3 Easy Ways to Add Movement to Your Math Classroom (that actually work) It happens every year. You know what I'm talking about. The students are restless, attention spans are nonexistent, and asking them to sit for an entire period is a lost cause. Let's be honest, fighting it no longer works. Why Movement Actually Helps Physical activity increases blood flow to the brain, which supports focus, memory, and the ability to process new information. Even short bursts of movement, like walking across the room, can help students reset and come back to a task with more mental clarity. Stop fighting the chaos. Build in movement instead. This is less of a "luxury" and more of a strategy. When students move with a purpose, they are more likely to reengage with content instead of mentally checking out. I am not talking about having brain breaks or a full on dance party. Just a few minutes of purposeful movement seamlessly integrated into your lesson is enough to make a differe...
I recommend NOT going over the syllabus on the first day of class, and here's why: every teacher goes over the syllabus the first day of class. Not that there is anything wrong with this, but after hearing the same thing over and over, kids tend to stop listening. This is true if you have 8 periods a day or are on block schedule and only have 4. After 2nd period, kids stopped paying attention. So, what do you do on the first day of school if you don't go over the syllabus? I like to do teambuilding activities the first day of school. My students work in teams all year, so I want to set the mood right away by having them do something as a team. Before the kids leave, I do let them know what supplies are needed for class, and tell them there is a copy on Canvas (our LMS). This way, parents can go buy school supplies right away if they want. I start going over the syllabus over the next 2-3 class periods. I post a copy of the syllabus on Canvas so students can look thoug...