math

Empower 4th Graders with Decimal Mastery

AdminLeave a comment

Why This MathRep Matters

For 4th-grade educators who are guided by the CCSS.Math.Content.4.NF.C.6 and CCSS.Math.Content.4.NF.C.7 standards (part of the Number & Operations—Fractions domain), this MathRep is a game-changer.

  • CCSS.Math.Content.4.NF.C.6
    • Use decimal notation for fractions with denominators 10 or 100. For example, rewrite 0.62 as 62/100; describe a length as 0.62 meters; locate 0.62 on a number line diagram.
  • CCSS.Math.Content.4.NF.C.7
    • Compare two decimals to hundredths by reasoning about their size. Recognize that comparisons are valid only when the two decimals refer to the same whole. Record the results of comparisons with the symbols >, =, or <, and justify the conclusions, e.g., by using a visual model.

Why Teachers Love It

  • Low floor, high ceiling: Students can start with simple conversions and move toward rich reasoning and comparisons.
  • Multiple entry points: Some may begin with fraction-to-decimal conversion, while others may focus on comparing decimals; yet, both pathways are supported.
  • Discussion built in: The MathRep encourages students to explain their thinking (“I know 0.59 is less than 0.6 because …”), which deepens understanding. Using this MathRep in Snorkl can further support student reasoning.
  • Standards-aligned and ready to use: Especially helpful when you need a targeted resource for 4.NF.C.6 and 4.NF.C.7.

Ready to Get Started

Download or open the accompanying MathRep (see video) and begin your lessons with this ready-to-go template. Embed the video in your class expectation or homework link to give students a chance to revisit the concept later. Doing it on paper? Why not print out a blank template and a completed template on the back and insert it into a plastic sleeve? Students then have a reference if they get stuck.

Visit MathReps.com for free templates and more resources.

Final Takeaway

This MathRep is a powerful, standards-aligned tool for supporting 4th-graders in mastering decimal notation and comparison. By anchoring learning in discussions, visual models, and student reasoning, it simplifies complex content into manageable and engaging experiences. Add this to your toolkit and watch your students build confidence with decimals.

Let me know how it goes in your classroom – I’d love to hear your success stories and any tweaks you make!

Snorkl + MathReps = Powerful Learning Moments

AdminLeave a comment

I’m sure I’ve mentioned Snorkl before, but it’s worth sharing again, especially because MathReps are part of the platform!

If you haven’t explored it yet, Snorkl is an AI-powered feedback tool that provides students with meaningful and personalized responses to their work. Teachers can create their own assignments or choose from Snorkl’s library of ready-to-go activities. These activities span all grade levels and subject areas – from kindergarten through high school – and include math, ELD, science, history, and language arts.

When a student completes an assignment, Snorkl analyzes their work based on the rubric (which it can even create for you!) and provides feedback and a score. It doesn’t provide answers, but instead encourages students to think deeper and revise their work.

A few reasons I ❤️ Snorkl:

  • It’s simple (not loaded with bells and whistles) and intuitive for both teachers and students.
  • Teachers can start from scratch or choose from a library of quality tasks.
  • Feedback can be provided in multiple languages, but teachers always see it in English.
  • Directions and feedback can be read aloud, making them perfect for young learners or multilingual students. (And it doesn’t sound robotic!)

Snorkl in Action: A Classroom Story

Recently, I had the opportunity to visit a 3rd-grade class to help them get started with Snorkl. (Total aside, but the teacher—Erin Daines—is one of the most naturally gifted educators I’ve ever met. I always learn something new in her classroom!)

On the first visit, we started simple with a fun activity from the Snorkl Library: “Introduce yourself and draw a picture of something you like.”

It was a low-stakes way for students to explore some of the whiteboard tools—pen, highlighter, shapes, and lines and get comfortable with the platform. We set it up so they could view and comment on one another’s work, and the engagement was instant. The room was buzzing with creativity and laughter.

When I returned the next week, we took things a step further. We made the next assignment collaborative, which meant students appeared under playful names, such as Zany Zebra or Curious Coyote. This anonymity helped students focus on ideas instead of popularity, something I really appreciate.

We started with a Would You Rather prompt: “Would you rather have a caramel apple or a slice of pumpkin pie?”

Students had to choose one and explain why. One student chose “neither” and explained his reasoning. Snorkl acknowledged his logic but scored it lower and challenged him to pick one, since the task was to make a choice, an excellent learning moment in a safe environment.

Then came the highlight: a 3rd Grade MathReps addition activity in Snorkl!

Students completed the task, then recorded their explanations to show their thinking. We know that when students can explain a process, their understanding deepens. Snorkl provided instant, helpful feedback that supported this reflection.

The best part? When students didn’t earn a 4/4, they wanted to improve. They read or listened to the feedback and tried again: some two or three times! The combination of MathReps and Snorkl fostered perseverance, reflection, and a sense of pride in learning. It was so exciting to witness.

Try MathReps in Snorkl!

Yes, MathReps are live in Snorkl—you’ll find them under the EduProtocols section. Currently, activities are available for grades K–4, with additional 4th-grade content and upper-grade levels forthcoming.

If you’d like to beta test upcoming MathReps in Snorkl, I’d love to have you join in! Just reach out and let me know.

So go ahead—try a MathRep in Snorkl. Let your students explore, explain, and shine.

The Power of Practice: Why MathReps Are the Missing Piece in Math Education

AdminLeave a comment

MathReps are more than just a worksheet—they are a targeted, daily instructional frame designed to leverage the science of learning to create genuine mathematical mastery. Here is a look at their inherent power and how they succeed where traditional, rigid curriculums often fail.

The Power of MathReps—What Makes Them Effective?

MathReps are powerful because their structure is built on proven principles of cognitive science and student-centered learning. (Note: MathReps are not a curriculum, rather a powerful tool that can enhance any curriculum.)

ReasonExplanation
Systematic Spaced Repetition (The Forgetting Curve)The daily repetition directly combats the ‘forgetting curve,’ a term that describes how quickly we forget new information. By consistently allowing students to revisit skills, MathReps move concepts from short-term memory into long-term mastery (fluency) in a way that end-of-unit tests or once-a-year review packets cannot.
Reduced Cognitive LoadThe basic lesson frame/graphic organizer is predictable and familiar. When the structure is constant, students don’t waste mental energy figuring out the assignment’s format, allowing them to dedicate all their cognitive load to solving the problem, making connections, and mastering the skill.
Connection Between Concepts and StrategiesMathReps are designed to promote a deeper understanding by requiring students to connect multiple representations (e.g., area models, partial quotients, and the traditional algorithm) on a single page. This helps them bridge the ‘how’ (procedural fluency) with the ‘why’ (conceptual understanding).
Daily Spiral Review of Multiple StandardsUnlike unit-by-unit curriculums that drop a topic once the unit is over, MathReps embed daily spiral review for several standards at once. This ensures that skills learned in September are still being practiced and reinforced in February, building confidence and preventing skill degradation.
Customization and DifferentiationThey are fully customizable, allowing teachers to select skills based on student data and individual needs. This makes MathReps a personalized learning tool that meets each student exactly where they are—a crucial advantage over a standardized textbook.
Fosters Long-Term SuccessReal-world evidence shows their success. One 3rd-grade team, for example, reported an increase in fraction proficiency from 19% to over 82% after implementing the daily repetition of MathReps.

How MathReps Do What Traditional Curriculums Fail To Do

Traditional math curriculums, whether purely procedural or heavily conceptual, often fail in three key areas that MathReps are specifically designed to address.

Failure of Traditional CurriculumsHow MathReps Solve It
Failure to Ensure Skill RetentionTraditional curriculums move on too quickly. If a student misses a concept or needs more time, they “fall off the train” and develop a learning gap that a built-in review system can’t fix.
Failure to Bridge Conceptual and Procedural FluencyCurriculums often lean too heavily in one direction: either “drill and kill” (rote memorization without understanding) or purely conceptual (understanding the theory but lacking computational skill). Often focusing on one skill at a time and never showing the connections.
Failure to Adequately Address Learning GapsStandardized, one-size-fits-all textbooks cannot accommodate a classroom where students may have learning gaps spanning multiple years. Pushing “high expectations” without addressing prior knowledge often leads to student failure.

MathReps provide the crucial daily rhythm of practice and reflection that students need to connect, internalize, and ultimately master their math skills, setting them up for success when confronted with more complex material.

You can find the full collection at MathReps.com.

You can see a deeper dive into the format and utility of these organizers in this video: MathReps is Where It’s At!.

Customize Your MathReps in Snorkl Easily

AdminLeave a comment

This past summer, I’ve been sharing insights about the MathReps collection available in Snorkl. In my recent post, New MathReps Available in Snorkl Library, I provided a quick guide on how to easily navigate the platform to discover your favorite MathReps. Don’t miss the latest video that demonstrates how to seamlessly add these resources to your library and customize them to suit your specific needs.

Math Dash Chats: Boost Classroom Discourse

AdminLeave a comment

Earlier this year, a simple idea sparked a solution to a common challenge in many classrooms: how to review math concepts and encourage student conversation when time is short. This led to the creation of Math Dash Chats.

Our district, like many others, was grappling with a noticeable gap in our curriculum—a lack of dedicated time for math discourse. We know that talking about math helps students solidify their understanding, but with so many standards to cover, where do you fit it in? I created Math Dash Chats for 3rd Grade, as an instructional coach who works closely with 3rd-grade teams, it felt like the perfect place to start. Since then, I’ve created sets for grades 2-6 and am excited to expand to grades 7 and 8 soon.

So, what exactly are Math Dash Chats, and how can they help your students? I’m so glad you asked!

What are Math Dash Chats?

Math Dash Chats are 36 prepared slides for your grade level (currently grades 2-6). The activity is designed to be a quick, five-minute daily review that gets students talking.

The slides are divided into six sections, five of which are based on Common Core domains like Geometry and Measurement, and the sixth is a directions section. Problems are hidden behind colorful “doors” [01:05], which you can view beforehand. Then, simply drag the questions over for a fun and engaging reveal.

How Do They Work?

The idea is simple: choose one “door” a day to discuss for about five minutes. This brief, focused discussion ensures a consistent review without taking up valuable class time. The topics covered are not just standard procedures; they encourage students to explore reasoning, number sense, and even domains like geometry or measurement that are often rushed through or left for the end of the year.

The video provides an example from the “Convince me that” category, where students are asked to prove that “4 tens is the same as 3 tens and 10 ones” [01:53]. This type of question promotes collaboration, and you might find that students want to use personal whiteboards or manipulatives to work through some of the problems together.

The Result

The response from teachers has been overwhelmingly positive. They love the ease of a no-prep, ready-to-go resource that gets students talking about math. Who doesn’t love a well-thought-out, free resource that is proven to work?

If you’re looking for a quick, impactful way to review math concepts and get your students engaged in meaningful math conversations, Math Dash Chats are for you!

Math Dash Chats Folder: Please make a copy of the desired slide deck for yourself by selecting ‘file’ > ‘make a copy’. If you receive a message that says ‘Access Denied’, it may be an issue with your district account. I’ve encountered this recently. If this happens, I suggest trying your personal account and sharing it with your district account. If that doesn’t work, contact me and we can try a few other options.

New MathReps Available in Snorkl Library

AdminLeave a comment

It’s been a crazy summer. In the last post, I talked about MathReps living in the Snorkl App – a sampling of MathReps, not the full collection. Well, I’m proud to say that they ARE indeed up and ready for you to use. Currently, K-2 is live with others being added regularly. The plan is to have a sampling from K through high school available.

So, where might you find them on the website? I’m so glad you asked. Log in to Snorkl App. Once logged in, navigate to the ‘Library’ tab. Click on the down arrow and select ‘Snorkl Library’.

Once in the Snorkl Library, navigate to the ‘General’ section. That’s where you’ll find MathReps.

That’s right, you’ll see 37 ready-to-use MathReps! Snorkl will continue to add to them as they are ready. 3rd-grade is in the works as I write this. If you have any questions or requests, please feel free to reach out, and I’m happy to help.

MathReps & Snorkl

AdminLeave a comment

Oofta, it’s been a hot minute. I’d like to blame end-of-the-year craziness on my lack of posting, but that’s not the whole story. The other part is that I just haven’t been motivated. Welp, I’m back!

Today, I’d like to briefly touch on a new(ish) app – Snorkl. This tool utilized AI in the best way. Students record their work via screen recording, voice and screen recording, only audio, or written. I have been focusing on the voice and screen recordings. This quick video shows how I built out a 1st-grade MathRep and how students can show their work. I know, you’re thinking, “So where is the AI?” So glad you had that thought; it comes in the form of immediate feedback in this case. It’s so much easier if I show you:

So what are your thoughts? How can you see utilizing Snorkl in your classroom?

Let’s Talk Math

AdminLeave a comment

My current position, Tech TOSA/Instructional Coach, affords me the opportunity to go into teachers’ classrooms and share the amazing things that are happening. So here I am sharing what this talented first-grade teacher in my district is doing.

Earlier in the week, I was in my Tech TOSA role. I went into this first-grade classroom to teach a lesson on coding using Beebots. I’m sure you’ve figured out this is not what I’m here to discuss. When I walked in, I noticed this chart on her board. What struck me about it was its simplicity. As you can see, it has some basic concepts and images to accompany it. What also drew my attention was the title: Let’s Talk Math. This implies that Math is something that should be discussed. It’s not something we do in isolation or keep to ourselves. While I did not have time to discuss with the teacher what she does with this chart, I know her well enough to say that she references it consistently.

I think it’s worth noticing that this is not flashy, cutesy, or Pinteresty in any way. Too often, we teachers ‘do too much,’ as the kids would say. That isn’t to say that those who make their room match or aesthetically pleasing “do too much.” It’s just to say that if you’re not that kind of teacher—like me—that’s okay. Having something as simple as a chart on your whiteboard works just as well. The important thing here is accessibilty – both in terms of understanding and placement – is most important. If it’s in a place where students can’t see it, like being too high up, or teachers don’t reference it, it’s no good to anyone.

What is my point in all of this? I wanted to celebrate the awesomeness of what this teacher is doing and highlight its simplicity. What are some simple ways you keep your students engaged while encouraging discussions?

NOTE: You may have noticed that I use hyphens in my writing. This has been a thing for me for many years: you can find them in previous posts dating back to pre-AI. I also know that AI uses them often, and it is one of the tell-tale signs that something has been written with AI. I felt the need to point out that while I use them, they are not a result of AI, just of my own knowledge of how to use them.

Effective Place Value Techniques for Teaching Addition

AdminLeave a comment

Are you looking for a way to help students truly see what’s happening when they add multi-digit numbers? One powerful approach uses place value-based strategies that build from representational thinking toward more efficient, abstract methods.

Start with Expanded Form

In the first part of the video, I model a place value strategy using expanded form. Students break apart each number into hundreds, tens, and ones, add those values separately, and then combine their sums.

This representational method supports flexible thinking and strengthens their understanding of how numbers work. It also lays a strong foundation for future strategies that depend on place value fluency.

Scaffold Toward the Algorithm

Next, I introduce a slightly more advanced approach that continues to use the Hundreds Chart as a scaffold. This visual support helps students begin to internalize regrouping and transitions them toward the traditional addition algorithm, a 4th-grade standard.

This shift is intentional. By gradually moving from expanded form to a structure that supports the algorithm, students develop a deeper understanding of why the algorithm works—not just how to use it.

Support with Consistent Structure

The real power of MathReps lies in their consistency. Each template reinforces key math skills in a familiar format, allowing students to focus on developing strategies and precision rather than navigating new instructions each time.

Whether students are practicing during warm-ups, small groups, or independent work, MathReps create a rhythm of reflection and growth with immediate feedback.

Grab the Free Templates

The MathReps template shown in the video is available for free at MathReps.com. And if you’re looking for a reusable option, check out the dry-erase Wipebook versions—perfect for centers, partner work, or teacher modeling.

One Rep at a Time

With MathReps, you’re not just assigning practice—you’re building confidence, one rep at a time.

Why Manipulatives Matter Beyond Early Grades

Image Admin2 Comments

In the early grades, it’s not uncommon to see math manipulatives used daily in the classroom. Teachers pull out connecting cubes, counters, base ten blocks, and more—tools that help students build a concrete understanding of math concepts. Whether they’re exploring different ways to make 10 or practicing addition, these hands-on tools support their thinking in meaningful ways.

This follows the CRA model—Concrete, Representational, Abstract. We start with the concrete, like manipulatives. Once students have a solid grasp of the concept, we move into the representational, such as drawings or visual models. Finally, we introduce the abstract, using numbers and symbols alone. For example:

  • Concrete: Use connecting cubes to model 5 + 3
  • Representational: Draw 5 circles and 3 more
  • Abstract: Solve 5 + 3 = 8

But here’s what I’ve been thinking about lately: why do we often abandon manipulatives once students move into the upper grades?

Sure, by fourth or fifth grade, many students no longer need cubes for basic addition and subtraction. At that point, they’ve likely mastered those foundational skills and can work abstractly. But what about when we introduce new, more complex concepts—like volume in upper elementary or integers in middle school?

Volume is a great example. It’s a tough concept to grasp without something physical to hold or build. Yet so often, we hand students a formula and expect them to just “get it.” What if we instead gave them time to build with cubes, experiment, and see what volume means before jumping into the numbers?

The same goes for concepts like negative numbers. A number line or clothesline math activity can help students visualize and understand the relationships between positive and negative values. Why skip that step?

All this has me wondering: Is it a time issue? A training issue? Have we simply forgotten how powerful manipulatives can be for older students, too?

I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Do you use manipulatives in your classroom? What grade do you teach? What concepts do you use them for?

Let’s keep the conversation going—and keep math meaningful at every grade level.