Multiplication Helpers For Struggling Students - Tried It Tuesday FREEBIES!

Today is Tuesday and time to link up with Fourth Grade Flipper for Tried It Tuesday.

We all have those students who need more practice, more instruction, more time, more strategies, just plain MORE!  Well, I have a few who have really struggled with multiplication and that makes teaching the 4th grade math curriculum (with long division, factors, multiples, fractions, etc.) really difficult for them to achieve.  Many of them are very hands on learners and CAN succeed if given the right tools.  Here are a few of the things that I have tried to help them become more successful mathematicians.

Touch Math
I learned about Touch Math a few years ago while working with some SPED students, but, I have used it very successfully with some of my regular developing kiddos who just need some extra assistance with math. Our school had purchased this kit years ago and it was buried in a storage room and I was lucky enough to dig it out.

  I have been using it for multiplication and division of course, but I was also excited to find that it covered some fractions as well since that is the current unit we are working on!

I found some freebies for you to try in your classroom as well.

Multiplication and Division
Fractions

Multiplication Multiples



I also found this amazing product on Pinterest and knew it might help some of my kiddos.  I followed the link through to the FREEBIE from Judy Hopf, printed out a few of them and then laminated them to keep them durable. I introduced them to my students, and they have been just as loved as the "cheater charts" (the name my students have given multiplication tables).

Speaking of Freebies, I just uploaded this mixed numbers addition and subtraction activity perfect for Valentine's Day!

You can download it free at Teachers Pay Teachers here.

And.... Don't forget to enter my 300 follower giveaway if you haven't already!

Spelling Scaffold

As I was going through my photos for yesterday's 5 For Friday Post, I found this picture of spelling tests I had taken right before the break, and I remembered that I had wanted to share something that has really increased my student's performance on their weekly spelling tests.

I use Words Their Way, and we work with the patterns and rules, but for some reason, a large majority of my students were still failing the tests each week.  When a large majority are having a difficult time, I know I have to change something about my instruction.

I asked one of our special ed teachers if she had any suggestions since I have a few of her kiddos.  She suggested shortening the list and using boxes for the tests.  Well, I decided to try it for ALL of my kids.  We now spend three weeks going over a pattern with a test over one row plus two words from a previous test that are a surprise to the students (to ensure that they don't just learn it for the test, but keep it in their memory.  I also print out spelling boxes for the test using this worksheet generator from Soft School.  The only issue I have is that I have to remember to cut of the top before I photocopy because the words are printed at the top.  I left a list like that for a sub once - oops!

Once I started doing this, the test scores became all A's and B's - and my students are actually transferring the spelling skills into their writing!

What do you use for your spelling program?  Any other tips or advice?

PS - Don't forget to enter to win a $25 Teachers Pay Teachers Gift Card!  If your wish list is anything like mine, you can use all the help you can get in making a dent in it! LOL!