8th Grade Math Classroom Decorations and Back to School Ideas
Welcome your 8th graders back to school with these ideas! Classroom decorations and get-to-know-know you ideas can help set the tone for the year and give them a glimpse of what they’ll learn this year.
I’ve gathered some of my favorite resources for the first day and the beginning of the year for 8th grade math. Included are ideas for back-to-school classroom decorations, activities for the first day, and routines we can establish from the start.
I hope the inspiration and ideas help your year get off to great start!
8th Grade Math Classroom Setup & Decor
8th Grade Math Door
This classroom door welcomes students at the start of the year and shows them all the topics they will learn! Print, cut, and create this for your classroom.
Translating Expressions Posters
Translating word problems into algebraic expressions can be a challenge! Create a reference wall with common phrases and the equivalent algebraic expressions.
Vertical Number Line
Number lines are my most referenced tool in a math classroom. A vertical number line helps students operate and compare rational numbers.
Grade Level Signs
These math signs feature topics from each grade level. The 8th grade sign will give students a glimpse of all the topics they will learn this year!
Math Bulletin Board
This bulletin board encourages a growth mindset! It’s interactive and includes lots of math problems that have mistakes for students to spot.
Square Root Clock
These petals each show a square root! Every time students check them time, they’ll be reminded of a square root!
Plants & Puns Posters
These classroom posters have a sophisticated look but are funny! The puns might have your students laughing or cringing at the humor!
Math Calendar
A math calendar has a math problem to represent each day of the month! This one features equations for student to solve.
Math Symbols Reference Wall
Help student become familiar with all the symbols we use in math!
First Day Activities
Get-to-know-you Activity
Get to know students while doing some math! In this activity, students graph points to create the net of a cube while answering equations about themselves. They fold it to create a 3D cube!
Collaborative Group Work
Get students working collaboratively with a group coloring challenge! This one is a review of all the math they learned in 7th grade. Each student solves problems on their own paper. Once 4 group members put their pages together, the image of a panda is revealed.
Welcome to Math Booklet
Grab these get-to-know-you booklets to help you learn about your students the first day. Students fill in fun pages with information about themselves.
Emergency Sub Plans
Sub Plans
Prepare for unexpected absences with a sub binder. Inside, include information about your classes as well as ready-to-go math activities. Check out the 8th grade sub plan set to print and go!
Resources to Start Class Each Day
Bell Work
The whole year of 8th grade bell work is ready to go! This resource gives students 4 problems each day, focusing on 1 or 2 topics each week. It’s a great way to keep topics fresh throughout the year.
Daily Mental Math Lessons
Begin the year with a routine that will build students’ fluency! With these PowerPoint and Google Slides lessons, students are introduced to a new mental math strategy each week. Visuals show why it works. Just a few minutes each day can help students learn new strategies and become efficient thinkers!
I hope your year gets off to a great start teaching 8th grade math, and I hope you find these ideas useful!
Be sure to download my free guide to 8th grade math resources to help you plan your units throughout the year.
Have a great school year!
-Rachael
