Algebra 1 Math Helper

Do you need help teaching algebra concepts to your classroom students?

The Common Core touches on algebraic thinking all throughout the elementary grades, even with lower elementary students.

In the 5th grade Common Core math standards, students begin algebraic numerical expressions:

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.5.OA.A.1

Use parentheses, brackets, or braces in numerical expressions, and evaluate expressions with these symbols.

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.5.OA.A.2

Write simple expressions that record calculations with numbers, and interpret numerical expressions without evaluating them. For example, express the calculation "add 8 and 7, then multiply by 2" as 2 × (8 + 7). Recognize that 3 × (18932 + 921) is three times as large as 18932 + 921, without having to calculate the indicated sum or product.

Note: This blog post contains resources from our TpT store and our Amazon Associate store.

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 Making Connections

One method is to have students discuss solved problem structures and solutions to make connections among strategies and reasoning.

Some questions to help facilitate these discussions include:

What were the steps involved in solving the problem? Why do they work in this order? Would they work in a different order?

Could the problem have been solved with fewer steps?

Can anyone think of a different way to solve this problem?

Will this strategy always work? Why?

What are other problems for which this strategy will work?

How can you change the given problem so that this strategy does not work?

How can you modify the solution to make it clearer to others?

What other mathematical ideas connect to this solution?

Questions to help facilitate the structure of problems:

What quantities—including numbers and variables—are present in this problem?

Are these quantities discrete or continuous?

What operations and relationships among quantities does the problem involve? 

Are there multiplicative or additive relationships? 

Does the problem include equality or inequality?

How are parentheses used in the problem to indicate the problem’s structure?

Review Incorrect Problems

It is also helpful to review incorrectly solved problems.

Can students analyze and discuss the errors?

Can students fix the problems to make them correct?

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Algebra Basics Video

With over 2 million views, this video reviews the basics with your students.

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Using Task Cards for Whole Group Learning

Task cards are a great way to easily model algebra problems solved correctly.

Simply display a task card using the technology available in your room.  Interactive white boards work well.

Choose the 1st task card and demonstrate the correct problem solving steps and solution.

You may even want to choose the 2nd task card and demonstrate the incorrect steps and solution. Sometimes "what not to do" works well for students.

Students can compare and contrast the two examples.

You also may want to make a game out of it and have the students determine which one was done correctly.

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Algebra Card Game

Here is an interesting card game for learning algebra. Do you think it would help your students?

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Here are some FREE algebra task cards from our TpT store to get you started:

FREE Algebra Task Cards

You will receive 6 Common Core task cards with a mix of multiplication and division math expressions for 6th grade. Task cards are a wonderful break from worksheets. Student can play SCOOT, have a scavenger hunt or play other games. Try them for free today. A student response form and answer key are also provided. 

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Click HERE for more printable algebra task cards and games.

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Note: More Department of Education math strategies may be found here.

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You may also like these printable Algebra activities and games from our Teaching Ideas and resources TpT store:

Combining Like Terms Task Cards

You will receive 2 anchor chart cards, 40 task cards, game ideas, a student response form, quiz and answer keys.

Common Core:

CCSS.Math.Content.6.EE.A.1

CCSS.Math.Content.7.EE.A.1 

Task cards are a great alternative to worksheets. These activities allow for movement in the classroom, which brain research shows increases achievement. Students can play SCOOT, have a scavenger hunt, or engage in other movement games.

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Addition Equations Algebra Task Cards

You will receive 42 algebraic expressions task cards, 2 anchor cards, game ideas, extension activity, quiz, student response form and answer key.

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.6.EE.A.2

Write, read, and evaluate expressions in which letters stand for numbers.

Task cards are a great alternative to worksheets. They allow for movement in the classroom, which brain research shows increases achievement. Students can play SCOOT, have a scavenger hunt, or engage in other movement games.

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Subtraction Equations Algebra Task Cards

You will receive 42 task cards, 2 anchor chart cards, extended activity, student response form, quiz and answer keys.

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You may also like these resources from our Amazon Associate store:

Algebra Study Guide (Cheat Sheet)

Algebra Card Game

Algebra Mastery Game

100 Math Brainteasers

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Click HERE to view our Teachers Pay Teachers Promoting Success store.

Shelly Anton is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. ** This means there are Amazon affiliate links in these blog posts. This does not mean you pay a dime more when you purchase a product through the link. It just means I am trying to save you valuable teacher time by making it easier for you to find valuable resources for your students, and I earn a few cents for my research and time. Thank you for all you do for kids!

Financial Literacy Activities for the Classroom

What is Financial Literacy?

Note: This blog post contains products from our Teachers Pay Teachers store and Amazon Affiliate store.

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Financial literacy is the ability to understand how money works in the world: how someone manages to earn or make it, how that person manages it, how he/she invests it (turn it into more) and how that person donates it to help others.

Please watch this video, then scroll down for teaching ideas, activities, games and lessons for teaching 5th grade, 6th grade, middle school, high school and special education students financial literacy concepts.

Financial Literacy: Mellody Hobson at TEDxMidwest

In a 2014 survey, three main questions were asked of respondents:

1. Suppose you had $100 in a savings account and the interest rate was 2 percent per year. After 5 years, how much do you think you would have in the account if you left the money to grow?

More than $102; Exactly $102; Less than $102; Do not know; Refuse to answer.

2. Imagine that the interest rate on your savings account was 1 percent per year and inflation was 2 percent per year. After 1 year, how much would you be able to buy with the money in this account?

More than today; Exactly the same; Less than today; Do not know; Refuse to answer.

3. Please tell me whether this statement is true or false. “Buying a single company’s stock usually provides a safer return than a stock mutual fund.”

True; False; Do not know; Refuse to answer.

In the United States, 38 percent of men answered all three questions correctly compared with only 22 percent of women.

In the Netherlands, 55 percent of men and 35 percent of women got all three right, and in Germany the results were 60 percent for men and 48 percent for women.

In a 2016 Survey of the States, there were several key findings regarding financial literacy:

Since 2014, two additional states include personal finance in their K-12 standards and require those standards to be taught.

While more states are implementing standards in personal finance, the number of states that require high school students to take a course in personal finance remains unchanged since 2014 – just 17 states. 

Only 20 states require high school students to take a course in economics – that’s less than half the country and two fewer states than in 2014. 

There has been no change in the number of states that require standardized testing of economic concepts – the number remains at 16.

Financial literacy should begin in middle school and high school, not in college or even after college!

Here is a free teaching resource to help you assess your students' basic understanding of financial literacy concepts.

Click HERE for free financial literacy task cards for kids.

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Here are 7 financial skills recommended for high school:

Here are more printable teaching resources on TpT:

Click HERE to download this financial literacy crossword puzzle.

This bundle will save you money! (no pun intended!)

Click HERE for more resources from Edutopia.

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You may also like these resources from our Amazon affiliate store:

Soldier of Finance: Take Charge of Your Money and Invest in Your Future by Jeff Rose 

(from the video above)

Too much debt? Not enough savings? Stop your whining and get to work. It's time to become a battle-ready financial warrior, prepared to tackle any money challenge. Modeled on the Soldier's Handbook, which is issued to all new U.S. Army recruits, Soldier of Finance is a no-nonsense, military-style training manual to overcoming financial obstacles and building lasting wealth. 

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Why Didn't They Teach Me This in School? 99 Personal Money Management Principals to Live By

Bestselling 5 Star Graduation Gift for both College and High School grads! 

Why do high schools and colleges require students to take courses in English, math and science, yet have absolutely no requirements for students to learn about personal money management? Why Didn't They Teach Me This in School? 

99 Personal Money Management Lessons to Live By was initially developed by the author to pass on to his five children as they entered adulthood. As it developed, the author realized that personal money management skills were rarely taught in high schools, colleges and even in MBA programs. Unfortunately, books on the subject tend to be complicated, lengthy reads. The book includes eight important lessons focusing on 99 principles that will quickly and memorably enhance any individual's money management acumen. Unlike many of the personal money management books out there, this book is a quick, easily digested read that focuses more on the qualitative side than the quantitative side of personal money management. The principles are not from a text book. Rather, they are practical principles learned by the author as he navigated through his financial life. Many are unorthodox in order to be memorable and provoke deeper thought by the reader. Not only an excellent graduation gift for high school and college students but also a great read for any adult! 

ALSO AVAILABLE IN SPANISH - "POR QUE NO ME ENSENARON ESTO EN LA ESCUELA?"

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Financial Literacy for Millennials: A Practical Guide to Managing Your Financial Life for Teens, College Students, and Young Adults

A modern primer on consumer finance and personal money management intended for readers aged 15 to 30, this guide can also serve as a primary text for high school, college, or adult education courses on personal finance.

• Provides an understanding of the structure and institutions constituting the U.S. economic system

• Shares knowledge about consumer finance and financial planning to enable young people to make better choices in their lives

• Shows how to save and invest prudently and use debt wisely and effectively

• Prepares millennials for the financial impact of life events so they will be empowered to take control of their financial futures

• Includes a series of tips that summarize the important lessons from the book

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Personal Financial Literacy (Middle School Solutions)

Learn how to plan and manage your personal finances, achieve a financially successful life, and take responsibility as a citizen. PERSONAL FINANCIAL LITERACY, Second Edition, is aligned with the Jump$tart Coalition's National Standards for Personal Financial Literacy. The personal focus of this course makes it relevant and meaningful to all; in particular, to those just starting down the path to personal financial independence.

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Click HERE to view our Teachers Pay Teachers Promoting Success store.

Shelly Anton is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. ** This means there are Amazon affiliate links in these blog posts. This does not mean you pay a dime more when you purchase a product through the link. It just means I am trying to save you valuable teacher time by making it easier for you to find valuable resources for your students, and I earn a few cents for my research and time. Thank you for all you do for kids!

Bell Ringers Teaching Ideas

How do you handle transition times in your classroom?

Transitions can be a difficult time for many students.

By having clear and precise routines, students will know their exact expectations.

Many unwanted behaviors occur simply because students haven't been taught what is expected of them.

At the beginning of the year, don't forget to spend a lot of time actually practicing and ACTING out expectations.

Bell ringers, entrance cards, or do nows are activities that students are expected to complete immediately after entering the classroom.

They should be able to be completed successfully and independently.

If they are reviewing difficult or new concepts, then students will have questions and want to approach the teacher...which defeats the purchase of having the students enter and get focused independently.

 A bell ringer is a tool you may use to help focus students and jump start their thinking!

It allows the teacher time for necessary management tasks.

It also maximizes teaching time by creating structured routines.

Less time redirecting and disciplining means more time teaching and learning!

#1 Quote of the Day

A fun bell ringer is to use the quote of the day.

Teachers may also want to create a suggestion box for students to share their favorite quotes.

Each day, display a new quote.

Students may draw a picture of the quote, describe what the quote means to them or expand on a situation in which this quote could be helpful or reflective.

Students may also explain if they agree or disagree with the quote.

Students may also create their own posters or mini desk posters with their favorite quotes.

We have many posters in our store to help get you started.

Also, don't forget to use some of the quotes students submit in your suggestion box to create higher interest!

Free Printable Poster 

Post this free poster on the board.  During a transition time, have each student share one accomplishment to celebrate!

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Owl Classroom Decor Set of 4 Printable Posters

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Inspirational Quotes for Kids Set of 4 Printable Posters

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#2 Task Cards

Teachers may display task cards on a white board at the front of the room.

Students are given a student response form to record their answers.

Most task cards come in a set of 30.

Teachers may display 2-3 cards per day.

Remember, the cards should be a review of previously taught content, not new learning.

Here are some FREE task cards to try in your classroom.

Free Commonly Misspelled Words Task Cards

Free Counting Money Task Cards

Free Telling Time Task Cards

Click HERE for over 100 free sets of task cards.

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#3 Word Lists

Have students make up a word list for as many words as they can think of when they hear the word school. 

You may substitute any word.

You may also wish to give a crossword puzzle:

For more printable crossword puzzles, click HERE.

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#4 Word Finder Games

Write a word on the board relevant to your current classroom themes, seasons, holidays, etc. 

Students must create as many words as they can out of the one word.

For higher students, you could have them add up the value of their words using Scrabble values.

Click HERE to download these free Christmas vocabulary worksheets.

For more printable vocabulary activities, click HERE.

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#5 Onomatopoeia Writing Activity

Ask the students to write a few sentences or short paragraph about something that happened to them yesterday (or something they wish to make up).

Encourage the students to write them using words that give a stronger image, such as, crash, slam, trill, etc.

You may wish to use free writing paper from our store. Click HERE.

Free Writing Paper

#6 Math Word Problems

Students never seem to get enough practice solving real world math problems.

Students may write a one-step or multi-step word problems based on their current math skills.

I would suggest keeping it open ended for optimal creativity.

If you feel you must choose a concept, keep it broad to include all level of learners independently. For example, fractions.

To encourage more complex problems, let the students know you will be solving them later. Challenge them to stump the teacher.

Students will need basic understanding of word problems to write their own.

You may wish to have them practice first.

Free Money Word Problems

Free Multiplication and Division Word Problem Task Cards

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For 5 more bell ringer ideas, visit Edutopia HERE.

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You may also like these resources from our Amazon Associate store:

Advantus Call Bell for Teacher Classroom Desk

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Red Apple Classroom Timer

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No Yell Bell

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Take Five! for Language Arts: 180 Bell-Ringers that Build Critical Thinking Skills

Ready to transform those first chaotic five minutes of class into authentic learning? Then it's time to Take Five! With this resource, students will exercise their mental muscles and sharpen language arts skills as they tackle Common Core Standard-based lessons and fun-filled activities.

Whether students are inventing secret codes, concocting potions, rewriting history, making conjunction paper chains, or thinking like newspaper editors, these diverse and creative prompts will have them looking forward to the part of the day when they are asked to Take Five for critical thinking. 

The 180-plus prompts establish the learning environment from the minute that students step into your class. Each ready-to-use prompt includes corresponding Common Core standards, supply lists, language arts links, teacher tips, assessment options, rubrics, and digital connections that add more than 100 extension lessons.

Students in grades 3-9 will enjoy beginning each day of the school year with a burst of critical thinking and fun with this comprehensive resource. Ready? Set? Take Five!

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General Science Grades 5-8 Daily Bell Ringers

General Science: Daily Bell Ringers for grades 5 to 8 features daily activities that prepare students for assessment expectations. Aligned to current state standards, this science supplement offers review and additional practice to strengthen skills and improve test performance.

Mark Twain Media Publishing Company specializes in providing engaging supplemental books and decorative resources to complement middle- and upper-grade classrooms. Designed by leading educators, this product line covers a range of subjects including math, science, language arts, social studies, history, government, fine arts, and character.

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Making the Transition to Classroom Success: Culturally Responsive Teaching for Struggling Language Learners

Learners with no, minimal, or limited exposure to formal education generally do not share the expectations and assumptions of their new setting; as a result, they are likely to find themselves confounded by the ways in which the language and content are presented, practiced, and assessed in Western-style educational settings. Institutions and teachers must tailor therefore their instruction to this population. Making the Transition to Classroom Success: Culturally Responsive Teaching for Struggling Language Learners examines how understanding secondary and adult L2 learners’ educational paradigm, rooted deeply in their past experiences and cultural orientations, provides a key to the solution to a lack of progress.

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Easy Songs for Smooth Transitions in the Classroom

Sing your way through difficult times of the day and watch your job get easier!

Young children in school go through many transitions throughout the day. What can make ten children settle down, clean up, and move from room to room without protest?

Even if you're uncomfortable singing in public, the simple songs in this book will help you glide smoothly through tough transitions such as greetings and good-byes, calling attention, cleaning up, moving, waiting, and slowing down. Children will feel more powerful and in control, reducing stress levels during the more difficult times in your day. You will learn songs that everyone will love singing, including:

"Get On Board, Little Children" and "We're On Our Way," which move toe-tapping children in and out of the classroom

"Go to Sleep, My Little Pumpkins," which helps kids wind down for naptime

"Cleaning Spirit," which acknowledges children as they clean up the classroom

The CD includes multiple songs for each transition area, and the book includes a transition planning guide and lyrics to all 69 songs, formatted so you can easily create your own song cards.

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Transition Tips and Tricks for Teachers: Attention-Grabbing, Creative Activities that are Sure to Become Your Favorites!

The author of the best-selling book Transition Time brings you more attention-grabbing, creative activities that provide children with an outlet for wiggles, while giving their brains a jump start with cross-lateral movement games. Grab their attention with songs, games, and fingerplays for any time of the day. These classroom-tested ideas are sure to become favorites!

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Flagship Carpets Dot Spots Seating Rug

Carpet size 7'6"x12' (Seats 30)

Easily organize transitions at circle time by colors and engage children in tangible math lessons with this colorful addition to any classroom

Treated with SCOTCHGARD-PROTECTOR for superior soil resistance and FORCE 5, a permanent anti-microbial agent to guard against odor, mildew and mold

Double-stitched edges won’t unravel, School Kids Rug

All Flagship Carpets are CRI Green Label Plus Certified and made 100% in the USA

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Learning Resources Time Tracker

It’s never been easier to keep kids on track! Unique timer’s light and sound cues help to keep your whole class on track. Features 180° viewing and a large, easy to read LCD display. Allows quick programming of 3 colored lights (red, yellow and green) and 6 sound effects that alert children to time remaining. Can be customized to suit your needs. 

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PIN to SAVE.

Click HERE to view our Teachers Pay Teachers Promoting Success store.

Shelly Anton is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. ** This means there are Amazon affiliate links in these blog posts. This does not mean you pay a dime more when you purchase a product through the link. It just means I am trying to save you valuable teacher time by making it easier for you to find valuable resources for your students, and I earn a few cents for my research and time. Thank you for all you do for kids!