4 Ideas for Teaching Exponents
Recently I was talking to a high school algebra teacher. I asked her what topic students entering Algebra 1 need the most practice with. Her response was “Exponents!”. I can see why this was her response! Exponents are tricky for many students. There are quite a few rules to remember and many of the exponent expressions can look pretty overwhelming. Whether you are teaching a unit or reviewing exponents, here are some of my favorite tips for teaching exponents.
1. Hang Up Posters or Reference Sheets
Easy-to-read exponent posters can be a helpful visual!
Many students need a clear visual to understand a math topic. Because there are a lot of different rules to remember when simplifying exponents having a poster hanging in your classroom can be really helpful for many students.
Here are three ways you can have exponent posters in your classroom:
Create your own on large paper.
Have students work in groups to create a poster for each of the exponent rules. Make sure they have clear guidelines such as large easy-to-read wording and 2-3 examples. This can be an especially great activity for students who grasp exponent rules quickly or a more advanced class.
Buy already-made posters. My clear, easy-to-read posters are shown in the image above and can be found here in my TpT store.
2. Use a Different Voice
It takes at least three times to hear something for your brain to store it in long-term memory. Using a different voice can really help with this. There are so many math videos that you can find on YouTube. But honestly, it can be a little overwhelming and quite a bit of a rabbit hole! One of my favorite channels is MathAntics! Here are two engaging videos on exponents by MathAntics that you can use with your students today!
3. Incorporate Partner Worksheets or Quizzes
Having students work with a partner on a difficult topic is a simple yet effective way to practice a math skill. Students can learn a lot from working together. Seeing students talk about how to solve or simplify a problem together is pure magic! I have an entire post all about partner quizzes and why you should be using them.
Incorporating a partner quiz is something that sounds a little bit crazy but works well! Because a quiz is a grade students are all held accountable and want to do well for their partner. I encourage you to try it at least once! You can of course let students choose but for the first couple of times, I would assign students their partners.
4. Allow Cheat Sheets
Because there are many different rules for exponents, allowing students to have a cheat sheet or mini reference sheet with them during classwork, homework or even a quiz can be a game changer. Not all students may need this but giving students the option can really help.
Despite using a reference sheet, students still need to understand how to use the reference sheet while simplifying exponent expressions. I would recommend that you model how to use a reference sheet while simplifying exponent expressions.
You can have students write their own reference sheet on a notecard or you can have ones already printed out.
In my exponent poster pack, I have included student reference sheets of various sizes and the option to have the page blank for students to complete or already filled in. This is one of teachers’ favorite things about this resource!
Exponents don’t have to be as scary as many students believe. Following these four ideas may even help students think exponents are actually fun!
