Basic addition and subtraction start children on the road to learning mathematics. Most children already know how to count when they start in pre-school or Kindergarten but do they really understand what that means and how it will be used in everyday life? Most probably do as they learn to count on their fingers or with the number of trees in their yard. (more…)

At the elementary school level math can be taught through using various mathematically based puzzles, games and picture worksheets. Math games are an excellent way to teach problem solving and the more complicated mathematical processes (at this age) of division and multiplication. There are several worksheets that can be downloaded from any number of elementary level math websites or there are animated flash games which can be played directly on the webpage. Since elementary aged children have most likely been exposed to any number of games and puzzles, using these methods to teach math is a natural fit.
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In the spring of 2008 there was a joint effort made by a North Carolina School district and a group of local educators. It was an attempt to start a ‘Math Academy’ for students who were having various problems in the local schools in the subject of math and were in danger of either dropping out of school or failing the state mandated math exams. Those participating in the venture were drawn from various segments of the community and included educators, administrators, church members, student teachers, math teachers, volunteers and parents. The goal of this academy was twofold: 1) to rise the students’ confidences in dealing with mathematical problems and 2) to significantly raise the math scores of these borderline students to be within the passing range of the state math exams.
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Simply put a rubric is a scoring system that is part of a performance assessment. A well constructed rubric can be of an immense aid it determining. A good rubric is one that will allow the teacher to pinpoint exactly where a student needs help with a particular concept. For any rubric to be valid it must be constructed in such a manner that it applies equally to all students being scored or evaluated and the task that it is assessing be one in which the child is actually performing a task, as opposed to making a simple choice (such as making a choice from a multiple-choice or true-false test).
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Long thought to be the domain of the high school advanced math class, algebra is turning up in some very unexpected places. Elementary school algebra is now being taught in various schools across the country. There is an on-going debate as to whether elementary school is too early to introduce the mathematical concept.
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I had no idea it had been over 2 weeks since I’ve written! I keep thinking that I’ll make some notes in the evening and then after dinner I’m so tired, I just fall into bed. To catch you up, here is what I wrote for the school newsletter:”Upon our return from the Winter Break we have gotten right down to business. We’ve used math, language, and art skills to make personal calendars. (If March begins on Sunday and has 31 days, on what day of the week does it end? List as many words as you can

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Notes from the Classroom

As teachers, we all want our students to understand those concepts underpinning addition and subtraction of fractions— the concept of equivalent fractions, in particular. These resources offer teaching ideas on both the concepts and the skills, including demonstrations of addition and subtraction as well as problems for practice. I looked hard for material that would visually or interactively engage middle school students. If you have ideas to share on how you teach these operations, please use

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Fractions: Adding and Subtracting

Nicole Madison is mom to three wonderful girls and one literally bouncing boy. She is a freelance writer and editor, which allows her to enjoy homeschooling her children while also earning an income. Nicole incorporates free resources into homeschooling as much as possible and has come a long way since spending hundreds of dollars at the beginning of every school year. She has a passion for reading, science, and math. Visit Nicole’s website at Madison Copywriting. Link to Product/website: ht

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Use free online videos to reinforce educational concepts!

One excellent way to teach elementary school Mathematics is by using computers. The three best ways computers can benefit students in the area of Mathematics is through online resources for teachers, online resources for students, and computer programs installed on a personal computer.
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American elementary school students have improved their math skills considerably, with 20% more fourth graders scoring “proficient” on standardized math tests than in 1990, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress. Reading skills show more modest gains. The number of students scoring proficient in reading has increased only 4% since 1992

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