The 8th grade math curriculum is NO JOKE!! Let’s just start there.
As teachers, our #1 priority is for ALL of our students to learn and be successful. Unfortunately, many of the math programs are geared toward our more advanced students and this leaves our lower-level students (often the largest population) struggling and feeling like they simply cannot learn.
Not only is our board-approved math program filled with examples that contain numbers that are difficult to work with, but it’s also riddled with crazy solutions!! For example, the very first problem they show for solving equations with variables on both sides includes repeating decimals and has NO solution!
What the heck?? Talk about confusing the kids and making them feel defeated from the start!!😳
I needed to do something, so I started making guided notes for each lesson. The most important thing was to KEEP IT SIMPLE. Yes, we know 8th graders should be fluent with fractions and decimals, but let’s face it… they’re not!
Students needs to start with basic problems to learn the process before moving onto more difficult problems involving rational and irrational numbers. I tried using guided notes with simple numbers and simple solutions every time I introduced a new concept and it worked!🤗
Why use Guided Notes?
- The steps are listed so the students can focus on the process of solving problems instead of copying notes.
- Helps to keep students organized. (Especially if when ALL of the notes are bound together.)
- The completed examples can be used as a reference over and over again.
- The progression of the examples help students build confidence as they move toward harder problems.
Each lesson worksheet (the guided notes) is only ONE page and includes a VIDEO link so your students can see each of the examples, step-by-step. There is also a worksheet for each lesson so the students can “show what they know”!
How I Use Guided Notes with my classes:
I start by projecting the lesson worksheet on my smart board and then “guide” my students through each example. I post the video for each lesson on my Google Classroom page so they can review what they’ve learned at any time and see the examples again if they need a little “refresher”. The videos are SO helpful when students are absent or if YOU are absent and want the learning to continue!
After completing the examples together, I hand out the practice worksheet. There is one for each of the 50 lessons. Again, they start simple and then move into more complex problems. I’m all about collaboration so I like to have my students work with a partner so they can talk about math, check each others’ work and deepen their understanding. Click HERE to view all 50 lessons!
Click on the image to view ALL of the lessons! You’ll find a total of 50 complete lessons (guided notes, videos and practice worksheets) all carefully aligned to the 8th Grade Math Common Core Standards! Teaching math has never been easier!😊
What Else?
I print ALL 50 of the lesson worksheets and put them folders (with fasteners) for each of my students. Yes, it’s a little time consuming, but WELL worth the effort! Each student receives their folder on the first day of school and we use them ALL year long!! I’ve been around long enough to realize that 8th graders aren’t spending a whole lot of time doing math at home, so I keep their folders in my classroom 24/7! We don’t have to worry about them getting lost or damaged and there’s no time wasted with trips to their lockers.
I also find it motivating to let them refer to their “notes” whenever they take a quiz. There’s something to be said about “looking it up” and applying what they’ve learned to a new problem. It’s a life skill for sure and the fact that they think I’m the NICEST TEACHER EVER for letting them use their notes goes a LONG way!😉
I’ve had tremendous success so if this is something you think may work in your classroom, I’d LOVE for you to give it a try. Please let me know what you think!
Kim