***March 2017 Update —this blog post got published in the March 2017 CMC Communicator—click to download—> Mar2017CMCrHundredsChart**** ***An NCTM article by Graham Fletcher and J. Bay-Williams called Bottom-Up Hundred Chart**** A few weeks ago, Mrs. Z (my kinder “rockstar”teacher from a previous post) was telling me how she wanted to work more with the hundreds chart. She wanted her students …
Share your thinking!!!
I love it when my teachers take an idea and run with it. Not only did a teacher run with it, but added even more to a suggestion. And that’s what I saw today. One 4th grade teacher that I’ve been coaching (Mrs. P) had asked me to work with her on number talks. She had wanted me to …
Standards of Math Practice in Report Cards??
Today I was at a day long meeting on report cards. Our district is looking to align our report cards to Common Core. I was brought in to sit with the 6th grade team. We have 3 elementary schools that have 6th grades at their sites. We also have 2 middle schools with 6th grade. This year, my 6th …
Kindergarten Rocks!
Today I spent some time in a kindergarten classroom. Those tiny humans are inquisitive, direct, and full of spunk. What I love about them is that there’s a whole world of wonder waiting for them and they’re ready to soak it in. And let me tell you something about the kindergarten teachers. They are ROCK STARS! Especially the one I worked …
Math- to write or not to write?
“Math and writing, like oil and water, seemed to have little in common.” ~Marilyn Burns Last week I presented on a topic that I, as a math teacher, finally figured out a few years ago. When I had my own classroom, I was sent to a few writing workshops. I usually entered any workshop/presentation with hope of coming out with one …
Victories of coaching
Have you ever felt like this after coaching? This is what I’ve felt for the past two days. Proud, satisfied, exuberant, joyful, and just happy. My work has been so fulfilling. I’m one of those people who loves to put a smile on other’s faces, get them laughing, and realize that we have to enjoy life despite any hardships …
Number Talk Images
Can I just say that I can’t get enough of visual math routines? Or do you call it a number talk image? Some call it a visual number talk. It’s a picture that’s shown with a known quantity. Students may start by making observations and ask questions that are lingering in their heads (AKA Notice/Wonder–thanks Annie Fetter!) Once their questions …
It’s “Nacho” Business
It’s “Nacho” problem. How many nachos sold?