Elementary Math Chat

When it comes to your math centers, it's important for students to have different levels of questions to choose from. Are they struggling and need to solve a simpler problem first? Do they understand and need more challenging questions? Creating leveled math centers helps meet the various needs of your students.

While this may seem like a daunting task, it doesn't have to be! In this episode, I break it down and explain how I used a traffic light self-assessment to help my students assess their understanding and how I incorporated the red, yellow, and green colors into my three levels of questions. The red-level questions were more basic with additional support, the yellow-level questions were on grade level with little to no support, and the green-level questions were more challenging, usually with an extra step involved.

I also share specific examples of ways to provide more support for strugglers, such as providing a place value chart or work mat. The support you give them in the beginning stages will prepare them to solve more challenging problems. I also share unique ways to make things more rigorous for students who need an additional challenge, such as presenting the problems in different forms and adjusting the digits in a few different ways.

In addition, I share a fun 3-5 minute fact fluency game to play in your small groups in the Teaching Tip of the Week.

Resources Mentioned:

1. Traffic Light Self-Assessment
2. Traffic Light Google Form
3. Plickers
4. Compare Numbers in Different Forms Task Cards
5. Compare Numbers in Different Forms Boom Cards

To view the show notes with the full transcript, head to https://krejcicreations.com/episode11.

P.S. Has this podcast been helpful for you? If so, screenshot an episode, add it to IG, and tag me @krejci_creations. This helps spread the word to other teachers!

When it comes to differentiating math centers, how prepared and confident do you feel? Many teachers are overwhelmed by the thought of it and therefore avoid trying to differentiate instruction. Others feel they don't have the time or the resources to differentiate. These feelings often come from common misconceptions teachers have about differentiation.

In this episode, I clear the air about what differentiation is and what it is not. I also discuss the similarities and differences between differentiating and scaffolding and why they are important.

In addition, I give you simple tips to consider as you plan for your differentiated math centers.

By the end of the three-part series, you'll have actionable tips and strategies to apply to your classroom.

Part 1 topics include:

• What it means to differentiate and scaffold activities
• Similarities and differences between the two concepts
• Misconceptions about differentiation
• Tips for implementing these activities in your math centers

You'll also hear a time-saving tip for those tasks that you only do a few times a year in the Teaching Tip of the Week.

To view the resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://krejcicreations.com/episode10

P.S. Has this podcast been helpful for you? If so, screenshot an episode, add it to IG, and tag me @krejci_creations. This helps spread the word to other teachers!

Word problems are one of the most challenging parts of math. Not only do students struggle with word problems, but a lot of teachers struggle to teach them.

The biggest challenge that students have with word problems is not knowing what the question is asking, and therefore not knowing which operation to choose. Students often skim the questions, looking at the numbers and key words only, but this can take away from the meaning of the story and lead to mistakes. So how do we help students overcome the challenges they face with word problems?

In this episode, I share a few dos and don'ts when it comes to teaching word problems along with my feelings on using acronyms for problem-solving. I also share the 6 steps that helped my students tackle word problems and examples of how you can implement word problems on a regular basis, not just during your problem-solving lessons.

Topics include:

• Dos and Don'ts for Teaching Word Problems
• 6 Steps for Solving Word Problems
• 3 Ways to Implement Word Problems on a Regular Basis
• Additional Tips for Students Who Struggle with Word Problems

You'll also hear a suggestion for how to have a little fun with your students when it comes to word problems in the Teaching Tip of the Week.

Resources Mentioned:

Greg Tang Word Problem Generator

Add and Subtract Whole Numbers PowerPoint Lesson

Free Problem-Solving Posters

To view the show notes with the full transcript, head to https://krejcicreations.com/episode9.

P.S. Has this podcast been helpful for you? If so, screenshot an episode, add it to IG, and tag me @krejci_creations. This helps spread the word to other teachers!

Place value skills are essential in helping students build a strong number sense. These skills help students form relationships with numbers and make sense of their answers. But why do so many students struggle with place value?

There are a few factors that might contribute to this. Since place value is taught at the beginning of the year, students are still getting used to a new classroom and a new teacher. Plus, they are on information overload from everything else they are learning with classroom routines and procedures, so there's a lot going on in their world. With this in mind, breaking down place value concepts is vital to helping students reach their full potential.

In this episode, I share tips for planning your place value lessons, strategies to help students overcome the most challenging place value skills, and small group activities your students will love.

Topics include:

• Reading Large Numbers
• Value vs. Place Value
• Place Value Relationships
• Rounding Numbers

You'll also hear another suggestion for your parent newsletter for when you're running low on supplies in the Teaching Tip of the Week.

Resources Mentioned:

Instagram Reel (shows rounding activity mat in action)

Place Value Discs

Decimal Place Value Discs

Place Value Dice

The above links are affiliate links. There is no extra cost to you, but purchasing through these links helps support the podcast. 🙂

Activities Mentioned:

FREE Rounding Activity Mat

Word Form Boom Cards

Place Value in Base 10 Boom Cards

Place Value Skills Boom Card Bundle

Place Value PowerPoint Lesson Bundle

To view the show notes with the full transcript, visit https://krejcicreations.com/episode8.

P.S. Has this podcast been helpful for you? If so, screenshot an episode, add it to IG, and tag me @krejci_creations. This helps spread the word to other teachers!

If you've ever given your students a survey on their preferred learning styles, then you know firsthand the kind of results you will get. They will be all over the place. Some students prefer working with a partner, while others prefer working alone. Some students require more challenging work to keep them engaged, and others do better when things are more basic. Some students enjoy activities that bring out their creative side, and others are more logical/mathematical and enjoy solving puzzles or riddles.

So, it's fair to say that when it comes to learning styles, one size does not fit all. Choice boards are an effective way for teachers to address all of these learning styles and needs. They are also a great way to tie in festive themes for the holidays, maybe Halloween or Christmas, which is always something students enjoy.

Another reason choice boards are so effective is they provide opportunities for students to review previously taught skills throughout the year. This is especially important when end-of-the-year testing rolls around. The closer I got to state testing, the more review skills my choice boards included. I do think it's important to incorporate spiral reviews into your lesson, but it's a bonus to also include them in choice boards.

In this episode, I share everything there is to know about choice boards, including what type of activities to include, how to organize choice boards, and where to find activities for choice boards. I also share tips for grading and setting up choice boards in your classroom. Be sure to download the free and editable choice board template to help get you started!

Topics Covered in this Episode:

• What type of activities to include
• Where you can find these activities
• How long each choice board should last
• How to set up your choice boards
• Where students should keep their choice boards
• What to do when students finish their entire choice board early
• Simple ways to grade choice boards

You'll also hear a fun suggestion for your Monday morning meeting which allows all students to share about their weekend in a matter of minutes.

Resources Mentioned:

60+ Free Lesson Plan Ideas

3rd Grade Games

4th Grade Games

5th Grade Games

Choice Board Template (I recommend downloading this as a PowerPoint after grabbing the Google Slide's template)

To view the show notes with the full transcript, head to https://krejcicreations.com/episode7.

P.S. Has this podcast been helpful for you? If so, screenshot an episode, add it to IG, and tag me @krejci_creations. This helps spread the word to other teachers!

The first few weeks of school are the most important weeks of the year. This is your time to establish routines, review important procedures, and set clear expectations for students. The most challenging part is trying to balance these back to school procedures with teaching new content and getting to know your students. Because there is so much to cover, it's tempting to skip over or rush through certain areas. This is a common mistake teachers make and one you want to avoid.

In this episode, I share 3 common mistakes to avoid when starting a new year and suggestions for what to do instead. You'll hear tips for fluency activities, setting up parts of your math block (small groups, choice boards, partner activities), and formative assessments to help you get to know your student's academic levels.

You'll also hear a fun suggestion for your classroom newsletter in the Teaching Tip of the Week. This tip will encourage parents to ask their child about what they are learning and keep them involved in a unique and creative way.

Topics Covered in this Episode:

• Fluency activities for Grades 3-5
• How to introduce parts of your math block and expectations to share with students (partner activities and games, Boom Cards, choice boards, small group instruction)
• Formative assessments to gather data (Boom Cards and Google Forms)

Resources Mentioned:

Compare Numbers Boom Cards (Preview)

Placing Commas in Large Numbers Boom Cards (Preview)

Word Form to Standard Form Boom Cards (Preview)

Place Value Base 10 Boom Cards (Preview)

Xtra Math Fluency Program

To view the show notes with the full transcript, head to https://krejcicreations.com/episode6.

P.S. Has this podcast been helpful for you? If so, screenshot an episode, add it to IG, and tag me @krejci_creations. This helps spread the word to other teachers!

One of the most common topics being discussed in Facebook groups is how to stay organized when teaching in a departmentalized setting. How do you keep track of graded papers and missing assignments? How do you manage and share supplies between multiple classes? These are questions you must consider before heading into the new school year.

Of course, there are a few perks to being departmentalized. Because you have fewer subjects to teach, planning is much easier. But there are also some challenges that come along with teaching multiple classes. More students means more papers and grades to keep track of, so having an organizational system is extremely important.

On the student end, this may be the first time they are switching classes. So, it's essential you have systems in place that help your students become organized. While some students are organized by nature, others are not and need to be taught.

Topics Covered in this Episode:

• How to keep track of student work, graded papers, and missing assignments
• How to communicate missing work with your teammate(s)
• Tips for helping students organize their work and school supplies
• How to organize school supplies on the first day
• How to manage supplies between multiple classes
• Storage and organizational tips to save you time and help you find a place for everything

I also share a helpful tip for labeling student workbooks in the Teaching Tip of the Week.

Resources Mentioned:

Hanging Shoe Organizer

Teacher Toolbox

Task Card Bins

The Amazon links mentioned are affiliate links. There is no additional cost to you, but it does help support the podcast if you choose to purchase through these links.

To view the show notes with the full transcript, head to https://krejcicreations.com/episode5.

P.S. Has this podcast been helpful for you? If so, screenshot an episode, add it to IG, and tag me @krejci_creations. This helps spread the word to other teachers!

Substitute teachers are hard to come by these days. When you find a good one, you want to do everything you can to make sure they return in the future. One bad experience might scare even the best of subs away! The truth is, your sub plans are the key factor in determining how their day will unfold. So, what should you include in your sub plans, and what is okay to leave out?

Having written my fair share of sub plans over the years, I thought I knew the answer to this question. My plans were extremely thorough, especially when it came to the math lesson. I made sure anyone who walked into my room could easily understand the lesson and teach it well. While that was (and still is) important, I was overlooking something that was equally as important. It wasn't until I spent a year as a substitute teacher that I realized what my sub plans were missing.

In this episode, I share simple ways to set your sub up for success, what to include in your plans, and what is okay to leave out. I also share my favorite parts about subbing, what surprised me the most, and a fun freebie to help motivate your students when you are away.

In addition, you'll learn about one of my favorite place value games in the Teaching Tip of the Week.

Resources Mentioned:

Classroom A vs. Classroom B

Super for the Sub Tickets

To view the show notes with the full transcript, head to https://krejcicreations.com/episode4.

P.S. Has this podcast been helpful for you? If so, screenshot an episode, add it to IG, and tag me @krejci_creations. This helps spread the word to other teachers!

Ready or not, back-to-school season is officially here! This means your Meet the Teacher Night is just around the corner. You only have a limited time with parents, and you want to cover as much information as possible. However, it can be challenging to decide what to include and what to save for later, especially if you are starting from scratch.

In this episode, I share 6 suggestions for what to include and how to handle the information you don't have time for. By the end of this episode, you'll be ready to master Meet the Teacher Night with confidence!

In addition, I share an idea to use for a math discussion on growth mindset in the Teaching Tip of the Week.

Related Resources:

60+ Free Lesson Plan Ideas

Growth Mindset Video

To view show notes with the full transcript, head to https://krejcicreations.com/episode3.

P.S. Has this podcast been helpful for you? If so, screenshot an episode, add it to IG, and tag me @krejci_creations. This helps spread the word to other teachers!

Do you want to save time and learn how to plan more efficiently? In this episode, I share 5 tips to help you cut down on the time you spend planning your lessons while still building engaging and effective lessons.

I start by sharing a lesson plan framework that helps guide my planning and ensures my lessons have what they need. I also share suggestions for each part of your lesson, tips for making future planning a breeze, and how to make the most of your team planning session.

In addition, I share a simple system that helped my dry erase markers last in the Teaching Tip of the Week.

Resources Mentioned:

60+ Free Lesson Plan Ideas

To view the show notes with the full transcript, head to https://krejcicreations.com/episode2.

P.S. Has this podcast been helpful for you? If so, screenshot an episode, add it to IG, and tag me @krejci_creations. This helps spread the word to other teachers!