education… “I see the same hands”: Dealing with Discretionary Spaces 12 Feb 201912 Feb 2019 The teacher frowned as she looked out at her 25 students, only 3 of which had their hands raised -- the same three students who always had their hands raised."I see…
assessment… What does it mean to be “struggling” in math class? (Eduardo’s Story) 5 Feb 20195 Feb 2019 It was a sea of dots. Eduardo's work for 47 + 27 Over and over again, for both computational and story problems, third grade student Eduardo drew dots. Eduardo's work,…
curriculum… “Why is the math teacher here for social studies?” 16 Jan 20196 Feb 2022 I slipped quietly into Room 304, trying not to distract the fourth graders, who were finishing up a writing assignment. I set up my laptop to project to the white…
in the classroom Talking about Geometry in Kindergarten, Part 2: The Shape Hunt 5 Jan 20196 Feb 2022 Talking helps us make sense of ideas. Talking helps us synthesize our ideas. Talking helps us communicate our ideas. We want to get this kindergarten class talking -- a lot…
in the classroom Talking about Geometry in Kindergarten, Part 1: Same or Different 4 Jan 20196 Feb 2022 Talking helps us make sense of ideas. Talking helps us synthesize our ideas. Talking helps us communicate our ideas. We want to get this kindergarten class talking -- a…
curriculum… #TeamBlankSpace 3 Jan 2019 Every time a child says, 'I don't believe in fairies,' there is a fairy somewhere that falls down dead.J. M. Barrie, Peter Pan (1904) When a work page is overly rigid…
education The Museum of Rarely Used Math Manipulatives: What Do We Need? 20 Dec 20185 Feb 2022 Today in Kindergarten, we used Attribute Links to play Name My Rule. We sorted shapes based on properties (number of sides, number of 'points,' size, color, etc.). Attribute links are…
in the classroom No More Mathematical Matchmaking: The Return of the Inaba Place Value Puzzles 26 Nov 201827 Nov 2018 When I first started teaching, I believed in being a mathematical matchmaker. I thought that differentiation meant giving students different tiered assignments -- it seemed much better than pushing every…
assessment… Presuming Competence: Using Clinical Interviews to Support Classroom Instruction 13 Nov 201827 Nov 2018 "She's not on an IEP, but she's struggling in class. What should I do?" I don't know the student -- Alejandra, or Ali, for short -- very well, so I arranged…
workshop Strategy 3: Use High-Leverage Instructional Routines (Fessenden/Laib NCTM Session) 8 Nov 20185 Feb 2022 In early October, I presented at NCTM Hartford with the incomparable Heidi Fessenden (@heidifessenden / blog). Our session was called "Strategies for Cultivating Mathematical Thinking for All Learners." Slides available…
workshop Strategy 2: Assign Competence (Fessenden/Laib NCTM Session) 7 Nov 20185 Feb 2022 In early October, I presented at NCTM Hartford with the incomparable Heidi Fessenden (@heidifessenden / blog). Our session was called "Strategies for Cultivating Mathematical Thinking for All Learners." Slides…
workshop Strategy 1: Reword the SMPs in Student-Friendly Language (Fessenden/Laib NCTM Session) 6 Nov 20185 Feb 2022 In early October, I presented at NCTM Hartford with the incomparable Heidi Fessenden (@heidifessenden / blog). Our session was called "Strategies for Cultivating Mathematical Thinking for All Learners." Slides available…
workshop NCTM Hartford 2018: Strategies for Cultivating Mathematical Thinking for All Learners (Fessenden & Laib) 5 Nov 20185 Feb 2022 In early October, I presented at NCTM Hartford with the incomparable Heidi Fessenden (@heidifessenden / blog). Our session was called "Strategies for Cultivating Mathematical Thinking for All Learners." Slides available…
education Keeping a Straight Face 9 Aug 201810 Aug 2018 This is my contribution to the Convention of Mathematical Flavors organized by @samjshah2. He put a call out for presenters to ponder the "mathematical flavor" of their classrooms How does your class move…
child study… Cultivating a Listener’s Mindset — with ELs 10 Jun 20186 Feb 2022 In a post last January, I wrote about how the "mental load" teachers carry can impact their ability to listen to their students. ...but listening is critical. It's especially critical when…
education We Need to Talk About Crazy Barb, or Throwing Skittles at a Problem 28 May 201824 Jul 2020 A NOTE: While I changed her name and a few minor identifying details, this is essentially a true account. I know it sounds strange -- because it was. This is not…
education Doris 23 Jan 20188 Sep 2020 A student from my first ever fourth grade class -- now in his 20s -- contacted me on Facebook today. He was glad that I remembered him. "u and mrs…
curriculum… Cultivating a Listener’s Mindset: A Case for Curriculum 2 Jan 2018 In the last few weeks, I have seen articles about "mental load" circulating around social media again. The "mental load" refers to the invisible but burdensome job of orchestrating of all the…
education The New Kid 16 Oct 201712 Feb 2022 In a nutshell: my district offers a fellowship grant each year for six teachers to spend a (paid) week writing about teaching over the summer. I am never fully certain…
assessment… Anchoring Online Portfolios 10 Oct 201710 Oct 2017 When I was an elementary classroom teacher, my students built elaborate portfolios to document their thinking and progress. As a specialist, I carry components of this into my practice --…
