A good portion of fifth grade math deals with four fraction operations: addition & subtraction with unlike denominators , multiplication, & division. There are some important things to know before students can truly understand any of these operations. For example, it is important that students know what  a fraction is & what each part of … Continue reading Equivalent Fraction Frenzy

Adding and subtracting decimals is one of the essential skills in 5th grade. There aren't many years in our lives when we aren't working with decimals! I wanted to give my students a meaningful learning experience in order to show them how applicable adding and subtracting decimals is in the real world, and also their … Continue reading Shop Local: Adding & Subtracting Decimals

Almost two years ago, one of my co-workers approached me about starting a STEM endorsement with her. It sounded like a great opportunity at first, but I immediately thought of all the reasons why it wouldn't work. I was only a second year teacher (or officially a first year teacher since my internship didn't count … Continue reading (STEM) Endorsed

One of my favorite ways to practice a math skill is to complete error analysis. Regardless of how it is set up, the goal of this activity is to allow students to analyze a problem solved incorrectly, identify & explain the error, then solve it correctly. Even though the concept is the same, sometimes the … Continue reading Mission (IM)possible: Error Analysis

I am the teacher who is constantly thinking of ways to shake up the lessons in my classroom. I don't walk down the game aisle or through the Target Dollar Spot thinking about practical life purchases, but instead, I ask myself, "How could I use this in the classroom?" (let's be honest, any classroom purchase … Continue reading Differentiation Through Games