Fun and Effective Measurement Activities for the Elementary Classroom

Starting a unit on measurement was always a moment I looked forward to, even though it often felt like there wasn’t enough time in the schedule. Measurement can be such an abstract concept for students, especially when they’re faced with unfamiliar terms like “mass” or “capacity.” The truth is, measurement is all around them. They just needed help connecting the math to the real world they were already experiencing.

3 Fun Summer Activities for Kids

As a teacher, I was always looking for ways to support families as summer rolled in. I knew how important it was to keep kids’ minds active while still giving them space to enjoy the season. These summer activities for kids were perfect to send home during the last week of school or even use during summer programs, camps, or enrichment sessions. Let's take a look at 3 fun summer activities for kids that I know you'll love!

Productive Struggle in Math

When differentiation was part of my classroom instruction, creating a learning environment with clear expectations was very helpful. One expectation I held for myself was creating opportunities for students to practice "productive struggle" in math. While the level of scaffolding varied based on readiness, I made sure not to take away the challenge or integrity of a math task. Productive struggle wasn’t about not helping or leaving students to figure it out on their own. It was about helping them develop the ability to persevere, even when the math became difficult.

The Importance of Teaching Math Vocabulary

Math has its own language, and if our students don’t know the words, they will struggle with the concepts. When I was in the classroom, I knew I had to be intentional about teaching math vocabulary because it’s not something our students pick up naturally in everyday conversations. In fact, if we heard them using math terms walking down the hallway, we'd probably take a quick double-take! Keep reading to learn more about the importance of teaching math vocabulary.