Part 5 of the Getting Started With Math Manipulatives in Upper Elementary series gives you a real-life look at how to incorporate math manipulatives throughout your math block. Explore classroom-tested ideas like partner gallery walks, concurrent small groups, and math starters that make hands-on learning feel natural and fun. Includes a free cheat sheet to help you choose the right manipulatives for every concept!

Part 4 of the Getting Started With Math Manipulatives in Upper Elementary series shows you how to plan hands-on math lessons using the CRA model (Concrete–Representational–Abstract). Learn how to make math concepts more visible with manipulatives, when to use them in instruction, and how to connect each phase of learning to build deeper understanding. Includes a free planning map to help you get started!

Part 3 of the Getting Started With Math Manipulatives in Upper Elementary series focuses on classroom management strategies that make using manipulatives quick, efficient, and effective. Learn how to set routines, assign student roles, tighten transitions, and create clear expectations so your math block runs smoothly. Includes free posters and planning tools in the printable toolkit!

Part 2 of the Getting Started With Math Manipulatives in Upper Elementary series focuses on how to organize math manipulatives in a way that saves time and supports student learning. Learn how to store different types of manipulatives and make math tools more accessible for small group work. Includes free labels in the printable toolkit!

Part 1 of the Getting Started With Math Manipulatives in Upper Elementary series covers the must-have manipulatives every 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade teacher should have on hand. Discover essential tools for teaching whole numbers, fractions, measurement, and geometry—and get tips for auditing what you already have. Includes a free printable toolkit with resources to help you organize and manage manipulatives and plan highly effective hands-on lessons!

Looking for fun and effective ways to teach fractions? This post shares three engaging math games that help upper elementary students build strong fraction sense through hands-on learning, number lines, and visual models. A free printable game is included!

Wondering how to teach multiplicative comparisons in a way that makes sense to students? This blog breaks down 3 essential tips to help students truly understand multiplicative comparisons.

Teaching fractions in 4th and 5th grade often feels scary, especially if your own experience learning fractions in school left you confused and frustrated. But it doesn’t have to be that way for your students! You can turn fractions into a concept you love to teach and your students love to learn about. Here are my top five tips to make fractions more approachable, engaging, and meaningful in your 4th- and 5th-grade classroom.

Multiplying fractions is difficult to make hands-on. Many teachers simply don’t know how to use manipulatives to teach fraction multiplication in 4th and 5th grade! Using pattern blocks is a simple way to make it hands-on and make sure students develop conceptual understanding of fraction multiplication.

I know several teachers that dread any unit having to do with fractions too. I think a lot of the negative feelings about fractions comes from a lack of learning fractions the way we should have learned fractions. Most of us weren’t taught fractions in a way that made sense or had any type of meaning. Some of our students were introduced to fractions in this same type of way as well.

One of my favorite things to do in the classroom is to actually make things with my students. I absolutely love throwing on my apron and getting my hands and the rest of the classroom dirty!

There are certain concepts in math that are pretty obvious in which order they should be taught.  Clearly students should learn to add before they learn to multiply, or divide whole numbers before learning to divide decimals. What I found is not so clear among many teachers and those district leaders who write our pacing guides is what comes first?

When students understand when they would actually use the content they are learning, their motivation is immediately boosted. Not only do students become more motivated in learning the content, but they are also challenged to apply (Bloom's Taxonomy, anyone?) the content which typically requires more critical thinking.