Struggling Math Students Benefit from Guided Practice

According to a new study, children who have struggled with math in the past and "children with learning disabilities tend to benefit from instruction that is explicit and teacher directed, guided and modeled and also has lots of opportunities for practice."

Pennsylvania State University researchers Paul L. Morgan and Steve Maczuga and George Farkas of the University of California, Irvine analyzed the use of different types of instruction by 1st grade mathematics teachers.

"I don't want kids to be bored. I want them to be engaged by what they are being taught," Morgan said, "but I think sometimes we touch on concepts too briefly; we only give kids two or three opportunities to practice it." Read more about this study on a blog post from Sarah Sparks . . .

How wonderful that Excel Math provides exactly what this research shows young students need most: lots of direct instruction (along with hands-on activities and blended learning), guided practice each day, a unique spiraling process that keeps concepts in front of students all year long, plus a CheckAnswer system beginning in second grade that lets students self assess and gives them a natural feedback loop. Read more about CheckAnswer.

No wonder we regularly hear success stories such as these:

"I am a principal in a school where 97% of the student population has free or reduced lunch. This year, I switched out the regular math curriculum with Excel Math. My CRCT scores increased by 13%. My STAR test increased even higher. It absolutely works!! Thanks again!"—principal on the West Coast

Excel Math Teacher Edition

"I absolutely love your products. I service a self-contained special education classroom (1st through 3rd grade) and have students who are performing on various grade levels. Excel Math helps me to manage my time because there are so many skills offered and repeated practice on one worksheet. It's great, letting me quickly identify the students' areas of weakness. (And yes, each time I have placed an order, the person was quite friendly.) Thank you for your product, service, and expertise."

— Gloria J. Britt, Special Education Teacher, Browning Elementary School, Houston, Texas

Here's what one of the authors of this research study had to say in summary.

Request a complimentary Excel Math Sample Packet to find out more about how we help students succeed in math and how your students can benefit from these unique lessons. Teacher Editions are now available for Common Core and Texas Versions as well as our Standard Edition.

Excel Math Projectable Lessons

Read more . . .

Questions about how Excel Math lessons work? Leave a comment below.

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Scores rise 25% in Texas with Excel Math

Lake Worth students improve 25 percent in STAAR testing!

We just got wonderful news from our friends in Lake Worth Texas. Students at N.A. Howry Intermediate School have been using Excel Math this year. Seventy-nine percent of the 5th grade students passed the first round of STAAR testing in 2014. That's a 25 percent increase! Way to go teachers and students. Impressive.

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Read more and watch the video: http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/Lake-Worth-students-improve-25-percent-in-STAAR-testing-257956101.html

Texas Teacher Edition Gr 3

For over 35 years Excel Math has been helping students build solid math skills. And those rigorous math lessons continue to help students today, as these Texas test results show.

However, things are changing in Texas. With the rollout of new TEKS for the new 2014-2015 school year, concepts that were once taught in Grade 7 are now moving to Grade 5. Angles, decimals and equivalent fractions are being introduced in Grade 4. Major shifts in the standards and in Mathematical Processes are happening from Kindergarten through middle school and beyond.

As a result of these major changes, Excel Math editors are hard at work to create new Teacher Editions just for Texas. You can take a look at sample lessons on our website:
http://www.excelmath.com/downloads/state_stdsTX.html

The Grade 3 Texas Teacher Edition will be rolling off the press next week. Check our website each week for new samples and updates.

Our new Texas Teacher Editions have revised lessons, discussion suggestions, plus new activities and manipulatives to guide you through the transition to the TEKS. (We do not have a personal financial literacy component, but we have built into the lessons lots of practice with coins, money, making change, etc.) Our Texas Teacher Editions for Grades 2-6 will also include a Budget Worksheet and lessons explaining how to record income and expenses, calculate interest (for the older grades), etc. Many of these new resources will also be available on our website.

At this point full TEKS integration will be directed by the Teacher Editions. Student Sheets will be the same for Texas and the standard Excel Math lessons. As we receive additional input on TEKS implementation, enhancements and updates will work into the student materials you receive in the future.

We have what you need for a smooth transition to the new TEKS.
Here's what to do:

• Order your Grade 3 Texas Teacher Editions (Mention Texas when you order or use the attached order form)

• Order your Student Classroom Sets for all grade levels

• Sign up for Texas updates and special offers here.

• Watch your email for updates as new Texas Teacher Editions roll off the press.

When each new Texas Teacher Edition is released, we will have an announcement on our website. Grade 5 will be printed after Grade 3. Our goal is to have as many grades available in the next few months as possible (focusing on grades 1-5 first, and then grades K and 6).

Our executive vice-president, Bob, would be glad to provide you and your colleagues with a couple of hours of inservice training with Excel Math (at minimal cost to cover travel expenses), once you start using the new Texas Teacher Editions. One of his seminars specifically addresses best practices for Transitioning to the new TEKS using Excel Math. Here's a brief summary:

The Excel Math Professional Development includes instructional strategies (best practices) for effective direct instruction, tips to take full advantage of the three components of Excel Math, as well as how to utilize the regular assessment in Excel Math for maximum instruction. 

Excel Math Professional Development

Because Excel Math emphasizes Critical Thinking instead of fill-in-the-blank answers, this is an outstanding bridge to the new requirements of the TEKS Standards. Additionally the in-service includes how to effectively blend Excel Math with an adopted core curriculum for maximum instruction if Excel Math is a supplement. The fee for this in-service is only to cover travel costs, and subject to availability. Generally it is a little under two hours in length.

Feel free to call Bob or send him an email: bob@excelmath.com. You can find more information about his presentations on our website: http://www.excelmath.com/downloads/state_stdsTX.html#TexasPD

Bob's PD sessions are filling up fast so be sure to get in touch with him as soon as possible.

Read more . . .

Do you have some concerns about the new TEKS? Leave a comment below.

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Five Steps to Solving Word Problems

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Excel Math: Powerful in a Core or Supplement Position

5 Steps to Solving Word Problems

Some students struggle with word problems, not sure where to begin with finding the correct operation to use. Here are a few Excel Math tips to get your students started down the road to success with solving word problems:

1. Read the problem.
It may help to have your students read the problem aloud, just to make sure they are reading it correctly.

2. Underline the important information.
Use a red or blue pen to underline the information (or highlight it) so it doesn't get lost on the page:
Jon picked one apple. Danny picked 5 apples. Together they picked how many apples?

3. What process will you use to get the answer?
Will you use addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, or a combination of all four?
Our apple example will use addition. The key word here is together they picked how many?

4. Write and solve a number sentence and label the answer.
It may also help to draw a picture or use counters to represent the problem.  

Read more . . .

What are some additional tips you give your students to help them solve word problems? Leave a comment below.

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May Day Teacher Appreciation

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Mother's Day Memories

Happy Mother's Day to our favorite moms and grandmothers!

Feel free to send your mom or the mother figure in your life a special Mother's Day e-card courtesy of Arianna Huffington and the Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/10/mothers-day-e-card_n_5302554.html

In her post, Arianna tells a story (about her mom) very similar to one that happened to me. I sang in our church choir with a sweet older lady in her 80s with a wonderful sense of humor—Edith. I was in my 20s and Edith had traveled all over the world with her husband. She had lots of china sets, punch bowls, antique furniture, screens from China, etc. One evening at choir I admired her necklace and she took it off and gave it to me! I so surprised, I tried to say no thanks, but she wouldn't hear of it.

A few years later, Edith joined my mom and family for Easter dinner. We had a wonderful time with family and friends. I had just become engaged and my fiancee and I were picking out our china and other wedding registry items. I really liked a simple china pattern with a thin gold line around white plates. After Easter, Edith invited me over to her house and gave us a wedding gift of a cut crystal punch bowl with an assortment of cups plus china service for 14! The china was the exact pattern I was planning to register for, and it was carefully packed in quilted china keepers. What a blessing she was to a young couple starting out without much of anything.

We still use that china to this day for Thanksgiving, Easter, Christmas and whenever we have a large group of guests. I always share the story of my dear friend Edith who gave us such a special and long-lasting gift. This fall my husband and I will celebrate our 30th anniversary and the china will continue to be a major part of our family birthday dinners and holiday celebrations.

Although Edith and our moms are no longer with us, the impact they made on our lives and the legacy of love, kindness and hospitality they left with us continues to live on.

"What wisdom can you find that is greater than kindness?"

This week, be sure to thank those special ladies in your life. I'll be doing the same!

New to Excel Math? Visit our website to learn more and take a look at sample math lessons.
You might also like these articles:
May Day Teacher Appreciation
Excel Math: TEKS Aligned and STAAR Ready
Happy Birthday, Shakespeare!
Excel Math: Powerful in a Core or Supplement Position
Top-Notch Math Lessons for Transitional Kindergarten

May Day Teacher Appreciation

Excel Math Poster

Happy May Day!

Here in the United States during the month of May we celebrate National Teacher Appreciation Month. Our hats go off to all the educators (including parents) who devote their time and energy (and finances) to helping students become life-long learners. Thank you, from the entire Excel Math team!

We appreciate educators

At Excel Math,  we appreciate teachers! That's why we provide lots of free teacher helps and resources on our website.

And it's why we continually update our math lessons to provide teachers with the best and most current materials possible.

Whether you're looking for ideas to teach math to the Common Core Standards, materials aligned to the new TEKS (Texas Knowledge and Skills) or simply effective math lessons that get concepts into students' long-term memory, Excel Math just may be your solution. Our unique spiraling process plus proven teaching techniques combined with hand-on mathematics activities get students excited about learning math. Read what teachers and administrators are saying . . .

Here's a poster we created recently that you can download for classroom and your students:
http://www.excelmath.com/downloads/manipulatives.html

Here are a few little-known facts about teachers:

• 91% of teachers buy supplies for their own classrooms using their own money. All those crayons, pencils, and paper add up to $1.5 billion spent annually by teachers on school supplies.
• 67% of teachers buy snacks for their students to help with basic nutrition

- See more at: http://www.sheerid.com/national-teacher-appreciation-month/#sthash.Pw1QTVQ2.dpuf

Or send it to a colleague with a note of appreciation for the ways he or she brings beauty into the lives of children.

Why do teachers deserve a whole month of devotion and gratitude? We’re glad you asked. Here are a few little-known facts about teachers:

• 91% of teachers buy supplies for their own classrooms using their own money. All those crayons, pencils, and paper add up to $1.5 billion spent annually by teachers on school supplies.
• 67% of teachers buy snacks for their students to help with basic nutrition
• 29% of teachers buy bathroom products for students like toilet paper and toothbrushes

Teaching isn’t just a job, it’s a vocation. Teachers spend countless hours and money from their own pockets to prepare our children for the future. At the very least they deserve a thank you once a year. One of the best ways that business owners can show their appreciation for the hard work teachers do is to offer teachers an exclusive discount or special offer like free shipping or free returns.
- See more at: http://www.sheerid.com/national-teacher-appreciation-month/#sthash.Pw1QTVQ2.dpuf

“None of us got where we are solely by pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps. We got here because somebody (a parent, a teacher, an Ivy League crony or a few nuns) bent down and helped us pick up our boots.”

— Thurgood Marshall 

New to Excel Math? Visit our website to learn more and take a look at sample lessons: www.excelmath.com

You might also like these articles:
Excel Math: TEKS Aligned and STAAR Ready
Happy Birthday, Shakespeare!
Excel Math: Powerful in a Core or Supplement Position
Top-Notch Math Lessons for Transitional Kindergarten