MathToolbox
24 Followers
Houston, Texas, United States
About the store
Hi, I'm Isaac. 23 years in math classrooms — middle school, Algebra I, Algebra II, then back to Algebra I. Every resource here was built on a prep period, tested with real students.
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First Week of Algebra 1 Bundle | 3-Day Thinking Routine | Building Thinking Clas
Short description (first lines — these show in search)Launch Algebra 1 with a three-day thinking routine that makes "math is about reasoning" something students actually experience — and quietly bridges them into algebra. Three complete, no-prep lessons (Border Tiles, Toothpick Squares, Banquet Tables), each with a scripted lesson plan, a one-page group task, a project-and-teach slide deck, and full answer keys — PLUS an exclusive 3-Day Facilitation & Pacing Guide. Print PDFs + editable Word + P
8th - 9th
Algebra
Algebra 1 Day 2 Building Thinking Classroom (BTC) | Toothpick Squares |
Short descriptionA no-prep, no-tech 20-minute thinking activity that takes students from noticing a pattern to writing a rule for any figure — the generalizing move at the heart of algebra. Students build a growing toothpick-square pattern in groups, hunt for a rule (3n + 1), and reflect with the "Mathematicians Do" card. Includes a scripted teacher lesson plan, a one-page student task, an editable project-and-teach slide deck, and a full answer key. Print PDF + editable Word + PowerPoint. CCSS
7th - 9th
Algebra
Algebra 1 Day 1 Building Thinking Classroom (BTC) Launch |Tiles |
Short descriptionA no-prep, no-tech first-day Algebra 1 activity that makes the purpose of thinking visible from minute one. Students work a low-floor / high-ceiling "Border Tiles" pattern task in groups while a "Mathematicians Do" card names the thinking moves they're already using — then reflect on an exit ticket. Includes a fully scripted, new-teacher-friendly lesson plan, a full answer key, misconception prompts, and a one-page student task. Print PDF + editable Word. TEKS & CCSS (Math Pract
8th - 9th
Algebra
Algebra 1 Day 3 Building Thinking Classroom (BTC) Intro | Banquet Tables |
Short descriptionA no-prep, no-tech 20-minute thinking activity where students write a rule for a growing pattern — then discover that different-looking rules can be equivalent, and argue why. Built around the classic "tables in a row" seating problem (2n + 2), it spotlights justifying and critiquing reasoning, a first real taste of equivalent expressions. Includes a scripted teacher lesson plan, a one-page student task, an editable project-and-teach slide deck, and a full answer key. Print PDF
8th - 9th
Algebra
Showing 1-4 of 4 results
About the store
Experience
Hi, I'm Isaac. 23 years in math classrooms — middle school, Algebra I, Algebra II, then back to Algebra I. Every resource here was built on a prep period, tested with real students.
Teaching style
Hi, I'm Isaac. 23 years in math classrooms — middle school, Algebra I, Algebra II, then back to Algebra I. Every resource here was built on a prep period, tested with real students.
Three years of middle school math gave me the foundation. Then Algebra I, then 14 years of Algebra II at a private high school (with a stretch of Geometry alongside). The past five years I've been back in Algebra I — both Honors and on-level. Every resource you'll find in this store came out of those Sunday-night prep periods: the tools I wished I had when I needed a unit test, a worksheet, a vocab activity, and a Friday game all by Monday morning.
What you'll find here:
Crack the Code puzzle bundles — self-checking worksheets in four formats (Riddle, Dialogue, Mystery Picture, Loop Cards). Engaging enough that students actually want to finish them.
Unit bundles (coming soon) — full pre-organized daily-practice packs for plug-and-play use.
Standalone activities — focused practice on specific topics, all TEKS and CCSS aligned.
Bonus with every purchase: free access to the live web app at themathtoolbox.com — 15+ classroom tools (Jeopardy, Kahoot, Escape Room, worksheet and test generators, and more) pulling from the same standards-aligned question bank used to build every product in this store.
What drives the work: find multiple ways to make math actually land for the students who think they're bad at it. A Friday puzzle that lets the kid who hates word problems get the right answer. An exit ticket short enough they finish it instead of giving up. Local and national teaching awards over the years, but those only matter here if they make the resources better for your students.
📧 iowoyemi@gmail.com · 🧰 themathtoolbox.com
Awards & shining teacher moments
Juleen Moore Excellence in Teaching Award – KIPP Houston Public Schools (June 2014)
Finalist – 2014/2015 Teacher of the Year Award – Houston Chamber of Commerce (June 2015)
Harriet Ball Excellence in Teaching Award – KIPP Nation (August, 2015)
Teacher of the Year Award – Airforce Association, Houston Chapter (September, 2015)
My own education history
July 2009 to January 2011 - University of Phoenix, USA
Master of Arts in Education (specialty – Curriculum and Instruction)
September 1981 to December 1986 – Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
Bachelors of Science in Engineering (specialty in Electrical and Electronic Engineering)
Certification in Mathematics (6-12), Texas State
Certification in English as a Second Language (ESL)-Supplemental
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