real-world contexts Archives - MARILYN BURNS MATH

General Interest

Milk Cartons, Origami Paper, a Desmos Tool, and More

After teaching this lesson, I taught it to another class to work out some of the kinks. My, it’s hard and time-consuming to prepare for and plan lessons. I hope my story makes the lesson accessible for other teachers and students to enjoy.

Marilyn BurnsApril 16, 2024

Division General Interest Number and Operations Numerical Reasoning Place Value Problem Solving Real-World Problems Word Problems

Mulling about Teaching Division

Teachers often report that division is hard to teach. How can we help build students’ understanding? Read on for an introductory division lesson I taught to fourth graders.

Marilyn BurnsJanuary 18, 2024

Measurement Real-World Problems Volume Word Problems

A REAL Real-Life Math Problem

Interested in a real real-world math problem? Here’s an account of one that arrived in the mail and sent me down a mathematical rabbit hole. I think there’s something here that could be used for a classroom investigation. Take a look.

Marilyn BurnsJanuary 11, 2024

Fractions General Interest Problem Solving Real-World Problems

What Is 5 Divided by 4? So Many Answers!

Fourth graders solve the problem 5 ÷ 4 in the context of sharing cookies, figuring out how to share five cookies equally with four people. The students came up with six different solutions―all of them correct! (Try and think of what they might be before continuing to read.)

Marilyn BurnsFebruary 27, 2019

Decimals General Interest Multiplication Number and Operations Numerical Reasoning Real-World Problems Videos Word Problems

When You Multiply by 10, Just Add a Zero? Horrors!?!

Have you ever asked students to solve 12.6 x 10, and they respond that the answer is 12.60? I have, many times. Students who do this apply a pattern that works when they multiply whole numbers by 10—they tack on a zero to the end of the number they’re multiplying. But then they apply the same pattern when working with decimals. What can we do?

Marilyn BurnsOctober 1, 2018

General Interest

Can 1/3 + 1/3 = 2/6? It seemed so!

I thought I was on the right teaching track using real-world contexts to talk about fractions with a class of fourth and fifth graders. Then a surprise occurred! I’m still mulling over what I could have done. I’d love your thoughts.

Marilyn BurnsMarch 22, 2018

real-world contexts Archives - MARILYN BURNS MATH

Milk Cartons, Origami Paper, a Desmos Tool, and More

Mulling about Teaching Division

A REAL Real-Life Math Problem

What Is 5 Divided by 4? So Many Answers!

When You Multiply by 10, Just Add a Zero? Horrors!?!

Can 1/3 + 1/3 = 2/6? It seemed so!

Categories

Subscribe to
Marilyn Burns Math

real-world contexts Archives - MARILYN BURNS MATH

Milk Cartons, Origami Paper, a Desmos Tool, and More

Mulling about Teaching Division

A REAL Real-Life Math Problem

What Is 5 Divided by 4? So Many Answers!

When You Multiply by 10, Just Add a Zero? Horrors!?!

Can 1/3 + 1/3 = 2/6? It seemed so!

Categories

Subscribe to Marilyn Burns Math

Subscribe to
Marilyn Burns Math