Interested in learning more about Free to
Discover resources? Read on!
As a math educator, I have always had one
mission. Make learning fun. I was attracted to middle school because I
felt there was so much untapped potential to reach students and help them see
the magic in the mathematics.
I want my students to:
DISCOVER big ideas and concepts themselves in order
to experience those amazing “aha” moments.
ORGANIZE the information they are learning so that
they can make sense of the topics we cover.
WORK at a pace or level that works best for them
so that they don’t feel like they need to give up because they are too far
behind.
ENJOY something {or many somethings!} they learn
in math class and get them to admit it’s pretty cool.
Thus Free to Discover resources were born!
DISCOVERY-BASED
LEARNING EXPERIENCES
The Free to Discover discovery-based
worksheet series has been specially designed to engage students in learning
that moves beyond traditional skills practice. Students will develop a deeper understanding
of the big idea and will make connections between concepts. These worksheets
make a great introduction to a new topic or summary at the end of a lesson or
unit.
These activities probe further into the “why”
and “what do you notice” types of questions.
When I deliver direct instruction I tend to insert comments like this
into our discussions, but having a guided worksheet gives more students the
opportunity to make those connections simultaneously and fosters student
independence.
You can read more about discovery-based
learning here.
HANDS-ON
LEARNING EXPERIENCES
Students need to do math in order to learn
math. Worksheets are easy to come by or
create but students {and teachers!} lose interest in the monotony of rote
practice on a piece of paper. Hands-on
learning experiences keep students actively learning and sometimes they don’t
even know it.
Types of activities that you’ll find among
Free to Discover resources include task cards, stations, card games like Math War and Old Math Guy, scavenger hunts, matching games, card sorts, cut and paste activities, BINGO games and partner stations.
You can read more about some of these
hands-on activities here.
One of my favorite ways to have students
practice math is to use mini-whiteboards or my front whiteboard. All you need is a list of practice problems
ready to go (with answers). You can even
just open up a textbook if that’s accessible for you. Or I’ve even been known to just make up
problems off the top of my head and quickly do the math before students finish
the problem. You can make it work even
with minimal prep time.
For mini-whiteboards, students show their
work on their board and circle their final answer. It typically works best if you can have
students wait to hold up their board until all or most students are done. Before holding up boards, check in on
students whom you know may have some difficulty and quietly help them. This will give them some confidence when it’s
time to hold up boards. Then scan the
room for answers, and talk about it at the front board if necessary. For the front whiteboard, call up 4-5
students at a time. I select volunteers
first then move to “non-volunteers” so everyone gets a chance or two at the
front. Students at their seats require
paper and pencil so that they can do the work too. Then say a problem verbally. Students at the board do the work with a
whiteboard marker and students at their desks do the work with paper and
pencil. Check the work at board and
point out notation or strategies that you especially love.
DIFFERENTIATED LEARNING EXPERIENCES
I have always been fascinated by differentiated instruction. In fact, I have multiple blog series dedicated to differentiated math strategies that you can use in your own classroom.
Catch up on all the posts here.
INVEST IN YOUR CLASS.
If you are eager to implement discovery-based learning and hands-on activities into your class, scoop up my new 8th Grade Math Discovery and Hands-On Activities Bundle. I’ve done all the work for you! Just print and go discover fun math
connections with your students.
If you are looking for differentiated notes
and practice to meet the needs of all students in your classroom, look no
further! Invest in the Free to Discover 8th Grade Differentiated Curriculum today.
And if you LOVE it all, scoop up the 8th Grade Math MEGA Growing Bundle to have access to all Free to Discover 8th
grade math resources from now until forever.
Get more information in this FREE download:
Now it’s your turn to join the conversation! What other discovery-based or hands-on activities do your students enjoy?
Now it’s your turn to join the conversation! What other discovery-based or hands-on activities do your students enjoy?
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