The start of a new school year is an exciting time, but when it comes to back to school math, jumping straight into grade-level content can sometimes leave students feeling overwhelmed.
Reviewing key concepts from the previous grade before diving into this year’s standards is essential. Whether you’re teaching 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade, students often return from summer break with a wide range of math readiness.
Reviewing last year’s math standards helps bridge learning gaps, boosts confidence, and sets the stage for success. Simple strategies, such as spiral warm-ups, math centers, review games, or quick pre-assessments, can help you identify where students are and what they need. Building in time for review with back to school math at the start of the year will lay a strong foundation for deeper learning.
Back to School Math: Why Reviewing Previous Grade Level Standards Matters
We all have a great deal to teach each school year. It is therefore easy to see why we would feel pressured to start training new standards immediately as the new school year begins. However, slowing down and starting with a review may help your students grasp new concepts more quickly throughout the school year.
First, reviewing the previous year’s standards can help students identify and fill in any gaps. Not all students mastered all skills and concepts of the prior year, so reviewing can provide students with extra practice on skills they may still be learning.
Another reason it’s a good idea to start with a review is that starting with previously taught skills can help build student confidence as they learn new things. Starting with familiar concepts can help students feel successful from the outset.
Additionally, when you begin by reviewing old concepts with students, it can help create new connections to the latest ideas they will be learning this year. It is a great way to demonstrate to students how math concepts continue to build upon one another.
Finally, starting back to school math by reviewing concepts can help you understand where your new students currently stand as mathematicians and inform differentiation strategies to support your new learners.
What to Review in Back to School Math
You don’t have time to review every standard and concept taught in the previous grade level. So, how do you know what to focus your review on?
Start by reviewing major concepts and key standards from the previous grade level. For example, if you are a 4th grade teacher, you might want to review multiplication and division standards with your students because those are key concepts in 3rd grade.
Also, focus on standards and concepts that are critical prerequisites for your current grade level standards.
Returning to the multiplication and division example, reviewing these 3rd-grade standards will also help support critical 4th-grade multiplication and division standards. We all know that if students don’t have multiplication and division facts, they will struggle as they progress through multi-digit multiplication and division standards.
Start your back to school math by reviewing the standards and skills that will help students learn this year. Sometimes, they only need a little refresher to help jumpstart their learning.
Back to School Math: Ideas for Reviewing Last Year’s Math Standards
Back to School Math Spiral Warm-Ups or Bell Ringers: Use daily 5-minute review problems aligned to the previous grade level’s standards. Have students complete the problems and then review the answers with them. Focus on one domain each week (ex., Week 1 is place value, Week 2 is fractions, etc..)
Back to School Math Centers or Stations: Utilize games or hands-on activities to review last year’s standards and content. This is a fun and engaging way for students to practice previously taught skills. It also does not take any of your instructional time away.
These color-by-number activities are one of my favorite review activities. They can easily be integrated into your day, including center time. They are summer-themed, and students love to complete them. You can learn more about using color by numbers in upper grades here.
To review 5th grade standards, use this color by number activity.
To review 4th grade standards, use this color by number activity.
To review 3rd grade standards, use this color by number activity.
Back to School Math Pre-Assessment and Targeted Mini-Lessons: Utilize a brief, informal assessment to pinpoint areas where students struggle with learning. Then, group students accordingly and provide small-group, targeted mini-lessons for students based on their needs. While you perform these mini-lessons with students, the rest of your students can be reviewing concepts in math centers or stations.
You can also use these free back to school logic puzzles to practice critical thinking skills to keep the rest of your class engaged while you teach targeted mini-lessons to help students review. Download them now!
Back to School Math Review Projects: Spend a few days or weeks completing a review math project or challenge. This is a fun way for students to practice their math skills while quickly reviewing the material.
This Math Madness project is a basketball-themed game that reviews the math standards and skills learned within one grade level. You can learn more about this engaging project here.
To review 5th grade skills, use this project.
To review 4th grade skills, use this project.
To review 3rd grade skills, use this project.
Review with Math Journals: Using math journals effectively encourages students to communicate and reflect on their knowledge. Provide students with questions and thinking stems requiring them to review their understanding of previous math topics and concepts. Provide students with opportunities to share their thoughts with peers and you. Using math journals is a great way to see where your students are in their mastery of previous standards.
As you plan your back to school math lessons, remember that reviewing the previous grade level’s standards isn’t time wasted—it’s a strategic step that can make a big difference in your students’ confidence and success. By utilizing engaging tools such as math centers, quick assessments, warm-ups, and review games, you can identify learning gaps early and ensure your students are ready for grade-level content.
Whether you spend a few days or a couple of weeks on review, this time helps create a smoother transition and builds a strong math foundation for the year ahead. Start where your students are, and you’ll be amazed at how far they can go!
No Comments