Math with P. Nik

Helping our students to think critically and creatively about how familiar math can be used to solve unfamiliar problems.

[Math with P. Nik @MrNiksMathClass]

We teach our math students how to solve linear systems, but how good are they at creating them? Why not let your students try this challenge and find out.

[Math with P. Nik @MrNiksMathClass]

Math teachers, if your students need some extra practice with factoring to find the roots of quadratic functions, then try this investigation which begins by asking students to create their own functions. When finished, ask them to explain their results.

[Math with P. Nik @MrNiksMathClass]

Math teachers, here is a Three-in-a-Row Evaluating Expressions tiering activity with three levels built into the same problem set. This allows the flexibility to assign a level, have students choose their own, or even have them attempt multiple levels.

[Math with P. Nik @MrNiksMathClass]

QUESTION: What's in a font? ANSWER: Perhaps more than you think. Students just learning to work with integers often find it difficult distinguishing a negative sign from a subtraction symbol. The solution is to use two different fonts allowing kids to tell them apart.

[Math with P. Nik @MrNiksMathClass]

Math teachers, if you are looking to ratchet up the critical thinking skills in your students as they learn to add and subtract integers, introduce them to these Place Three Integers Puzzles. #iteachmath

[Math with P. Nik @MrNiksMathClass]

Up early this morning admiring the majesty of a sugar maple set against an unveiled October sky of the purest blue hue and wondering- If that tree were a parabola, what kind of parabola would it be? Sorry, I'm more mathematician than poet.

[Math with P. Nik @MrNiksMathClass]

Seventeen letters are needed to spell out the message, HAPPY THANKSGIVING. Interestingly, there are more repeating letters than non repeating letters. That was the inspiration for this algebraic challenge. Have a wonderful well-deserved long weekend everyone!

[Math with P. Nik @MrNiksMathClass]

In the spirit of a Rube Goldberg machine, challenging students to explain overly complicated solutions to simple computations is an excellent way to help kids improve their mathematical thinking and communication. Here, I've created an outlandish method to estimate 13% HST.

[Math with P. Nik @MrNiksMathClass]

How would students solve this Percentage Sorter Puzzle? The answer shouldn't be by trial-and-error with a calculator.

[Math with P. Nik @MrNiksMathClass]

@BabitaB55200941 I enjoy creating these puzzles. Here is a Halloween-themed one I made for converting fractions to decimals.

[Math with P. Nik @MrNiksMathClass]

How many weeks ago did summer vacation end? How many more weeks until Christmas break? It's useful being able to add and subtract 7's fluently. Practise with this Finding Pairs Puzzle. Connect any two numbers which differ by 7 and it will help kids to never forget the skill.

[Math with P. Nik @MrNiksMathClass]

Don't get me wrong - math students must be comfortable completing the square to find the vertex of a parabola. However, it doesn't have to always be the go-to method. Sometimes just knowing about zeroes, the axis of symmetry, and vertical translations can be enough.

[Math with P. Nik @MrNiksMathClass]

So many students see mathematics as a collection of stand-alone topics as opposed to a network of concepts. Find opportunities to demonstrate the latter. Case in point: showing how the equation of a parabola is connected with the summation formula for an arithmetic series.

[Math with P. Nik @MrNiksMathClass]

Try these Where to Start? Puzzles with your students to help them understand that for some math solutions knowing how to do a problem is not as important as where to begin and the path to take.

[Math with P. Nik @MrNiksMathClass]

Factoring can be an extremely abstract concept for students. This video demonstrates how even a very challenging factoring problem can be made much more understandable when presented visually. #iteachmath #tvdsbmath

[Math with P. Nik @MrNiksMathClass]

When we subtract polynomials there is no need to worry about borrowing. Also, polynomials can be subtracted vertically. Why not use both of these ideas to figure out a way to subtract whole numbers vertically without ever needing to borrow?

[Math with P. Nik @MrNiksMathClass]

By calling this The Seemingly Unsolvable Problem, students understand that a solution is possible but it will take persistence, creativity and critical thinking to find it. All of which are important qualities we want to help develop in our math students.

[Math with P. Nik @MrNiksMathClass]

Teaching two cohorts of students in a quadmestered math class doesn't leave much time for in-class instruction. Make the best use of your lessons by combining expectations. For instance, teach equation solving through geometry. #iteachmath #tvdsbmath

[Math with P. Nik @MrNiksMathClass]

Have you ever considered the power of parentheses? This video shows how a numerical expression with five numbers and the four basic operations can be changed into 35 different expressions by simply inserting one set of brackets.

[Math with P. Nik @MrNiksMathClass]

Finding enough time to cover all essential curriculum expectations will be a challenge for math teachers working in a hybrid model. One solution may be to combine topics from different strands. This lesson introduces the distributive property through the concept of perimeter.