Math Block Series: Why Mistakes Matter (Using Errors to Guide Your Students' Math Growth)

The other day I noticed that nearly every student in one of my math groups missed many of the same problems and got a low score. I wanted help the figure out their misgivings about the problems and help them build a better understanding. 

On another day, I took the student worksheets and looked over several of their mistakes. I turned those mistakes into error analysis task cards for my students to work on during math rotations when they were not with me. They knew the errors were from their own math group, and were fully engaged.

This type of error analysis is not only beneficial, but it is necessary to facilitate a higher growth in students. Let's spend a few minutes together looking at how's and why's to making this a part of your own routine. 

1. "Mistakes Make Me Smarter!"

Help your students realize that mistakes are normal. Use simple language to explain these truths. 

• Mistakes are a part of learning. Anytime you are trying something for the first two times, the chances are pretty high that you will stink at it. Think about a child riding a bike. Are they an expert the first time? Do they suddenly know how to speed off down the driveway, doing wheelies? Of course not. And students should not expect the same thing when learning a new skill. Learning anything takes times. 
• Share an example of your own mistakes in math. Help students see that everyone makes mistakes from time to time and that they can use them to grow and improve.  
• Create your own mantra such as, "I made a mistake, but that's OK." and have students repeat it when they make a mistake of their own. 

2. "Oops! Let’s Fix That Together"

• Go through a simple math problem with a common error (like forgetting to regroup or mixing up multiplication facts).
• Show students how to find a mistake and fix it by tracing their steps over one at a time until they are comfortable doing that on their own.
• Give students a problem that is done incorrectly. Have them look for and discuss what the error was. 

 3. "My Math Detective Notebook"

• Consider having students keep a notebook of error analysis. 
• Include prompts like: “What was my mistake?”, “Why did I make it?”, “What will I do next time?”
• Make the notebook fun with doodles, stickers, or superhero themes.

4. "Top 5 Sneaky Math Mistakes—and How to Catch Them!"

• List common errors like forgetting place value, rushing through word problems, or misreading signs.
• Use fun examples and tips to help students remember to slow down and double-check their own work.

 5. "From Mistake to Masterpiece: My Math Glow-Up"

• Share your own story or a student example of someone who struggled with a math concept but improved through error analysis.
• Celebrate progress and growth, not just getting the “right” answer. Show students the steps they did do correctly.

I hope I have convinced you of the importance of analyzing your errors and hopefully you will try these techniques in your own classroom. 

Math Block Series: A New Math Game to Add to my Collection

Making math games for my centers groups has been on my mind lately. I find inspiration absolutely everywhere. This one is a quick and easy game based off the child's game of Tug of War. I created addition and subtraction sets in three different levels for easy differentiation. Starting with three digit numbers, up to 6 digit numbers, and even decimals, there is something for every one of your upper elementary level students. 

Each player gets half the deck. The deck is divided into two different colors, so one person gets one color and the other person gets the other color. If you prefer blackline options, one person will get the deck that shows a child with the Tug of War rope being pulled to the right, while the other person gets the deck with the person pulling to the left. Each player will mix up their cards, placing them upside down. Players will each turn over one card and solve the equation. The player with the higher answer wins that round and collects those cards. Continue to play in the same way until all cards are played or time runs out. Whoever collected the most cards is the winner. 

Tug 'O War is the name of the game, and it is simple to play. I hope you'll check it out! Find it here!

Math Block Series: The Best of the Best Engaging Math Activities

Math does not have to be boring....let me say that again. Math. Does. Not. Have. To. Be. Boring. Have you ever tried to make your math block more engaging? Spice it up a little. I'm going to share five of the best of the best activities for engaging your learners in math. 

1. First, get math rotations up and going. 

Seriously, math centers break up your block, give you time to work in small groups, and help your learners work independently on engaging activities. I suggest these rotations: teacher, independent (spiral reviews, color by math skill, etc.), math around the room (math task cards that get your students up and moving), read about math (math picture books), math games, math online (we use Dreambox, but you could also use IXL, or Khan Academy), and math facts. Tailor these math rotations to your content area. I like to have these independent skills about one unit behind what I am teaching. For example, if I just finished doing the unit on place value and I am moving on to addition/subtraction, I will put out rotations that involve skills about place value. The reason behind this is that I want these rotations to be skills students have already practiced and are fairly competent in. The whole point is for them to work on these rotations while I am working with small groups. I cannot afford to be interrupted. The review allows time for students to become even more solid in the skills they have just mastered in the previous unit. It is a review. For more posts about math rotations, check here, here, here, here, here, and here.

2. Spruce things up by gamifying your class from time to time. 

I like to use games like this to add focus, challenge, and fun into my teacher time. Some of the games I am going to be using in my classroom are:

Scrabble Math

In this activity, students draw random scrabble letters as they complete their math problems, I immediately check those problems and then I allow students to draw one Scrabble tile. They continue doing this for the entire math with the teacher period. Once the period has 2-3 minutes left, I allow the students to use their tiles to create words. We add up the points (on the tiles) and the student with the most points wins a small prize.

Boom Clap Snap

For this game, I would play with the entire class for teacher time. This is especially great for math reviews. Students start with their desks facing a partner. Take 4 index cards and fold them in half, creating tents. On each side write one letter from A-D. These will be the multiple choice answers. The teacher reads a math problem, allows a bit of time and then starts saying boom (students hit desks), clap (students clap) and you can go back and forth between those two words as many times as you choose before shouting snatch. Once you shout snatch, each pair of students try to be the first to grab, or snatch, the correct multiple choice answer. Each pair of students will keep a tally of their own points. Repeat the process with as many questions as you want. You could also use a Power Point slide show instead of reading the questions. This one is a lot of fun, very competitive, and loud...you can't be afraid for your classroom to be a bit noisy, but trust me when I say this, everyone will be focused.  

Race to 100

This one is used with your math assignment for the day. Doing this in small groups is great, or it could be used whole class as well. Print or project a 100's chart. Students will complete math problems on their worksheet. As they complete them, they will come to show you their answer. Once the answer is correct, they may write their initials in any space that does not already have initials. Students will continue answering, checking, and placing their initials on the 100's chart. Once all the spaces are full (or time runs out), you will use a random number picker (free online) to choose a number between 1 and 100. The student who has their name in that spot will receive a prize.  

Looking for even more ways to gamify? Check out this blogpost here for some other fun games. 

3. Math Escape Rooms & Mysteries

Doing something fun and different gets instant engagement. I love doing math escape rooms and mysteries in my classroom. Specifically, I use them at the end of the unit to review for a test. Students love that it is not just paper and pencil. Plus I usually have some sort of small reward they are working for or even an activity. These are easy to turn into full room transformations, or you can even leave them alone and they are still effective. I am currently building up a library of these that I can use from year to year. Here's a look at a couple we have done in the past few years. 

Mission to Mars Addition 

Students were working in teams to solve puzzles (all space themed) that revealed secret codes students used to unlock the next challenge. As they completed each challenge, they earned Star Bucks (fake money) to use at a Galactic Cafe' to make a space-themed drink when the escaped the entire challenge. Learn more about this in another blog post here. 

Escape to the Circus

In this escape room, students competed in four challenges to unlock a mystery word/phrase. As students completed challenges, they earned tickets. The team that completed the challenges first, received an extra ticket. Once they completed all four challenges, they used the tickets to play carnival-style games. If students won a game, they were about to get a prize at the prize table. This was a definite hit, and everyone was engaged. You can read more about this in another blog post here.

Superhero Math Mystery

In this super math mystery, students are trying to find out which superhero is the true superhero, sent to save Mathopolis, and which are imposters. As they work through the challenges, students can use the clues to eliminate the imposters, one at a time. In the end, they reveal the real superhero and save mathopolis. They receive a lollipop, that has been turned into a superhero, for their super math skills. This was so engaging and fun as well.

Read more about it here

Math Facts Made Fun and Creative

Math facts are so boring...how many times have you heard this, or other variations? But is it true? Do they, in fact, have to be dry and boring? I'm here to convince you that they do not! I love to turn my math facts into a fun/engaging activity. Students can learn their facts in as little as 12 weeks. I like to have students use my  Multiplication Spy Academy to learn all the times tables from 0-12. It is easy to manage and works like this. 

Students are introduced to Spy Academy through an opening activity. This can be an elaborate room transformation, or just a simple introduction. Students are enlisted in spy academy and just like a video game, they will work their way through different levels to graduate. In the end, I like to host a ceremony where students earn a certificate or even a badge. 

I keep a fingerprint chart (like when you are being fingerprinted) for each student. After they master a certain level of facts, they add a fingerprint to the chart. When the chart is full, they are ready to graduate. 

To practice, I have students focus on just one level of math facts until they can master it. I consider it mastered if they can answer flashcards within 1-3 seconds. Students do numerous activities daily to help practice and prepare for their level tests. We use flashcards (verbal/auditory), pat-down-cards (kinesthetic), partner drills (social), games (social/ mathematical), timed practice. We cover a lot of the different learning styles while practicing. This keeps it fresh and fun. Students can tailor their practice to their own level, so it is easy to differentiate. Students get so excited about moving through the levels and when they accomplish all the levels, that is really something! Check out this blog post to learn more about it here. You can also check it out over here.

Math Transformations

Angry Birds

I love using boxes, pom poms, and a sling shot with a few Angry Bird drawings to create a fun micro-transformation on perimeter, area, and volume. Simple and engaging. 

Love You to Pizzas

Students made pizzas using fraction math. We did this on Valentine's Day, so we added a love theme twist this year. We always do some sort of bakery transformation for our fraction unit and the students look forward to it every year. They are putting their real-life skills to the test, because I do not help them....and what they bake, is what they get, so they must be very careful. 

Superbowl Math Day

We always host a superbowl math transformation each year where students can practice their math skills in a football-themed transformation. Sometimes we incorporate other skills as well, not just math. 

 

Pirate Math

I used a pirate transformation for learning about shapes and polygons...so fun. I dressed in a different pirate outfit each day for that week and we had tons of math activity. One of which was sorting crackers (of different shapes) by attributes. 

What is your favorite way to get engagement in the math classroom? Have you tried any of these?

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Math Block Series: Independent Work

Every math block needs some independent time. Let's look at some options for independent work.

Why Independent Math Work?

Students need to learn to work on their own without relying on the teacher. This allows them time to have productive struggle, to hone their skills, and to spiral back to review skills. 

Independent Math Station

For my independent math station, I have done several different things. I will explain all of those. 

First, students often need some independent time to finish their math assignment. It seems that the higher the grade, the more time they need. I like to give them their assignment to finish straight after class with me. They rotate back to their seats to work on the rest alone. Sometimes I will have them work with a partner to check their work, especially if it is a difficult skill. 

Another activity I use for independent time is a spiral review. I purchased some year-long spiral reviews for my students. These are weekly reviews that have a section for each day with just a sprinkling of different problems from many different skill areas. A review like this tends to take just 10-15 minutes. This is a great way for students to constantly cycle back to pervious learning and keep if fresh and engrain it in their minds. 

One final activity I like to throw in is a color by skill sheet. This is similar to a color by number only it goes right along with the skills we have been working on. I have found a ton of these on TPT for free and printed a master copy of each, placing them in a page protector inside a binder. They are easy and ready for me to reach for as needed. These give my students a little different activity with an art twist and are out of the norm, so they really seem to enjoy them so far. 

Independent work is an absolute necessity within my classroom structure. This skill set helps the students get ready for higher grades and even more independent work. 

If you are looking for some color by skills for multiplication, I've got you covered. Click here to find the link to my spy academy set.

 

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Math Block Series: Math Review

One of my favorite ways to review, with my students, at the end of a math unit, is through the use of high engagement, hands on activities. I LOVE to use my math escape rooms. They are all themed and perfect to use with a classroom transformation, if that is the sort of thing you like doing in your classroom. But, even if it isn't, these escape rooms are still engaging without transforming your room. For the example I am going to show you, I used my Mission to Mars escape room, which was a review of addition skills. Each escape room themed activity comes with three levels of play that include third grade, fourth grade, and fifth grade skills for easy differentiation. I kept the decorations very simple this time. I simply covered a table with a black tablecloth, added my packets and other supplies, laid out the drink ingredients (more on that in a bit), and added some star garland...super simple. The students were instantly asking questions as soon as they walked into the room...instant engagement. 

 

How to Prep the Review Game Materials

 I usually prep the packs for each team a few days ahead, or the day before. You just have to print everything for each challenge, cut and place in an envelope. I like to laminate all the puzzles so I can use them from year-to-year, so that is what I have been doing. This would be great to give to a parent who wants to be involved in the classroom, but really, the cutting itself did not take me too long. 

Take a Look at the Math Escape Challenges

When I introduce the escape to the students, I read off the introduction. It sets up the challenges and the goal for the challenge. I also tell them about what they earn at the end of each challenge. In this case, the addition escape room was a Mission to Mars theme. Students earned Star Bucks for each challenge they completed. After they completed each challenge, students were able to visit the Galactic Cafe' to make a special drink using their Star Bucks to pay for it. They were instantly hooked and worked so hard to figure out the secret codes for each challenge. The majority of my groups used about an hour of time, which was perfect for my math block. However, it could be split up where students do one or two challenges each day for a few days if you did not have that long. 

In the first challenge, students first rounded the numbers and solve the equations, matching puzzle pieces to the answers. Each puzzle piece had a letter on it and once the puzzle was complete, they asked for the decoder and were able to use it to find the secret code. This challenge generally takes the longest of any of them.

Challenge 2 includes a true/false worksheet for each student. Once students figure out which equations are true and which are false, they find the space ships that have the numbers matching the true equations. They put those space ships in numerical order and find their next code.  

For challenge three, students work to find the sums on each astronaut card. Once they figure out the sums, they will put those in order from least to greatest to reveal the next code phrase/word.

Challenge four has students engaging in a game of memory match. Once students match the equations to the sums, they will line up the number cards and place the matching card underneath, revealing their final code. 

This has honestly been such an engaging review activity for my students. 

Galactic Cafe'

For the Galactic Cafe' you need just a few items. There are labels to cover those items, to give everything a space theme. Here's a look at the final product. 

I have been hard at work creating a challenge for each math unit for my own classroom. I started with one for multiplication a couple of years ago, but this summer, I added the rest. I currently have: 

Place Value Safari

Mission to Mars Addition

Racing Subtraction

Circus Multiplicaiton

Dive-iding Down Under (Ocean themed dividing)

Get the entire bundle for a steal at just $29 dollars. You will save more than $8 by purchasing the challenges all together. Check those out by clicking the link here to add to your cart, or click the picture below. 

Math Block Series: Center Games

One of my favorite ways to help students practice math skills is through the use of games. Games are not only fun, but they are also incredibly powerful in solidifying skills linked to math standards.

Gamify Your Math Rotations

Why not throw a little fun into your math block? I teach three 1/2 hour classes of math and I try to have my students go to four different math rotations for 15 minutes each when they are not at my teacher table. That means that they are practicing math skills in many different ways, in short bursts to keep optimal focus. Math games are of course a classroom favorite. Anytime you can turn learning into a game, students will WANT to practice, instead of having to. 

Where to Get Math Games

Create Math Games

I love to create games for my students. Creating games is a bit of a hobby for me. I like to use simple printable games that are easy to learn and quick to play. I have built a base of games that I can easily create in multiple math skills. I have been slowly creating those. My most recent set was one that focused on place value, with seven different games for students to practice with. 

Math Curriculum Games

Another place I often find games is in my math book. At the back of every chapter, my math curriculum includes a game. It is easy to tear the page out of the student workbook and have an instant game focused on what we have been learning in our math block. At our school, we are currently using Big Ideas as our curriculum. I have recently discovered there are also about 3-4 other games that are explained in the unit. I plan on using some of those as well. 

Purchase Math Games

I enjoy checking thrift stores, or even Amazon for math games. My idea is to have math games for each and every math skill that I teach...I have not gotten there yet, but that's the goal. One thing I want to point out is that you can use many regular games and change them to create math games. For instance, I could turn Candyland, Sorry, Chutes and Ladders, or Tic Tac Toe into quick and easy math games by including flashcards. If we are studying addition, I can add in addition fact cards and students have to draw and solve one card before they can take a turn. It's an easy way to turn a regular game into a math spin. Also, it is easier to find these types of games at thrift stores than it is to find actual math skills games. 

Another fun game to add in is a pop-it game board. I found a few different styles on Amazon and they are a hit in my class. You can use dice or even flashcards for different math skills and the students press down the pop-it buttons as they solve an equation correctly.  

Some of the math games I have added or suggest are: 

Math Game Suggestions

Don't get me wrong, math games can be a ton of fun, however students will tire of this rotation if they have the same game constantly or if they are left to play games for too long of a time. That is why I try to change the game with the standards and try to keep the time down to just 15 minutes. 

If you are looking for some quick and easy printable games, check out my Teachers Pay Teacher's storefront. 

Remember that I mentioned that it is a hobby of mine to create math games? Well, I have a ton, especially for multiplication. However, I also have been slowly building a game collection for other skills as well. You can click the pictures to be taken to the games.

I have other games for these topics. Be sure to click the links to get the games.

Place Value

Rounding

Multiplication

And a few more topics too. To browse all games, click this link. 

Math Games

Happy gaming!

Math Block Series: Math Picture Books

Last year, I ran into problems during my math block. The problem stemmed from students doing the same activities too often and getting bored. I knew I had to do something and for me, the answer was expanding my math rotations and shortening them. Here's how I got my students out of a boredom rut and keep them practicing all math block long. I did some research to see what other teachers were doing and what I could add in and here's the list I came up with. Students would go to six different rotations when not with me. 

1. Independent Work

2. Around the Room

3. Facts

4. Math Games

5. Grow

6. Read About Math

And to help the students keep their volume down to an acceptable level, that would allow me to meet with a small group of students, I have my students work not as a small group, but with a partner or if there is an odd number, a group of three. I try to make the pairs myself based on what I see the students doing in math class. I put students at similar levels of understanding together. 

Let's dive in and hear a bit more about the "read about math" station. 

Read About Math

Using story books in math class may sound surprising, but it's actually a great way to help students make connections to math concepts. The added bonus is that students will also be able to practice their reading skills at the same time. I like that there are so many different books you can purchase that can teach math skills of any topic. Let me show you some of my collection. 

Where can I find math storybooks for my class without breaking the bank?

Here's some ideas for getting books at a great price. 

. Garage Sales

. Goodwill & Other Thrift Stores

. Amazon Used Books

. Ask Parents for Old Books they Don't Use

You may already have some math themed books in your classroom or school library that you could add in. I pick as many books as I can with that theme and place them in a book box. Then students can choose the books they want to read during the math rotation. It's pretty simple to change these out and keep students learning. 

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