Why Students Confuse Area and Perimeter {and What It Reveals}
If you’ve ever graded a math assignment and noticed your students calculating the perimeter when the question clearly asked for area, you know how frustrating
Math Wheels for Note-taking?
3 Versatile Math Activities You Need in Your Classroom
Some days, you have a full, calm math block with time to teach, practice, and reflect. Other days, the schedule gets chopped up, your kids
How to Build a Library of Color by Number Review Activities for the Entire Year
During my time in the classroom, there was always a point in the year when I realized I was constantly scrambling for review activities that
Engaging Christmas Math Activities Your Students Will Love
The holidays bring so much excitement, and that excitement can spill right into the classroom. Between Christmas concerts, class parties, and winter break countdowns, it
7 Go To Resources for Teaching Inequalities in Middle School
If you’ve ever taught inequalities, you know how important it is to mix clear explanations with plenty of practice. From helping your students understand what
Effective Ways to Teach the Constant of Proportionality
Teaching proportional relationships can feel tricky for our seventh graders. That’s where the constant of proportionality comes in. This concept gives our students the key
Tips and Activities for Introducing Division Concepts in 3rd Grade
When introducing division in 3rd grade, it’s important to set a strong foundation that will help your students truly understand what division means, not just
Teaching Customary Units of Measurement and Making it Stick
Teaching customary units of measurement isn’t always easy. In fact. . . sometimes it can feel a bit like you’re just tossing numbers out there
Classroom Management in 40-Minute Math Blocks: Start Strong, Stay Consistent
Managing a middle school classroom can feel like a whirlwind, especially when your class periods are only 40 minutes long. There’s barely time to teach,
How to Confidently Teach Equivalent Ratios
Whether you’re prepping for a new math teacher position or looking for a fresh approach to teaching equivalent ratios, this post has you covered. I’m
Math Classroom Setup Made Easy: What You Actually Need and What Can Wait
Setting up your middle school math classroom can feel like a huge task. This is especially true in those busy August days when the to-do
Rethinking the First Week: How to Develop a Growth Mindset in Math
The first week of school can set the tone for the entire year, especially in math class. It’s the perfect opportunity to do more than
Welcome to Cognitive Cardio Math! I’m Ellie, a wife, mom, grandma, and dog ‘mom,’ and I’ve spent just about my whole life in school! With nearly 30 years in education, I’ve taught:
- All subject areas in 4th and 5th grades
- Math, ELA, and science in 6th grade (middle school)
I’ve been creating resources for teachers since 2012 and have worked in the elearning industry for about five years as well!
If you’re looking for ideas and resources to help you teach math (and a little ELA), I can help you out!
