Five of My Favorite Integer Activities

Teaching integers is one of my favorite topics.

Why?

Because in the beginning students act as if they will NEVER understand Integers.

Working with negative numbers is sooo hard and confusing.

And then they get it!!

Plus there are so many real life examples and activities that can be done with Integers.

I love that in most pacing guides out there, at least the ones I've come in contact with, integers is taught at the beginning of the year.  It is such a great way to build that math confidence early on.

Don't get me wrong, integers can be confusing and some students really struggle with the concept.  I just think there are so many great visuals and activities out there to help those struggling students.

Okay.

Enough of my ranting.

I have FIVE integer activities I want to share with you.

This Ordering Integers cut and paste activity is great for making a simple concept more hands-on.  What is it about cutting and pasting that just makes it more fun?  And when you print it on your favorite astrobright paper...you might as well be throwing a party!

Students get six sets of numbers that they must put in order from least to greatest.

And if cutting and pasting isn't your thing then you might appreciate the digital version of this activity.

Learning to add integers on a number line can be a bit tricky.  This digital activity is great practice and helps catch some common mistakes.  It comes with 20 different problems but you can easily cut that down if you feel like that is more than your students need or can handle.

As you can probably tell, I'm all about making simple activities more hands-on and interactive for my students.  This sort activity is a fun way to practice those adding and subtracting rules for integers.  I love to have my students do this with a partner because it produces some great math conversations among students.

If you follow me on Instagram you know how much I am loving my Integers Number Line.  I have been using this number line for a few years but this year I am using it in so many different ways.  It is individual pieces which allows you to create a horizontal or vertical number line.  In my experience students see horizontal number lines all the time, but they are not as familiar with vertical number lines.  This year I decided to hang mine up on my whiteboard with magnets so that I can create both a horizontal and vertical number line.

Then I decided I wanted to be able to use it to practice other types of problems so I created a math symbols set.

And then I thought we needed some fractions and decimals to throw in the mix so a new set was born.



I am looking forward to using these three sets all year long with my students.

And last but certainly not least, my newest activity that I am so stinkin' excited about it.

Students can practice all four operations with this digital color by number activity.  As they correctly answer questions parts of the picture began to appear.  Students will have fun guessing what they think the picture might be.

 Mario has me feeling a bit nostalgic



So there you have it!  Five of my favorite Integer Activities.  I have so many activities that I enjoy doing with Integers.  I could easily do a part two to this post if you are interested. 

Creating Task Cards Using QR Codes

Hey y'all!

Who is ready for this week's #TechTipsTuesday?

This week's tip is one requested by you guys.

I am excited to show you how to create your own task cards using QR Codes. These task cards have the ability to shift the responsibility of learning from your shoulders to your students.  Using QR Codes allows students to check their own work and encourages them to find and learn from their mistakes.

Let's get started.

First, you will need to decide what concept/topic you want to use for your task cards and start creating those task cards using PowerPoint.

If you don't know how to create task cards in PowerPoint, let me know.  I'll do a #TechTipsTuesday about that soon.

Now it's time for the fun part.  Creating and inserting those QR Codes.

I'm going to create a code for Card 1.  The purpose of the QR Code on task cards is to reveal the answer to students so they can check their work without needing you.  This frees you up to work with small groups or even individual students.

You may be thinking to yourself...

Can't they just scan the code and have the answer without doing any work?

Yes.  

They can.

This is why it is crucial to discuss the importance of doing the work and learning from their mistakes.  Build a sense of ownership within your students.

Because the purpose is to reveal the answer the first step in creating the code for Card 1 is to know the answer for that card.

In this case the answer is 34.54 feet.

Now that we have the answer we are going to open up a web browser and search for qr code generator.

I like to use that first option that appears in the search.  There might be one out there that is infinitely better, but that first one is free and easy to use so I'll take it.

After you've clicked on that first option you will see that there are several different ways you can use QR Codes.  They can send your students to a website, to a image, or play a song.  

The uses are endless.

For our task cards we want the QR Code to lead to text.  

Choose text and then type the answer into the blank box.

Once you have entered your text (the answer) click the green bar that says "CREATE QR CODE".

The QR Code on the right will darken up and appear black.

Below the QR Code you can customize it if you prefer a different look.  You can add a frame that says "Scan Me" or change the color if you are printing using a colored printer.  

I prefer to leave it as it is for my task cards.  

After you customize it to your liking click the green bar below it that says "DOWNLOAD JPG".

A pop up box will immediately appear saying it will download soon.  You can exit out of that at any time.

You are finished creating your QR Code.  Now it's time to insert it into your task card.

Remember we downloaded it as a JPEG.

Go back to your task cards and INSERT PICTURE

Your QR Code will be in your downloads folder.

Just choose your code and then select open.

It will be inserted into your PowerPoint and will be bigger than you need.

Your last step is to make it smaller and then drag it to the correct card.

That's all there is too it.

Now if you are still a little unsure of some steps or want a few more tips, you might want to check out this video I created showing you step by step.  I don't know about you, but sometimes I need to see it being done.

Want to try out some task cards before creating your own?

Check out these that I've already created for you.

Check out this blog post to see other ways you can use QR Codes in your classroom.

If you have any questions about QR Codes leave me a comment and I'll get back to you soon.

My Story, My Mission

Hey y'all!

I'm Elaina, better known in the social media world as The Classy Teacher.

I am blessed to get to teach my very favorite thing of all the things.

Seventh Grade Math!

But believe it or not, math as not always been my favorite.

See, I was never the best math student.  I made good grades but only because I could regurgitate what the teacher said.  I could follow some steps like no one else!  The problem was I never really understood the why or the how of math.  

Fast forward to college where I was busy getting my degree in middle childhood education with an emphasis on language arts and social studies.

I told myself and anyone who would listen that I planned to NEVER teach math or science.  They were not my thing.

Ha!

That one came back to bite me.

My first real teaching job was 7th and 8th grade Science.  I didn't want to apply.  My husband told me to do it because it was a good school.

I worked in that district for six years and loved every minute of it.

I learned a lot and grew as a teacher under the leadership of some of the best administration I have ever worked for.  She gave me chances to teach a variety of things and figure out who I was and where I belonged.  

In those six years I taught 7th and 8th grade Science as well as 7th grade Social Studies, English, and Math.  

Guess which two were my favorite?

Math and Science.

Never say never, right?

When I left that district I got a job teaching 5th and 6th grade Math.  

I've been teaching Math ever since and that was six years ago.

When my principal first approached me about teaching math I thought she was crazy.  I explained that my math was not my forte.  

Know what she told me?

"That's why you'll be great at it."

I know what it is like to sit in a math class and feel like the teacher is teaching in a foreign language.

 Because of that, I knew I wanted my classroom to look and feel differently than those math classrooms I was in as a student.  

I didn't want my students to dread coming to Math class.

I wanted Math to be fun and engaging.

And not scary!

I believe my students would tell you that I have accomplished that goal.

It's taken me time to learn.

It's taken more great administration believing in me.

Now, I'm constantly dreaming about and looking for new activities to get my students doing math and talking about it with their peers.  I've learned that middle school students love them some stations.

Stations are NOT just for elementary.

I've discovered my love for a good digital activity.

Scavenger Hunts are among my favorite ways to review!

People say "They don't teach math the same way they did when I was a kid."

I think that's a good thing.  I wish my teachers had made math more interactive.  It would have helped me be a better student.  

Math doesn't have to be scary.

It doesn't have to have a bad reputation.

Math can be fun!

Math can be a student's favorite class even when they might not think it's their best content area.

That's my mission.

Let's make math fun while deepening student understanding.

Let's encourage our students to be problem solvers.

Let's give our students opportunities to make mistakes and then grow from those mistakes.

Want to grab some engaging activities for you students?

Snag some freebies by clicking the picture below.

Five Ways to Use QR Codes in the Classroom

I used to think elementary when I heard someone talking about math stations.  Four or five years ago a mentor of mine taught me that math stations are not only doable in middle school, but middle school students still love them.  

And y'all I haven't looked back since.

I love me some stations.

What does this have to do with  QR Codes?

When I first began implementing stations I was on the hunt for activities that students could work on without me holding their hand.  QR Codes was one of those activities.

By adding QR Codes to my task cards students are able to check their answers on their own.

No more, "Mrs. Weaver, is this the right answer for #2?"

QR Codes have freed me up to work with small groups.

I have found that this type of activity also encourages students to take ownership of their learning.  Could they just scan the code and have the answer?  Absolutely.  But what do they learn from that?  This is the type of conversation we have often when we first start doing task cards with QR Codes.  Students are encouraged to do the work before scanning and then if they make a mistake and come up with an incorrect answer they are encouraged to figure out their mistake on their own.

I love seeing the growth in my students over the year using these task cards.

Quiz and Test can be scary words for students.  If I can assess my students without using those two words or without making it feel like an assessment?  Well I'm here for that.

Plickers is a great formative assessment tool.  When I first started using Plickers a few years ago it was free.  Sadly you now have to pay for the full version.

But don't let that deter you.

You can ask up to five questions at a time using the free version.  This still works perfectly as a warm up or an exit ticket type activity.  

If you have never used plickers, here's a quick run down of how it works.

Students each have an unique qr code that they use to answer multiple choice questions.  You use your device to scan the qr codes to record answers.  It's immediate feedback for everyone.  You can read more about them in this post I wrote a few years ago.

Classroom Documentation...there's a fun topic.

You can use QR Codes to help you with documentation.  I love this idea from Preppy Zesty Teacherista.

Have students scan a QR code to document no homework, or leaving the classroom for the bathroom or nurse, or being tardy.  The options are endless.

Want to get students excited about a free pencil or a fun little eraser?  And I'm talking Middle School students.

Amp up the anticipation of rewards with QR Codes.  

Students love the anticipation of not knowing what little reward they will receive.  I find it fun to watch them act like they know or remember each QR code.  Most of these rewards cost me nothing and students seriously love it.  It's a game of chance.

Last but not least, use QR Codes to help your students study and prepare for an upcoming assessment.  When you make that study guide, add a QR code to it that links students to a helpful youtube video.  

You could even have your students find the videos for you.  

When they get home and need a little extra help on that one problem, they can scan the QR code and watch a video that explains how to solve the problem.

Do you use QR Codes in your classroom?

How do you use them?

HOW TO CREATE A QR CODE