Sadlier Math Blog | K-8 Education Resource | Sadlier School

Math Earth Day Activities for Middle School Students

Earth Day is a great way to interest middle school students in how math can be used to understand the world around us. Today’s topic is how you can use ratios, unit rates,...

Math Test-Taking Strategies for Elementary Students

In this article, you’ll discover math test-taking strategies and resources to help your elementary students answer various question types and manage test anxiety. Plus,...

Celebrating Black History Month in the Math Classroom

Black History Month is an opportunity to explore the rich backgrounds of mathematicians who have shaped our understanding and teaching of mathematics, and the role that...

eBook

$<em>Math Test-Taking Strategies</em> Kit image$

Math Test-Taking Strategies Kit

Grades 1–6

Game

$<em>Math Land</em> Fluency Board Game image$

Math Land Fluency Board Game

Grades 1–6

Building Productive Parent-Teacher Relationships for Math Learning

As the semester draws to a close, take time to evaluate how your parent-teacher relationships are impacting math learning in your classroom and how you can improve them going...

How to Improve Mathematical Discourse in Your Classroom

It has been difficult for me to learn how to stimulate vibrant discussions about mathematics among students. I realized very early in my teaching career that in order to get...

Free PDF Holiday Math Worksheets for K–6 (Winter & Christmas)

As the holidays approach it’s always nice to come up with some themed problems for your students to solve in math class. I’m excited to offer these sets of holiday math...

Gingerbread House STEAM Activity– Math Connections

If you are like me, you are wracking your brain for a holiday-themed STEAM activity for your class. There are several possibilities for non-religious themes. This blog post...

Free Thanksgiving Math Activities & Worksheets, Grades 1–6

Holiday math activities are always popular with students. The free Thanksgiving math activities and worksheets you'll find in this article include Thanksgiving-themed word...

13 Free Fall Math Worksheets for Elementary

Seasonal and holiday math activities are always popular with students. The fall math worksheets featured in this article will ensure your students engage in meaningful math...

Fun DIY Whiteboard Math Warmups for Grades K–6

Student engagement seems to be the name of the game in education. It’s what our supervisors are often looking for when they observe our classes. A great way to create...

Fun Fall Math STEAM Activities for Elementary Students

In this article, you'll discover a fall STEAM lesson that encourages elementary students to integrate science, math, art, reading, and writing. I'm providing everything you...

Using Student Data to Inform Math Instruction

Teachers wear many hats: facilitator, counselor, advocate, nurse, coach, motivator, comedian. . . the list goes on. One critical role that rarely makes it onto this list is...

Differentiating Math Instruction 101

Differentiating Math instruction is essential to meeting the needs of all your students but can be a challenge. How can teachers ensure that on-level students stay on track,...

5 New School Year Activities to Get to Know Your Math Students

As each new year approaches, teachers are faced with the question of how to get started with their new students. While the “how” is important, spending time reflecting on...

8 Fun Ways to Teach Time in Elementary School

Time is one of the most used daily math skills by people in all age groups, do your students know how to tell time? Math is an avenue to helping students understand their...

Fun Ways to Teach Math and Printables to Get You Started

I have always searched for fun ways to teach math. I am a firm believer that putting quality math lessons in front of students helps them enjoy their classes and participate...

FREE Summer Math Worksheets for Grades K–6

Discover engaging summer math worksheets that will help Grades K–6 students keep their mathematics skills sharp over the break! These Summer Math Packets can be used in...

Polya’s Problem-Solving Process: Finding Unknowns Elementary & Middle School

In this article, we'll explore how a focus on finding “unknowns” in math will lead to active problem-solving strategies for Kindergarten to Grade 8 classrooms. Through the...

Math In Real Life– Strategies for Planning Lessons Involving Real-World Contexts

When are we going to use this? Why are we learning this? Why can’t I just use a calculator? If you’ve ever been asked these questions by your math students, then this article...

5 Math Activities that Promote Collaborative Learning in the Classroom

Getting students to interact in the classroom is the call, and at the same time, it’s a challenge for our lesson planning! Collaborative math activities in the classroom can...

[FREE] March Madness Math Worksheets, Grades 1–6

Let students get in on the bracket battle fun with this March Madness math game! Students will use knowledge of place value to compare numbers, and with a bit of luck...

FUN Math and Poetry Activities for Students

Are you looking for fun math and poetry activities for your K–8 students? This April you can have students celebrate National Poetry Month in the classroom by creating poetry...

8 Ways to Compare Fractions in the Late Elementary Grades

How do you compare fractions in the late elementary grades? In this post, I want to share a collection of methods that you can use with students, in Grades 3–5, to compare...

Practice Multiplication and Division Fact Families Using Arrays

Making sure that every child is solid in his or her multiplication and division facts is critical to students’ success in their later coursework and in life itself. Though I...

Free Math Presidents' Day Activity for Grades 2–6

What is better than free printable holiday math worksheets? Holiday math worksheets that are cross-curricular! In this article, I'm sharing fun (and FREE) Presidents' Day...

Blizzard of Numbers Factors and Multiples Game Printable, Grades 6–8

My students have come to love math centers. They call it "game time," but I know it is really a time where they can apply their newly learned math skills. In this article,...

FREE Printable STEAM Lessons: Snowball Catapult

I'm always looking for STEAM lessons for the math classroom. Luckily, inspiration for fresh and fun STEAM projects seems to be popping up all around me. Last year, while...

92 Free Printable Math Flash Cards to Review Measurement & Data

In this article, you’ll find three sets of Measurement and Data Math Flash Cards (92 cards in total) that will get students engaged in meaningful math exercises at home!...

37 Math Early Finisher Activities for Elementary Students

One of the challenges we all face in the classroom is finding activities for students who finish early. This is an important topic because we know what happens when kids end...

Math Activities for a Rainy Day

Don’t let a dreary day dampen your math mood. Use the weather as an opportunity for a fun-filled math day! In this article, you’ll find six suggestions for activities that...

6 Ways to Make Math More Engaging

Engagement is essential to excellent math instruction, but can be elusive. In this article, we will share six simple ways to make your math class more engaging for students....

A Math Icebreaker Your Students Will Love, Grades 3–8

Today, I’m sharing a math activity that I've used throughout the years as a back-to-school math icebreaker to get students out of their seats and interacting with each other....

Addition and Subtraction in Grade 1– Algebraic Thinking Worksheets

In this article, you'll discover how to help students develop an understanding of the relationship between addition and subtraction! These algebraic thinking worksheets will...

Choosing a Scale for a Bar Graph With Non-Unit Scales

I wanted to share with you today some ideas about choosing the scale for a bar graph for Grade 3 and Grade 4. The download for this post is a tip sheet from the Progress in...

7 Ways Teachers Can Start Fresh in the Math Classroom

Sometimes I’ve felt like I needed a fresh start in my math class. A new year, a new quarter or semester, a new unit—or sometimes I get the feeling that we’ve gotten into a...

Math Survey Questions for Teachers – Evaluation Forms for Principals and Coaches

Discover three ways that principals and math coaches can get feedback from mathematics teachers and start a dialogue. In this article, we will be looking at math survey...

6 Free Printable Math Awards for Students

Some of the best days in my math class are when I’m able to see past the everyday challenges of teaching and celebrate successes with my students. Here are six free printable...

Math Professional Development– Lucy West & Dr. Matthew Beyranevand

Summer break provides teachers with more time to complete math professional development hours. In this article, we'll explore some professional development ideas for math...

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week

May 2–6 is Teacher Appreciation Week and Tuesday, May 3, is National Teacher Day. In honor of this special week, William H. Sadlier, Inc. shares a letter of appreciation and...

29 Beach Ball Math Fluency Practice Activities for Grades K–6

It doesn't matter if outside the classroom windows there's wintry snow, spring showers, or falling fall leaves... math activities that remind students of summertime fun are...

23 Printables for Learning Math

No matter the education landscape, teachers and parents can make math learning a positive experience for kids with engaging and interactive games and activities. Download 23...

Math Center Ideas That Will Make Implementation a Success

In this article, I'm sharing everything you need to know in order to make Math Centers a success in the classroom. Plus, download free printable math activities and math...

Winter Olympic Math Activities for Elementary Students

Are you and your students watching the Olympic Winter Games? Celebrate the Winter Olympic Games in your classroom with captivating fluency board games! Printable Olympic...

Celebrating Lunar New Year with Math Activities

The Lunar New Year is celebrated all over the world each winter. Celebrate this international holiday in your math classroom with five fun math activities that will engage...

DEI–Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity in the Math Classroom

DEI is more than just a buzz term. It is an ongoing commitment that every educator must make to ensure quality math instruction for ALL students. In this article, learn more...

Graphic Organizer for the Addition and Subtraction of Integers and Rational Numbers

I have always found that teaching students about the addition and subtraction of integers and rational numbers is one of the most difficult math topics. It’s something that...

How to Make the Most of ESSER Funds

In article, you’ll get an in-depth look at what the Elementary and Secondary Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER) entails, learn how to make the most of this critical aid, and...

Resources to Host an Awesome Virtual Meet the Teacher or Parent Night

Want to host a virtual back-to-school Parent Night but just not sure where to start? We’ve got you covered! In this article, math educators will find tips and tricks for...

8 Math Strategies for Struggling Students

Any student can become an expert mathematician through hard work and continuous practice. One of the challenging parts of being an educator is teaching to the wide range of...

Word Problem Solving Strategies for Students in Grades K–4 [Free Templates]

Math problem solving strategies should begin as early as Kindergarten or Grade One! As nonfiction reading has seen a stronger emphasis in recent years, we can think of word...

Mean Absolute Deviation & the Concept of Variability in Middle School

Recently, I was working with some of my students on topics they had failed in last year’s state testing. The topic of the day was mean absolute deviation, and while they were...

Using a Double Tape Diagram to Teach About Ratio and Proportion

I have always liked finding ways to use manipulatives to teach about math. For some students, taking hold of ideas comes from taking hold of physical objects! And what I am...

Printable Math and ELA Activity Worksheets, Grades 3–6

One of the things I love best is when I can get a two-fer. In case you don’t know what that is, it’s short for “two for one.” When we can think outside of the box of “I’m in...

Hybrid and Distance Learning Math Teaching Strategies

Despite the hectic and ever-changing landscape of education right now, we want to help teachers rise to the occasion, support their students, and help them find success....

Subitizing PowerPoint Activities for In-Person or Online Classrooms, Grades 1–4

I've used subitizing PowerPoint slides in my class over the years, at every level. This number sense activity uses multiple representations of numbers to aid math language...

5 Ways to Update Methods & Strategies In Teaching Mathematics

Moving from onsite instruction to remote instruction (or a blend) has forced teachers to assess their methods and strategies in teaching mathematics. Teachers can use this...

Mathematical Practices PDF Resources for Teachers

Summer break is the perfect time for teachers to relax, reflect on the past year, complete PD hours, and find amazing math printables for their teaching toolbox. In this...

At-Home Growth Mindset Worksheets & Trainings for Math Teachers

This article offers free growth mindset worksheets and trainings math teachers can use to help achieve their goals of developing a growth mindset mentality in the classroom. ...

Adding Fractions Using Models Worksheets, Grades 4 & 5

This post and its related worksheets provide you with materials to help your students with visual representation of adding fractions using models, such as number lines and...

MTSS In Education– Reaching Every Math Student Through Multi-Tiered System of Support

How can administrators ensure every student can reach math proficiency? How can teachers reach every student in the math classroom? Whether in a self-contained classroom with...

How to Teach Number Lines at Each Grade Level to Support Coherence in Mathematics

Using number lines is one of those topics that are often taken for granted in the elementary and middle school curriculum. Number lines, as a form of representation, help...

Using the Rule of Four Template to Help Middle School Students Model with Mathematics

This post looks at a Rule of Four Template and how teachers can use it to help students model with mathematics at the middle school level. Plus, download four FREE printable ...

FUN Music and Math Lesson Plan for Grades 1–6

Having a degree in music and being a certified math teacher, I’m often asked, “What is the relationship between math and music?” While some of the relationships between math...

The Classroom Store Money Lesson Plan, Grades 1–5

In this article, I share a simple money lesson plan that will give students practice solving problems involving dollar bills, quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies....

Establishing Routines in the Math Classroom Using Marker Board Configuration

As we prepare for the new school year, it's important to think about establishing classroom routines for your mathematics students. In this article, we'll explore the use of...

Mentoring New Math Teachers- 3 Categories of Knowledge They Need to Be Successful

Helping new teachers acclimate to their positions is one of the primary jobs of mentors. One thing that has been helpful for me in framing my discussions with newer math...

Quiz Quiz Trade Template: Measurement and Data, Grades 1–3

Promote cooperative learning in your elementary math classroom with Quiz Quiz Trade! In this article, you’ll learn how to use my printable Quiz Quiz Trade Card Sets (92 cards...

3 Little Pigs STEM/STEAM Lesson Plan Template, Grades 5–6

Engaging struggling students is a important and productive undertaking in every classroom. I am excited to share with you today a Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and...

Printable RAFT Writing Surface Area Activity, Grades 6–8

Today I'm sharing a surface area activity I've used in middle school classrooms since the mid-90s. I have since developed it to become a RAFT writing assignment. In this...

Growth Mindset In Math –Teacher Mindset Is The Key To A Shift In Students

“Growth mindset” seems to be a buzz word in teacher training and education reform these days. There’s a lot of good research out there and many educational theorists who are...

A Place Value Activity that Compares Populations, Grades 5–8

I don’t know about you, but sometimes my students have trouble telling how many times greater one thing is than another. They usually misread the problem and tell me how much...

Move Your Math Class from Skills-Based to Problem Solving [Free Resources]

Moving students from having procedural math skills to being able to use those skills to actually solve problems is one of the biggest challenges for math teachers. In this...

Three Ways to Use Appropriate Tools Strategically (Mathematical Practice 5)

There is a great deal to say about how to use appropriate tools strategically, which is Mathematical Practice 5 from the Common Core State Standards. It is simple to say that...

How to Create Rubrics That Will Enhance STEAM Projects in the Math Classroom

STEAM projects are interdisciplinary units. Like any good unit, they should use backwards design principles. When we are clear about the outcomes of the unit, we can plan...

Word Problem Strategies for Teachers– Problems with Multiple Solutions in K–6

Whether you are teaching the youngest or oldest of the elementary school population, solving word problems with multiple solutions is a great way to get students thinking...

Book-Inspired Graphing Activity Worksheets, Grades 2–4

Here’s a fun graphing activity worksheet for second to fourth grade students. With this activity students will be graphing data about the character length of their first...

Composing and Decomposing Shapes in K–2 [Includes Decomposing Worksheets]

Playing with pattern blocks, tangrams, and other manipulatives in order to create new shapes can be fun for early elementary students. In addition to being fun, there are...

How to Create Mathematical Discourse That Improves Reasoning, Grades 1–8

“How am I going to get my students reasoning about math in my class?” If you are just getting started in this area or even if you have been at it for a few years, you will...

3 Coordinate Plane Activities and Coordinate Plane Word Problems, Grades 5–6

Coordinate plane activities are fun for students. I find that they enjoy the visual aspect of identifying coordinates and creating shapes using those coordinates. In this...

Free Line Plot Worksheet; Using Fractions to Measure Crayon Lengths, Grades 4–6

In this post, I share a great line plot activity for late elementary or middle school students. I highly recommend this line plot worksheet because it brings together several...

Teaching Shapes and Their Attributes to K–2 Students

Teaching shapes and their attributes is an important part of early elementary education. One thing to remember when you are introducing shapes and their attributes is that...

P3: Partner Problem-Solving Protocol and Graphic Organizer

In this era of increased demands on student reasoning in mathematics, I have been thinking about how to incorporate more student reasoning into my classroom. I came up with...

How to Use the Standards for Mathematical Practice in K– Grade 2

One way to help students achieve high levels of mathematical proficiency is to use the Standards for Mathematical Practice in addition to content standards. When we are able...

How Whole Number Division Fits into the Curriculum

Long division is one of the most difficult tasks for late elementary and middle school students to learn. While many students master it quickly, for others it can be a...

Trends in Standardized Test in Mathematics: What’s Important and How Is It Being Scored?

There has been a major upheaval in the standardized testing that students receive in math. The types of content that are being tested, the types of questions used to test...

How to Express Regularity in Repeated Reasoning with Fact Families At the Middle School Level

I have been seeing the usefulness of teaching fact families at the middle school level. As a result, I have been thinking about how students look for and express regularity...

How to Use Teddy Bear Counters in the Elementary Math Classroom

Teddy bear counters have become near and dear to many early elementary math educators. Having come from mostly a middle- and high-school teaching background, I first...

How to Look for and Make Use of Structure in the Elementary Classroom: Math Standard 7

A topic that I have been thinking about recently is the use of area models to teach multiplication. Today’s post looks at how we can look for and make use of structure...

Coherence in Teaching Mathematics: How Multiplication Fits in the Curriculum

Whether you are a principal, a math supervisor, a math coach, or a classroom teacher, you may wonder how different elements of the math curriculum are connected between and...

Elementary Math Specialist: Knowing the Trajectory of Your Curriculum

Maybe you are a great math teacher, maybe you have great math skills, or maybe you just were lucky, but you have been hired to work as the elementary math specialist at your...

A Template for a Systems of Equations Activity, Grade 8

One of the most challenging Grade 8 math topics to teach is systems of equations. Activity-based lessons are one way to go when you are trying to teach students; I also like...

Connecting Ten Frame Activities to Number Bonds and Number Sentences, K–2

When I visit classrooms, I often see students engaged in wonderful fun activities, but I can’t help noticing that these activities don’t always connect to the math ideas that...

3 Quadrilateral Activities to Learn the Names of Quadrilaterals

Here are some quadrilateral activities that you can use in your first through third grade classes as well as some advice about how to use them. After a quick review of what...

Attend to Precision in the K–8 Classroom: Math Standard 6

Today’s Standard for Mathematical Practice, Attend to Precision, is one of the ones I work with the most in my classroom. Students can engage in some great discussions about...

Place Value Primary Resources to Promote Flexibility in Grades 1 and 2

Today, I am sharing some place value primary resources to develop understanding and flexibility in place values in the early elementary classroom. The ideas are appropriate...

Developing the Use of Multiplication with Area Models, Grades 3–4

Students’ formal introduction to multiplication begins in the third grade, which lays the groundwork for solving all kinds of real-world problems. One critical aspect of...

Three Activities for Developing Number Sense in Grades 6 to 8—Irrational Numbers

Developing number sense for students in the upper middle grades includes their understanding the difference between rational and irrational numbers. Irrational numbers have...

Solid Figure Activities with 3 Dimensional Figures for the Early Grades

Teaching the concept of solid figures starts very early on in a child’s education, often pre-school but for most in Kindergarten. There are several solid figure worksheets...

Two-Way Frequency Table Data Sets for Bivariate Categorical Data in Grade 8

Making two-way tables for bivariate categorical data is a standard in the Grade 8 Common Core State Standards math curriculum. I have had some great experiences with my Grade...

Practice Making Change in K–2 Classrooms

This blog post reviews the place of money in the K–2 curriculums using the Progress in Mathematics textbook series, and provides activities that you can use for students to...

Mathematical Practice 3 for Middle School Students: Vocabulary to Construct Viable Arguments and Critique the Reasoning of Others

We are looking at Mathematical Practice 3 today as a part of a series of blog posts on using the Standards for Mathematical Practice at the middle school level. Mathematical...

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