Blog ⋆ PreAlgebraCoach.com
When seventh graders dive into units of factors, fractions, and exponents, one of the earliest lessons focuses on divisibility and factors. This includes the ability to define divisibility rules, factors, as well as GCF and LCM. To make these early lessons as accessible as possible, math teachers can turn to awesome, diverse teaching strategies. We’ll […]
In grade 7, having mastered cube roots, factors, and divisibility, students move on to learning about exponents. This includes defining and identifying the parts of an exponential notation, writing expressions in exponential form, and expanding and evaluating exponential notations. Whether you’re a math teacher or a homeschooling parent, there are tons of ways in which […]
In the 7th grade, students learn how to define, as well as how to compare and order rational numbers. They also learn how to understand statements of order for rational numbers that are set in real life. Math teachers can make these lessons on rational numbers more exciting and engaging by adopting a number of […]
In pre-algebra units, students learn what fractions and decimals represent, and become proficient in converting fractions to decimals and vice versa, as well as comparing fractions and decimals. There are many ways in which math teachers can make lessons in fractions and decimals, whether it’s by incorporating games, videos, etc. Without further ado, here are […]
Pre-algebra students learn the concept of rounding and estimating numbers. They are thus able to estimate specific numbers with the help of rounding off, and they can also find the sum, difference, and quotient of numbers by using estimation. And while the process may seem straightforward to many students, others may struggle with rounding off […]
Once students are confident in their skills to use place value understanding to round off whole numbers and numbers with decimals, they are ready to dive into estimating decimal products and quotients. The ability to rely on mental math to perform decimal rounding and estimating is crucial for many practical aspects of life. Yet many […]
Mastering the distributive property (7th grade) and the usage of distributive properties of multiplication over addition and subtraction is necessary so that students are able to simplify expressions. Whether you’re a math teacher or a homeschooling parent, there are various strategies you can adopt so as to assist your students in this learning process. So […]
Properties of real numbers is one of the earliest lessons students learn in pre-algebra in 7th grade. By using the properties of numbers, 7th graders are prepared to easily simplify expressions and solve linear equations. To help students achieve mastery of properties of real numbers, math teachers can benefit from a number of tips. Read […]
Exponents are those small and mighty numbers that are more powerful than you’d expect. I always make sure that I start by showing the expanded form of an exponential expression. This not only reviews what an exponent is and does, but it helps students see patterns and start to learn the laws of exponents. It’s […]
Initial Activity: “Which is heavier? A kilogram of nails or a kilogram of salt?” And that’s just the perfect introduction when I teach how to solve equations with variables on both sides. Usually, my students are just getting good at solving one and two-step equations, and then… they are faced with variables on both sides! […]
Describe and Sketch Qualitative Features of a Graph
When students can verbalize and describe a graph, they can also recognize features of a graph or a function. I used to show graphs and have question and answer sessions about what was happening in the graph. I would ask questions like: Where is the graph increasing? What does that mean? Where is the minimum? […]
Teaching Integers and Absolute Value (7th Grade)
In the 7th grade, children begin to understand the absolute value of integers and can interpret absolute value as magnitude for both positive and negative quantities in diverse real-life situations. To help students achieve mastery of integers and absolute value (7th grade level), math teachers can prepare simple strategies for their lessons. We’ve compiled a […]
When learning algebra in school, children come across many word problems. Some are simple and concise, whereas others are complex and may even resemble a short story. To solve such word problems, kids must first create algebraic expressions out of word problems. This is referred to as evaluating and writing algebraic expressions. Teachers and homeschooling […]
Now that people have GPS and navigation systems, it seems that fewer people really think through how to map out a route. But maps can be a great way to show angle measures and patterns with parallel lines. Reading a map is an important skill and following directions is a skill in itself, but I […]
I like to introduce scatter plots visually at first. Students can really start talking about what the data means when they realize that some things are associated, and others are more random. So one time I figured I would try something new; something to do BEFORE looking at the different types of trends; something the […]
I enjoy spending time with the Pythagorean Theorem. Proving it and showing how the squares of each leg add up to the square of the hypotenuse can provide a clear picture to your students. I have used square crackers, square napkins or even the desks in my room to show how the Pythagorean Theorem works, […]
When I coached peewee soccer, I remember putting dots or cones on the ground to help my players with their passing. At first, it was easy. One player stood at the cone and passed the ball to the second player who was standing at another cone. We practiced short, crisp passes. The shortest distance between […]
No longer a little boy or girl, but not quite a teen. Tween – a dreaded word in the dictionary of many a teacher. If you’re a math teacher, you begin to notice that many of the strategies you used before don’t seem to work anymore. Your tween students don’t find them ‘cool’! Other strategies […]
This lesson can be very fun to teach because there are so many real world implications of Mean, Median, and Mode. Here are some great ways to introduce Mean, Median, and Mode to your math class. Mean (Calculate Your Grade) The obvious place to start is by teaching them how to find their grades. They […]
It’s finally my favorite time of the year! It’s Christmas week. Which means you need Christmas Math worksheets and activities. Most of us are teaching Operations with Fractions right now. Here is our PreAlgebra Coach Operations with Fractions Worksheet Christmas Bundle! These are Christmas Math Worksheets that involve solving fraction related problems then completing the […]
Dividing Fractions is one of the lessons that students struggle with their whole lives. I have heard the argument over and over… “Why do they need to learn to divide fractions by hand when they all have phones and calculators that will do it for them?” “When will they ever be in a […]
The first unit of the year is always the most important. Because it lays the foundation for the expectations in your class for the rest of the school year. When teaching the Real Number System I like to throw in Real Number System Maze Activities rather than only doing boring math worksheets with just a […]
There is nothing better than giving your students an engaging task they can work on right before the holidays. One way to do this is by giving them Thanksgiving Math Coloring Worksheets that is ALSO on task and covers the current standards that they are learning. These will make sure your students are working on […]
Students sitting in a Pre-Algebra class will have varying degrees of ability when it comes to rounding and estimating. This activity is meant to be used with those who need remedial help and to assess the overall ability of the class. It is a fun way to accomplish two things throughout the year rounding and […]
This is one of my favorite lessons to teach because it is truly a pivotal point in my students math careers. Without a clear understanding of Variables students will not be able to move forward and succeed in math. In order to teach this lesson on Variables and Expressions you will need a couple of […]
What You Will Need for these Place Value Games These place value games all require one or multiple decks of index cards that each have a number from 0 to 9 on them and a decimal point on one card. How to Setup the Place Value Games Step 1: Group the students in pairs or […]
I think we all know by now that teaching your students the old FOIL method for multiplying Binomials is a HUGE mistake! When you do this you are teaching them to memorize a pattern that won’t apply anywhere else when they move beyond Binomials. The majority of the lessons involving polynomials after this lesson will involve […]
Stem and Leaf Plots – NBA MVP
There aren’t many places in the real world that Stem and Leaf Plots are used. However, the good news is the places they are used are very important. These are 3 Extremely Realistic Ways to Introduce Stem and Leaf PlotsAirports – Everyone loves going on vacation. It would be awful to go to an airport to […]
The Pythagorean Theorem – Like You’ve Never Seen It Before
I have seen a lot of teachers teach the Pythagorean Theorem in hundreds of different ways in my over a decade of teaching math. There is one however, that I will forever use! This lesson is on the proof of the pythagorean theorem. This is THEE GREATEST WAY to Teach the Pythagorean Theorem! (There is […]