I have recently making a new type of puzzle for the students in my math classes. These are Crack the Code Puzzles.  Here's how they work. Most important is the set up...I set up the room before the students come in.  Desks are arranged in groups of 3 or 4 and a safe/toolbox/lockbox is set on one desk in each group. I may write on the board Crack the Code!  This immediately generates interest in the activity as soon as students walk in the room. There are many types of lockboxes or safes that could be used for this activity.  Just be sure that whatever "treat" you are ..read more

  I'm really working hard to up my digital game this year - and what better way than to start with a quick formative assessment. In this activity, students will practice finding limits using algebra.  There are only 6 questions, so this is a fairly quick assignment - but it will be fun for students and you'll love it because...it's self checking! Here's the idea...students are presented with 6 questions to answer. Each time they type in an answer, the code to unlock changes.  (At this point, students do not know if they are right or wrong.) When students think they have answ ..read more

Mathematics is a fascinating subject that influences various aspects of our lives, from architecture to technology. To ignite your students' passion for math and introduce them to the brilliant minds behind its development, look no further than the Famous Mathematicians Posters. This blog post explores how these posters can enhance your classroom environment while providing valuable educational content. 1) Engaging Visual Learning: The Famous Mathematicians Posters feature eye-catching designs and essential information about influential mathematicians. With vibrant colors and captivatin ..read more

I recently learned about using google forms to make an escape room.  I thought I'd give it a try on the first day of a couple of my classes this year. Here's some details about the First Day of Algebra Escape Room... There are 6 clues in this escape room.  Each of these clues has several questions that must be solved so students can get either the number or the letters necessary to open the "lock". At the school where I teach, we have students coming to Algebra from many different grade schools, so it is difficult to know what topics, exactly, have been covered in 8th grade.&nb ..read more

In today's fast-paced and technology-driven world, developing critical thinking skills is more important than ever. As educators, we strive to provide engaging and effective learning materials that captivate our students' attention while fostering their cognitive abilities. That's where these Critical Thinking Logic Puzzles come in. In this blog post, we'll explore how this product can help students enhance their critical thinking skills while making learning algebra an enjoyable experience. This type of puzzle is a fantastic resource specifically designed to engage middle and high school st ..read more

  I'll be teaching AP PreCalc next year and I'm not going to lie...I'm nervous about it.  I can't figure out why exactly...I'm an experienced teacher and I've taught AP Calculus before.  But, for some reason the responsibility of guiding students through this level of math seems daunting.  Perhaps it's because there aren't a lot of materials out there and I'll have to create a lot of my own notes, tests and quizzes.  There won't be a lot out there to use. In addition, I'm already looking toward the students taking the test next May.  What will it look like?&nb ..read more

  Are you searching for a fun and effective way to reinforce special angle relationships in your geometry lessons?  Look no further...I'm thrilled to introduce my latest teaching resource - it's a color by number!  I know...I was also surprised to learn that even older students love to color! This engaging and interactive worksheet will not only captivate your students' attention, but also enhance their understanding and mastery of this crucial geometry concept.  It is a perfect assignment for the beginning of the school year.  Let's dive into the ways this assignmen ..read more

Missing angles in a triangle leads us to the angle sum theorem which states that there are 180˚ in every triangle.  Really???  In EVERY triangle? How is this possible??  There are a lot of theorems in geometry that we TRY to prove to students, but perhaps it's difficult for everyone to make the connection.  The angle sum theorem in triangles though is a theorem that has a low floor and should allow more students to really internalize the idea. Here are a few ideas for "proving" to students that there are 180˚ in the interior angles of EVERY triangle. 1) Use an actua ..read more

I tried making a new type of crossword puzzle this week - it's great for fast finishers or a brain break.  Perfect for having students practice skills such as sums, products, percent, conversions - any clue I can think of that results in a number.  If your students don't know a specific fact - a great opportunity to look up the answer and practice research skills.  For example, one of the clues asks students how many keys are there on a piano. Want to check out the packet of Number Crunchers?  See them in my TPT Store: Teaching High School Math Store Would you like ..read more

Coming to you quickly today to let you know I have a freebie available if you sign up for my email list! I designed this one to use around Valentine's Day because of the theme of the joke, but you could use it any time of year. These 14 questions can be solved by factoring or by using the quadratic formula - it's up to you what you want your students to practice.  I figure that students need any practice they can get on factoring - so if we can make it more fun in the process, all the better! Sign up for my email list using the link below and I'll send this one to you for FREE! J ..read more