Why Middle School Math Students Benefit from Choosing a Math Mindset Motto

Middle school can be a challenging time for students, especially when it comes to subjects like math. The transition from concrete arithmetic to more abstract concepts such as algebra and geometry often causes frustration and self-doubt.

One effective strategy to help students overcome these challenges is encouraging them to adopt a math mindset motto. This simple, personalized phrase can empower students to approach math with confidence, perseverance, and a growth-oriented perspective.

What Is a Math Mindset Motto?

A math mindset motto is a short, memorable phrase that encourages a positive attitude toward learning math. Examples include:

• Mistakes help me grow
• I can solve tough problems
• Effort equals progress
• Every step counts

This motto acts as a mental anchor for students, reminding them to stay resilient and motivated even when they encounter difficulties.

The 5 Benefits of a Math Mindset Motto

1.  Promotes a Growth Mindset
2.  Builds Confidence
3.  Fosters Resilience
4.  Encourages Self-Reflection
5.  Creates a Positive Learning Environment

How Teachers Can Help Students Choose a Math Mindset Motto

1.  Introduce the Concept

Begin by explaining what a math mindset motto is and why it’s helpful. Share examples and discuss how these phrases can reframe their approach to math challenges.

 

2.  Incorporate Personalization

Encourage students to create mottos that resonate with their unique experiences and goals. Some may need a reminder to stay patient, while others might need encouragement to take risks.

 

3.  Integrate Into Daily Lessons

Have students write their mottos on index cards, notebooks, or desk name tags. Regularly refer to these mottos during lessons to reinforce their significance.

4.  Celebrate Success

Highlight how mottos have helped students succeed. Share stories of perseverance and improvement, tying them back to their chosen phrases.

Conclusion

A math mindset motto is more than just a phrase; it’s a tool that empowers middle school students to face math challenges with confidence and determination. By promoting growth, resilience, and self-reflection, these mottos help students develop skills and attitudes that extend far beyond the classroom. 

Encouraging students to choose and embrace their own math mindset motto is a simple yet impactful way to foster a love of learning and pave the way for long-term success.

Check out this NEW YEAR ACTIVITY!  Students write goals and a math mindset motto as they start out the NEW YEAR. Includes 25 ideas for a math mindset motto. 

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Michelle Sigaran

Staying Focused on the Main Thing in Math Instruction

As math educators, it's crucial to ensure that students grasp core concepts without getting overwhelmed by unnecessary distractions—like working with overly complex numbers. Using simpler numbers allows students to focus on understanding the fundamental ideas rather than getting lost in the mechanics of calculation.  

My school director (who luckily was a former math teacher) brought this to my attention my first year when I was making copies of a worksheet I had just made. Students were practicing postive and negative fraction operations. Practically every problem was a weird non-sense fraction.  Nobody uses 3/57 or 5/21 in the real-world. Students have a hard time making sense of these numbers and quickly get overwhelmed by the abstract fractions.

Use numbers that make sense while you are building their foundations.  Integer operations, fractions, equations, scientific operations, slope, proportions are all examples.

You need to create a strong foundation for these concepts. Students need to practice the MAIN THING, and not get distracted by large or obscure numbers.  I would practice basic numbers for the entire year. If students have a solid foundation of the concepts, then moving on to larger numbers will be natural.

By simplifying numbers, students build confidence in the underlying principles. Once the concept is solidified, more complex problems can gradually be introduced. This approach ensures clarity and reduces reteaching, keeping the "main thing"—conceptual understanding—at the forefront of your lessons.  

What strategies do you use to streamline your teaching? Share your thoughts below!  

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Michelle Sigaran

Build a strong mathematical foundation.

A solid foundation is essential to a growing tower.

Mathematics continually builds on itself, without a solid foundation the tower will crumble.

Math foundations are built with conceptual understanding of mathematical properties.

Students must understand the "why" to mathematical practices. If students simply memorize an algorithm or learn by tips and tricks, their foundation is weak and will not sustain them throughout the mathematical journey.

Effective math teachers emphasize understanding and reasoning over rote memorization.

Here are 7 tips to build a strong mathematical foundation.

1. Introduce Concepts Visually: Use visual aids, manipulatives, and real-world examples to introduce mathematical concepts. I love using algebra tiles for algebra topics, and real-world examples for proportions, graphing, and statistics concepts. Make sure your students can concretely demonstrate a problem before moving to abstract representations. Bar models are also great for number sense.

2. Encourage Exploration and Inquiry: Use open-ended task problems that have multiple solution paths and promote critical thinking. I like to answer the students' question with a question to constnatly encourage thinking.

3. Emphasize Understanding: Focus on ensuring that students understand the why behind mathematical procedures and algorithms, rather than just memorizing steps. For example, when teaching multiplication, explore the concept as repeated addition or arrays before introducing standard algorithms.

4. Make Connections: Help students see connections between different

mathematical concepts and how they relate to each other. Using anchor charts is a great strategy to help students recall information and make connections from other topics.

5. Provide Opportunities for Discussion: Encourage students to discuss and explain their mathematical thinking. Students can do this in pairs, small groups, or as a class. Encourage students to share their strategies, justify their reasoning, and critique the reasoning of others. Putting converstaion starters on your wall is a good strategy to help your students with discussions.

6. Gradually Build Fluency: Once students have a solid conceptual understanding of a mathematical concept, gradually introduce opportunities for practice and fluency. Students love fun worksheets, games and activities as a way to practice and reinforce conceptual understanding.

             

7. Use Formative Assessments: Continuously assess student understanding throughout the learning process. Using formative assessments such as as: exit tickets, quizzes and observations is a great way to gauge students' progress and adjust instruction accordingly.

By teaching math conceptually first and then focusing on fluency, you lay a strong foundation for deeper mathematical understanding and promote long-term retention of skills and concepts. This approach not only helps students develop mathematical proficiency but also fosters a positive attitude towards learning math.

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Michelle Sigaran

10 + 2 Tips to Help with Student Apathy in Middle School Math Class

I recently did a survey asking middle school math teachers what is their greatest challenge when teaching middle school math.

I received hundreds of responses, and by far, the number one response was student apathy.  

It is definitely a hard battle.  How do you teach math, when students' just are interested in learning about math.  

Here are my Top 10 + 2 Tips to help combat student apathy. 

1. Create a positive learning environment
2. Connect math to real-life applications
3. Make math fun and engaging
4. Set clear expectations
5. Differentiate instruction
6. Relate math to student interests
7. Break down complex concepts
8. Celebrate achievements
9. provide real-world challenges
10. Offer choices and autonomy
11. Show the beauty of math
12. Encourage a growth mindset

This Growth Mindset Personal Evaluation is a great way to encourage a growth mindset in your classroom. This activity helps students become self-aware of their math mindset and aim for growth.

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Michelle Sigaran