Mathsational

Last summer I wrote about using error analysis as one of my favorite ways to practice math skills.  Since then I've found a few more resources and created a few more that I'd like to share.  In general, error analysis activities involve purposefully making common mistakes, then having students try to find them.  Here is a link to the original post if you'd like to see it.  In that post I shared an example for the segment addition postulate and midpoint as well as a second example for multiplying polynomials . Here are some other examples that I found.  I did not create these. Grade 2: Adding and Subtracting up to 3 digits. Grade 8: Solve Linear Equations. Algebra 1: Graphing Linear Inequalities in two Variables

I previously wrote about the game pass of play as a way for students to build fluency in basic math concepts.  The point of the game is for players to lay one card at a time, in sequential order.  So, if the first player lays a 7, the next player would lay an 8.  Then the next player would play 9, and so on.  The first player can play any card in the sequence and the list will loop.  For example a game might have the following play: {7,8,9,0,1,2,3,4,5,6}. Here is the original post with more details on how to play.  The original post contains two downloads of sample games.  The first is on the angle and segment addition postulates  and the second is on interior and exterior angles of triangles . Here are two new games. Kindergarten - Subsidizing Pass or Play Grade 4 - Multiplying by 10, 100, and 100 Pass or Play

This card game that I just made-up and I call it Pass or Play.  Students will solve problems and play the corresponding cards in sequence.  I created two versions of the game so far, one on segment and angle addition postulates and one on interior and exterior angles in triangles.  I also wanted to create a version for my algebra 2 class, but I could not think of a topic where I could come up with consecutive numerical answers.  If you have ideas about other topics for which to use this activity, please share.  Since this is a brand new activity for me, I have only tried it for a few skills. Here are the rules of the game: Here is the version for segment and angle addition and here is the version for interior and exterior angle of triangles .

Practice Structures - Error Analysis Error analysis is one of my favorite practice structures because of the conversations.  My students typically find it very difficult.  They sometimes think that problems that have been done correctly are incorrect if steps are skipped in the written solution.  Other times they think incorrect solutions are correct because I try to make common mistakes.  One of the most interesting things that happens is that kids end up appreciating the work done by their teachers while correcting quizzes.  They almost always express that the toughest part is trying to figure out why the fictional person make a certain mistake in the work. In the past, I have typed up my error analysis problems.  However, I have switched to handwriting the work.  It seems more authentic and for some reason it is easier for the students to differentiate between the question and the solution.  I use Doceri to create the document.  It is ...