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Honeymoon Phase Over

  The first month of school is often a honeymoon phase for teachers and students. As many of us approach the end of the first month or even the second month of school, we may see students behavior change, our tolerance for behavior change and our relationship with our coteacher change. Here are some suggestions that may help during this transition.  1. Collaborate and Communicate: Regular education teachers and special education teachers should establish open lines of communication from the start. Regularly meet to discuss students' individual needs, strengths, and weaknesses. Sharing insights and strategies will benefit all students in the class. Discuss how and who will be teaching lessons as you move into the next month.  2. Continue to Get to Know Your Students: Take the time to understand each student's strengths, interests, and learning styles. Building positive relationships with students helps create a supportive and inclusive classroom environment.  Try to find 1 posi
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Recent posts

Improper to Mixed Numbers

  We are working on converting between Improper fractions and mixed numbers.  My students know the tricks but they didn't know why or how it worked.  This visual has been helpful in picturing what is occurring when converting between the types of fractions. 
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Teaching Fraction Operations with Visual Aids

In the realm of mathematics, fractions have long been regarded as a challenging topic for both students and educators. However, with the right approach, teaching operations with fractions, can become a smoother journey. One tool in achieving this clarity is the use of visual aids and representations.  Building a Solid Foundation: Visual aids provide a tangible bridge between abstract mathematical concepts and the real world. When teaching addition and subtraction of fractions, employing diagrams, pie charts, or number lines helps students grasp the fundamental idea that fractions represent parts of a whole. By visually breaking down fractions into common denominators, learners can see how pieces fit together and visualize the process of adding or subtracting. Tackling Complexity: For multiplication, visual models help students comprehend the concept of "of" or "times," turning complex equations into manageable steps. When it comes to division, visual representations
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Descending Order with Visuals

  I took a similar approach with descending order.  This has been a tremendous help to students as they learn to place number along a number line and then order the numbers. 
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Ascending Order with Visuals

  I have always taught ascending order by having students convert between decimals, fractions, and percentages.  This year I tried something different and it is working much better.  If your students are struggling, I recommend giving the number line a try. 
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Adding Fractions with Visuals

  Circles have really been helpful this year as we compared different amounts so I'm using them to teach adding fractions.  For middle school the students are limited to denominators of 12 so most of the circles can be cut into those pieces easier than high school student standards.  This is also a great way to show when you are converting from an improper fraction to a mixed number what is happening and why. 
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Comparing Fractions

  Comparing fractions has been a challenge for my students in past years so I decided to take a new approach this year.   In the past, I showed the students all of the mathematical steps to compare, this year I started with circles instead.  For the visual learners, this has helped them see what is happening. For the students who just prefer the math steps, I showed them both ways and let them decide. 
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