Digital Archives - Beyond the Worksheet with Lindsay Gould

Innovative Math Games for Engaging Reluctant Learners

Lindsay — Mon, 15 Jan 2024 06:15:00 +0000

Why, hello once again! Today, let’s talk about a topic all teachers grapple with: engaging reluctant learners in math. We know that traditional methods don’t always spark interest in every student, so how about shaking things up with some innovative math games? These games are not only fun but also incredibly effective in making math appealing to those who are less enthusiastic about the subject. Let’s dive in!

1. Math Bingo: A Twist on a Classic

Who doesn’t love Bingo? Create bingo cards with math problems instead of numbers. As you call out the solutions, students solve the problems to mark their cards. It’s a great way to practice basic arithmetic in a fun, competitive setting.

2. Escape Room Challenges: Math Edition

Escape rooms are all the rage, and they can be educational, too! Set up math puzzles that students must solve to ‘escape’ the classroom. Math Escapes encourage critical thinking and teamwork, all while practicing math skills – plus, they are incredibly engaging!

3. Math Board Games: Roll, Move, and Calculate

Design board games where students move pieces by solving math problems. You can tailor these games to different math topics and difficulty levels. Plus, they’re a hit for group activities!

4. Math Scavenger Hunts: Explore and Solve

Organize a scavenger hunt where each clue involves solving a math problem. This active game gets students moving and thinking outside the box – literally!

5. Digital Math Games: Tech-Forward Learning

Incorporate digital games into your math classroom. Websites and apps like the ones I list for you below, offer a range of games that make learning math concepts like fractions and algebra fun and interactive.

GeoGebra – Graphing calculator and resources for various math topics, including algebra and geometry (Grades 9-12; free).
Kahoot! – A game-based classroom response system for engaging math learning (Grades K-12; free, with premium content options).
Numberock – Features music videos on math topics and additional resources like worksheets and games (Grades K-5; limited free videos, subscription available).
Arithmetic Four – A game for two users to answer math questions and connect four pieces (Grades 2-8; free).
Coolmath Games – A variety of math games (Grades K-12; free with ads, premium subscription available).
Mangahigh – A UK game-based site covering algebra, geometry, and more (Grades K-12; contact for pricing).
Math Game Time – Offers a range of games, organized by grade and subject (Grades pre-K-7; free).
Math Is Fun – Provides games and practice for subjects like geometry and algebra (Grades 6-12; free).
Math Playground – Over 425 games, puzzles, and brain workouts (Grades K-12; free).

Remember, the goal is to make math less intimidating and more engaging. By incorporating these innovative games into your lessons, you’ll not only catch the attention of reluctant learners but also create a more dynamic and enjoyable learning environment for everyone.

Keep experimenting, and watch as those reluctant learners turn into enthusiastic mathematicians!

The post Innovative Math Games for Engaging Reluctant Learners appeared first on Beyond the Worksheet with Lindsay Gould.

Deep Dive into DIGITAL RESOURCES

Lindsay — Sat, 29 Jul 2023 11:58:35 +0000

Let’s jump right into the resource highlight of the day… digital resources! Obviously 2020 caused digital resource use and creation to surge. Many of you had been strictly paper/pencil and were quickly forced into uncharted territory. Those of us who create educational resources had to do a quick pivot as well to help you continue instruction with little stress. You always have the option to upload your PDFs to drive and insert text boxes, but there are so many engaging options!

Of course, there are many benefits to digital learning, most specifically interactivity and saving on paper and printing resources, but I’m still a firm believer in traditional, paper and pencil learning. Because of this, I wanted to make sure my digital resources still “felt” like the printable ones in both design and style.

Printable coloring pages were converted to digital drag and drops, curriculum notes were converted to digital interactive notebooks and assessments kept the same graphics as they were converted to self-grading forms. Warm ups and exit tickets took on a new form with Beginnings and Beyond – self checking google forms activities.

When possible, I added digital components to print resources (like math stations), but often had to make them completely separate resources due to bundle sizes and pricing and the amount of time it was taking for conversions.

To make grabbing all your grade level digital options easier, I created digital bundles for grades 5, 6, 7, and 8th/Algebra 1.

Interested in more digital tips? Check out this post on organizing your google drive!

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Revolutionize Learning Assessments with ‘Beginnings and Beyond’: Engaging, Self-Checking Activities!

Lindsay — Thu, 29 Jul 2021 22:24:18 +0000

Have your warm ups gotten dry?

Are your students over the same old routine?

Every educator understands the pivotal role of warm-ups and exit tickets in the learning process. They are not just essential; in many schools, they are a crucial component of teacher evaluations, offering a snapshot of student knowledge. However, the monotony of traditional assessments can be a drag, both for students and teachers. Does the thought of creating and grading endless sheets of paper make you cringe? Do your students find them tedious and boring?

Say hello to “Beginnings and Beyond,” a series of innovative assessments in Google Sheets that are not just self-checking but are also activities your students will genuinely enjoy!

ENGAGING:

“Beginnings and Beyond” transforms mundane assessments into engaging activities, ensuring students practice essential concepts without realizing they are learning.

Mazes: Aligned with curriculum standards, these mazes are not just engaging but also self-checking.
Puzzles: As students answer each question, a piece of a mystery image reveals itself. The self-checking feature ensures immediate feedback, and upon completion, a math joke/pun is unveiled!

SUGGESTIONS FOR USE:

Warm-Ups or Exit Tickets: Divide the activity, using half as a warm-up and the other half as an exit ticket, or mix it up for variety!
Healthy Competition: Encourage students to see who can complete the maze first, fostering a sense of healthy competition.

STRESS FREE:

Whether you choose to use these as warm-ups, exit tickets, or competitive activities, prepare to assess without stress! These innovative assessments are available for 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th grades.

TRY FOR FREE:

Curious to explore these innovative assessments? Download a free sample from each grade level and experience the revolution in learning assessments!

WHERE TO PURCHASE:

Blog Store: Find individual puzzles and mazes, grade level bundles, and skill-specific bundles here.
TPT: Grade level and skill-specific bundles are available on TPT.

Transform the learning experience with “Beginnings and Beyond,” and make assessments an engaging and enjoyable process for your students. Dive into the world of innovative learning and make education a thrilling journey!

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Quickly Make Any PDF into a Digital Resource

Lindsay — Tue, 18 Aug 2020 15:50:47 +0000

When most of you were facing digital instruction, you were scrambling to find resources that were compatible with the online programs you were using.

I was getting so many questions about when (not if) complete curriculum and basically every single resource I’ve ever created would be made digital. That is a task I could honestly never accomplish. First and foremost, it would take me years. Secondly, not everything needs to be converted. Some things work well – like assessments and activities that would usually be hands on, but basic worksheets and traditional teaching materials don’t need my attention. If you’d like to have some ready-to-go digital resources, you can get them here!

Why? You can use them as-is! There are a few resources out there that allow students to annotate on top of a PDF (like Kami). Also, if you are using Google Classroom and your students are on a handheld device, you can simply send them a PDF (or even a screenshot or photograph) and they can use the student tools within Google Classroom to write or type directly on the file.

If you really want your resources to have text boxes, you can use the features within Adobe to add them to PDFs, or you can upload them to Google Slides. Here’s a quick tutorial!

For Single Pages

Take a screenshot of the page you want to send.
Open up Google Slides and create a new presentation.
Change the slide size to match the page you are adding. Go to FILE – PAGE SET UP – Click the dropdown next to Widescreen 16 x 9 and click Custom. Change it to your page size (standard is 8.5 x 11)
Insert the screenshot you just took into the background. Click the BACKGROUND tab – then, CHOOSE IMAGE. Drag the screenshot.
Boom! You have a Google Slide with a worksheet/notes/etc. secured onto the background.
Insert text boxes wherever you want your students to type. You can also add your own typed directions on a blank first slide. If your students are old enough, you can give them a quick Slides tutorial on how to insert text boxes and shapes, and they can do it themselves – saving you even more time.

For Full Files
If you want to upload multiple pages at once, there are a few extra steps.

Convert your PDF to JPGs. You can do this on a variety of websites for free, such as ilovepdf.com, smallpdf.com, and www.pdf2go.com along with others.
Open up Google Slides and create a new presentation.
Change the slide size to match the page you are adding. Go to FILE – PAGE SET UP – Click the dropdown next to Widescreen 16 x 9 and click Custom. Change it to your page size (standard is 8.5 x 11)
Click the Add-Ons Tab, then “Get Add-Ons”. Search “Slides Toolbox” in the search bar and install.
Return to your project and once again go to the Add-Ons tab. This time, click the Slides Toolbox, then OPEN.
Click “Import Tools”, then “Create Slides from Images”
Make sure the button next to “Single Image” is selected and check the box next to “Set as Page Background.”
Click NEXT – UPLOAD. Drag and drop ALL of your JPGS from your PDF conversion here.
Click UPLOAD… You’re done!
The first slide will probably be blank, which is the perfect place for you to add directions, or just delete it.

I hope this was helpful! If you need a video tutorial, see below!

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