If you are a 5th grade teacher wondering how to best prepare your students for middle school, then reader, keep reading. The middle school transition is drastic! Many 5th grade students will transition from straight lines in the hallway to moving freely from class to class. Not to mention – lockers, locker combinations, and making […] The post Are your 5th graders ready for the middle school transition? appeared first on Maneuvering the Middle ..read more

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Math Test prep season is upon us. It will be only a few more weeks before teachers begin wrapping up new content and reviewing content from the year. Here are a few ideas and tips to try in your classroom to review. 1. Be Strategic Review what students actually need to know. If your state […] The post 15 Ideas for Math Test Prep Season appeared first on Maneuvering the Middle ..read more

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There are so many ways to successfully teach multiplying decimals. This skill is introduced in 5th grade, so let’s talk about 4 strategies to make sure this concept is understood beyond the standard algorithm (which I love too).  If you want to jump straight into the standard algorithm and call it a day, I think you will most likely feel a little frustration when students struggle to place the decimal. Often my students confuse the rule for placing the decimal point in a product with how they place it in an addition problem. We will cover some ways to combat that below. Here are the 6 st ..read more

As promised, I have returned to present Probability activities I found after scouring the internet. To make this list, the activity had to be straightforward, engaging for students, and have good value. Also, Maneuvering the Middle resources will be on this list because I have used and loved them! Helpful Tools to Support Activities Before […] The post 10 Low-Prep Probability Activities appeared first on Maneuvering the Middle ..read more

What motivates a 5th grade student? They are still eager to please, but are developing their own unique tastes and interests. They love adult praise, but also want to be accepted by their peers. And we all know that providing incentives for 5th grade can add up quickly, so when brainstorming this list, I only chose ideas that can be implemented without spending any money and without challenging systems to navigate. Tips for Providing Incentives I want to remind you that you do not need to give out an incentive every time you want to see a desired behavior. Verbal and physical recognition (thu ..read more

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