Integer FLUENCY IS a Non-Negotiable Skill
Integer Boot Camp
This is how Integer Boot Camp came to be. In our pacing guide, integer operations were taught early in the school year. As the school year came to a close, it was necessary to do one big, effective push for mastery. It was perfect because it was fun, engaging, differentiated, and it built confidence.
DAY 1
For me and my students, it worked really well for us to do boot camp on Fridays, for 5 weeks in a row. On day 1, to build excitement, I came to school dressed up in some of my camo gear and played the role of the drill sergeant. I introduced the unit as a fun way to reinforce skills they had already learned. We talked about the importance of learning integer operations with fluency, so they didn’t need to use a calculator to work each step of the more challenging multi-step equations I knew were coming in 8th grade and Algebra. I also stressed the fact that integer operations are life skills. They were pumped up for boot camp.
EACH WEEK


