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

Increase Critical Thinking with the Simple “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.