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Kindergarten is an important beginning. It can be the positive start of a child’s lifelong exploration of mathematical ideas or it can lay the first stones in what can become an impenetrable wall between “real math” and “school math.” In Growing Mathematical Ideas in Kindergarten, Linda and Rebeka present their vision of a kindergarten classroom…

It is election season, and social studies teachers all across the country are taking advantage of current events to engage their students and generate greater enthusiasm in their subject. In the presentations I have made over the last couple of months, I have pointed out that mathematics teachers are the “new” social studies teachers. What do I…

In my role as a Director of Professional Learning, I support many district and school leaders with transitioning into instructional leadership roles, so they may better support mathematics educators in their schools. Leadership support is crucial for teachers as well as their students, not only for promoting student-centered learning, but also in addressing and incorporating…

During our first live Twitter® #InspireMathCulture chat with Director of Professional Learning Nikki Lalonde and Professional Learning Consultant Nicole Bridge, we explored what a positive math culture looks like in a classroom and school, and why it’s so important to student outcomes. Participants shared actionable strategies they use in their classrooms to foster a culture…

Do you want to inspire a culture of mathematics in your classroom and school? Join @Math_Solutions for our October #InspireMathCulture Twitter chat on Tuesday, October 2nd at 8pm ET/ 5pm PT. Nikki Lalonde, Director of Professional Learning, and Nicole Bridge, Professional Learning Consultant, will co-lead a discussion on how we build a positive math community, and how…

Setting the Stage for Making Sense of Math is the second in a four-part blog series on inspiring math achievement in the classroom. To read the first blog post, head over here. At the beginning of a unit on decimals, I wanted students to connect to what they already knew about whole number place value. I…

During our recent live Twitter® #MathWorkshopChat with Director of Professional Learning Brenda Konicke and Math Workshop author Jennifer Lempp, we explored number sense routines and their use in math workshop. Read the recap below and follow us to learn more about how number sense routines and the math workshop model of instruction can transform your…

Are you interested in using the math workshop model of instruction in your classroom and putting your students at the center of learning? Join @Math_Solutions for our September #MathWorkshopChat on Wednesday, September 26th at 8pm ET/ 5pm PT. Brenda Konicke, Director of Professional Learning, and Jennifer Lempp, author of Math Workshop: Five Steps to Implementing Guided…

Back to School is one of my favorite times of year because I love the smell of a fresh box of crayons, buying new school supplies and notebooks, and having a new start. It’s probably why I became a classroom teacher myself. After decorating my classroom, setting up my library and sorting supplies, I started…

Creating a Culture of Risk-taking in the Mathematics Classroom is the first in a four-part blog series on inspiring math achievement in the classroom. To read the second blog post, head over here. At the beginning of each school year we spend time helping students learn expectations for walking down hallways and how to act in the cafeteria.…