response That Time I Couldn’t Hear 1 Nov 20231 Nov 2023 In early 2023, I spent two months with dramatic hearing loss. A complex infection — spearheaded by an angry colony of staph bacteria — reduced my world to underwater mumbles.…
in the classroom The Desmos Art Project 29 Jun 202313 Feb 2024 In the last week of two of school, the 8th graders worked on Desmos art projects. It is a glorious capstone to their K-8 math experience at our school. The…
curriculum… Preserving Equality — Algebraic Thinking Across Grade Levels 13 Feb 202313 Feb 2023 Equality is a fundamental concept of mathematics. The way that we can play around with values -- adjusting numbers slightly -- but maintain equality is fascinating, and differs between operations.…
curriculum… Turtle Time Trials & Leveraging Creativity To Deepen Mathematical Understanding 13 Nov 202212 Nov 2022 What if...? In a lot of tasks that we give students, there's an intended answer. Okay, sure, yes, I guess you could interpret the problem in this divergent way, but…
curriculum… The Learning that Led to Today 19 Apr 202219 Apr 2022 "You aren't these kids' first teacher, and you won't be the last."-Jennifer N. When I was an early career teacher, teaching 4th grade, I wanted to teach my students everything.…
formative assessment… Understanding Negative Numbers: In Praise of Tiny Games 1 Feb 202217 Jun 2022 "Is this right?" Inaya asked me, pointing to the equation she'd recorded on her paper: 5 + (-8) = -13 We are one week into our 7th grade unit on…
five practices… “Look! I showed my work!” 8 Sep 20218 Sep 2021 It's surreal to be back at my school, in person, after 18 months away. I feel a tremendous sense of vertigo when I look around at this place that is…
curriculum… Reducing Bias with Desmos Dashboard 17 Aug 202123 Oct 2024 When I am teaching in person, I circulate around the room. When I first started teaching, I would circulate in similar patterns, winding my way through the desks and rows…
education… How Are Students Representing Their Ideas During Remote Learning? 27 Nov 20203 Apr 2021 I come from the Marilyn Burns School of Student Work Samples -- which is to say I prize student work that fills a large, blank page. (#TeamBlankSpace) Marilyn Burns, one…
games… Johnny Upgrade 29 Sep 20203 Apr 2021 If you've never played Johnny Upgrade before, you should know that it begins with music. Epic music. Like anthemic, sweeping, about to vanquish the villain at the 11th hour music.…
five practices… Which Shape Covers More: Orchestrating a Sixth Grade Math Debate 27 Sep 202022 Jun 2021 First, we must mourn for the loss of the Way We Used to Teach. I love my work. If I let you scroll through the photos on my phone, you'd…
Jenna Laib 