[phelopham]

I teach 8th grade and they still don't get integers. I found TeacherTube.com. Go to teachertube.com and search Integer Cheer...this teacher does this really annoying cheer...but it sticks. My kids griped about having to watch it. I would make them watch it over and over and over--but they left my room chanting the cheer. Now when someone makes a mistake with integers, someone always starts chanting the cheer. I use a ladder metaphor for adding and subtracting. I tried the number line but they would be confused about going left or right, they "get" going up(+) and down(-). I have previously told them that they are on a construction site and the foreman made them dig this really deep hole and then put this really tall ladder in this hole. I always make them start at zero (ground level). Positives they climb up and negatives they climb down.