Math review is necessary, but it isn’t always exciting for students. As teachers, we know that review is needed to help students master basic math skills, retain important math concepts and prepare for tests. Students often see review as “extra work” or something we do to prepare for a test or state assessment.
That’s why it’s important to use math review methods that work and are engaging.
Throughout the years I’ve found that a way to keep students focused and motivated is to use math warm-ups or bell ringers. Using warm-ups for math review makes practice something students can actually enjoy.
Warm-Up Math Reviews: Start Class with Quick Daily Practice
One way I like to review in math is by using warm-ups or bell ringers. This routine is simple, but it makes a big difference in student learning because it gives them consistent practice with important skills.
What My Warm-Up Looks Like
The warm-ups I create usually have 5 questions for each day:
One question from each math standard goal
A mix of previously taught skills
Quick problems that can be completed in a few minutes
This helps students review multiple topics throughout the week, not just one skill at a time.
Weekly Answer Sheets
Students get an answer sheet to record their answers for the entire week. This keeps warm-ups organized and makes it easy for students to stay accountable.
I like to:
take up the warm-up sheets daily
grade them quickly
use that information to see what topics need more review
This is also a great way to collect data without having to give quizzes all the time.
Student Discussion Before Reviewing
After I collect the papers, I go over the problems each day. Sometimes, before I go over them, I have students get into groups and discuss their answers. They discuss their answers and agree on one final answer as a group.
This is one of my favorite parts of warm-ups because students learn so much through discussion.
They get to talk about:
which answers are correct
which answers are incorrect
common mistakes and misunderstandings
Students also use their math notebooks to review any math topic they need help with. This encourages them to use their notes and become more independent learners.
Conclusion: Math Review Matters
In conclusion, I think most teachers understand the importance of review. Using warm-ups or bell ringers as a review helps us:
assess what students remember
find math skills students have forgotten
spend more time on math standards students still need practice with
Students may not always understand why review is important. When we give math review activities that are enjoyable students become more willing to participate and keep working.
Ready-to-Use Warm-Ups
If you love the idea of warm-ups but don’t want to spend hours creating them, we’ve got you covered!
We have created Math Review Warm-Ups for:
6th Grade
7th Grade
8th Grade
Each set includes warm-ups designed to help students review key skills and standards while keeping your routine simple and effective.
These are perfect for end of grade testing review!
