Jenna Laib // Blog

@jennalaib

Embrace the Challenge

I am a math specialist near Boston, MA. Find me on twitter @JennaLaib. For the last few years, this blog has served as a way for me to process and reflect on my work. Scroll down to check out my latest posts, or use the menu to browse by category.…Continue reading “Embrace the Challenge”

Tyler’s Dilemma: Digging into Unit Rates, and One Student’s Resistance

11 Oct 201911 Oct 2019

"You have a choice of which version of the game to play," I said, as I placed out four different gameboards and spinners for our focus game. Tyler's eyes narrowed.…

Choosing a Story to Tell: Examining a Lesson Close in 1st Grade

28 Aug 20196 Feb 2022

I had planned to spend my first time in Room 12 observing the classroom teacher and getting to know her students. Instead, the teacher texted me the day before to…

in the classroom

Listening to Early Understandings of Division: “12 ÷ 5 is either -3 or 0”

20 Aug 20195 Oct 2022

This blogpost is a part of the (2019) HUMANIZING MATHEMATICS CONVENTION: Virtual Conference on Humanizing Mathematics hosted by Sam Shah and Hema Khodai___ I love, love listening to early understandings…

When Our Beliefs Become Compromised… (part 1)

30 Jul 201928 Aug 2019

When are the times in my own teaching that my belief in kids and communities is compromised? - Cornelius Minor (@MisterMinor) Heinemann Teacher Tour, July 27, 2019 Cornelius isn't a…

in the classroom

Student-Created 3 Act Tasks

10 Jul 20196 Feb 2022

Ashley, an experienced 2nd grade teacher, added the 3 Act Tasks to her repertoire this year. Among Ashley's many strengths include listening thoughtfully to students and engaging them in the design process. She…

Students Surprise Us: Interviews with Juliet

20 Jun 201919 Jun 2019

Have you ever had a student just gloriously prove all your assumptions wrong? Things move so quickly in a school. In order to grapple with the pace of our days,…

A Tribute to My First School: The End of the Beginning

19 Jun 201928 Jun 2020

Yesterday, my First School closed. It was the school that took a chance on me, where an optimistic principal hired me -- a green, green 21 year old -- to…

games

One of Favorite Games: The Skip Count Game

30 May 20198 Feb 2023

This game is part of my "simple but high leverage" collection of games that are flexible, engaging, and easy to prep. Others include Number Boxes and the Answer Is... I've played the…

One of My Favorite Games: Number Boxes

29 May 20193 Feb 2023

This game is part of my "simple but high leverage" collection of games that are flexible, engaging, and easy to prep. Others include The Answer Is... and the Skip Count Game. I…

games

One of My Favorite Games: The Answer Is…

28 May 20196 Jun 2019

This game is part of my "simple but high leverage" collection of games that are flexible, engaging, and easy to prep. Others include Number Boxes and the Skip Count Game. I have…

games

The Simple-but-High-Leverage Game Collection: Making Games Routine

28 May 20193 Feb 2023

We use instructional routines in part because their predictable structure allows students to focus on the mathematics. So why don't we do this with simple, high leverage games? Games aren't…

in the classroom

The Cookie Recipe: Learning Math from Students

1 Apr 201919 Mar 2024

Fourth grade teacher Alicia and I have a beautiful habit of doing math together when planning. We try out problems, and anticipate ways we think students. (It is rare that…

in the classroom

You’re Both Right: Examining and Honoring Mathematical Assumptions

21 Mar 201922 Jun 2021

Even from across the room, there was no mistake: Jacob and Ian were deep into a mathematical debate. Jacob had pulled his chair up to Ian's desk, and they were…

Mathematical Connections in a Kindergarten Science Unit

18 Mar 201915 Mar 2019

"I'm sorry, we're only loosely doing math today," Jessica apologized as I walked into her kindergarten classroom. "We're deep into our structures unit in science, and I'd like to keep…

in the classroom

The Striped Snake Barbecue Puzzle: Exploring “Challenge” in 3rd Grade

4 Mar 20196 Feb 2022

Who gets to be challenged in class? How does the work we give students impact their status (or how they perceive their status) in the classroom? Meet Calvin You've probably…

in the classroom

Daysha at the Board: Assigning Competence

2 Mar 20195 Feb 2022

"Sit down, Daysha... Daysha." Six-year-old Daysha shot me an icy glare while she leisurely pumped hand sanitizer onto her open palm. The rest of her class was all sitting on…

“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…

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,…

“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…