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HI! I’M KAYLA!

I am a former 2nd & 3rd grade math and science teacher in the great state of Texas, and the face behind The Average Teacher. My mission is to help make learning FUN – for both the students and the teacher! I am particularly passionate about math instruction. If you’re looking for guidance on teaching elementary math – I’m your girl! I struggled with (and hated!) math as a student, but since becoming a teacher, have completely transformed the way I think about math. I’ve made it my mission to…

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I don't know about you, but when I first started t

I don't know about you, but when I first started teaching, I struggled to make math fun & exciting for my students.
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I always said I was going to be a FUN teacher who played lots of games, but it was years before I really figured out how to make this happen in math.
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These 5 strategies are my go-tos for adding a little bit of engagement into every lesson! I guarantee that you can add at least one of these things into each lesson, and that it will increase engagement by 257%. (I made that percentage up, but it's probably at least that.)
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💚 Turn your students' favorite games into math games - HIGHLY recommend this one, when possible! One of the keys to making math more engagement is seeing math EVERYWHERE you look - including in all your favorite math games. My challenge to you is this: anytime you do an activity you enjoy, think about how you can incorporate math into it. Then, find out what activities and games your students love, and do the same!
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💙 Get those kiddos moving! Frankly, it doesn't matter what you're doing - getting those kiddos out of their seats is an instant engagement-booster. As you're planning for each lesson, ask yourself how you can incorporate movement into the lesson. If you need some ideas, well, you're in the right place! I share tons of ideas on this topic, so make sure you're following me for more ideas!
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💚 Make real world connections. Nothing creates more motivation for a student than making it relevant!
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💙 Read fun children's books about math. Stories are a great way to pique curiosity, and there are so many great math books out there! Check out my "Math Books" highlight for some suggestions!
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💚 Do problem-solving activities. These indirectly help improve your students' math skills and are SO fun for them. Math puzzles, quick warm-up games, even STEM challenges are all great examples. These are also great ideas for early finishers, or when you have about 10 minutes to kill at the end of the day.
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If you need any ideas on any of these points, PLEASE hit me up in the comments - this is my passion! Let me know what you're doing to make math more fun for your students - I'd love to hear from you!

Multiplication was always one of my favorite units

Multiplication was always one of my favorite units to teach in math. There are so many ways to make this concept hands-on and engaging! Here are 5 of my favorite multiplication games & activities.
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🔹 Circles & Stars: This is a super fun game for practicing equal groups. All you need is a die and a piece of paper! Students will roll the die once, and make that number of circles. Then, they will roll the die again, and draw that number of stars in each circle. Students will then determine the total number of stars and write it down. Repeat for several rounds, then have students add up their final total. Whoever has the greatest total wins!
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🔹 Partner Search: For this activity, each student will be given a card that has either an array or equal groups on it. (Alternatively, you can also do a total, repeated addition sentence, and/or multiplication sentence). Students will then go around the room to find their partner (or group). Their partner is the person whose card shows the same total with a different representation. Once all partners have been found, you can redistribute the cards and play again!
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🔹 Array Charades: In this twist on the classic game, students will use their bodies (or items) to make arrays. Other students will then determine the number sentence or total being shown by the array. This game could also work as pictionary!
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🔹 Multiplication War: This math card game is a twist on the classic game war. Students will play in pairs with each pair flipping two cards at a time. Whoever's cards yields the greatest product gets to keep all 4 cards. If both yield the same product, no cards are collected until one student yields a higher product. Once this happens, the winning student collects ALL the cards. The game ends when one student has all the cards in the deck.
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🔹 Mini Erasers: Mini erasers are my favorite multiplication manipulative! Students can use these to make arrays and equal groups. You can give them certain totals to make, or just let them experiment on their own.
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What's your favorite multiplication activity? Share it in the comments!
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#teachersofinstagram #teachergram #mathteacher #iteachmath #elementarymath #mathideas #makemat

One of my most popular resources – and one of my p

One of my most popular resources - and one of my personal favorites - is the Array Bakery! This resource is part of my hands-on math review activities bundle and focuses on equal groups, arrays, and repeated addition.
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The resource includes 4 hands-on, interactive bakery-themed activities AND a DIGITAL version of all activities for the virtual learners! Ideally, this resource works best in person, but I wanted to include a digital version so that you can continue enjoying this resource until you're back in the classroom.
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You can check out my Array Bakery highlight for more details, or check out the resource here: https://bit.ly/3nqPgKD . Or, comment below and I'll send you a DM with a clickable link!
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If you have any questions about this resource, ask away in the comments!
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#teachersofinstagram #math #teachergram #iteach #2ndgrade #1stgrade #3rdgrade #mathteacher #mathgames #mathskills #mathisfun #mathcenters #iteachmath #2ndgrademath #3rdgrademath #elementarymath #teacherlife #teachersofinstagram #firstgrade #teachergram #tpt #teacherspayteachers #secondgrade #thirdgrade #teachingresources #teachersoftpt #teacherresources #tptfreebie #tptstore #teachercreatedresources

This week #ontheblog, I'm sharing all of my favori

This week #ontheblog, I'm sharing all of my favorite math storybooks for kids! This one in particular is my absolute favorite. A Place for Zero is a great book for help understanding place value and the base-10 number system, but it also touches on a little bit of addition & multiplication, too!
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Check out my stories today for more of my favorite math books, and head over to read my blog post for tips on how to use these books in your math instruction!
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Read it here: ➡️ https://bit.ly/38dIIZt ⬅️ , or comment below and I'll DM you a clickable link!
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What's your favorite math book? Share in the comments!
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#teachersfollowteachers #iteachtoo #iteachfirst #iteach #iteachsecond #iteachthird #teacherblog #teacherblogger #instateacher #teachersonig #elementaryteacher #teachersofinsta #teachersofinstagram #math #teachergram #iteach #2ndgrade #1stgrade #3rdgrade #mathteacher #mathgames #mathskills #mathisfun #mathcenters #iteachmath #2ndgrademath #3rdgrademath #elementarymath #mathideas

Today for #ATMathMonday, I'm sharing this fun game

Today for #ATMathMonday, I'm sharing this fun game that helps students build their critical thinking skills! I call it Numero, but that's not an official name. 😉 It's played like Lingo, but with numbers instead of words!
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Here's how to play:
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🔹 Choose a number (5 digits recommended, but you can do more or less!)
🔹 Give the students the number of digits in the number, and have one student start by guessing a random number.
🔹 Write it down, then go through marking each digit with a ✔️ or ⭕️ underneath each digit. Give the digit a ✔️ if it is the correct number in the correct place. Give the digit a ⭕️ if it is in the number, but in a different place. Leave blank if the digit is not in the number at all.
🔹 Continue this process until students figure out the number.
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That's it! This game would make a great warm-up and help your students become strong problem solvers.
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I'm sharing more about this game, plus showing you how to play, in my stories today! Make sure to check them out for more information!
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Have you played this game before?

#teachersofinstagram #math #teachergram #iteach #2ndgrade #1stgrade #3rdgrade #mathteacher #mathgames #mathskills #mathisfun #mathcenters #iteachmath #2ndgrademath #3rdgrademath #elementarymath #mathideas #makemathfun #mathmonday

Let's get to know each other! ‍ It's been awhile

Let's get to know each other!
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It's been awhile since I introduced myself on here! But, I don't want to just tell you about myself - I want to get to know you, too! So, let's have a little fun and play two truths and a lie.
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I'll tell you three things about myself - but only TWO of them are true! Comment below with your guess as to which one is the lie, and then leave me two truths and a lie of your own for me (and others) to guess!
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Alright, I'll go first:
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1️⃣ I can fit my entire fist in my mouth.
2️⃣ I don't cry when I'm cutting onions.
3️⃣ I don't like peanut butter.
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Which one is the lie? Comment your answer below, and don't forget to play along, too! I can't wait to get to know you all better!
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#teachersfollowteachers #teacherlife #firstgrade #teachergram #secondgrade #teacherswag #teacherstuff #teacherstatus #teacherfun #teachersonig #igteachers #teachermom #teacherthings #weareteachers #teacherideas #thirdgrade #teachertipsandtricks #teachersquad #fridayintroductions

Happy January! This month's addition & subtraction

Happy January! This month's addition & subtraction puzzle focuses on two digit subtraction, and makes the shape of a mitten when complete! 🧤
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This puzzle is part of my Monthly Addition & Subtraction Puzzles resource. There is one puzzle included for September - May, and the problems get progressively harder each month.
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If you'd like to check out the resource which includes all 9 puzzles, let me know in the comments below and I'll DM you the link! Or, check out my stories for a more convenient swipe up!
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#teachersofinstagram #math #teachergram #iteach #2ndgrade #1stgrade #3rdgrade #mathteacher #mathgames #mathskills #mathisfun #mathcenters #iteachmath #2ndgrademath #3rdgrademath #elementarymath #mathideas #makemathfun #mathmonday
#teacherlife #teachersofinstagram #firstgrade #teachergram #tpt #teacherspayteachers #secondgrade #thirdgrade #teachingresources #teachersoftpt #teacherresources

Do you have your students set goals for the new ye

Do you have your students set goals for the new year? If not, you should! The new year is a great opportunity for students to refresh their mindset and finish the school year strong. ⠀
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Not sure where to start? I’ve got you covered! In a blog post from last year, I share all about how to teach your students to set meaningful goals. Want to read the post? Head over to https://bit.ly/2Wm2zAg , or comment below and I’ll dm you the link! ⬇️⬇️⠀
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This bulletin board, along with other goal setting resources, is available in my TpT store.
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What are YOUR goals for 2021?⠀
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#teachersfollowteachers #iteachtoo #iteachfirst #iteach #iteachsecond #iteachthird #teacherblog #teacherblogger #instateacher #teachersonig #elementaryteacher #teachersofinsta #teacherthings #teacherinspiration #teachertips #teachingideas #weareteachers #teachersquad #newyearresolutions #goalsetting #studentgoals #freshstart

Are you ready to start the new year off on a good

Are you ready to start the new year off on a good note? Today's blog post is all about setting 2021 up for success!
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I'll walk you through the 5 main areas you need to reflect on, using the acronym R.E.S.E.T. This stands for:
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🔹 Routines
🔹 Expectations
🔹 Systems
🔹 Environment
🔹 Techniques
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In my blog post, I'll share what each of these things involves, and what steps you should take to set the rest of your year up for success. I also have some FREE printables for you to help with the process!
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If you'd like to check out the blog post & grab the freebie, head to https://bit.ly/2ITEFJ2 ! You can also check out my stories for a swipe up, or comment below and I'll DM you a clickable link!
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How are you resetting for this coming semester? Let me know in the comments!
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#teachersfollowteachers #iteachtoo #iteachfirst #iteach #iteachsecond #iteachthird #teacherblog #teacherblogger #instateacher #teachersonig #elementaryteacher #teachersofinsta #teacherthings #teacherinspiration #teachertips #teachingideas #weareteachers #teachersquad

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