help the student understand and correlate the relations between different types of numbers.

Shapes and Figures

Shapes, figures, and sizes are a very important concept of geometry. A student must understand the different properties of different geometrical figures. It starts from class 6 but has various applications in higher-level education. Therefore it is very important to have a proper foundation that is only possible through a project on the same.

Practical examples of different chapters

From class six onwards, students start getting exposed to different topics that have a number of practical applications like percentages, profit, and loss, interest, etc. Students can be asked to make their own problem statements by practicing creative problems with respect to the same chapters. This will help them to correlate the concepts with the practical world.

History of maths and different topics

It is very important to understand the history or the background of a subject or a topic before starting to learn more about it. But, because of the curriculum norms, this very important aspect is skipped from the school syllabus. Projects can be a great way to help students do research about it. This will facilitate better knowledge and understanding.

Conversions

There can be a project work that is specifically dedicated to conversions of different things like fractions to decimals or vice versa, negative to positive or vice versa, etc. These are very simple concepts but students often tend to make mistakes because of a lack of clear understanding. Good, detailed project work will help them develop a base.

Ideas for Maths Project for Class 7

Some of the ideas for the projects on mathematics for class 7 are:

Practical Applications of different chapters

As stated above, maths is a practical subject and it is very important to understand the concepts. The best way to do this will be to allow students to undergo practical examples related to different chapters and come up with creative problem statements, ideas, and solutions. For example, the student can find out the average amount spent on the purchase of different items, or he/she can find out the profit or the loss of the shopkeeper, etc.

Formula lists

Making a formula list will be a great project work because it will not only help the student in the short run but also facilitate his/her learning before the exams and in the case of higher education. This will serve both as a research and as a document of reference.

Puzzles and brain teasers projects

Puzzles and brain teasers are a very dynamic way of inculcating knowledge, fostering creativity, and facilitating practical viewpoints. This helps a student to think and come up with answers along with reasons to support it. It helps them in a better decision making process.

Algebraic expressions 

Students are exposed to a new field of mathematics in class 7 which is algebra. Good project work can help a student to develop a strong base in understanding different algebraic equations and expressions. This project work can include a number of numerical, interesting problem statements, and mental math calculations.

Sets and Venn diagrams

This is a very interesting concept but can be a confusing one if not understood properly because the concepts are somewhat overlapping with each other. There are very minute differences in this particular topic. Detailed project work can actually help a student clear all their doubts and develop a strong base for higher education.

Topics for Maths Project for Class 8

Some of the ideas for interesting maths projects for class 8 are:

Construction in Geometry

A very important part of geometry is to learn constructions of different shapes and figures of different types. Learning and building the basics of construction in geometry is very important to understand various higher-level educational studies like physics and architecture. 

This project work is actually never-ending. Students don't learn all the concepts in a single standard. They continue learning various different concepts in different chapters that have different practical applications. Slowly, the level of difficulty keeps on increasing. Therefore it is very important to stay updated and improvise the skills through project works which allow us to correlate the concepts of the chapters with practical examples.

Mensuration of figures

For the first time in class VIII, a student gets exposed to the chapter on menstruation. This chapter facilitates measurements of different things. It may include length, perimeter, area, etc. There are a number of concepts and a number of formulas that are related to this particular topic. Therefore giving good project work that helps students to understand these concepts by applying the given formulas and correlating them with the practical ships will foster growth and development in knowledge.

Mirror symmetry and Reflection

Symmetry and reflection are one of the easiest concepts of mathematics. This could be a very fun and interesting project for a student wherein he will understand the difference between symmetrical and asymmetrical figures and will also develop a base for higher-level education.

Making practical models for different topics

Project works can be done in two ways - (1) As mentioned above, using pen and paper by drawing various diagrams and graphs; (2) Making practical models explain different concepts. These practical models help a student to develop the power of visualization and foster teamwork and creativity. This will be a little difficult because it will require the culmination of different ideas from other subjects also. But, if done successfully, this can be a great learning experience.

Maths project ideas for Class 9-10

Some of the ideas for maths projects for class 9-10 are:

Heights and Distances

A student gets exposed to the concept of trigonometry for the first time in class 9-10. This concept is very widely used to understand heights and distances which plays a very important role in practical life. This also develops a base for various higher-level studies. Students can be asked to draw diagrams and graphs and correlate the concepts with the same to develop a better understanding.

Statistics and graphs

It is in class 9 that a very new dimension of mathematics opens up for the students which are known as statistics. A very important part of statistics is graphical representations that have their application in almost every sphere of knowledge. Therefore, it becomes very important to understand the basics of these concepts and good project work on this topic will definitely foster good learning.

Making and understanding 3D figures

There are various 3-D figures which a student must understand, like cubes and cuboid being the basics. The calculations for these 3-D figures are not as easy as the 2-D figures. Therefore, good project work will facilitate the visualization of 3-D figures and also help students to understand the various formulas and calculations related to it.

Similarity and Congruency

Another very important concept of geometry that pops up in class 9-10 is the similarity and congruency of triangles. Students often face a lot of difficulty in understanding these concepts. Therefore, a project work that has a good amount of research work with a number of assignments and questions to solve will definitely help a student to learn the concept of similarity incongruency.

Mensuration and Volume

The concepts of mensuration take a whole new level in class 9-10. It brings in new concepts like surface area, volume, etc., and also brings in new figures like a cylinder, circle, cone, etc. It is equally important to understand these concepts and shapes also. Good project work will definitely foster a good knowledge of these concepts.

These were some of the most interesting lists of maths project topics that we have curated for you through this article. We hope this article was useful and will help the readers to choose some of the most interesting topics out there to learn, grow and develop. These topics are proven to be the most beneficial for students. Choose from the best, the ones which suit you the best.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are the mathematical tools which are essential in building projects.

• Chart Paper (For creating shapes etc.)
• Set Squares

What are different types of graphs which can be used to describe data?

• Bar Graph - For Discrete Numerical Data
• Pie Chart - For Percentage Data
• Histograms - For Continuous Numerical Data
• Line Chart - For Discrete Numerical Data (used for showing the comparison between the values)

What are different examples of Symmetrical shapes? ​​​​​

• Equilateral Triangle
• Cardioid (Heart Shape)
• Letter 'A'
• Letter 'U'

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Math Projects for Kids: Fun Ideas for Math Homework

•  / 

Math projects provide an opportunity for students to explore topics that are of personal interest to them, while still interacting with mathematical concepts. Regardless of the grade level you teach, these math project ideas can appeal to a variety of student interests.

How to Make Math Homework Fun

Math homework doesn't have to consist of a long list of problems with no practical application. Math is used in a variety of different fields, ranging from carpentry and interior decorating to science and engineering. Projects can help students realize that math is applicable to real-life situations and their personal interests.

According to psychologist Howard Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences, there are eight different types of intelligence, including linguistic, logical, naturalist, spatial, kinesthetic, musical, interpersonal and intrapersonal. Students who are musically or kinesthetically intelligent, for example, may be less interested in math than those who have high logical intelligence. To make math fun for all of your students, you might use projects that cater to your students' various strengths by requiring multiple types of intelligences and skills.

Four Fun Math Projects

Music can be applied to mathematical concepts at any level. For this project, have your students come up with lyrics or a rap song that outlines steps to solve a problem. For instance, students may create lyrics to help them remember multiplication times tables or the order of operations. Those who are musically inclined will likely enjoy the activity, which can help them remember the ideas.

Calculating a Dream Room

Many math concepts are needed when decorating, including measurements, perimeters and surface areas. After learning how to make these calculations, ask your students to design their ideal bedroom on graph paper. Require your students to apply these techniques at home by measuring their room's perimeter and the lengths and widths of their bedroom furniture.

Money Counts

This topic appeals to students of all intelligences because everyone spends or earns money, so there is a clear application to real life. For this project, each student could come up with a product to sell. The product should be simple, like origami or friendship bracelets. Students can determine fair prices based on current retail rates and even calculate a certain percentage that they'd take off for a special discount. Then, on a market day, the students can buy and sell their products to one another using either fake or real money. Through this exercise, students learn about the value of money and the economy.

Number Stories

For students who have linguistic intelligence, or simply like stories, you can ask your students to create a picture book to explain a math concept. For example, the greater-than sign is often personified as an alligator who wants to eat the largest number. Students will have fun writing and drawing, but at the same time, they'll develop a better understanding of the concept because they must explain it through a narrative.

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25 Fun & Creative Math Activities Kids Will Love

If math is your student’s least favorite subject, everything from classes to homework to studying for quizzes and tests can be like pulling teeth. 

But with an extra dose of creativity and fun, dread can turn to delight!

Like any challenging (and important) skill, mastering key math concepts takes practice; unfortunately, that can often look like a worksheet or some other list of tasks that feels more like a mental laundry list than a puzzle kids would be eager to solve.

This genre of practice can be necessary, don’t get me wrong, but if you could use a little help in giving math practice a makeover, we’ll need to step outside that box. The good news is: making math fun to learn for kids isn’t a mystery, and these ideas are simple to implement at home with elementary, middle, or high school students.

Here are 25 fun activities that will spice up your child’s learning routine and can help build community in the classroom, plus students will reap the benefits of “gamified” learning: increased motivation, engagement, and pure enjoyment of learning just for the sake of it. 

More good news: reluctant and enthusiastic mathematicians alike will get a kick out of gamified learning. Take a look with your student, and pick out a few to try this week at home, in math club, and among friends. 

Fun Math Activities for Elementary and Middle School Students

1. play math tic-tac-toe.

This handy resource adapts the classic Tic-Tac-Toe game for a range of skills and grade levels. Best for elementary and middle school students, this activity can be a quick brain break or an all-out challenge with a prize at stake.

2. Try the Exponent Battle Card Game

As the website cleverly describes this game, it " raises math fun to a higher power ”! Kids will enjoy playing against parents, siblings, or friends, and they’ll have an extra incentive to master the exponents they’ll need for science and math class. 

3. Explore math with Minecraft

Yes, you read that correctly! Minecraft has an incredible math educator’s guide that’s guaranteed to intrigue young gamers who could use an extra incentive to bolster their math skills. Learn more about the incredible educational applications of Minecraft . 

4. Tackle Fantasy Football Equations

Though football season may be over, this activity is a creative one to stash away for the next draft. Algebraic equations can be challenging for many middle school students, and this sporting twist will not only make the practice more bearable, kids will get to see the (sometimes elusive) real-world application of what they’re learning. 

And here is an expert tutorial if your student could use some extra help solving for x .

5. Roll Into a Subtraction Dice Game

This foundational skill becomes a lot more enjoyable in game form , and students will strengthen their mental math muscles as they play. 

6. Slice Some Sandwich Fractions 

Ideal for lunch time, kids will be extra-motivated to master proportions and fractions . Converting fractions into decimals, or vice versa? These tutorials will help your student convert the numbers in a trice. 

7. Play Math Jeopardy

From averages to exponents to algebra, these pre-designed Jeopardy games will elevate study time and make review something to look forward to. Kids can compete with siblings or virtually with friends!

8. Pull Off an Order of Operations Heist

To crack the safe in this online game , students must correctly use the order of operations. Kids will need to know this to solve math problems, but as they master the skill, a reward like pulling off a heist is a useful motivator.

Read More: When to Stop Studying for an Exam

9. Have a Math Board Game Night

If you’re looking to revamp your family’s board game collection, why not infuse some fun with math? Proof! , Prime Climb , and Real World Math were each created by teachers and boast hundreds of rave reviews from parents. 

10. Bring Math to the Grocery Store 

Discounts, fractions, budgeting—there are so many mathematical applications when it comes to shopping for kids’ favorite foods . This activity can easily be done virtually through grocery delivery services or online shopping. 

11. Battle in a Multiplication “War” Card Game 

The game that has entertained kids for countless hours gets mathematical in this rapid fire edition of “War” . 

12. Hit the Negative Number Piñata 

Learning to add and subtract negative numbers can be tricky. So, to stave off student frustration, this game is a fun way to practice. Plus, this platform offers quick tutorial videos as well, just in case your student could use a refresher. 

13. Chart a Graphed Scavenger Hunt

Who doesn’t love a great scavenger hunt ? Not only would this make a great at-home (and outdoor) activity, kids will practice graphing coordinates and slopes in a hands-on way. 

14. Shop for Algebraic Reasoning Sweets

A sweet introduction to algebraic thinking , this is one of many colorful games Math Playground offers. Players solve for the value of each candy in this online “sweet shop.”

15. Jump into Multiplication Hopscotch

Kinesthetic learning, or learning through movement, is a creative way to increase students’ engagement (and energy levels). If your student is learning to memorize multiplication tables and could use a break from paper and pencil, take a break outdoors with some chalk, and get moving !

16. Place Value with LEGO

Young learners mastering place value will benefit from the visual and kinesthetic aspects of exploring the concept with LEGO . This activity will work with just about any LEGO set you have on hand.

Fun Math Activities for High School Students

17. launch into space with math & nasa.

STEM worlds collide in NASA’s math series ! This website offers activities for algebra, geometry, and pre-calculus paired with the innermost workings of space exploration. 

18. Explore Statistics with Real-World Scenarios

This probably sounds familiar: when will I need to know this in real life? This range of expertly-designed activities provides valuable connections to practical scenarios that will satisfy even the most skeptical students. 

19. Dance With a Transversal Geometry Game

Think of this fun activity as the antidote to the geometry doldrums. Kids can pick a soundtrack (or use one of the pre-made options), clear the room, and dance their way to knowing all about transversals.

Fun Math Activities for all Ages 

20. embark on an interdisciplinary project.

Connecting new (and potentially dull) subject matter to an area of students’ interest is a well-known best practice in education. This resource provides some excellent interdisciplinary projects that blend math skills with art, history, fascinating places around the world, and more.  

21. Set Sail with a Quadratic Equation Shipwreck

If your student is just getting the hang of quadratic equations (or perhaps brushing up for a quiz), this game is a creative way to practice. 

22. Plan a Pi Day Extravaganza

Pi Day, March 14th, is just around the corner, so why not make it a celebration of this all-important number! Check out these elementary and middle school activities , fun games and puzzles for all ages , high school activities , and pi card race to make the day memorable and bring smiles back into the equation. 

23. Solve a KenKen Puzzle

This game was called “the most addictive math game since Sudoku” by New York Times games editor, a winning testimonial if ever we’ve heard one. KenKen puzzles are a great way to practice mental math or do a warm up before tackling more complex problems.

24. Play Trigonometry Mini Golf

Upper middle school and high school students will enjoy seeing trigonometry in action in a familiar pastime and in other real-world applications of math concepts. Each activity is interactive and includes short videos and tutorials to give each game context.  

25. Learn How to Locate People Lost at Sea

This investigation answers the question: how does the Coast Guard find and rescue those lost in the vast ocean? Turns out, statistical skills are key to these missions. Kids can learn about how they work and have another great answer to the question “why is math important”?

Have Fun with Math Today!

Let us know how your explorations turn out. Looking for a little extra help? iD Tech offers live online math tutoring  to help your student succeed and thrive in the classroom. 

Options include:

• Pre-algebra tutoring
• Algebra I tutoring
• Algebra II tutoring
• Online geometry tutoring
• Precalc tutoring
• Calculus tutoring

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• 8 easy, everyday ways to make math fun & interesting! Take it from a trained teacher; figuring out how to make math fun to learn is just like making anything fun to learn. It takes 3 magic ingredients:

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iD Tech partners with Rakuten Advertising, who may collect personal information when you interact with our site. The collection and use of this information is subject to Rakuten’s privacy policy located at  https://rakutenadvertising.com/legal-notices/services-privacy-policy/ . Our Sites & Services may also use other third-party plug-ins to provide additional services and benefits. These third parties may collect information about you as well. When we use a third-party plug-in we will attempt to provide you with the identify the plug-in, so you can visit the sites of the third-parties to view the privacy policy under which the information they collect is identified and controlled. 

We may also collect geolocation information from your device so we can customize your experience on our iD Sites & Services. In most cases, you are able to turn off such data collection at any time by accessing the privacy settings of your device and/or through the settings in the applicable GPS application. Social Media You also can engage with our content, and other offerings, on or through social media services or other third-party platforms, such as Facebook, or other third-party social media plug-ins, integrations and applications. When you engage with our content on or through social media services or other third-party platforms, plug-ins, integrations or applications, you may allow us to have access to certain information in your profile. This may include your name, email address, photo, gender, birthday, location, an ID associated with the applicable third-party platform or social media account user files, like photos and videos, your list of friends or connections, people you follow and/or who follow you, or your posts or "likes." For a description on how social media services and other third-party platforms, plug-ins, integrations, or applications handle your information, please refer to their respective privacy policies and terms of use, which may permit you to modify your privacy settings.

When we interact with you through our content on third-party websites, applications, integrations or platforms, we may obtain any information regarding your interaction with that content, such as content you have viewed, and information about advertisements within the content you have been shown or may have clicked on. Information from Third Party Services We may also obtain other information, including personal information, from third parties and combine that with information we collect through our Websites. For example, we may have access to certain information from a third-party social media or authentication service if you log in to our Services through such a service or otherwise provide us with access to information from the service. Any access that we may have to such information from a third-party social media or authentication service is in accordance with the authorization procedures determined by that service. If you authorize us to connect with a third-party service, we will access and store your name, email address(es), current city, profile picture URL, and other personal information that the third party service makes available to us, and use and disclose it in accordance with this Policy. You should check your privacy settings on these third-party services to understand and change the information sent to us through these services. For example, you can log in to the Services using single sign-in services such as Facebook Connect or an Open ID provider.

III.    Your Ability To Control Cookies And Similar Technologies As noted, we may use cookies or similar technologies to monitor and improve iD Sites & Services, support the internal operations of iD Sites & Services, personalize your online experience, support the e-signature process, and/or for internal analysis. This includes the use of third-party cookies. We use these technologies to keep track of how you are using our iD Sites & Services and to remember certain pieces of general information. 

You have the ability to accept or decline cookies. Most web browsers automatically accept cookies, but you can usually modify your browser setting to decline cookies if you prefer. Check the “Tools” or “Help” tab on your browser to learn how to change your cookie and other tracking preferences.

If you choose to decline cookies, you may not be able to fully experience the functions of iD Sites & Services and/or some of our services will function improperly, in particular the inability to log in or manage items in your shopping cart. We do not share cookie data with any third parties. IV.   How We May Use Your Information We may use the information we collect from and about you and/or your student for any of the following purposes:

• Allow you to register yourself or your student with iD Sites & Services, or to otherwise register and open an account with us;
• Allow you and/or your student to use iD Sites & Services;
• Fulfill orders, process payments, and prevent transactional fraud;
• Respond to your or your student’s requests or inquiries;
• Provide you or your student with information about our products and services;
• Consider you for employment or a volunteer opportunity;
• Register you or your student in one of our programs;
• Verify your student's age;
• Monitor and improve iD Sites & Services, support the internal operations of iD Sites & Services, personalize your online experience, and for internal analysis;
• Protect the security or integrity of iD Sites & Services and our business;
• Facilitate the sale or potential sale of our business or any of our assets; or
• As required by law.

V.   How We Share Information We do not sell or otherwise share your or your student’s information with any third parties, except for the limited purposes described below. Parents/guardians of children under the age of 13 have the option of consenting to the collection and use of their child's personal information without consenting to the disclosure of that information to certain third parties.  

1.   Law Enforcement And Safety

We may access, preserve, and/or disclose the information we collect and/or content you and/or your student/child provides to us (including information posted on our forums) to a law enforcement agency or other third parties if required to do so by law or with a good faith belief that such access, preservation, or disclosure is reasonably necessary to: (i) comply with legal process; (ii) enforce the Terms and Conditions of iD Sites & Services; (iii) respond to claims that the content violates the rights of third parties; or (iv) protect the rights, property, or personal safety of the owners or users of iD Sites & Services, a third party, or the general public. We also may disclose information whenever we believe disclosure is necessary to limit our legal liability; to protect or defend our rights or property; or protect the safety, rights, or property of others.  2.   Service Providers; Colleges and Universities Information collected through iD Sites & Services may be transferred, disclosed, or shared with third parties engaged by us to handle and deliver certain activities, such as housing, meals, payment processing, mail/email distribution, software providers, and to perform other technical and processing functions, such as maintaining data integrity, programming operations, user services, or technology services. We may provide these third parties’ information collected as needed to perform their functions, but they are prohibited from using it for other purposes and specifically agree to maintain the confidentiality of such information. Some of these providers, such as payment processors, may request additional information during the course of offering their services. Before you provide additional information to third-party providers, we encourage you to review their privacy policies and information collection practices. 3.    Business Transfer During the normal course of our business, we may sell or purchase assets. If another entity may acquire and/or acquires us or any of our assets, information we have collected about you may be transferred to such entity. In addition, if any bankruptcy or reorganization proceeding is brought by or against us, such information may be considered an asset of ours and may be sold or transferred to third parties. Should a sale or transfer occur, we will use reasonable efforts to try to require that the transferee use personal information provided through our iD Sites & Services in a manner that is consistent with this privacy statement. VI.            Our Commitment To Children’s Privacy Protecting the privacy of children is paramount. We understand that users and visitors of our iD Sites & Services who are under 13 years of age need special safeguards and privacy protection. It is our intent to fully comply with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). 

Our iD Sites & Services are intended for general audiences. We do not knowingly permit anyone under 13 years of age to provide us with personal information without obtaining a parent's or guardian’s verifiable consent, except where:

• the sole purpose of collecting the name or online contact information of a parent or child is to provide notice and obtain parental consent;
• the purpose of collecting a parent’s online contact information is to provide voluntary notice to, and subsequently update the parent about, the child’s participation in our iD Sites & Services that do not otherwise collect, use, or disclose childrens' personal information;
• the sole purpose of collecting online contact information from a child is to respond directly on a one-time basis to a specific request from the child, and where such information is not used to re-contact the child or for any other purpose, is not disclosed, and is deleted by us promptly after responding to the child’s request;
• the purpose of collecting a child’s and a parent’s online contact information is to respond directly more than once to the child’s specific request, and where such information is not used for any other purpose, disclosed, or combined with any other information collected from the child;
• the purpose of collecting a child’s and a parent’s name and online contact information, is to protect the safety of a child, and where such information is not used or disclosed for any purpose unrelated to the child’s safety;
• we collect a persistent identifier and no other personal information and such identifier is used for the sole purpose of providing support for the internal operations of iD Sites & Services; or
• otherwise permitted or required by law.

If we receive the verifiable consent of a child's parent or guardian to collect, use, and/or disclose the child's information, we will only collect, use, and disclose the information as described in this privacy statement. Some features of our iD Sites & Services permit a child user to enter comments, such as forums and chat rooms, through which the child could provide personal information that would be visible to other users. If you are the parent or guardian of a child user, please advise your child of the risks of posting personal information on this iD Sites & Services or any other site. VII.           Parental/Guardian Rights If you are a parent or guardian, you can review or have deleted your child's personal information, and refuse to permit further collection or use of your child's information. To exercise any of these rights, please email us at  [email protected] or send your request to:

iD Tech ∙ PO Box 111720 ∙ Campbell, CA 950011 Client Service Toll Free Number: 1-888-709-8324

VIII.         Restrictions On Child Users Children under 13 years of age are prevented from accessing areas of iD Sites & Services which include, but are not restricted to, client account information, unless approved by their parent or guardian and any course content defined as age inappropriate by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). IX.            Forums And Chats We may offer forums and chat rooms. Please be aware that anyone may read postings on a forum or in a chat room. Furthermore, any information which is posted to a forum or chat room could include personal information, which would be disclosed and available to all users of that forum or chat room, and is therefore no longer private. We cannot guarantee the security of information that any user discloses or communicates online in public areas such as forums and chat rooms. Those who do so, do so at their own risk. We reserve the right to monitor the content of the forums and chat rooms. If age-inappropriate content or potentially identifiable information is seen, it may be removed or edited by us for security, privacy, and/or legal reasons. We will not republish postings from forums or chat rooms anywhere on the Web. X.             Links And Third Parties

At our discretion, we may include or offer third-party websites, products, and services on iD Sites & Services. These third-party sites, products, and services have separate and independent privacy policies. You should consult the respective privacy policies of these third parties. We have no responsibility or liability for the content and activities of linked sites, products, or services.

Our iD Sites & Services may contain links to other third-party websites, chat rooms, or other resources that we provide for your convenience. These sites are not under our control, and we are not responsible for the content available on other sites. Such links do not imply any endorsement of material on our part and we expressly disclaim all liability with regard to your access to such sites. Access to any other websites linked to from iD Sites & Services is at your own risk.  

XI.             Legal Basis for processing Personal Data and Your Data Protection Rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

If you are a resident of the European Economic Area (EEA), iD Tech’s legal basis for collecting and using your personal information as described in this policy depends on the personal Data we collect and the context in which we collect it.  ID Tech may process your personal data:

• To provide the services which you requested or purchased;
• Because you have given us permission to do so;
• To provide you with better services, including conducting audits and data analysis;
• For payment processing;
• For marketing; and 
• To comply with the law

You have certain data protection rights. iD Tech aims to take reasonable steps to allow you to correct, amend, delete or limit the use of your Personal Data.

If you wish to be informed about what Personal Data we hold about you and if you want it to be removed from our systems, please contact us at  [email protected] .

In certain circumstances, you have the following data protection rights:

• The right to access, update, or delete the information we have on you. Whenever made possible, you can access, update, or request deletion of your Personal Data directly within your account settings section. If you are unable to perform these actions yourself, please contact us to assist you.
• The right to have your information corrected if that information is inaccurate or incomplete.
• The right to object. You have the right to object to our processing of your Personal Data.
• The right of restriction. You have the right to request that we restrict the processing of your personal information.
• The right to data portability. You have the right to be provided with a copy of the information we have on you in a structured, machine-readable, and commonly used format.
• The right to withdraw consent. You also have the right to withdraw your consent at any time where iD Tech relied on your consent to process your personal information.

Please note that we may ask you to verify your identity before responding to such requests.

You have the right to complain to a Data Protection Authority about our collection and use of your Personal Data. For more information, please contact your local data protection authority in the European Economic Area (EEA). XII.           International Visitors  (non GDPR Locations) Our iD Sites & Services are operated and managed on servers located in the United States. If you choose to use our iD Sites & Services from the European Union or other regions of the world with laws governing data collection and uses that differ from the United States, then you recognize and agree that you are transferring your personal information outside of those regions to the United States and you consent to that transfer. XIII.          Data Security Commitment To prevent unauthorized access, maintain data accuracy, and ensure the correct use of information, we have put in place reasonable physical, electronic, and managerial procedures to safeguard and secure the information we collect. We also use Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocol on your account information and registration pages to protect sensitive personal information. Sensitive data is encrypted on our iD Sites & Services and when stored on the servers.

XIV. How You Can Access, Request A Copy, Correct, Or Ask For Information To Be Deleted Access to certain personal Information that is collected from our Services and that we maintain may be available to you. For example, if you created a password-protected account within our Service, you can access that account to review the information you provided.

You may also send an email or letter to the following email or call the number provided to ask for a copy, correction, or ask us to delete your personal Information. Please include your registration information for such services, such as first name, last name, phone, and email address in the request. We may ask you to provide additional information for identity verification purposes or to verify that you are in possession of an applicable email account. Email: [email protected] Phone: 1-888-709-8324 XV. How To Contact Us/Opting Out Of Electronic Communications If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or if you have provided your email and/or address and prefer not to receive marketing information, please contact us via email or call at the number provided below.  Make sure you provide your name as well as the email(s) and address(es) you wish to have removed. 

If you have signed up to receive text messages from us and no longer wish to receive such messages, you may call or email us at the address provided below. Please provide your name, account email, and the number(s) you want removed. Email: [email protected] Phone: 1-888-709-8324 XVI.         Terms And Conditions Your use of our iD Sites & Services and any information you provide on our iD Sites & Services are subject to the terms of the internalDrive, Inc. (referred to as “iD Tech”) Terms and Conditions. XVII.         Privacy Statement Changes We will occasionally amend this privacy statement. We reserve the right to change, modify, add, or remove portions of this statement at any time. If we materially change our use of your personal information, we will announce such a change on relevant iD Sites & Services and will also note it in this privacy statement. The effective date of this privacy statement is documented at the beginning of the statement. If you have any questions about our privacy statement, please contact us in writing at [email protected] or by mail at PO Box 111720, Campbell, CA 95011. XVIII.          Your Credit Card Information And Transactions For your convenience, you may have us bill you or you can pay for your orders by credit card. If you choose to pay by credit card, we will keep your credit card information on file, but we do not display that information at the online registration site. For your security, your credit card security number is not stored in our system.

We use state-of-the-art Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption technology to safeguard and protect your personal information and transactions over the Internet. Your information, including your credit card information, is encrypted and cannot be read as it travels over the Internet. XIX.         Social Networking Disclaimer iD Tech provides several opportunities for social networking for both participants and staff on sites such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Flickr, and YouTube. These sites are not affiliated with iD Tech and offer their own individual social networking services. Please read the following Terms and Conditions carefully, as well as the Terms and Conditions of the sites in which iD Tech has created a forum ("Group"). These Terms and Conditions are a legal agreement between you and iD Tech and apply to you whether you are a visitor to these sites or any site with an official iD Tech affiliation. iD Tech is a member of several pre-existing sites (as mentioned above). There may be, however, portions of  www.iDTech.com  that include areas where participants can post submissions. Any of the above-mentioned "Sites" (or other similar sites) have their own distinct rules and regulations. iD Tech reserves the right to take action to remove any content deemed inappropriate by the sites or by iD Tech standards. iD Tech will not be held liable for any loss of content or disagreements that may arise between the individual social networking site and the user. You understand that by registering for an iD Tech program, your participant(s) may access and upload content to social networking sites. In order to access certain features of the social networking sites or pages on iDTech.com, and to post Member Submissions, the majority of these sites require that the user open an account with them. Please note that these sites have their own individual Terms and Conditions that must be followed. Age requirements are outlined within each Site's Terms and Conditions. You hereby authorize your participant to access social networking sites while at camp and create an account if they choose to do so and if they meet the requirements listed by each site to create an account. Interaction with other users:

• iD Tech is merely providing a medium in which to socialize online with fellow participants. Users are solely responsible for interactions (including any disputes) with other Members and any volunteers that may advise and assist participants with projects and activities via your use of the iD Site & Services.
• You understand that iD Tech does not in any way screen Members or review or police: (i) statements made by Members in their Member Submissions or the Member Submissions in general; or (ii) statements made by Users or any information a User may provide via the iD Site & Services.
• You understand that your participant(s) is solely responsible for, and will exercise caution, discretion, common sense, and judgment in using the various iD Sites & Services and disclosing personal information to other Members or Users. 
• On behalf of your participant(s), you agree that they will take reasonable precautions in all interactions with other Members, particularly if they decide to meet a Member offline or in person.
• Your participant's use of the social networking sites with which iD Tech is affiliated, their services, and/or Content and Member Submissions, is at your sole risk and discretion and iD Tech hereby disclaims any and all liability to you or any third party relating thereto.
• On behalf of your participant(s), you agree that they will not harass, threaten, intimidate, bully, stalk, or invade the privacy of any individual in connection with your use of the social networking sites with which iD Tech is affiliated and their services, whether or not an individual is an iD Tech Member; and you further agree not to advocate such activities or to encourage others to engage in any such activities.
• On behalf of your participant(s), you agree they will not give their social networking information to an iD Tech staff member.
• You and your participant(s) should also be aware that under no circumstances are iD Tech employees allowed to give personal contact information for social networking sites. This must be arranged by the participant's parent/guardian through the People Services Department.

XX.        Copyright & Intellectual Property Policy: You agree that you and your participant will not use the social networking sites to offer, display, distribute, transmit, route, provide connections to, or store any material that infringes copyrighted works, trademarks, or service marks or otherwise violates or promotes the violation of the intellectual property rights of any third party. internalDrive, Inc. has adopted and implemented a policy that provides for the termination in appropriate circumstances of the accounts of users who repeatedly infringe or are believed to be or are charged with repeatedly infringing the intellectual property or proprietary rights of others. XXI.       Disclaimer:   BY USING THE SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES OR SUBMITTING A MEMBER SUBMISSION, YOU AGREE THAT INTERNALDRIVE, INC. IS NOT RESPONSIBLE, AND WILL IN NO EVENT BE HELD LIABLE, FOR ANY: (A) LOST, ILLEGIBLE, MISDIRECTED, DAMAGED, OR INCOMPLETE MEMBER SUBMISSIONS; (B) COMPUTER OR NETWORK MALFUNCTION OR ERROR; (C) COMMUNICATION DISRUPTION OR OTHER DISRUPTIONS RELATED TO INTERNET TRAFFIC, A VIRUS, BUG, WORM, OR NON-AUTHORIZED INTERVENTION; OR (D) DAMAGE CAUSED BY A COMPUTER VIRUS OR OTHERWISE FROM YOUR ACCESS TO THE SITE OR SERVICES. THE SITE, SERVICES, INTERNALDRIVE, INC., CONTENT, AND MEMBER SUBMISSIONS ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" WITH NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. INTERNALDRIVE, INC. AND ITS SUPPLIERS EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, REGARDING THE SITE, SERVICES, INTERNALDRIVE, INC., CONTENT AND MEMBER SUBMISSIONS, WHETHER THE PROVISION OF SERVICES OR YOUR SUBMISSION OF A MEMBER SUBMISSION WILL PRODUCE ANY LEVEL OF PROFIT OR BUSINESS FOR YOU OR LEAD TO ECONOMIC BENEFIT, INCLUDING ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OF QUALITY, AVAILABILITY, MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR NON-INFRINGEMENT. IN ADDITION, INTERNALDRIVE, INC. MAKES NO REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY THAT THE SITE OR SERVICES WILL BE ERROR FREE OR THAT ANY ERRORS WILL BE CORRECTED. SOME STATES OR JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OF CERTAIN WARRANTIES. ACCORDINGLY, SOME OF THE ABOVE EXCLUSIONS MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. XXII.         Indemnification:   You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold iD Tech, its officers, directors, employees, and agents, harmless from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys' fees and costs, arising out of or in any way connected with: (i) your access to or use of social networking sites, their services, iD Tech Content and Member Submissions; (ii) your violation of these Terms of Use; (iii) your violation of any third-party right, including, without limitation, any intellectual property right, publicity, confidentiality, property, or privacy right; or (iv) any claim that one of your Member Submissions caused damage to a third party or infringed or violated any third-party intellectual property right, publicity, confidentiality, property, or privacy right.

iD Tech Terms & Conditions

Id tech general terms & conditions publish date: october 26, 2023.

These Terms and Conditions apply to all pages found at www.idtech.com  and all Programs operated by internalDrive, Inc. (referred to as "iD Tech") including but not limited to iD Tech In-Person programs and iD Tech Online Programs. These terms apply to all lessons, classes, courses, and options offered by iD Tech (hereinafter referred to individually as “Program” or collectively “Programs”).

Privacy Policy: By using iD Tech’s website, registering you or your student for a Program, and/or affirmatively giving your agreement, you are agreeing on your own behalf and that of your student to abide and be bound by the Privacy Policy found HERE and the Terms and Conditions contained and referenced herein.

Online Programs: If you are purchasing, or you or your student is participating in an Online Program you also agree on your own behalf and on behalf of your student, to be bound by the additional terms and conditions found HERE .

On-Campus Programs: If you are purchasing, or you or your student is participating in, an On-Campus Program, you also agree on your own behalf and on behalf of your student to be bound by the additional terms and conditions found HERE .

I. Code of Conduct

To promote the best learning environment possible, all students and parents will be held to this Code of Conduct. Failure to comply with this Code of Conduct or engaging in actions or attitudes that seem to be harmful to the atmosphere, other participants, or staff, in the opinion of iD Tech can lead to removal from a Program or Program(s). iD Tech reserves the right to dismiss students from a Program and prevent a student from attending additional Programs without any prior warning for (1) violating any of the terms of this code of conduct, or (2) if iD Tech determines that a Program is not a suitable and/or productive environment for a student (this includes incidents in which a student does not have sufficient English language skills to participate in the Program; participation in courses requires a high level of English understanding). Refunds will not be given for students dismissed for failure of the student or the parent to abide by the Code of Conduct, or if it is determined that a Program is not suitable for a student. While iD Tech strives to maintain excellent relationships with students, in some rare cases, we may determine that iD Tech is not a compatible environment for every student.

Students and parents/guardians may NEVER:

• Disrupt, bully, intimidate, or harass others;
• Use inappropriate language (for example, students cannot use of swear or curse words, racial, gendered, homophobic/transphobic, stereotypical, or culturally insensitive words, even if done in a joking manner);
• View, display or post any inappropriate material (including sexual content, material depicting inappropriate violence, racism, bullying, etc.) during a Program;
• Share Program information (including lesson plans, etc.) with third-parties, without permission from iD Tech;
• Impersonate another person; or
• Contact instructors outside of the Program.

Students also may NEVER:

• Engage in Internet hacking;
• Create an account on or log into third-party websites without the permission of their instructor;
• Use false information to create an account on or log into third-party websites;
• Share personal information with staff members or ask staff members for their personal information;
• Share or create video or audio recordings of iD Tech staff or another student without the permission of iD Tech.

Students and parents/guardians MUST:

• Follow directions/instructions of iD Tech personnel;
• If online, ensure the student attends the Program in an appropriate, private setting;
• Dress appropriately during the Program;
• Adhere to the terms of use of any sites used, including following the specified age policies; and
• Only share material that is related to lessons and appropriate.

II. Age Policy

iD Tech offers Programs for students ages 7-19. Therefore, students may interact and/or room with a student that is within this age range including 18 or 19 years old. Please note the age range of the Program being registered for.

If a student is 18 or 19 years old and participating in an On-Campus Program, they must successfully pass a criminal and sexual offender background check prior to being allowed to attend. Clients are responsible for all costs and fees associated with any background checks required for a student to attend.

III. Special Accommodations

If a student requires an accommodation to participate, or needs an aid to attend in an iD Tech Program, a parent/guardian must call iD Tech at 1-888-709-8324, no less than three weeks prior to your student’s first day of the Program to make needed arrangements.

If a student requires an aide to participate in an iD Tech Program, the aide must be age 18 or older, may not be a family member, and if it is an On -Campus Program, the aide must successfully pass a criminal and sexual offender background check prior ro being allowed to attend with the student. Aides may also be subject to fingerprinting. Clients are responsible for all direct costs, including background check processing fees, parking, and compensation for the aide’s attendance.

IV. Payment Policy

• Unless otherwise noted, all financial transactions are made and quoted in U.S. Dollars.
• All Payment Plan Fees, fees paid for Online Programs, and the $250 per week deposit for On-Campus Programs are non-refundable and non-transferrable.
• Other than if iD Tech needs to cancel a class, there are no refunds, credits or replacement days for classes missed. If iD Tech needs to cancel a class, iD Tech will either provide you a pro rata credit or reschedule the canceled class(es).
• If iD Tech cancels an entire Program for any reason, the fees paid for the Program will be refunded, less the non-refundable fees, as set out above. Non-refundable fees (other than the Payment Plan Fee, if any) will remain in your account as a fully transferable credit that is valid for three (3) years.
• iD Tech has the right to charge a $25 late fee on any payments not paid by the due date. For balances that are over 30 (thirty) days past due, iD Tech has the right to charge a 1% monthly finance charge and send the balance to a collection agency for collection (collection agency and legal fees may apply).
• All fees (registration, administrative, late, etc.) must be paid prior to the start of a Program, unless a payment plan has been agreed to. Students will be withdrawn from a Program if the Program has not been paid in full prior to the start of the Program, or if at any time a payment is not paid by the due date. No refunds, credits, or make-up classes will be provided if a session is missed due to a delinquent payment.
• By agreeing to a subscription or payment plan, you are authorizing iD Tech to auto charge the credit card on file as agreed at the time of purchase and as set out in My Account.
• A $35 returned check fee will be assessed for any checks returned or card transactions that are not honored.

V. Reservation Changes

To provide outstanding Programs, we may have to limit your ability to make changes (such as registering for a different course or changing attendance dates) and/or cancel a Program. Please reference the Terms and Conditions for specific Programs (linked above) for the rules and restrictions for changes and cancellations for that Program.

VI. Promotions and Discounts

Promotional discounts are limited to one discount per student. There may be other limitations as to how they apply, and codes must be submitted at the time of registration. iD Tech will not honor retroactive adjustments, and the total discounts received cannot exceed the total cost of the products purchased.

The Refer-a-Friend Program is a voluntary Program that applies to Small Group Classes and In-Person Programs.

• Each Referral Code can be used a maximum of 10 times. The code can only be used by students attending iD Tech for the first time (may be limited to certain Programs) and must be applied at the time of registration.
• A tuition credit will be given for each new student that registers for an In-Person Program or Small Group Class using a referral code and attends the course for which they registered.
• The Refer-a-Friend Program does not apply to siblings.
• Students may not refer each other to both qualify for the Refer-a-Friend Discount.
• Tuition credit will be applied after the referred client registers, pays in full and attends the Program. If the referred friend cancels his/her Program, the credit will be removed, and you will be responsible for any account balance that is created as a result of the lost credit.
• All tuition credits must be used in the Program term in which they are earned, can be used to offset Program tuition and other fees incurred, but do not entitle you to any form of payment.
• Tuition credits have no cash value.

VII. Certificates/Vouchers

All certificates/vouchers are non-refundable, non-transferable, and not redeemable for cash. Certificates/vouchers must be redeemed at the time of registration. Certificates/vouchers are valid until the specified expiration date, without exception. They are valid for up to the amount issued, and any amounts not used are forfeited.

VIII. General Releases

• Media Release: As a condition of participation, you authorize iD Tech and its partners to take photos, videos, images, audio, and testimonials of and/or from you and your student and agree that said content may be used by iD Tech in promotional materials, marketing collateral, and online media. These images, testimonials, photos, videos, and audio may be shared and used by corporate partners, the media, or other organizations that work with iD Tech. You also agree that all projects and work created by your student during an iD Tech Program may be used by iD Tech in promotional materials, online, and other print media, and may be shared and used by corporate partners, the media, or other organizations that work with iD Tech. You understand that iD Tech, its owners, agents, partners, facility providers, and employees will not be held liable for damages and injuries associated with use of any content released herein, including any and all claims based on negligence. You agree that all images, testimonials, photos, video, and audio taken at or in connection with an iD Tech Program are the sole and exclusive property of iD Tech, and that iD Tech has a royalty-free, perpetual license to use copies of all student work and projects created at an iD Tech Program.
• Name and Likeness Release: As a condition of participation, you authorize iD Tech and the press to use your student's full name and likeness in print, radio, TV, and other mediums.
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Math Workshop Ideas for Upper Elementary

By Mary Montero

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Whether you have 45 minutes or 90 minutes for your block math, how you set it up can make or break the progress you’re able to make with your students. I’ve had such varying setups for math, but for FIVE of the years I taught, I had split math blocks… all of those years, I had part of the block before lunch or specials and part of it after. Designing our math schedule was critical to make the most of every single minute. This is also such a common question I get, so today I’m chatting about how I organize my math workshop block! Even though this is geared toward upper elementary, you can truly adapt it to just about any grade level.

Elements of Math Workshop

Daily math routines.

First and foremost, I had two math routines that I consider critical to my students’ success in math. We do these EVERY day, and they take ten minutes but make such a huge impact! You will be amazed at how FAST students can get through these routines, but how big of a difference they make in the long run.

• Math Skill of the Day: I created math skill of the day resources after searching and searching for the perfect review of math skills and not being able to find exactly what my students needed. I wanted something that would routinely reintroduce my students to the important skills they had learned throughout the year (and in years prior) and engage them in meaningful, relevant practice of ONE SKILL per day, allowing us to truly review the skill. (5-7 minutes)

3rd Grade | 4th Grade | 5th Grade

• Superspeed Math: I have used Superspeed math for over 10 years, and I’m a HUGE believer in its effectiveness for math fact automaticity. This has students verbally reciting math facts, which I think is often overlooked. (3 minutes)
• The bottom line with math fact practice is that I make sure my students are practicing their facts OUT LOUD and ON PAPER, two very different but important skills.

Implementing a routine with Math Skill of the Day has made such a difference in our classroom, and I know it can make a positive impact in yours as well! You can download ONE FREE WEEK here.

These FREE Marvelous Mathematician posters are also a staple in our classroom. I first started using a version from MissMathDork and adapted them for my classroom over the years. I print, laminate, and add magnetic stickers on the back. At the beginning of the year, I only put one or two up at a time depending on our area of focus. By the end of the year, they are all hanging on my board and I’ll pull out different ones depending on our area of focus. They are so empowering to my mathematicians and help them stay on track!

Preparing for Math Workshop or Math Rotations

I know there are a lot of different schools of thoughts on what to set up in your math block. In an effort to increase differentiation in my room, I’ve always operated off a math rotation/workshop model. I found that trying to fit too much in each week resulted in a lot of unfinished work, which I really didn’t love. What ended up working best for me was a flexible workshop model. This meant that I had multiple options for each rotation, and they could change daily or weekly depending on what we needed. 

Whole Group Math Lesson

We always started with a whole group lesson, which typically lasted about 10-15 minutes. This is when we would cover the core grade-level topic. Early in the week (or unit, depending on how things fall), we usually create our anchor charts as well as any interactive notebook entries during this time. Throughout the week or unit, we spend this time focusing on subtopics and mini lessons related to the core topic. 

Organizing Math Workshop Rotations

I usually had three groups, but often had 4 or 5 depending on the need. I put each of the below options on cardstock, laminated them, and put magnetic tape on the back so that I could put them on our rotation board as needed. I put each child’s name on magnetic labels, which I found at a teacher store similar to THESE (Amazon affiliate link) which meant that I could move groups SO fluidly. It was totally normal for me to change the groups, so the kids become very used to it and think nothing of it if their grouping changes throughout the unit. 

The different math rotations/stations that were interchangeable included:

• Meet with Teacher : This is where we did all of our small group work, and this is your BEST opportunity for differentiation. I usually did ability groups in math for this reason. I loved being able to plan slightly different lessons or practice during meet the teacher so that I could extend student learning or reinforce it, depending on what was necessary. For example, if the day’s math skill was comparing fractions, the highest group might be working on comparing fractions with different denominators (it’s OKAY if that’s not part of your standard if that’s what your students are ready for!). Another group might be working on specific visual strategies to reinforce comparing fractions with the same denominator and another group might be focusing on comparing fractions in word problems. I almost always meet with the group that needs the most support FIRST. That way, they are much more likely to be able to complete the other rotations more independently. 
• Required work from textbooks
• Concept-based math projects
• Error Analysis (see more on this later in the post!)
• Activities or printables from my Math Concept Bundles
• Assessments or Weekly Math Quick Checks

• With games: For each turn, they have to earn it by completing one task card.
• As a scavenger hunt: I would hang the cards up all over the place in a designated area. I liked to do this in the hallway, if allowed. I would always try to position my small group area in a place that I could easily monitor the students in the hallways.
• In booklets: I print the task card sets with 2 sets (8 cards) per page and give students booklets to complete. 

• Math Games: Math games included Topple Blocks , games with task cards, internet-based games like Prodigy, and other file folder type games. ALWAYS a favorite station!

• Fact Practice : I usually tried to relate this to the skill we were working on, but about once a week, they just did fact practice for all operations. HERE is one of my favorite math fact practice games and HERE is what I use in this rotation when we are working on our multiplication facts. HERE is a video of another high-energy math fact game you can set up.
• Technology: We utilized IXL, but there are a lot of math programs that are mandated or utilized by school districts. I did not use this rotation every day, but I know of a lot of teachers who use this as a consistent center. 

Whole Group Days

There are always going to be some days that it makes the most sense to work in a whole group. If your students are doing EVERYTHING the same in ALL the rotations, that should be a sign that it’s a great day to work in a whole group, and that is okay!  On whole group days, you’ll usually find us doing a mini room transformation with concept-based math projects . I still differentiate my math projects by providing different students with different levels or tasks! Or sometimes we’ll do a lengthier core lesson that takes up the majority of the math block.

Essential Elements to Your Math Workshop Routine

There are a few components that I deem totally essential to our math routine. These are things that I make sure to fit in on an almost weekly basis, whether that is during whole group time, in a rotation, or during our small group time. 

• Error Analysis: I usually incorporate this in independent time or small group time. It is SO important for students to be able to analyze their errors. I chat about the importance of error analysis HERE and teaching the difference between conceptual and computational errors HERE .
• Math Projects: I mentioned math projects a few times above, but I want to emphasize how important these are for creating real-world connections to your math concepts. Students absolutely love them, they are easy to theme, and they provide extremely rigorous practice. I wrote all about using Math Projects HERE .
• Problem Solving: Don’t forget about problem solving skills, particularly multi-step skills! You can read all about how I incorporate and teach multi-step problem solving HERE . We typically do at least one in the four-square format each week, plus some in independent centers as well as at least one per week during Math Skill of the Day time.
• Computation: I know it’s easy to skip over fact practice as a rotation, but again, this is a critical component that needs to be a focus, even in grades 3-5.
• Number Talks: These take some time to get students fluent with, but I loved being able to get them to a point that they could lead number talks as a rotation! If you’re new to number talks, THIS is a great book (Amazon affiliate link).
• Math Picture Books: I love incorporating picture books in all subjects, and math is no exception! I have a huge blog post about incorporating picture books into your math block, which you can read HERE .
• Mental Math: Are you incorporating mental math into your routines? It’s SO important and only takes a few minutes! My favorite is to do oral mental math at the beginning or end of the day. I will give an oral equation like, “Multiply 25 by two. Add 50. Divide by 4. Add 5. What’s my number?” That’s it! A few of those a day are HUGELY impactful.
• Want an easy way to grab all of these resources at once? This ULTIMATE math resource bundle is packed with resources!

Early Finishers in Math

• Seasonal math projects are easily my favorite early finisher task in math. Since there is one for EVERY season, there is always something for students to be working on, and when used as early finisher tasks, they will last several weeks. 
• These math early finisher task cards were also always available to students. They typically chose one card and kept it in their math binder to work on until they were done, at which point they would return it to the early finisher task card turnstile. 

Do you use math workshop with your students? Come share your ideas with us in our FREE Inspired in Upper Elementary Facebook group !

Mary Montero

I’m so glad you are here. I’m a current gifted and talented teacher in a small town in Colorado, and I’ve been in education since 2009. My passion (other than my family and cookies) is for making teachers’ lives easier and classrooms more engaging.

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Maneuvering the Middle

Student-Centered Math Lessons

Grading Math Homework Made Easy

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Grading math homework doesn’t have to be a hassle!  It is hard to believe when you have a 150+ students, but I am sharing an organization system that will make grading math homework much more efficient.  This is a follow up to my Minimalist Approach to Homework post. The title was inspired by the Marie Kondo book, The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up .  Though I utilized the homework agenda for many years prior to the book, it fits right in to the idea of only keeping things that bring you joy.

One thing is for sure, papers do not bring a teacher joy.

For further reading, check out these posts about homework:

• The Homework Agenda Part 2 (Grading Math Homework)
• Should Teachers Assign Math Homework?

I am also aware that homework brings on another conversation:

• what to do if it is not complete AKA missing assignments

Any teacher will tell you that a missing assignment is a giant pain.  No one enjoys seeing the blank space in the grade book, especially a middle school teacher with 125+ students. (Side note, my first year I had 157.  Pretty much insane.)

Grading Homework, Yes or No?

Goodness, this is a decision you have to make for you and the best interest of your students. In my experience, I would say I graded 85% of assignments for some type of accuracy.  I am not a fan of completion grades.  The purpose of homework is to practice, but we don’t want to practice incorrectly.   Completion grades didn’t work for me, because I didn’t want students to produce low quality work.  

Students had a “tutorial” class period (much like homeroom) in which they were allowed 20 minutes a day to work on assignments.  I always encouraged students to work on math or come to my room for homework help.  Yes, this often led to 40+ students in my room.  But, that means 40 students were doing math practice.  I love that.

I also believe that many students worked on it during that time because they knew it was for a grade.  This helps to build intrinsic motivation.  

Grading math homework:  USING THE HOMEWORK AGENDA

During the warm up, I circulated and checked for homework completion. Students would receive a stamp or my initials on their Homework Agenda. Essentially, the Homework Agenda (freebie offered later in this post) is a one-pager that kept students homework organized. As a class, we quickly graded the homework assignment. Then, I briefly would answer or discuss a difficult question or two.  To avoid cheating, any student who did not have their homework that day were required to clear their desk while we graded.

I would then present a grading scale.  This is where I might make math teachers crazy, but I would be generous.  Eight questions, ten points each.  Missing two problems would result in an 80.   I tried to make it advantageous to those who showed work and attempted, yet not just a “gimme” grade. 

Students would record their grade on their Homework Agenda. They would repeat this for every homework assignment that week. A completed Homework Agenda would have 4 assignments’ names, with 4 teacher completion signatures, and 4 grades for each day of the week that I assigned homework.

Later in the class or the following day as I circulated, I was able to see on the front of the Homework Agenda how students were doing and discuss personally with them whether or not they needed to see me in tutorials.   I was able to give specific praise to students who were giving 110% effort or making improvements. 

This is why I love the Homework Agenda.

“There is no possible way, I could collect the assignments individually and return them in a timely fashion. I tried that my first year and there was no hope. Since using it, I am quickly able to provide individual and specific feedback in a timely manner. It opens up conversations and helps be to encourage and be a champion for my students. ”

On Friday, I would collect the Homework Agenda.  If during the week you were absent, had an incomplete assignment, or didn’t complete one, Friday was D day.  It was going in the grade book on Friday.

Here is my weekly process:

• Collect homework agendas
• Have frank conversation with students who did not have it
• Record grades on paper (mostly to make putting it in the computer faster because they were ordered)
• Record grades in computer
• Send the same email to parents of students that did not turn in the agenda – write one email, then BCC names.
• List names of missing assignments on post-it note next to desk (official, I know)
• Pull students from tutorial time (homeroom) who owed me the homework
• Follow up with any students who were absent Friday and still needed to turn in their homework to me

What About the Missi ng Assignments?

Yes, there will be missing assignments.  Yes, students will come to Thursday and have lost their precious agenda.  However, it won’t happen often to the same kiddo.  My least organized student, who carried everything in their pocket, could fold that agenda up and hang onto it for a week.  It was too valuable.  Too many grades, too many assignments to redo.

We all know that it is much more work when students don’t complete their assignments.  It would be a dream world if everyone turned in their work everyday.  Unfortunately, we all live in reality.

We can vent our frustrations over students not doing work, which is legitimate.  We can also work towards solutions. 

The reality is that not every student has a support system at home.  I would love for us to be that voice of inspiration and encouragement.   Sometimes that voice sounds like tough love and a hounding for assignments and just being consistent that you value their education and you are not willing to let them give up on it.

They will appreciate it one day and you will be happy you did the extra work.

Want to try the Homework Agenda?  Download the template here, just type and go!

This post is part 2 in a two part series.  To read part 1, click here.

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42 comments.

February 29, 2016 at 2:39 pm

How do you prevent kids from cheating and writing a better grade than deserved? And you said 8 questions 10 points each, so do you then give them 20 points for attempting for making it an even 100?

March 1, 2016 at 2:46 am

Hi Lisa, thanks for the question. You make a great point about students wanting to write a better grade than they earned. The first few weeks, I really talk about what it means to be honest and check over their shoulders. As I walk around to check I will make sure everyone is marking their assignment correctly. I even will flip through what has been turned in on Fridays and double check or “spot” check. After several years of doing this, I can only count a handful of times when I had to deal with a situation. You would be surprised! Yes, I tried to make everything easy to grade as well as giving points for effort, especially if the assignment was difficult. Hope that helps!

May 20, 2016 at 10:03 pm

So do you have students turn in all the papers on friday as well or just the agenda? How do you spot check if you only collect the agenda?

May 20, 2016 at 10:38 pm

Hi Heather! Yes, I have students turn in their work with the agenda. If it was a handout/worksheet I provided, I just set the copier to staple it to the back. If it was something out of a text book, they would staple it to the agenda. Hope that helps!

June 4, 2016 at 9:42 pm

The ‘initials’ box on the homework agenda is for you to sign when checking who has it done? Or is the person correcting the paper initializing it?

Do you take off points for students not having an assignment done by the time Friday rolls around? Also, what does the small 1’s and 2’s in the corner of your gradebook mean?

June 5, 2016 at 6:56 am

Hi Alysia! I use the initials box to sign or stamp that it was complete before we graded it. I think you could have the student grading do that, but then you wouldn’t have a good grasp on how kids were doing throughout the week. I really liked going around at the beginning of class and touching base with students/seeing who needed extra help. Yes, I took off points for turing it in late. We had a standard policy on our campus that I followed. Also, by not having initials, it was by default late because it didn’t get checked when I came around. This section of my gradebook was during review for state testing, so the 1’s and 2’s were a little incentive I was running in my classroom. Review can be so boring and tedious, so I tried to spice it up with a sticker/point system for effort and making improvement. Hope this helps!

August 15, 2016 at 6:27 pm

I’m a bit confused how you assigned a grade to the homework assignment. First, you mentioned each problem was assigned 10 points. How did you determine how many points students would receive for each problem? If I read your blog correctly it sounds like you had the students score the assignment, how did you instruct them to score each problem? With 10 points for each problem it seems like there is a potential to have a wide range of scores for each problem based on who is grading it. Also, did the grader score it or did the student give their own work a grade? Sorry for all the questions…thank you!

August 16, 2016 at 6:43 am

Hi Tanya! In my example, there were eight problems but I only counted each as being worth ten points. That would be twenty points left over for trying/showing work/etc. As for marking it, each problem incorrect would be ten points off. Hope that helps. You could have either the student self grade or do a trade and grade method, whichever you felt more comfortable with.

November 28, 2016 at 1:28 am

Can you explain your grading system in the photo on this page where it reads, “Grading without the stacks of paper”? What do the small 1, 2 and 3’s mean? I assume your method on this posting is to avoid the complicated grading, but you’ve got me curious now about what method you were using in your photo. Thanks for clarifying this for me.

January 2, 2017 at 9:48 pm

The small numbers in the corner were used for an incentive. This photo is from a state assessment prep and I used various points for incentives to keep working!

December 26, 2016 at 7:31 pm

I like the idea of trade and grade. Right not I just check hw for completion and they get 5 points for doing the assignment. I treat this like extra credit for them. Most of them will at least attempt the problems and show their work. We also talk about just writing random numbers and how that will get no points.

December 26, 2016 at 7:34 pm

Ugh! The name is Celeste

March 11, 2017 at 7:25 pm

We aren’t allowed to do trade and grade due to privacy issues and legal issues. Otherwise, I do like this idea.

April 1, 2017 at 2:33 pm

I have heard that from other teachers. You could have them check their own, too.

May 30, 2017 at 3:19 pm

Do you allow them to redo and make corrections to their work for credit back? Or does the grade stand no matter what? This is why I go back and forth between correctness and completion. While they need to practice correctly, I don’t like being punitive for getting the answers wrong when they are learning the material for the first time. I want them to practice, and practice correctly. But I also want them to be motivated to persevere and relearn until they master the material.

June 4, 2017 at 6:10 am

Yes, it depended on the school policy but I would typically drop the lowest homework grade at the end of the grading period. If a student is willing to come in and work on their assignment (redo, a new one, etc), then I was always thrilled and would replace the grade! We want kids to learn from their mistakes. 🙂

June 4, 2017 at 1:48 pm

Regarding grading homework, my students have three homework assignments each week, with between 8 and 13 practice problems per assignment. I go through each problem and award 0-3 points per problem. 0 points if they did nothing. And then 1 point for attempting the problem, 1 point for showing necessary/appropriate work, and 1 point for a correct answer. This way, even if students get the problem wrong, they can still get 2 out of 3 points. If a student got each problem wrong, but were clearly trying, I would give them an overall grade of 70%.

June 20, 2017 at 8:13 pm

Great ideas! Love that!

August 31, 2019 at 8:27 am

Are you grading that, or the students?!?!

March 15, 2024 at 10:44 am

It depends! Usually I had my students grade!

June 15, 2017 at 4:54 pm

Do you staple the agenda to a homework packet to hand out on Monday?

June 20, 2017 at 8:07 pm

Yes! Well actually, I would copy it all together or if it was out of a text book, they would staple their work.

June 19, 2017 at 12:16 am

Our district insists that we MUST allow students an opportunity to complete assignments, and we have to accept them late. They do not specify how late though. I was bogged down with tons of late work this last year, and hated it. Can you please share with me your secret of how you handle late work, how late can it be, how much credit does it receive, and how do you grade it? That would help me tremendously. Thank You!

June 20, 2017 at 8:00 pm

We always had school policies for the amount of credit a student could earn, so I would follow that for credit. As far as actually collecting and grading, I did the following: 1. If it was late, I didn’t sign their assignment sheet. Instead I wrote late. 2. They had until Friday, when I collected the assignment sheet and homework to complete it. 3. On Friday, I would collect everything complete or not, and put grades in the grade book. Then, I would send an email to parents letting them know. Usually, kids would then be motivated to come to tutoring to complete any missing grades. I tried to not take any papers other than the Assignment Sheet and its corresponding work.

August 11, 2019 at 2:47 pm

If the students came in the next week and finished the missing assignment, would you give them full points or would they still lose some points for turning the assignment in late?

March 15, 2024 at 10:47 am

Hi, Jackie! I would go with your school’s grading policy.

August 12, 2018 at 1:55 pm

I really hate taking late work but when im forced to I tell my students that the highest grade they could receive is 5 points lower than the lowest grade fromthe student that turned it in on time.

July 17, 2017 at 3:30 pm

What percentage of their overall grade is homework? We are only allowed to give 10% which is why I only grade for completion and showing work. Maybe I’m not understanding correctly, but you have 80 points per assignment roughly?

August 11, 2017 at 5:26 am

Yes, I really tried to be generous and would give points for showing work/effort, to make the grading scale easy. Thanks!

July 30, 2017 at 9:07 pm

Love all the ideas. One question though – do you have any problems with kids not having their homework done, but making note of the correct answers while the class is grading and then just copying those answers later?

August 11, 2017 at 5:18 am

I would suggest to monitor and ask them to have a cleaned off desk if they did not have their assignment. Thanks!

August 22, 2017 at 11:37 am

What does your class look like on Fridays? If you only assign homework M-Th, when do your students get practice on the material that you teach on Friday?

September 2, 2017 at 9:01 pm

Hi Briana! I didn’t assign homework on Fridays, and really tried to plan for a cooperative learning activity if possible. This way we could practice what we did all week.

August 5, 2019 at 9:21 am

I love the idea of the homework agenda. I tried passing out papers and filing them but it was to time consuming. If students are allowed to take the packet back and forth every day what keeps them from sharing their answers to other students from another class period throughout the day? I love that you can put notes/reminders at the bottom of the agenda page.

June 11, 2018 at 11:07 am

Hello! Do you have a editable copy if your homework agenda anywhere? It seems like an interesting concept. I would love to see the overall layout.

March 15, 2024 at 10:13 am

Yes! You can get it here: https://www.maneuveringthemiddle.com/math-homework/

June 13, 2018 at 7:39 pm

What are your procedures for the agenda for those students who were absent the day you graded?

Hi, Brittany! What a great question. I would just collect any absent students’ packets when they return and grade them on my own.

December 2, 2018 at 11:21 am

I often give homework on Quizizz or EdPuzzle which scores for me. The kids who cannot do the assignment at home due to computer or internet issues can do it in tutoring. (I offer before school, after school, and lunch opportunities for tutoring.)

December 9, 2018 at 9:16 pm

How do you set up your homework agenda? In the date box do you put the due date? Or the date they receive the assignment? Do you have an example homework agenda?

December 22, 2018 at 11:34 am

Hi Alyssa! Yes, check out this blog post for more ideas and a sample: https://www.maneuveringthemiddle.com/math-homework/

August 20, 2019 at 11:41 pm

How and when in this process do you grade the homework for accuracy? At your quick glance at the start of class? On Friday after you collect the agenda and associated work? What mechanism do you use to provide constructive, timely feedback to the students?

6 Tips for Making the Most of Math Homework

Is homework effective? Educators seem to be evenly split on this question. Some insist that homework is essential because students need to review and practice skills at home. Others argue that it’s a waste of time and a burden on families, especially when some parents are not willing or able to help with homework. Even worse, some parents who genuinely want to help may teach the skill incorrectly, causing you to have to reteach it the next day.

Personally, I feel that homework can be very effective, especially in math, if you keep these tips in mind:

• Before assigning homework, make sure the majority of your students are at least somewhat proficient with the skill so they can experience success at home.
• Keep homework assignments short and to the point. Why assign 30 problems if all they need is 5?
• Only assign homework to those who need it. If a student has mastered a skill with 100% accuracy, why should he or she have to do the homework? Use the Quick Check formative assessment strategy described below to find out who needs additional practice and who doesn’t.
• Only assign homework to those who will benefit from it. If they don’t have a clue about how to complete the problems, homework on that skill is a waste of time. Furthermore, the resulting feelings of frustration can negatively impact the way students feel about math. Instead, differentiate the assignment by giving those students something easier or deferring the assignment until after they receive more help at school.
• Consider the level of parent support and your students’ home environments. If the majority of them will not be able to get help at home, and are more worried about where their next meal is coming from than the day’s assignment, you may want to greatly reduce the homework load.
• Rather than collecting homework and grading it, simply check off whether or not the student attempted ALL problems. Start each class period with a review and discussion of the previous day’s work. Expect students to be able to explain HOW they solved their problems, and don’t give them credit for the work if they can’t explain it.

Quick Check Formative Assessments

• Post four or five problems on a flip chart or on the board.
• Ask students to work the problems out on paper and transfer their answers to a dry erase board. If they are seated close together, have them put up barriers like notebooks or folders for privacy.
• Tell your students that they will have only ONE chance to show you their boards and try to earn their way out of the homework assignment. If they make even one careless error, they will have to complete the homework! Stick to your guns on this one!
• Ask students flip their dry erase boards face down when they are ready for you to check answers.
• Walk around the room with a checklist, and quickly peek at each board. Write the score on the student’s board and record it on your student checklist. Keep this list so you can refer to it the next day when checking off homework.
• Give your students a reasonable amount of time for the work, but there’s no need to wait until all children finish. If it takes them a long time, they need more practice at home.
• After most students are finished, review the assignment and discuss each problem so students understand the ones they missed.
• Post the homework assignment, and be sure the students who scored 100% know they are excused from doing the work.

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10 Playful Math Activities for Preschoolers

Prepare your child for school success with these fun math activities to do at home.

JGI / Jamie Grill / Blend Images / Corbis

Preschoolers aren't too young to develop their math skills—and doing so can be fun! Learning math promotes working memory, improves attention , and increases other basic cognitive skills. Additionally, studies have shown that a child's math skills upon entering kindergarten can strongly predict their future academic performance in both math and reading throughout the elementary grades.

But don't head to the store to buy flash cards and worksheets, which might squelch your child's natural interest in the subject. Instead, engage them in these playful math activities to help them develop a strong foundation in basic math skills.

Number Concept Activities

Counting helps children learn number sequence—but they need to develop a basic understanding of numbers first. Three important number concepts are one-to-one correspondence (each object is counted only once); cardinality (the last object counted is the total number of objects); and invariance (the number of objects doesn't change if they are configured differently—for instance, spread out or placed in a circle). Here are math activities for preschoolers to help develop these concepts.

Count objects in everyday contexts

Count the buttons on your child's shirt, the oranges you put in the grocery bag, the forks needed to set the table, or the stairs to the front door. Start with small numbers (no more than five) and add a few as your child is ready for more of a challenge.

Put small objects in a row

Gather some coins and ask your child how many there are. After they have counted them, rearrange them in a circle or row, and ask them again. Don't be surprised if they have to count them for a second time. But if they automatically answer without counting, you'll know they have mastered number invariance.

Find objects that go together

If your child has difficulty with one-to-one correspondence, find objects that correlate—such as spoons and forks, cups and saucers, and horse and cowboy figurines—and ask them to pair them together. As they do, have them count each set of objects to help reinforce the idea that each pair consists of the same number.

Play board games that involve counting

Simple board games like Candy Land and Chutes and Ladders help preschoolers recognize numbers and count moves. More complex games involve two dice instead or one or doubling the number that comes up for each move.

Geometry and Spatial Understanding Activities

Children develop a basic understanding of geometry and spatial relations by playing with building toys like blocks. Encourage geometry-related skills with these math activities to do at home.

Identify shapes in your home

Find basic shapes around the home, such as rectangles in light switches, squares in window panes, and circles in clocks. Ask your child to explain how they differentiate each shape by their defining features (for instance, a triangle has three connected sides) and non-defining features (such as the position or size of the triangle).

Talk about picture placement in a book

When reading a storybook , use spatial language to discuss the placement of pictures. Ask related questions, such as "Where is the moon? Is it above the tree? Is it under the tree?" Or reference sizes by asking, "Is the hippopotamus bigger than the monkey? Which animal is bigger? Which flower is smaller?"

Make a map of your home

Practice spatial language by helping your child make a map of their bedroom . As they place and space out furniture, windows, and closets, ask them questions about where they're located and how close together they are.

Measurement Activities

Your child will learn many forms of measurement (length, height, weight, size, and quantity). Embed these concepts into everyday life with these activities for preschoolers.

Measure while you cook or bake

Cooking with your child offers a wealth of opportunities to learn math. Fill measuring cups and spoons with water or flour to introduce your kids to whole numbers and fractions. Ask questions such as "Can you fill a half cup? Can you fill one teaspoon?"

Guess weight at the supermarket

The next time you visit the grocery store, pull two different items from the shelves and ask your child which one is heavier: "Is it the can of soup or the box of crackers?" Children will learn how to understand the concepts of heaviness and lightness.

Compare feet sizes

Place your foot next to your child's foot and ask them which is longer or bigger. Have a ruler or tape measure on hand to compare the sizes and help them differentiate between long and short, large and small.

Deborah Stipek, Ph.D., is a professor at Stanford University and a Parents advisor. She is also the author of Motivated Minds: Raising Children to Love Learning.

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30 Fun and Free First Grade Math Games and Activities

Teach them early on that math can be fun!

Early elementary teachers have a chance to instill in their students a love of math right from the start. One great way to do that is to make math fun! These first grade math games cover all the standard skills firsties need to know , in ways that make learning engaging and enjoyable for all.

(Just a heads up, WeAreTeachers may collect a share of sales from the links on this page. We only recommend items our team loves!)

1. Wiggle to 100

You’ve Got This Math/Wiggle to 100 via youvegotthismath.com

Many kids learn best when they move their bodies. In this simple game, they use number cards to make and solve addition or subtraction equations. Then they draw an action card, and complete the activity the same number of times as the answer to the problem.

Learn more: You’ve Got This Math

2. Play with place value pickup sticks

First Grade Wow/Place Value Pickup Sticks via firstgradewow.blogspot.com

Help students visualize place value with these DIY pickup sticks. Pick up a handful of sticks and drop them, then have kids organize them by tens and ones. Finally, determine what number the sticks represent.

Learn more: First Grade Wow

3. Measure and compare names

Mrs. Richardson’s Class/Comparing Names via mrsrichardsonsclass.com

Here’s a fun way to teach non-standard measurement: Compare the lengths of student names! This is a great activity to try near the beginning of the year as kids get to know each other.

Learn more: Mrs. Richardson’s Class

4. Spin and draw the time

The Moffatt Girls/Spin and Draw Time via themoffattgirls.com

Kids love simple spinners, so use them for games that help them learn to tell time. After they spin a digital time, have them draw the correct hands on clock faces or create the time on a toy clock.

Learn more: The Moffatt Girls

5. Make a DIY shape Guess Who? game

Life Between Summers/Shape Guess Who via lifebetweensummers.com

Switch up your old Guess Who? game with 2D and 3D shape cards instead. Kids will get practice using geometry terms like “vertices,” “edges,” “faces,” and more.

Learn more: Life Between Summers

6. Walk the plank to practice addition

Primarily Speaking/Walk the Plank via primarily-speaking.com

With a wooden paint stick, some math cubes, and a pair of number cubes, you can play a simple but fun first grade math game that helps kids learn addition in such an engaging way!

Learn more: Primarily Speaking

7. Assemble a domino puzzle

Games 4 Gains/Dominoes Math Puzzles via games4gains.com

Print the free puzzles at the link below. Then grab some dominoes and start filling in the puzzle one piece at a time by placing a domino that adds up to the number shown in each rectangle. The trick is that regular domino rules still apply, so each number must touch another domino with the same number on that end.

Learn more: Games 4 Gains

8. Play tic-tac-toe with addition problems

123 Homeschool 4 Me/Tic-Tac-Toe Math Game via 123homeschool4me.com

Work out the answer to each problem in the grid, and dot or circle the ones that add up to 10. First to get three in a row wins!

Learn more: 123 Homeschool 4 Me/Tic-Tac-Toe Math Game

9. Face off in Dice War

Miss Giraffe’s Class/Fact Fluency Dice via missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com

Dice games are fantastic in the classroom! With this one, kids practice their addition facts and get a little work with subitizing too. The concept is so simple: Each player rolls the dice and adds up their numbers. The highest sum wins that round. This is one of those first grade math games that can be expanded by adding a third die. (You can also use playing cards.)

Learn more: Miss Giraffe’s Class

10. Use sticky notes to make 10

Life Over C’s/Make 10 Sticky Notes via lifeovercs.com

Sticky notes have so many uses in the classroom. In this case, challenge students to put together the numbered notes that “make 10.” They’ll practice adding to 10 with multiple numbers. You can also do this with subtraction, starting at 10, to make zero.

Learn more: Life Over C’s

11. Play Shut the Box

This game has been played for hundreds of years, but it’s a fun and sneaky way to practice addition facts fluency. The goal is to “close” each of the numbers in the box from one to nine by rolling the dice. For instance, if a player rolls 11, they may close 1, 2, 3, and 5, as these add up to 11. If no numbers are available to add up to the dice total, play passes to the next player and continues until someone finally “shuts the box” by closing the last available number. You can play this game with a specially designed box , as it has been played for years. You don’t need the box, though; simply have kids write out the numbers 1 through 9 and cross them out as they play.

12. Assemble some addition grab bags

Susan Jones Teaching/Addition Grab Bags via susanjonesteaching.com

Fill a variety of bags with collections of small objects. Kids grab a handful from two different bags, then count and add up the results. Be sure they write it all down to get practice at setting up equations. First grade math games like this one work for subtraction too.

Learn more: Susan Jones Teaching/Grab Bags

13. Face off to find the difference

Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls/Face Off Math via frugalfun4boys.com

Each player rolls the dice (try polyhedral dice for higher numbers, or roll several dice and add them together) and builds a stack of math cubes . Then they “face off” and find the difference between their two stacks.

Learn more: Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls

14. Plant flowers and count on

Fun-a-Day/Counting Flowers via fun-a-day.com

Pick up some artificial flowers at the dollar store for this springtime garden game. Roll the die and add that number of flowers to your pot. Then roll again and add more, counting on from where you left off. Easy and fun!

Learn more: Fun-a-Day

15. Build and count on

Susan Jones Teaching/Building On via susanjonesteaching.com

Here’s a fun hands-on way to practice counting on and addition. You can use any type of building blocks for this one. Get free printables at the link.

Learn more: Susan Jones Teaching/Building On

16. Print a hundreds chart to play Battleship

123 Homeschool 4 Me/Hundreds Chart Battleship via 123homeschool4me.com

Help students master numbers up to 100 by playing Battleship, using a standard hundreds chart . They’ll enjoy the strategy (and the fun of crying “boom!” when they sink a ship) while they develop number sense and practice number words.

Learn more: 123 Homeschool 4 Me/Hundreds Chart Battleship

17. Try nuts and bolts for place-value practice

The Measured Mom/Place Value Mat via themeasuredmom.com

Mastering the concepts of tens and ones is more fun with hands-on activities. We love these DIY math manipulatives that use inexpensive nuts and bolts from the hardware store to drive home the idea of place value. (Bonus: Kids also practice fine motor skills!) Get free printable mats to use with this activity at the link.

Learn more: The Measured Mom

18. Have a place-value scavenger hunt

Primary Theme Park/Place Value Scavenger Hunt via primarythemepark.com

Grab a stack of old magazines and use it for a place-value scavenger hunt! You can do this one at school or send it home for homework. Get free printables to use for this first grade math game at the link.

Learn more: Primary Theme Park/Place Value Scavenger Hunt

19. Practice tens and ones with I Have, Who Has

Playdough to Plato/I Have Who Has via playdoughtoplato.com

As first graders work with the concepts of tens and ones, play this simple game to give them confidence. Using the free printable cards at the link, the first player calls out “I have …” followed by the number shown on their card in blocks. Then they call out the number on the bottom, and the player who has that number takes over.

Learn more: Playdough to Plato/I Have, Who Has

20. Deal Uno cards to compare numbers

Kindergarten Smorgasboard/Uno Card Comparison via thekindergartensmorgasboard.com

Some first grade math games are just slightly harder versions of kindergarten ones. Make a greater-than/less-than mat with paper scraps and a brad, as shown. Lay out two Uno cards on each side, since first graders work on comparing two-digit numbers. Swing the arms of the signs around to the correct direction to indicate which is greater.

Learn more: The Kindergarten Smorgasboard

21. Knock down the pins with dot arrangement bowling

Cara Carroll/Subitizing Bowling via justcaracarroll.com

Take an inexpensive toy bowling set (or make your own with plastic bottles) and add sticky dots arranged in patterns. Students roll the ball and then have to quickly subitize to determine how many dots are on each pin they knocked down. If they get it right, they get the points!

Learn more: Cara Carroll

22. Navigate a time-telling maze

123 Homeschool 4 Me/Time Maze via 123homeschool4me.com

Start with the first clock and color in the line that shows the correct time. That leads you to the next clock, and so on, until you’re done!

Learn more: 123 Homeschool 4 Me/Time-Telling Maze

23. Assemble time-telling puzzles

123 Homeschool 4 Me/Time-Telling Puzzles via 123homeschool4me.com

Firsties should be mastering time to the hour and half hour. These free printable puzzles help them match up analog and digital clock times. Have them say the times out loud as they match them up too.

Learn more: 123 Homeschool 4 Me/Time-Telling Puzzles

24. Match up plastic eggs

The STEM Laboratory/Telling Time Eggs via thestemlaboratory.com

This is always a popular way to practice telling time. Draw clocks on one half of the eggs, and write out the times in numbers or words on the other half. For even more fun, hide the halves around the room and go on an egg hunt before you match them up!

Learn more: The STEM Laboratory

25. Put together shapes to make other shapes

Susan Jones Teaching/Pattern Blocks via Susan Jones Teaching

Use pattern blocks with the free printable cards at the link to get kids playing around with simple geometry. They’ll practice recognizing basic shapes and learn they can use some shapes to make new ones.

Learn more: Susan Jones Teaching/Pattern Blocks

26. Partition and sort shapes

Smitten With First/Fraction Sticky Notes via smittenwithfirstblog.com

Gather up sticky notes in a variety of shapes and sizes . Draw lines on them to partition them equally or unequally. Then, have kids sort them based on type.

Learn more: Smitten With First

27. Build and measure with LEGO bricks

Playdough to Plato/LEGO Math via playdoughtoplato.com

Everything is more fun with LEGO! Pull out a pile of square bricks and use them for these fun and free activities that incorporate estimating, measuring, and comparing length.

Learn more: Playdough to Plato/LEGO Math

28. Race and measure with toy cars

Susan Jones Teaching/Non-Standard Measurement via susanjonesteaching.com

First, kids get a little STEM practice by figuring out how to build a ramp. Then, they race toy cars down the ramp, marking where they land. Finally, they compare distances using any kind of non-standard measurement they like.

Learn more: Susan Jones Teaching/Non-Standard Measurement

29. Sort out your classroom toys

BSM Year 2/Sorting Toys via bsmkew.blogspot.com

First graders work on sorting by attribute in as many as three categories. Put out a variety of building blocks, beads, or other classroom toys and lay out some Hula-Hoops. Ask kids to define the categories and start sorting! You can even overlap the hoops into Venn diagrams for items that meet more than one criterion.

Learn more: BSM Year 2

30. Go on a bug hunt

Primary Theme Park/Bug Hunt via primarythemepark.com

Grab the free printable game at the link, then have kids graph their insects as they play. When they’re done, ask questions to ensure they understand the data they’ve collected.

Learn more: Primary Theme Park/Bug Hunt

Like these first grade math games? Don’t miss these 50 First Grade Math Word Problems of the Day !

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20+ creative alternative homework ideas for teachers

When giving homework, it must always be based on learning goals your students have to reach, just like in your lessons. But it’s sad to see that lots of teachers are using homework as extra lesson time. Of course, as a teacher, you’re on a clock. But that doesn’t mean your students have to suffer from it and keep working on those boring textbooks and worksheets at home.

Consider goals like attitudes, real-life experiences, and practice, physical exercise, social encounters, creative solutions, and philanthropy as crucial as your lesson goals. These are things students don’t just pick up in your classroom. These are things they pick up in life.

In this blog post, I’ll give you some innovative homework ideas that will engage your students more. These alternatives to traditional homework will thereby also teach your students new things that can’t be taught in the classroom. You will find a variety of homework ideas: online and offline.

I will mention homework alternatives for primary school and high school. Some of these ideas can be changed a little bit, so they are the perfect fit for the right audience.

20 Creative homework ideas

You can divide homework tasks into the following themes or categories:

• Crafts & arts
• Outdoor activities & outings
• Games and activities
• Physical activities
• Digital or computer activities
• Philanthropy & social work

💡 Good to know : all the ready-to-use homework activities are created with BookWidgets . You can easily create activities like these yourself or duplicate an activity below for free, edit it if needed, and share it with your students. You can do so in the examples separately, or you can find all the homework examples in the BookWidgets Blog group folder .

Crafts and arts homework

1. prepare a dish from a recipe book.

2. Make a board game

3. Create a birdhouse

4. Transform a fictional book character into a hand puppet

Outdoor homework activities and outings

5. coupon game.

Students can also go grocery shopping with their parents. Here, they have to read the ingredients of the products and help their parents choose the healthiest products for the best prices, figure out the best deal between the sizes of items, …

6. Visit the zoo

7. Visit the local dumping ground or container park

8. Build a tree house

Games and activities as homework

9. bookwidgets games.

10. Minecraft

11. Play Cards

12. Play Zoo Tycoon or Rollercoaster Tycoon

Physical homework activities

13. rope skipping.

Many rope-skipping songs let your students do different tricks while rope-skipping. This is an excellent opportunity for homework as well. Ask your students to transform a rope skipping song into a song with lesson content. Let them count or spell or even sum up the different states or capitals. To engage their lifestyles even harder, you can additionally give them the assignment to create a TikTok in which they are jumping and singing.

Click here to see how you can get Tiktok more involved in the classroom.

14. Walking quest

If there aren’t any walking quests in the neighborhood, you could ask your students to create a walking quest like this for their fellow students. What a fun day it will be!

15. Obstacle Quiz

In order for students to answer the questions, they have to run and pass a challenging parkour. This is a fun homework exercise, and in the end, it’s a great lesson starter or lesson end.

16. Swimming games

After the activity, they can fill out an Exit Slip:

Digital or computer homework activities

17. create a picture album.

This teaches them to handle the online software, add pictures and write without spelling mistakes. And of course, creating memories is so much fun!

18. Video job application

19. Your life in 10 minutes - video

20. Email pen-pals

Is it still too complicated? Read the messages from your students, before they send them, and provide them with some feedback.

Philanthropy and social homework

21. grow a community garden.

22. Help in a retirement home

23. Help at a homeless shelter

24. Collect litter

Here’s another homework tip: Don’t call homework “homework”. Call it a challenge. Homework has become a negative word for students, and I bet they start rolling their eyes as you even mention the word.

Still looking for more inspiration? Check out the blog on short films and lesson activities that spice up your Google Classroom . Tip: even if you don’t use Google Classroom, there is a lot of inspiration back here.

Above you have read single assignments. But, you also have the option to involve your homework in a project. Find out more here .

So, as I mentioned earlier, there are many fun alternatives to traditional homework. Now it’s up to you to apply this in the classroom as well. In this folder , you will find all the examples you have come across.

Which idea do you or perhaps your students like the most? Let us know on Twitter . Of course, there are many more alternatives. If you have other ideas, you are always welcome to share it with other teachers in our Facebook group .

One more thing: don’t forget to say hi👋 on LikedIn .

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13 Fun Homework Ideas: The Best Ways To Make Homework Fun For Kids Quickly & Easily

Ellie Williams

Figuring out how to make homework fun can be a tricky task for parents.

Does it feel like you’re constantly nagging your kids to do their homework? If your answer is yes then worry not as we’ve all been there! It’s natural for parents to want their children to progress and do well in school, but after an entire day of paper, pencils, and books many youngsters will resist getting on with their homework – and that’s putting it mildly!

Top Tips To Make Homework Fun:

• Work together
• Use rewards and incentives
• Sort them a snack
• Make it visual
• Try different learning apps
• Set up a homework play date
• Turn it into a game
• Let them play teacher
• Use a timer
• Create a special homework space
• Remember to be positive
• Get help if you need i t

Thankfully, there are ways of making homework less boring and that little bit more fun for your child. Whether they need to practice spellings, learn their times tables or revise for an important exam, our top fun homework ideas will help you to magically take the ‘work’ out of homework.

KS2 Maths Games and Activities Pack

A FREE downloadable games and activity pack, including 20 home learning maths activities for KS2 children to complete on their own or with a partner.

1. Work together

Adults often work best in the company of others, and the same can be said of kids, so why not sit with your child while they’re studying and get on with some of your own work or life admin?

Whether you’re returning emails, doing your online banking or organising the next primary school PTA fundraiser, creating a shared workspace and modelling focused work is a great way to spend quality time together while they complete their homework. Win-win!

Quick win : Whilst your child is tackling their fractions homework, you could sit down with them and take a look through your finances or even test yourself on the work that your child will be doing in their SATs .

2. Use rewards and incentives

Rewards and incentives are great when it comes to getting your children to follow your household rules and routines, and homework is no different. Things like stickers or the promise of time on their iPad or games console for slightly older children can all work wonders in getting them to do their homework without a battle.

Quick win: For every few questions they answer they could get a minute of screen time!

3. Sort them a snack

Let’s face it: A hungry child is an unfocused, unmotivated and unhappy child.

Most children come out of school ravenous, so let them nibble on a nutritious after-school snack while they get on with homework; things like popcorn, apple slices, grapes, flapjacks, or crackers and cheese are all great snack options.

If you’re feeling a bit more adventurous, Netmums has a list of healthy after-school snack ideas and recipes to try.

Quick win: One of the best brain foods for kids is a nice and crispy apple! So when your child is craving something sweet just cut up an apple and let them munch away.

4. Make it visual

Help to eliminate the late night ‘Oh, I forgot to do that’, and create a weekly homework chart so your child can see what they have to do each day and check off each homework ‘To Do’ as it’s been completed.

Again, Pinterest has some great free printables to help keep kids organised. Get them involved by letting them colour it, or decorate it with their favourite stickers, and pin it up somewhere at their height, where they will see it easily every day as a reminder. Some exciting new stationery and colourful pens might help too.

Quick win: An easy way to make homework fun is to grab a piece of paper and get your child to draw out and decorate a ‘homework chart’ consisting of 5 days. Stick it on the fridge and add a sticker to each day after they’ve done their homework, when they’ve collected 5 stickers they get a treat!

5. Try different learning apps

If your child prefers to be online, there are some great online apps around that children will have fun using, yet encourage learning too. Here are our favourite free maths websites for example. Speak to your child’s teacher too and see which apps the children use in school so you can support what they’re doing at home.

Quick win: One of our favourite apps that makes homework fun is Times Tables Rockstars!

6. Set up a homework play date

Holding a homework playdate where your child can invite one of their best school buddies over to do homework together can be a great way for them to learn and make sure the work gets done, especially slightly older primary children.

Plus, it’s likely that their parents will be delighted!

Younger children may need a bit more support and guidance but can still gain a lot from the experience of learning together with a friend – think of this as a mini-educational play date for them – with a special tea afterwards of course!

Quick win: Let your child and their friend play for a while, and then get them to work through their homework with the incentive of a yummy ‘tea party’ when they’ve completed all of their homework.

7. Go outside

If the weather allows, create a comfortable outside study space and allow your child to do their homework outdoors.

The fresh air can help kids with their concentration if they’ve been stuck in a classroom all day, and studies also show that being outside, closer to nature, can increase productivity. The reward of a quick game of Frisbee or a kick-around of a football between tasks will help them stay motivated too.

Quick win: Check out this fun outdoor maths activity for some inspiration of ways you can make homework fun. 

8. Turn it into a game

Who said home learning had to be boring? If children enjoy what they’re learning, they’re more likely to remember what they’re being taught, so turn their learning into a fun game. Using sweets like Smarties to help with maths and number work can turn the experience from a chore into a treat. If they get the right answer, they get to eat some!

Another trick that you can use when your child is learning spellings is to write them in foam or in magnetic letters. It sounds simple, but  we can guarantee that it will make homework a lot more fun for your child.

These maths games for kids and times tables games are a great place to start.

Quick win: If you’re looking for some fun homework ideas then check out this simple multiplication activity you can do at home, it’ll even get in one of your child’s five a day!

9. Let them play teacher

Make another fun homework game by creating your own mini-classroom and letting your child step into the role of teacher.

Have your child explain a concept to you as a teacher, as you, or their sibling, plays the role of the student. This game works particularly well with subjects that require theory, like Science for example, as it will improve their understanding of the concept and build logic and reasoning skills.

Quick win: Make homework fun by getting your child to choose their favourite teddys and toys and setting them up in their own mini classroom. Start off with registration, ‘mummy’ ‘present’, ‘mr teddy’ ‘here’ etc. You’ll soon notice that your child is growing in confidence regardless of the topic as children love playing teacher!

10. Use a timer

Some children may have difficulty working for prolonged periods of time without a break, so using a timer can be great for getting them to complete homework without the whining. For example, if your child is given 20 maths problems for homework, you can say “Complete the first 10 questions then we’ll take a 5-minute break, then complete the next 10 questions”.

Many children will need a mental break and will work more effectively when given the opportunity to take one. At the end of the task, they get to pick an activity of their choice. If your child gets easily distracted, a timer game can work well to keep them focused on the task in hand.

Quick win: Put the timer on your phone so that your child can see the countdown whilst they’re working.

11. Create a special homework space

A special study space can make homework more fun and help motivate your child to get it done! Choose a space in your house that’s least likely to distract your child, and create a simple, organised, and kid-friendly homework HQ.

You could hang up some of their artwork above the desk, and have all their school essentials nearby so everything is close to hand.

Quick win: Make sure that they aren’t surrounded by things that will distract them. Televisions and iPads are a no go at homework time!

12. Remember to be positive

Remember to always be upbeat and positive about school and the importance of their homework. Give your child lots of praise and encouragement about how well they’re doing to help them stay motivated and on track.

Quick win: After every homework session spend five minutes talking through what your child has accomplished. If you’re running out of activities to do, have a look at our list of home learning packs – all free to download.

13. Get help if you need it

Homework can be frustrating if your child doesn’t understand the material or gets bored easily. If your child is struggling, get them some expert help!

Quick win:  Third Space Learning has plenty of advice on learning maths for kids and parents but if you need more support, our primary school maths tutors are easy to organise and very affordable.

DO YOU HAVE STUDENTS WHO NEED MORE SUPPORT IN MATHS?

Every week Third Space Learning’s maths specialist tutors support thousands of students across hundreds of schools with weekly one to one tuition designed to plug gaps and boost progress.

Since 2013 these personalised one to one lessons have helped over 150,000 primary and secondary students become more confident, able mathematicians.

Learn how pupils make accelerated progress or request a personalised quote for your school to speak to us about your school’s needs and how we can help.

Related articles

Home Learning Ideas, Activities and Guides For Primary and Secondary School Teachers

Free Home Learning Packs For Primary Maths KS1 & KS2

Back To School Tips For Parents: 10 Ways To Help Your Child Get Ready And Excited For Primary School!

How To Prevent The Summer Slide: 10 Ways Parents Can Ensure Their Child Is Prepared For The New School Year

FREE Ultimate Maths Vocabulary List [KS1 & KS2]

An A-Z of key maths concepts to help you and your pupils get started creating your own dictionary of terms.

Use as a prompt to get pupils started with new concepts, or hand it out in full and encourage use throughout the year.

Privacy Overview

Recent Findings Suggest Math Homework May Negatively Affect Students and Families

R ecent research suggests that math homework, particularly when complex, might have detrimental effects on students and their families. The study, which involved a collaboration between the University of South Australia and St Francis Xavier University in Canada, engaged eight Canadian households in interviews exploring their experiences with mathematics homework and its influence on familial relations.

Children in grade 3, generally ages 8 or 9, were the focus, as this is the age at which children in the study area first encounter standardized math exams. The research found that math is perceived negatively by many and often seen as demanding extra effort.

“Homework is traditionally seen as conducive to reinforcing learning and aiding academic achievement,” remarks Lisa O’Keeffe, a mathematics education specialist from the University of South Australia.

“However, when homework goes beyond students’ capabilities, even with parental aid, questions arise regarding the purpose of assigning such homework,” she continues.

Families noted the difficulties presented by the homework, which often resulted in delayed bedtimes, infringed on family time, and elicited feelings of frustration and insufficiency.

Changing approaches to teaching mathematics can also create friction, particularly between parents who learned differently than their children are being taught today.

Mathematics instruction has indeed progressed, states O’Keeffe. The disparity between current and past teaching methods can create additional stress as parents struggle to accommodate new instructional approaches.

According to the study, this can result in intergenerational negativity. The responsibility for helping with homework largely fell to mothers, and when they found the tasks challenging, this potentially bolstered negative math stereotypes , especially the notion that females don’t excel in mathematics as “naturally” as males.

Such stereotypes can critically affect academic performance and future career paths .

The study, albeit with a limited sample size, reflects broader educational conversations. The authors advocate for better-tailored math homework assignments to prevent young students from being discouraged from math at an early age.

“Our objective isn’t to dissuade girls from nurturing a strong mathematical identity,” asserts education lecturer Sarah McDonald from the University of South Australia. Hence, there’s a need for a deeper understanding of homework policies and expectations.

While homework is often believed to teach non-academic skills, like independence, time management, and self-regulation, the study’s findings question this assumption.

The complete study is available in the British Journal of Sociology of Education .

FAQs about Math Homework Impact

The study implies that math homework that is too complex can cause stress, frustration, and interfere with family life and bedtimes.

Parents taught using different methodologies can struggle to help their children with homework, leading to frustration and the reinforcement of negative stereotypes.

Negative stereotypes, especially concerning gender, can influence a child’s academic performance and interest in pursuing math-related careers.

The study calls for better understanding and reform of homework policies to ensure that math homework is beneficial and not discouraging.

This recent study underscores the complexity surrounding math homework and its role in educational development. While homework has traditionally been viewed as a tool for reinforcing classroom learning, the findings from the University of South Australia and St Francis Xavier University highlight the potential negatives, including how it can exacerbate stress within families, create generational friction due to evolving teaching methods, and even reinforce negative gender stereotypes. There is a clear call-to-action for educators to reassess the assignment of math homework, ensuring that it aligns with the capability of students and supports positive learning outcomes, particularly for those at a formative stage in their education. Mindful consideration of these findings could help shape future homework policies that foster both academic growth and a healthy home environment.

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MATH 1300 Mathematical Explorations

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Course information provided by the Courses of Study 2023-2024 . Courses of Study 2024-2025 is scheduled to publish mid-June.

For students who wish to experience how mathematical ideas naturally evolve. The course emphasizes ideas and imagination rather than techniques and calculations. Homework involves students in actively investigating mathematical ideas. Topics vary depending on the instructor. Some assessment through writing assignments.

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• Life & Culture

Taylor Swift is now a class at a Florida university. What will students learn?

• Howard Cohen Miami Herald (TNS)

A University of Miami dean’s own homework assignment last year — learn all you can about Taylor Swift’s songs as fast as you can — has led to one of the coming fall semester’s hottest classes on the Coral Gables campus.

Students were more than ready for it. The UM’s “Mastermind Taylor Swift Brand” strategic communication class filled up at a pace almost as fast as tickets sold out last August for the superstar’s three South Florida concerts in October 2024. Those shows open the second U.S. leg of Swift’s Eras Tour at Miami Gardens’ Hard Rock Stadium.

When registration opened earlier this month at UM for the 150-capacity class that’s open to all majors and begins Aug. 20, all seats filled within four days. The school raised the cap to 175. There is now a waiting list for STC 290. UM may add more seats for the Tuesday-Thursday 75-minute class.

How a UM Swift class was born

For Alyse Lancaster, UM’s vice dean for academic affairs in the School of Communication, that “Mastermind Taylor Swift Brand” class she formulated and will teach is a family affair.

The class is happening because her daughter Gabi planted the idea. And her son Sydney, a sophomore at the University of Florida majoring in interior design, designed the class’s promotional poster that UM students have seen around campus since March.

“Taylor Swift has been a staple in my house since my now-17-year-old daughter was 4 years old,” Lancaster told the Miami Herald in an email interview. “But it wasn’t until we were able to purchase pre-sale tickets for the Eras Tour concert that things changed on my end. My daughter told me that I needed to learn all of the songs on the Eras Tour set list, plus most of Taylor’s other songs — ‘because you never know what the two surprise songs she will perform at the concert’ and I need to be ready.”

Gabi made her mom a playlist. Lancaster listened intently.

Don’t blame me, love made me crazy/If it doesn’t, you ain’t doin’ it right blasting on Lancaster’s exercise walks.

And you call me up again just to break me like a promise/So casually cruel in the name of being honest, Taylor’s dig at ex-beau Jake Gyllenhaal, coming from Lancaster’s car stereo on those drives to and from campus in Miami’s infernal traffic jams.

All this cramming of Swift’s music gave the educator plenty of contemplative and creative time.

“Then she and I went to see the Eras Tour movie and while watching this incredible woman perform for 3.5 hours straight, through nine eras of her music, interacting with her over-the-moon-excited, completely engaged audience, I finally understood what the big deal is,” Lancaster said.

On one of those walks, the idea for the class hit Lancaster like an immediate, enchanted revelation, much like words and music come to Swift. She knew she had to teach a communication strategy class at UM built around Swift’s brand.

Swift in academia from UF to Harvard

Other places of higher education have designed courses around the pop star.

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Last fall, the University of Miami’s School of Law had an adjunct professor teach a seven-week intensive class called “Intellectual Property Law Through the Lens of Taylor Swift.”

The University of Florida’s one-credit discussion-based spring 2024 class, “ Musical Storytelling With Taylor Swift and Other Iconic Female Artists,” filled its 15 spots in 10 seconds when early registration opened last fall, the campus newspaper, The Independent Florida Alligator reported.

In the last year, Stanford University has offered “All Too Well (Ten Week Version),” a course analyzing Swift’s 10-minute masterpiece, “All Too Well” and “The Last Great American Songwriter: Storytelling With Taylor Swift Through the Eras.”

Harvard’s Department of English opened its “ Taylor Swift and Her World ” course this spring, promising to cover “illicit affairs and hoaxes” and “champagne problems and incomplete closure.”

Berklee College of Music in Boston offers a “Songs of Taylor Swift” class with a focus on the performer’s music composition and lyrics, The Boston Globe reported.

In addition to Lancaster’s coming UM class, Arizona State University, Brigham Young University, Houston’s Rice University, the University of Delaware and the University of California, Berkeley all plan Swift-inspired courses in 2024, according to Best Colleges.

“I typically teach courses in advertising strategy development and social media strategies,” Lancaster said. “These classes focus on brand-building, identifying and communicating with the desired target audience, building brand loyalty, and using social media to build a long-lasting relationship between the brand and its loyal audience. And it occurred to me that Taylor Swift has successfully built a billion-dollar brand with a multicultural, multi-generational, global audience of millions of loyal fans.

“So why not use Taylor Swift’s success and business prowess as the foundation for teaching students about brand-building, audience-building, and the importance of communication in achieving those relationships? And just like that, the class was born,” Lancaster said.

What students will learn

Students who managed to secure a seat for UM’s STC 290 in the fall will learn about the marketing and communication strategies Swift has used to build her billion-dollar brand via “the most diverse and loyal group of fans many of us have ever seen,” Lancaster said.

Take Emma Craig, a junior majoring in biomedical engineering at UM. “It’s going to be a ‘Cruel Summer’ waiting until fall for the new Taylor Swift class coming to UM,” the student told The Miami Hurricane campus paper in anticipation of registration for the course.

“For “Mastermind,” the class title borrowed from one of Swift’s “Midnights” tracks, Lancaster’s lectures aim to teach students how to use promotional, persuasive and strategic communication to build a connection with a target audience, and how to get that audience invested in the brand, Lancaster said as she builds her syllabus. School of Communication issues like freedom of expression, the right to privacy for public figures, and the legal limits of using artificial intelligence to alter images are also on the course agenda.

“These are skills students can use not only in the industry, but also in building their own personal brands after graduation,” Lancaster said.

Swift’s own education path

For Swift, 34, that brand-building began inside a classroom in Hendersonville, Tennessee, when she was a high school freshman in a math class, she told the Miami Herald in an interview published in January 2008, just a month after she turned 18.

While her peers listened to the teacher lecture about algebra a few years earlier, Swift said she scribbled the lyrics to her first two hits, “Tim McGraw” and “Teardrops on My Guitar,” in her notebook and sneaked out of class to record voice memos into her telephone.

At 17, signed to her first label, Swift already directed nearly every aspect of her career, from the images on her album covers and press photos, to the songs’ sequencing on her albums. Swift said nothing was released to the marketplace that she hadn’t approved.

“When teachers conducted random notebook checks, they’d be freaked out — but they learned to deal with me,” Swift mused in that long-ago interview.

Knowledge retention

Taylor Swift, Lancaster says, is “in essence, a phenomenon who truly understands many of the important constructs we cover in higher education, including persuasive communication, branding, storytelling, intellectual property, and the power of music.”

One reason universities like UM and UF have taken to teaching Swift, aside from the Eras-like sellout registrations for classes, is they give professors an opportunity to teach concepts that students may actually remember after graduation.

“If students can connect the information they learn to something that’s of great interest to them, they will not only remember that information, but they will be reminded of it whenever the topic of interest comes up. Using Taylor Swift as the impetus for teaching important concepts increases attention, learning, and retention. And plus, it makes learning fun,” Lancaster said.

“I’ve never been more excited to teach a class than I am to teach this one!”

Miami Herald staff writer Howard Cohen teaches a digital writing class at the University of Miami and uses examples from Taylor Swift’s songwriting in lectures.

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