Teaching and learning mathematics today looks very different than the way it was 20 or even 10 years ago. In the past, teachers used the "I Do-You Do" approach to teaching, where basically they showed students how to solve a problem, making sure to follow specific steps and rules, and students were expected to copy … Continue reading Teaching and Learning Through Problem Solving
Category: Uncategorized
Developing Number Sense in the Early Years
In most movies and TV shows with teenage characters, we see them talk about how hard math class is, or how they are failing math. It is also common to hear them say "I'm not good at math" or "I'm not a math person." Most scenes show the math teacher writing crazy formulas on the … Continue reading Developing Number Sense in the Early Years
Communicating & Reasoning as a Tool During Distance Learning
As educators we are prepared for constant change. We are used to the feeling of being comfortable not knowing everything all the time. We rely on our teammates to ask for help about creating a lesson we have never taught before or get advice regarding new strategies to use with a student who is struggling … Continue reading Communicating & Reasoning as a Tool During Distance Learning
Using Apps to Learn Math
Apps could be an amazing tool for learning. Using technology in general is essential in education to prepare our students for their future careers. We need to acknowledge the fact that technology affects the way we work, play, live and learn today. We can’t pretend smartphones and tablets are not part of our students’ daily … Continue reading Using Apps to Learn Math
Essential Component of an Effective Math Lesson
As an elementary math coach, one very important part of my job is to be in the classroom noticing all the small good things students are doing or saying, as well as the different teaching moves that shift students’ thinking about how they approach a math problem. I usually send an email to the teacher … Continue reading Essential Component of an Effective Math Lesson
Differentiating: Using parallel tasks in your math lesson
At the start of this school year in our elementary school, we decided to focus on differentiation strategies all teachers can use in their classroom. To be more specific, we invited all teachers to explore strategies they can use during Tier 1 instruction (RTI), not necessarily differentiating for students with moderate or severe disabilities, but … Continue reading Differentiating: Using parallel tasks in your math lesson
Are You Asking the Right Questions?
How do you know you are pushing your students’ thinking? The questions you ask in class can either push their thinking, and let them show you how they thought about solving a problem; or they can shy away if they feel they don’t have the right answers. “Problem solving is the major theme of doing … Continue reading Are You Asking the Right Questions?
Convince me!
Communicating & Reasoning in Mathematics 1st grade class ready to use sentence starters to explain how they solve problems. A few years ago, a good friend of mine, who was teaching kindergarten, told me that she had this conversation with one of her 5 year old students: Student: “Miss Koshika, why don’t you trust me?” … Continue reading Convince me!
Introducing Number Talks
What is a Number Talk? A Number Talk is a short, powerful tool for helping students develop computational fluency and number sense.Number Talks are not necessarily directly related to the math curriculum. They are not intended to replace current curriculum or take up the majority of the time spent on mathematics (5-10 minutes).Number Talks allow … Continue reading Introducing Number Talks
How many fourths are in one half?
Last week, I had a great time teaching & learning division of fractions with one of my teachers. I have not stopped thinking about how models really provide a visual representation of what dividing fractions really mean. Our students use concrete models to gain understanding of what fractions are, how to put them together, take … Continue reading How many fourths are in one half?
Making Sense of Mathematics 