fbpx
Linda Kardamis
Author Archives: Linda Kardamis

Emphasize This Detail to Reduce Errors When Teaching Evaluating Expressions

the key detail to emphasize when evaluating expressions

Do your students keep making mistakes when evaluating expressions? 

Chances are, the negatives and exponents are throwing them off.

However, if you emphasize this certain detail, you'll help your students eliminate errors and evaluate more expressions correctly.

Check it out here:

p.s. Are you using our guided student notes? They not only ensure your students engage with (and actually watch) the videos, but they're also a valuable study tool.

Guided student notes are included in all our units as well as the individual student lessons

Find out more about the guided student notes

math notes for pre algebra

4 Compelling Reasons to Flip Your Math Class

4 compelling reasons to flip your math class

Have you thought about flipping your math class but aren't quite sure how it would work - or if it's worth the effort?

In this video, you'll discover four compelling reasons to flip your math class - and some tips for how to do it well.

Now that you're excited to try flipping your class, check out this post for specific advice from Rick about how exactly to do that:

How to Flip Your Class (Your Biggest Questions Answered)

how to flip your class

We've also got the perfect tools to help you flip your math class - whether you want to try just a few times or flip every day. 

Our video lessons with guided notes will let you flip your class right away - without having to record your own videos. Plus, the guided notes ensure students actually watch the videos - and come away having learned the concepts.


The Perfect Illustration to Explain Division with Zero

the perfect illustration to explain division with zero

Ever struggle to explain to your students why 0 divided by anything is 0 but anything divided by 0 is undefined or infinity?

In this video, you'll learn the perfect illustration to explain both of these concepts in a way your students will easily understand.

Check it out here:

And speaking of making math easy to understand, have you seen our video lessons with guided notes?

Each lesson contains a video that teaches the concept as well as notes for the students to fill out & practice problems along with the video. Of course, the answer key is also included.

These are perfect for so many situations

  • When you need quick sub plans
  • If you want to try flipping your class
  • If you're struggling to explain a concept
  • When you need to give your voice (or yourself) a rest - without wasting the class period
  • For students who need extra help
  • Math centers
  • And so much more

The sky really is the limit!

Check out the individual video lessons with notes.

And use the search box to search for specific topics.

Should You Let Students Count on Their Fingers?

should you let math students count on their fingers?

Your kids are taking a test and you’re relishing in a few moments of peace when suddenly you see it.

What the what!?

Victor is totally counting on his fingers. Full concentration mode – one fingers, two fingers, three….

Wait a minute, is this kindergarten or pre-algebra class?

I have failed as a math teacher!

Or have you?

Check out this 3-minute video to discover just how concerned you should be when you see students counting on their fingers:

So what do you think? Share your thoughts with a comment below.

An Easy Way to Assess Your Class in a Flash

An easy way to assess your class in a flash

Please, please, please say -9.

You’re holding your breath in nervous anticipation. Algebra is not Eric’s forte, but he’s been making steady progress, and you’re hoping against hope that he’s finally figuring out how to multiply integers.

This was a fairly easy problem, one you think Eric probably hopefully has right. So you called on him to see.

But now he’s staring at you with those deer-in-a-headlight eyes. And it’s not looking good.

12? he murmurs.

Face palm.

Not only is Eric STILL having trouble multiplying integers but now you’ve embarrassed him in front of the whole class, further killing his confidence.

There’s gotta’ be a better way.

Enter the 1-2-3 technique – a simple way to quickly assess not only a single student’s understanding but also to quickly gauge how well the whole class is doing – all without embarrassing or singling out any particular student.

Check out this quick 3-minute video to see how you can assess your class in a flash starting tomorrow:

The Easiest Way to Review Math Concepts

why you'll love mathlight's quick review videos

Jaida is sitting down to her math homework. No problem, she thinks, adding like terms was so easy! 

She opens her notebook and starts on the first problem.   3x + 2 – 5x.

Um…..what am I supposed to do again?

Students often get stuck and need a quick refresher – whether it’s during homework, while studying for a test, or even just at the start of the next day of class. (It’s amazing how students seem to completely forget something they learned just 24 hours ago, isn’t it!?)

So where do they go for that refresher? Well, if you the teacher are around then lucky you!

But if you’re not they’re scrambling. The book is confusing. Mom always makes it more complicated than it should be.  I left my notes at school! Kahn Academy’s videos are so long. Um, um…

This is just one place that MathLight’s quick review videos come in handy. Students can quickly pull up a quick 2-3 minute video that will re-explain the key concepts in no time flat.

And this is just one of the awesome ways you can use these free videos in your classroom. Check out this quick 2-minute video to discover how you can use these free videos to help your students refresh, review, and reinforce key concepts.

Students use quick review videos to prepare ahead for a coming lesson, to brush up on a previous lesson and of course, to prepare for assessments.

At MathLight, we provide quick review videos for every lesson of every unit. And the best part? Right now, you can use them for free in your classroom!

Click here to find out more about MathLight & to try the videos for free.

An Easy Trick to Explain the Inequality Symbols

an easy trick to explain the inequality symbols

8 is less than 2.

-5 is greater than 3

0 is less than -1

Really?

As you grade Brandon’s quiz you quickly realize the problem is NOT that Brandon doesn’t know which number is larger but that he mixed up every single inequality symbol.

Sigh.

For such a simple concept, it’s surprising how many students mix up the inequality symbols. Maybe you’ve tried drawing an alligator or a bird or whatever other trick you can come up with to try to help them remember.

But this technique is so simple that you can teach it in a snap & your students will actually remember it.

Check out this easy trick to teach the inequality symbols in this short 3 minute video:


What’s your “Golden Nugget?” – the one key concept you took away from this video? Share it with a comment below.

p.s. Did you know that each MathLight unit comes with a guided unit review that actually teachers good study skills?

Each review sheet contains a checklist of all the terms, concepts, and problems the students need to know for the test. As you review in class & they study at home, they can check off each concept as they master it or star items they need to come back and review more.

The review also provides the opportunity to practice each type of problems so students can test their skills before the real test.

And if they're stumped, they can easily access quick review videos that will review & re-teach the concept in just 2-3 minutes.

Find out more about MathLight's guided unit reviews

unit review for mathlight - study skills for algebra

Increase Critical Thinking with the Simple “Debate Your Cause” Technique

increase students' critical thinking skills with the debate your cause technique

Your lesson is going along great… Your class seems to be tracking with you until you decide to ask a question that actually makes them think.

“Why do you think a negative times a negative equals a positive?”

Crickets.

Then – joy of joys – a hand!

“Yes, Carl?”

“Um, could you repeat the question?”

One of our highest goals as math teachers is to develop critical thinking – to teach students to think logically and arrive at the right conclusions on their own.

But sometimes that feels, frankly, like Mission Impossible.

Enter the Debate Your Cause Technique.

It’s not exactly a silver bullet, but this simple technique is a fantastic way to get your students thinking and learning how to express their mathematical thoughts. (Yes, they really do have them….)

Check out this awesome & easy technique in this short 5-minute video:

How can the Debate Your Cause technique help accomplish Mission Impossible in your class? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.

MathLight is Coming Soon!

Here at MathLight, we believe that math shouldn’t be confusing, and we’re setting out to prove just that.

How are we going to do that? We’re starting with easy-to-understand videos that explain complex algebraic topics in a way that students can actually understand.

Then we’re adding examples, notes, practice problems, and assessments that integrate directly with the videos and guide students to a deeper understand.

And who is “we” you might ask? We’re a father-daughter team, both of whom have successfully taught secondary math for a combined 34+ years. We know what works & what doesn’t. And, best of all, we know how to explain math in a way that students actually understand.

All this adds up to one amazing value for teachers – all the curriculum is provided for you, saving you hours of work reinventing the wheel. Plus, you can use the videos to flip your classroom, supplement your own instruction, provide remedial help for those who are struggling, and much more!

The first MathLight units will be designed for Pre-Algebra classrooms and will hopefully be available by the end of July 2016.

And the best news of all? We plan to give away our complete Integers unit for free. You read right – absolutely free!

Just click here to be notified when it’s ready.

 

See you there!