simplifying expressions – Special Education Math services

Simplifying Algebraic Expressions with Negatives by Eating Tacos and Burritos

Here is a link to the Intro to Simplifying (no negatives). Link to the Google Slides used to present the simplifying. Link to a Youtube video showing how it works. Link to a Facebook Reel showing how it works.

November 29, 2022

Combining Like Terms – From Concrete to Symbolic Form

Here is a Jamboard (see photo at very bottom for how to make a copy to edit) that presents like terms as visual manipulatives and then eases into the symbolic form – the “mathy” stuff. The following shows each slide as is and how it looks after completion. Start with two groups of common items,…

November 24, 2021

Simplifying Expressions (Combine Like Terms)

Simplifying expressions (see photo below) is one of the most challenging algebra tasks for many students receiving special education services. A major problem is that it is typically presented as symbol manipulation…addressed in very symbolic form. My approach is to make math relevant and more concrete. Below is a scaffolded handout I use to help…

January 24, 2019