Book excerpt: From bestselling authors Judith and Gary Muschla, The Math Teacher's Problem-a-Day is a hands-on resource containing 180 handy worksheets, one for each day of the school year, to help students in grades 4-8 acquire the skills needed to master mathematics. These reproducible worksheets are perfect for "sponge activities"—five-minute challenges to start or end a class period—that can also be used as supplemental lessons, homework, or extra credit. With problems based on the Standards and Focal Points of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, the book is designed to give students valuable practice in math skills, using specific activities to enhance critical thinking and boost test scores. The topics covered focus on the core math concepts and skills required for middle school students, including: Numbers and Operations Algebra Geometry Measurement Data Analysis Part of the 5-Minute Fundamentals series, The Math Teacher's Problem-a-Day is an important resource that will help today's students understand more concepts, make connections between branches of mathematics, and apply math skills to a variety of real-life problems.