In Mr. Peters’ math class at Coal City Middle School, students have been working hard to master one of the most important foundational skills in middle school math: the Order of Operations.
“This unit helps set students up for success as they move into more complex expressions and equations, so we’ve been taking time to build strong habits and clear understanding. Our focus has been on learning how to approach multi-step problems with confidence and accuracy,” Mr. Peters said.
He added that his students have been practicing PEMDAS—Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication and Division (left to right), and Addition and Subtraction (left to right) and exploring why following this order matters.
“Students have completed guided examples with me, worked through class practice problems, and taken on independent tasks that challenge them to apply each step. The goal is to help them slow down, think carefully, and make sense of each part of a problem before moving on,” Peters said.
What has stood out most to the teacher is the effort and determination students are showing. They have been working on the board together to tackle problems. Many explaining their reasoning clearly, checking their work, and engaging in meaningful discussions about how to avoid common mistakes.
“Their confidence is growing, and they are beginning to recognize patterns that help them approach new problems more strategically,” according to Peters.
As they continue through this topic, students will keep strengthening their understanding with a mix of practice, feedback, and problem-solving opportunities.
“Mastering the Order of Operations now will support everything we’ll tackle later in the year, and the enthusiasm in the classroom shows that students are ready for the challenge. It’s been an exciting start, and I’m looking forward to seeing their continued progress,” Peters said.