Back to School Archives - Beyond the Worksheet with Lindsay Gould

The First Week of School in 5th Grade Math

Lindsay — Mon, 18 Aug 2025 18:56:39 +0000

The first week of school can be unpredictable, stressful, fun, challenging… all the things!

This year I decided to spend my entire first week on review and group work in my 5th grade math classroom. I wanted to set the tone from the very beginning that our class would be one full of collaboration, teamwork and growth.

I jumped right into a Back to School Math Escape for days 1 and 2. We did not finish this but I didn’t expect to! It was the perfect opportunity to challenge them, get them up and moving around the classroom and working together. I informed them that I would not be providing any assistance unless they’d used the hint card provided, and used every single brain in the group. This allowed me to spend time circulating the room to learn who each student was and how they’d work together. It was also easy to see which students were taking on the role of leader and which ones seemed happy to sit back and let others do the work. This is all really good information to gather up front!

For the second two days, I turned to a Jeopardy-style review game that focused on key 4th grade skills. Students worked in groups chosen by me. Each group HAD to answer, not just the group that picked the category. Each student in each group had their own whiteboard to use. Once everyone in the group solved the problem, they had to collectively agree on one answer (this wasn’t always easy), and help figure out which mistakes were made on the boards they didn’t agree with before they could share out their answer. Everyone has the chance to earn points this way and it encourages (forces?) math discussion and teamwork. They really enjoyed both activities!

The last day was focused on prepping our interactive notebooks using these templates for the year. I know this style of notebook can be considered difficult, but I really believe in the power of keeping kids organized. Plus, in 5th grade I put a huge focus on learning how to take notes to prepare for middle school.

No matter what you do – make it engaging, relevant and focus on the thing that will for sure make or break your room this year – building relationships.

I’m working on a post about my classroom must-haves for organization and decor! You can see lots of it on my Instagram or shop some of my faves on Amazon!

Lindsay

The post The First Week of School in 5th Grade Math appeared first on Beyond the Worksheet with Lindsay Gould.

Not another ice breaker!

Lindsay — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 15:24:10 +0000

Raise your hand if you love those ice breaker activities at staff meetings and other professional development trainings. What’s that? No hands?

We don’t tend to enjoy those because (a) we feel like our time is better spent learning content, (b) we already know everyone in the room or (c) we are introverts and would prefer to melt into our chair than stand up and shake it for strangers.

Guess what. Your students are the exact same way. Those first day of school ice breakers can be cringe-worthy for many (most) students.

Let’s discuss the reasons why you should mix it up on your first day of school.

By middle school, many of the students already know each other. Sure, you may not know them but they are already at least familiar with one another. A “get to know you” activity may be met with eye rolls unless you teach 6th Grade and have students coming together from different elementary schools.
Even if you do teach 6th Grade – students are doing SO many ice breakers and “About Me” forms on the first day of school. You just might get away with it in your first period class, but by your last period, they’ll be completely over those kids of activities. Think about a full day of PD… if you did the same thing to kick off each session, you would be completely burnt out by the end of the day. The same goes for your students.
Students need to feel as though what they are doing is meaningful – even on the first day of school. A “find someone who” activity might not be your most meaningful option!

So, what should you do on the first day? And, when should you give out those “About Me” forms?

You should start with content. Yep. Content. Let them know their time in your class will be meaningful to their leaning. Do not start with a pre assessment or any “boring” content unless your school requires it.
Start with a resource that encourages collaboration and brings in OLD skills. This will give your students a feeling of confidence (because they’ll be doing something they already know) and let them chat while working.
I highly recommend something like a Back to School Escape Room. Yes it is prep heavy but your students will be engaged and excited about your class.
Since you NEED those “About Me” forms for a variety of reasons, send them home, work them into a warm up or wait until the second week of school. Even the parents could use a break from all the forms on the first day of school. Send home your syllabus and info about your class and let them know you are giving them a form break and will send home those in a few days!

As with literally everything in teaching – you have to do what works best for you. You may have some rockstar ice breaker that students always love. If so, go for it! You may teach in a gigantic school where students may not already know each other. You may teach in an area that houses a lot of military families, so there are a ton of new faces each year. For those of you in schools like that – go ahead with your ice breakers! There may still be a place for them in many classrooms – but probably not most.

The post Not another ice breaker! appeared first on Beyond the Worksheet with Lindsay Gould.

Is a Syllabus Necessary in Middle School? Let’s Chat!

Lindsay — Mon, 30 Jul 2018 01:38:36 +0000

Hey there, middle school educators! Let’s dive into a topic that might make you think of your college days: syllabi. You know, those lengthy documents that listed every assignment and due date for the semester? Yeah, those. But do we really need something that detailed for middle school math? I’m leaning towards a nope.

Honestly, expecting 11 to 13-year-olds (and their parents) to pour over pages of detailed plans that might change seems a bit much. However, there’s definitely value in providing a snapshot of what your class is about. A brief rundown of essential supplies, grading criteria, classroom rules, and how to reach you is golden.

Here’s a thought: while you’re at it, why not make it personal? A “Meet the Teacher” section can work wonders for connecting with your students. Share a bit about yourself—like your favorite sport or snack. And hey, flip the script and ask your students to fill out a “Meet the Student” blurb. It’s a great way to learn about them and can even turn into a fun bulletin board display!

Taking time to craft a straightforward syllabus and personal intro can really kick-start your year on a positive note.

And guess what? If you’re looking to snag some free, editable syllabus and “Meet the Teacher/Student” templates, just pop your email below. You’ll not only get those but also a bunch of other freebies, tips, and heads-up on sales. If you’ve got my Back to School Math Escape activity, you’re already ahead with two of the three templates!

So, let’s keep it simple, personal, and straight to the point. It’s all about setting the stage for an amazing school year!

The post Is a Syllabus Necessary in Middle School? Let’s Chat! appeared first on Beyond the Worksheet with Lindsay Gould.

Kicking Off the Year with Engaging Math Stations

Lindsay — Sat, 06 Aug 2016 17:25:43 +0000

There’s no better time than the start of the school year to introduce and master the art of implementing stations in your math classroom. The first days of school come with their own set of challenges, primarily with setting the tone with new rules and procedures.

Why not make the most of this time by seamlessly integrating stations into your teaching regime? Stations offer a dynamic way to manage time, encourage student interactions, and make learning more enjoyable.

The Power of Starting with Fun
When it comes to stations, it’s important to acknowledge that they can be tricky to manage effectively. You’re juggling time management, student movement, discussions, and assignments, all at once. However, the trick to making stations a hit lies in their introduction.

Kick off with a non-content, fun activity that captivates their attention, making them more interested in the activity than the procedure itself. This ensures they are more likely to follow directions attentively and be eager to move to the next station.

Transitioning to Content
Once you’ve run stations a couple of times using engaging activities unrelated to your content, it’s time to transition to subject-specific stations. Guide them by saying, “Remember when we worked on that exciting puzzle together? Today, we’re going to use the same format, but this time we’re diving into our math problems…” Your students will recall their previous experience, allowing for a smoother transition into content practice without spending additional time explaining procedures.

A Universal First-Day Activity
I’ve designed a versatile activity that works across multiple grade levels and can be adapted to any content area, making it a perfect fit for the first or second day of school. This activity encompasses 6 distinct stations, providing an interactive way for students to either create an “About Me” poster/coloring page or assemble an “About Me” puzzle.

Coloring Page Option: Provide students with a blank coloring page and let them navigate through the stations in their small groups to discover what they should draw, write, or color in each section. The beauty of this option is that the order of stations does not matter.
Puzzle Option: For a slightly different twist, cut the coloring page into puzzle pieces (a swift job for a paper cutter). Instead of carrying a coloring page from station to station, students collect and complete a puzzle piece at each stop. Once finished, they can piece their puzzle together on a blank sheet of paper.
Outcome: Regardless of the chosen method, each student will end up with a personalized “About Me” page, showcasing their interests and unique qualities. This finished piece not only serves as a great conversation starter but also makes for a fantastic display on your classroom wall to start the year on a high note. Ready to grab this activity? Click here to make your purchase!

Deep Dive into Making Stations Work: Intrigued to learn more and ready to transform your classroom with effective station management? I’ve got you covered! Join me for a professional development opportunity where I delve deeper into the nuances of making stations work flawlessly in the middle grades. Click here to register and take the first step towards a more engaging, collaborative, and fun-filled math class.

Happy teaching, and here’s to a fantastic start to the school year with stations!

The post Kicking Off the Year with Engaging Math Stations appeared first on Beyond the Worksheet with Lindsay Gould.