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Each year our middle school celebrates the circle and its mathematical relationships on “Pi Day,” March 14, using the date of 3/14 to honor the 3.14 approximation of pi. A local bakery donates pies and, in every math class, students measure round things and consume their pieces of pie. Amidst the Pi Day activities, students…

Subitizing! This ability to instantly “see” how many is a critical component in young students developing number sense.

Why is it that engaging preschool and kindergarten students in talking about their mathematical ideas is considered such an important key to fostering the development of early math skills? What is gained by devoting valuable time and effort into classroom discussions about math, and how can teachers set the stage for lively and meaningful math…

On a recent walk through my neighborhood I came across a father teaching his young son how to ride a bicycle. The father was holding on to the bike as the boy sat atop the seat, gripping the handlebars tightly. It appeared that the father was much more confident in the boy’s ability to learn…

An effective math coach possesses a multitude of skills, but the ability to ask purposeful, targeted questions is one of the most vital to the coaching process. As coaches, we want to allow teachers to reflect on their practice and on the impact they’re having on students, as well as to think about how they…

Recently, I was in a school bathroom and saw a beautiful painting hanging on the wall of an African woman dressed in African garb. I was immediately filled with awe and joy because the painting radiated beauty and was a positive image in a surprising place. I am often one of few African American women…

Many educators share the misconception that because it uses symbols, mathematics is not associated with any language or culture and is ideal for facilitating the transition of recent immigrant students into English instruction. To the contrary, language plays an important role in learning mathematics. Teachers use language to explain mathematical concepts and carry out math procedures.…

Are you ready for NCSM 2019 in San Diego, CA? We can’t wait to see you in our Booth 113 for a Math Workshop Essentials: Developing Number Sense signing with authors Rusty Bresser & Caren Holtzman. We have a full lineup of professional learning sessions for you to check out as well. Hope to see you there!   …

Outside of the polar vortexes and sudden snowstorms, winter is growing on me because there’s nothing like standing outside when it snows and having an opportunity to hear . . . nothing. I take advantage of those quiet moments as I watch the snow fall (or pause from my grumbling about shoveling snow) to reflect.…

Do you want to inspire a culture of mathematics in your classroom and school? Join @Math_Solutions for our first #InspireMathCulture Twitter chat of 2019 Tuesday, January 29th at 8pm ET/ 5pm PT.   Nikki La Londe, Director of Professional Learning, and Nicole Bridge, Professional Learning Consultant, will co-lead a discussion on how our personal math stories affect…