Megan Reynolds

Megan Reynolds

I am a teacher & designer. Connecting with students & seeing them enjoy learning is my favorite feeling on earth! I hope you enjoy this article!

6th Grade Math Choice Board Tutorial for Teachers

Build your own Math Choice Board for 6th Grade in minutes! Keep kids engaged & learning using these tactics & templates
To use a choice board in your 6th Grade Classroom during Math you will need to create the Mathchoices (there are lots of examples), organize the classroom, and have a goal;

Time-saving, differentiation, and dynamic classroom management are my favorite reasons to use a choice board!

Integrating choices every day you will need to hone in on the best way to apply 6th Grade Math choice boards to your classroom style!

Here are a few ideas and instructions on choices, classroom management and getting buy-in from your6th Graders

Ideas & Examples of Great 6th Grade Math Choices

Fraction Art with Paper Strips
Create a colorful art piece using paper strips cut into fractions! Divide strips into halves, thirds, etc., and arrange them to make a cool design. Fun with math and art!
Create Your Own Math Puzzle
Create a fun math puzzle using addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division. Make sure it has a clear question and answer. Use numbers under 100. Enjoy solving!
Geometry Scavenger Hunt
Find & snap pics of shapes! 🔍📸 Look for 3D objects like cubes & spheres, and 2D shapes like triangles & rectangles. Count sides & angles. Have fun exploring!
Math Comic Strip: Fractions & Decimals
Create a comic strip showing a superhero converting fractions to decimals and vice versa, using division and multiplication. Add fun speech bubbles with tips!
Decimal and Percent Twister Game
Spin the wheel, land on a decimal or percent, then place a hand or foot on the matching mat spot! Convert between forms if needed. Fun way to practice math!
Fraction Skit: Act It Out!
Create a short play where characters are fractions (like 1/2 or 3/4) at a party. Show how they interact, like adding or comparing sizes. Be creative and have fun acting!
Math Rap Battle: Fractions vs. Decimals
Math Rap Battle: Fractions vs. Decimals is a fun contest where you create rhymes to argue which is cooler, using fraction and decimal examples. Be creative and show your math skills!
DIY Math Board Game: Operations Quest
Create a board game where you solve math puzzles to move. Add, subtract, multiply, divide, and use fractions to reach the end first. Draw cards for challenges!
Escape Room: Crack the Numeric Codes
Unlock puzzles using math skills! Solve addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division problems. Break codes with fractions & decimals. Fun & challenging!

Using a Choice Board to Differentiate Math in a 6th Grade Classroom

Keep It Simple

Everyone “teacher & student” should know exactly what they are doing. If you don’t make it even easier! 

Differential Instruction vs Saving time?

There is nothing more irritating than “Saving Time” with a Choice Board & ending up with “More work!”.  Are you using this to hit standards or save time or both? 

"Self Guided" or "instruction-based"?

If you giving out work, should they do it on their own or are these more instructions for each choice?

General rule, if the grade is > 3 there is more work per choice.

FREE Blank Fillable & Custom Choice Board

All ages, all grades where you need 9 grid choice board. Start loving learning again! 

How To Manage Your 6th Grade Classroom During Math (With a Choice Board)

I find its easiest to use a big board at the front of the classroom where all students can see the choices  then decide what they want to do

This often will be coming in from a break or transition between subjects. 

If you can get all students to know whats expected during a choice activity it becomes one-hundred times easier to manage the class & have everyone know what choices they have!  

There are three core steps you have to hit when using a Choice Board; 

1) The Set Up
2) 
The Instruction 
3) The Q+A 

1) The Set Up

Select your choices, decide on how you are going to use this time in your classroom. Build the choice board

1) The Instruction

Tell the students what they are going to be doing (this becomes easier over time) Simply start with 3 options & move from there. 

1) The Q & A

Does anyone have questions? This will help you or the next time. Remember the goal is to make this easier each time! 

Why Use A Choice Board?

So, let’s chat about choiceboards and why they’re like the coolest thing ever in your classroom. 

Picture this: kiddos bouncing into the room, eyes lighting up because they get to pick their own adventure in learning new words.

 It’s like a mini vocab party, and everyone’s invited!

We all have our own jam, right? Some of us are little artists, others are born performers, and some love to get lost in stories. Choice boards are like a buffet of fun learning snacks, so every munchkin finds something tasty that helps the vocab stick!

And here’s the kicker – when the little ones get to steer the ship, they turn into these mini captains of learning. They’re making the calls, and with every choice, they puff up a bit more with confidence. It’s a win-win – they’re learning and feeling like the boss at the same time.

Plus, for us teachers, it’s like having a secret helper in the room. We get to sprinkle in all sorts of activities that match our students’ levels and what makes their hearts tick. It’s like custom-making a learning playlist that gets every kid grooving to the vocab beat. How cool is that?