My Blog
Building Thinking Classrooms Annual Conference: 5 Key Takeaways
In this blog, I share 5 key takeaways from the annual Building Thinking Classrooms Conference in Phoenix, Arizona.
Math Apathy: Why do some kids hate math?
Math apathy in classrooms arises from closed tasks, poor performance, and comparisons among students. To combat this, educators can introduce open-ended tasks, encourage critical thinking through questioning, foster collaboration, and provide relatable math problems. These strategies aim to reignite students' interest and engagement in mathematics.
Questioning Strategies: Micro-moves that make a huge splash!
The negative perception of math often stems from the belief that there's only one right answer and approach to every problem. To counteract this, educators can employ questioning strategies which embrace tentative language, plural perspectives, and positive presuppositions. By inviting diverse responses, valuing multiple strategies, and fostering a supportive environment, teachers can empower students to see themselves as capable mathematicians.
Before You Teach the Future Focused Indiana Math Standards, READ THIS!
The Future Focused Indiana Math Standards bring about significant changes in both instruction and content, with a shift to modeling mathematics, integrating data science, and nurturing conceptual understanding. These shifts not only redefine the approach to teaching math but also provide an opportunity to actively influence and mold the future of mathematics education in Indiana.
Top 5 Discoveries from 2023
In 2023, my educational journey took a new turn, allowing me to focus solely on supporting educators and delving into fresh learning experiences. Working with diverse school districts and addressing various student needs and challenges expanded my knowledge. As I reflect on these discoveries, I wanted to share some valuable resources that might benefit you and your students in 2024.
4 Proven Strategies for Building Student Efficacy
Self-efficacy can be defined as a confidence or belief in one's ability to achieve or make an impact (self-agency). What impact does self-efficacy and a student’s agency have on our classrooms? More than we think it does, and much more than our current school structures suggest.
5 Strategies for Successful Group Work
In the realm of group dynamics in education, teachers often grapple with questions about the ideal group size, maintaining student focus, and choosing between heterogeneous or homogeneous grouping. In my latest blog, I explore five key strategies for fostering group engagement and successful collaboration.
Direct Instruction vs. Inquiry Learning: Read the Fine Print
In the world of education, the debate between direct instruction and inquiry learning often revolves around semantics. However, both approaches can be highly effective tools for educators. Finding the right balance between teacher-led and student-led instructional time is key to enhancing student learning.
Why Tracking Students Hurts Kids (and Teachers)
Imagine a math classroom full of students who struggle with grade-level content all grouped in the same class to flounder together. This happens in schools across the country every day and some educators believe this is truly in the best interest of students. Let’s examine what really happens in these classrooms and the reasons why tracking students by their ‘ability level’ is harmful to students and teachers.
Math Apathy Requires Empathy
Math apathy is real! We might see students who act out in math class or say ‘I’m not good at math’, or they always want to work alone in math class. These are merely symptoms of math apathy. Try some of these micro moves that collectively make a major difference in students’ math identity.
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