What Is Mad For Math

Every August, I detect myself prepping for back to schoolhouse. With this in heed comes all the bulletin board prep, activity files, classroom library, d more! Setting up my Mad Math Dash station is one of the well-nigh fun areas of the classroom (and truthfully, year long take a chance)! This is a great way to heave student math literacy while as well having fun.

What is Mad Math Dash?

This is a phrase I eventually coined in our fifth grade classroom well-nigh a decade ago. It became rather obvious after nigh a month or so that my students loved the claiming between one some other, simply generally themselves. As we would become closer to testing time I would encourage students to accept out their packets and begin a mad dash.

Fast forward to the present. Now that I'chiliad teaching all subjects again, I have the opportunity to keep the mad dash! Here's a look at how I set up and encourage my students to participate (it's all completely voluntary . . . FYI)!

The Setup

I begin by creating a poster which includes all math standards and student names. Yes, in the first, I manually used a poster lath and measuring stick to create a big version of the poster. Now I work at a school with a poster maker. Not sure why I never went to Part Max and had them do this for me – I would've saved then much fourth dimension!

Once all standards and names are in, I re-create all the math packets. At least i sheet for each standard, forepart to back, and I finish with a staple in the top corner. I laissez passer these out to students the first calendar week of school after I explicate how the process works. I requite them the opportunity to write their ain proper noun. In the past, I have besides allowed students to take hold of a single canvass at a time from a labeled crate.

The Process

One time I set up the lath with the new affiche and I've made copies, I explain to students how the process works:

This is completely OPTIONAL – students do not take to e'er participate in Mad Math unless they want to. Information technology's always a "can practice" or option option when finished with work.
I demonstrate how each standard will friction match a folio in the packet.
Students are merely able to complete ONE page at a time. They must come to me with a page completed, let me check it, score a 100 and so they can movement on. They can and so move over and mark the Mad Math Dash Poster/Nautical chart.
If they don't go all questions right then they haven't quite mastered that skill. I requite two chances to prove they're the master of a standard. If non, or non quite in that location notwithstanding, then I pull out activities to work on to help boost and master that skill.

The Payoff

Equally students primary a standard and get a sign off from me, they are able to fill up in the square next to their name, under the standard to evidence they mastered. In the stop, the mad math nuance is how quickly they can move through at mastering their math skills. Since this is voluntary, I have found that more than students will buy-in. They like the thought of being able to consummate the mad nuance at their own pace and testify how much they have learned.

Full Year Common Core Sets for both 4th Form and 5th Class

What Now?

Are you looking to jumpstart this in your classroom? Get started today by downloading your ain grade level poster today. All spaces that include teacher name, standards, and pupil names are editable. Download information technology free here. Plus, you'll need some math worksheets to get you started. I take this set up of common core math standard practice, with multiple options to demonstrate agreement. Please experience costless to comment and let me know how it's working!

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