Teachers: Resources for Middle Grades (6-8)

The North Carolina Collaborative for Mathematics Learning (NC²ML) aims to support NC math educators in implementing the revised mathematics content standards in ways that align with what we know from research on students’ mathematical thinking, mathematics teaching, and teacher learning. To do so, we bring together mathematics educators to co-design research-based resources and professional learning opportunities.

6-8 Resources Home

First Week Problem Solving Tasks

The Instructional Frameworks at each grade level recommend spending the first week of school doing general, high cognitive demand tasks with students in order to establish strong communication practices (SMP 3). Students can be enculturated into the discourse, listening and writing practices essential for strong mathematical reasoning while working these problems.

Additional Supporting Articles

Herbel-Eisenmenn, B. & Breyfogle, M. (2005). Questioning our patterns of questioning. Mathematics Teaching in the Middle School, 10(9), 484-489.

Stephan, M. (2014). Establishing standards for mathematical practice. Mathematics Teaching in the Middle School, 19(9), 532-538.

Grade	Tasks
6th	Problem Solving Tasks (Word) Problem Solving Tasks (pdf) Problem Solving Tasks Solutions (Word) Problem Solving Tasks Solutions (pdf)
7th	Problem Solving Tasks (Word) Problem Solving Tasks (pdf) Problem Solving Tasks Solutions (Word) Problem Solving Tasks Solutions (pdf)
8th	Problem Solving Tasks (Word) Problem Solving Tasks (pdf) Problem Solving Tasks Solutions (Word) Problem Solving Tasks Solutions (pdf)