My Top 5 Math Resources to Start the Year Off Right

I can't believe that the school year is starting for 2023! I have compiled my top 5 math resources that are a must to start off the school year with a routine!

#1 Top Resource - Math Interactive Notebooks

My math interactive notebooks are a great way to incorporate a learning routine into your classroom! Each math concept comes with two pages. The first page is guided notes and provides examples. The second page is "your turn" so that students can demonstrate that they understand the math concept.

Each page also comes with an "I can" statement and reflection. In addition, students will rate themselves on 1-5 on how well they understand the math concept.

The best part about these notebooks is that they are so organized and provide study tools for your students! I even have parents tell me how much they love that their child's notebook is so organized!

#2 Top Resource - Warmups

I seriously don't know how I would get through the first minutes of class without these warmups! Students come into my class prepared and ready to get to work because these warmups provide structure and routine.

Every Monday I have the warmups printed by my door. Students will grab the warmup and get started on the first box. I have my students placed in rows during warmups. I keep students on task by walking down any row. Every day I switch it up. This way they don't know which row I will start with. In order to get a stamp for their warmup, the problem must be completed. If I pass them and it is not completed, I do not come back to give them their stamp.

 Students will hold onto the warmups until I collect them on Friday. They learn that it is their responsibility to bring the warmup to class every day, and to make sure to not lose it. If they lose it, then they do not receive credit.

These warmups are SUPER easy to grade! Once I collect them on Friday, I count the number of stamps. I score them out of 5. However, if they complete the challenge problem then they get one bonus point. I also want to point out that I use a personalized stamp that has my name on it.

#3 Top Resource - Math Early Finishers

These early finishers are fun and engaging! My students enjoy working on these early finishers when they finish an assignment or test early. In addition, these are great for emergency sub plans!

Each early finisher comes with a word search, unscramble the words, and activity. The activity can be practice problems, mystery color by code, stained glass activity, or etc.

Each early finisher is created around a math concept. Hence, each word search and unscramble the words has vocabulary that is aligned with the math concept.

#4 Top Resource - Math Essential Questions

These essential questions are a great way to incorporate higher level questions and more open ended questions into your classroom. In today's classrooms, technology is being used more every day. Students can use their ipads, desktop computer, laptop, or chromebook to look up the research question. 

The first page includes vocabulary, the essential question, sample problems, and a spot to check their work.

On the second page, students will create their own problems, solve their problems, solve a challenge problem, and reflect on what they learned.

On the bottom, there is a grading rubric. This helps students know exactly how they will be graded and it makes it super quick for teachers to grade.

#5 Top Resource - Math Homework

My math homework is simple and to the point! I don't believe in sending students home with 20-30 math problems that require an hour or more to complete. As a parent to 5 children, I understand that children have afterschool activities or other priorities. In addition, students also receive homework from their other teachers. Hence, I make sure to keep my homework short but very affective in demonstrating that they understand the math concept.

Each homework comes with 8 problems. Students will be solving problems on the first page. On the second page, students will be given a problem that has a common mistake. Students will need to point out the mistake and fix it. They will also create their own problem on the math concept. Lastly, they will write a reflection on what they learned.

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