Blog Archives

Interactive Math Notebooks

10/26/2014

Fold it Ups "Book" for 6th Grade Math

$fold it up book$

I love using interactive notebooks in my 6th grade math class, and I feel so excited when I find a new way to help students organize their resources/materials.

I wanted to share that I'm so glad I decided to bind my "Fold it Ups" into an interactive math notebook "book" this year!

It has been incredibly handy so far - helpful to students in keeping their Fold it Ups organized, and helpful to me because it definitely saves time!

In previous years, we'd staple or glue the Fold It Ups into spiral notebooks or try to keep them in pockets. This certainly is an improvement...I'm so excited about how it's working out!

Why Bind the Interactive Notebook Pages?

$Picture$

1) SAVES TIME!

I only have about 40 minutes for math class, so there isn't much extra time for passing out and creating the Fold It Ups and then securing them into a notebook.
Having them bound requires students to simply take out their books and get started...and this does save time!

Many of the Fold it Ups only require cutting and folding, which can be done right in the book. We don't have to then take time to staple or glue into a notebook, and that can save a LOT of time. (There ARE some that have to be glued in, but using the book this way has reduced the amount of time for gluing overall.)
For example, the Properties Fold it Up pictured here gets cut at the bottom and then the tabs are folded up. The page is already attached in the book, so students don't have to figure out the best way to staple it or glue it into a notebook.

2) Easy reference
Once the math Fold It Ups are completed, they stay in the interactive notebook for the students to keep with them all the time.

Students can use them as a reference when doing their in-class practice work or homework and will be able to refer to them throughout the year.

3) Easy to add additional math notes
I included lined pages for notes in between the Fold It Ups for additional topics, examples, etc., so students can keep all notes in this math notebook.

$Picture$

I'm sure you have other tips for using interactive notebooks in math class.

Feel free to add some tips in the comments!

See the math notebook on TPT.

To Read Next

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Order of Operations Sequencing Activity

10/4/2014

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Order of Operations Activity for 5th or 6th Grade Math

Try this fun, free activity to help your middle school math students practice order of operations.

Are you looking for an easy and effective activity to help students practice order of operations in math class?

Early last week, I was trying to think of a different kind of activity to help my middle school math students who needed more reinforcement with order of operations, and I decided to make a sequencing activity. I hadn't tried this before, so I wasn't sure about the best way to design it, but the activity ended up working quite well. Here's how I put this math activity together and used it with my 6th grade math classes.

Order of Operations Activity Design

For this order of operations activity, I did the following:
created 8 different expressions, and then typed out the steps to simplify each expression.
To prepare the activity for the students:
1) I copied the expressions and steps onto different colored papers, so that two expressions would be on the same color.
2) I cut the steps apart into strips, and then put two expressions and their steps (of the same colored paper) into a baggie.

I figured if I put only one equation in a baggie, the activity would be too simple.
If I put two expressions of two different colors, it would be too easy.
So I went with two expressions in the same color. That way they'd have to do some sorting of the expressions.:-)

$free math trivia cards$

$6th grade daily math spiral review$

$free monthly color by number$

grades 5 to 7 color by number activities

Using the Order of Operations Activity

Order of Operations sequencing activity for middle school math

I put 3 baggies (6 different expressions and their order of operations steps) into a manila envelope for each group.

Groups were mostly just partners, with an occasional group of 3.

I typed directions to include in the envelopes, and asked students to do their best to follow those directions before asking for clarification (some of the students worked on this activity, while others completed different activities, so I needed them to try to work through the directions themselves before I got to each group to discuss with them).

Some students needed additional instruction, while others did not.

After students put the steps into the correct order of operations sequence (shown in the image above), they had to write those steps onto a recording sheet, pictured below.

In each of my math classes, students worked on this activity for about 15-20 minutes. Some groups completed all 6 expressions, while others completed only 2-3. A few more minutes would have been helpful for those students who didn't complete as many expressions, but I can revisit the activity with those students this week.
I will definitely use this again next year:)

Download Order of Operations Activity

Other Resources for Order of Operations Instruction and Practice

If you're looking for other resources to help your students practice with order of operations, I have several in my TPT shop - some print and some digital.

The Math Wheel is great for notes as you're teaching or reviewing the order of operations, and the others offer a variety of ways to practice:-)
Order of Operations Footloose is a FREE resource: 30 task cards.
Google Task Cards and Quiz - same 30 task cards questions as the Footloose. These cards are self-checking and the Google Forms quiz offers a quick assessment.

Truth or Dare Game: This is a fun way to practice order of operations concepts! Students choose Truth or Dare questions, which allows them to self-differentiate and think a little more deeply about the concepts. There is a separate digital version of this one as well.
Order of Operations Color by Answer Pixel Art: Digital practice with the pattern/pictures appearing with students' correct answers.
Order of Operations Color by Number: This is a long-time favorite printable resource that now has digital options!