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Read on to discover lessons, articles, videos, and more. We update the blog regularly to provide you with valuable and timely resources, so visit us often!



Subitizing: Can You See How Many?

by Math Solutions Professional Learning Team, February 13th, 2020

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



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Exploring Fractions: Using Knowledge of 1/2 to find 1/6s

by Lisa Bush, Vice President of Professional Learning
February 05th, 2020

In this clip from Beyond Pizzas & Pies, students describe how they found the rods that are 1/6 of the unit interval. What important fraction concept does Marcela’s reasoning support?



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Fractions February: Exploring Problems Through Measurement

by Julie McNamara, Math Solutions Author
February 01st, 2020

My eight-year-old neighbor Zoe spent the day with me recently so we decided to do a little baking. The recipe we were using called for ½ cup of sugar and three cups of flour. After using the ½ cup measuring cup to add sugar to the batter, I suggested we use the same measuring cup…



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Actionable Feedback as a Means of Promoting a Growth Mindset

by Dr. Sue Chapman, Author, Math Solutions
January 24th, 2020

We know it’s important to encourage our students to adopt a growth mindset towards their mathematical abilities. But when we draw a smiley face on a student’s paper or say “good job,” are we building a growth or a fixed mindset? These types of feedback are meant to encourage but they fail to give students…



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Encouraging Math Talk in the Preschool and Kindergarten Classroom

by Treve Brinkman, Director of Professional Learning
January 17th, 2020

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…



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The Power of “Yet”

by Julie McNamara, Math Solutions Author
January 11th, 2020

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…



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Coaching Corner: 3 Benefits of Asking Purposeful Questions

by Brenda Konicke, Director of Professional Learning
January 04th, 2020

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…



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Fibonacci Day Fun with Math Matters

by Math Solutions Professional Learning Team, November 23rd, 2019

This article is excerpted from Math Matters: Understanding the Math You Teach, Grades K–8, Second Edition by Suzanne H. Chapin and Art Johnson One of the most famous patterns is the Fibonacci sequence, which is made up of Fibonacci numbers. Fibonacci was the nickname of Leonardo de Pisa, an Italian mathematician (1175–1245); he is best known…



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Representations Matter

by Le’Vada Gray, Consultant Development Manager
November 12th, 2019

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…



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The Challenges of Teaching Math to English Learners

by Rusty Bresser, Author, Math Solutions
October 18th, 2019

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.…



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