Back to School time as a middle school math teacher can be exciting, stressful, and extremely busy.   That's why I'm giving you my first 3 days of school lesson plans.   There's no pressure to use every single part of my lesson plans, but I hope you will find something new to try this year.    Then, I want you to have the best school year yet!  I'll be the math teacher down the hall, ready to give you ideas and resources whenever you need them. Sign up today for immediate access to these FREE First 3 Days of School Lesson Plans , along with future math teacher tips, goodies, giveaways, and more! Click here for your FREE copy...

Solving equations is one of the most important skills students learn in 8th Grade Math and Algebra.  From multi-step equations with variables on both sides of the equation to equations with the distributive property, students need plenty of meaningful practice to build confidence and fluency.  But if your lessons rely on the same boring worksheets every year, it's easy for students to lose interest. Whether you're introducing a new concept, reviewing before a quiz, or preparing students for end-of-year testing, these 6 engaging solving multi-step equations resources will keep students actively participating, thinking critically, and strengthening their algebra skills. Scaffolded Digital Activity This scaffolded digital activity will give students immediate feedback while they show their work to solve for the variable.  Two digital versions are included, along with a printable version so students can show their work on paper.   In version one, students type the ......

When students first encounter the words scale factor or scale drawing, many are instantly overwhelmed. But these concepts are more than just standards to check off—they're real-world math skills with visual power and hands-on potential. From blueprints to maps to enlarging photos on a screen, understanding scale helps students see how math connects to the world around them. This blog post breaks down the difference between scale copies, scale factors, and scale drawings and shares clear, classroom-tested ways to teach and reinforce these ideas. What Is a Scale Copy? A scale copy is a figure that has been resized (larger or smaller) but still keeps the same shape and proportions as the original figure. Think of it as an exact replica, just zoomed in or zoomed out. Grab Your Scale Copies and Dilations Activities Key idea to teach students:  All angles stay the same, and the side lengths change in proportion. Tip: Show two rectangles side by side, one original and one enlarged. Ask: ......