It’s the beginning of a new school year and something magnificent happened during one of my beginning of the year activities. I usually play “Guess My Number” with my class, but decided to do a number talk with the class. I have done this number talk plenty of times during presentations! Or at least you would have think I’ve …
Ten Percent Increase – Pt.2
During the last blog post, I described the circumstances at the beginning of the year (September 2017). Teachers were fired up about comments made by our superintendent. As a matter of fact, there were teachers who attended and spoke at a board meeting. Let’s just say the board wasn’t thrilled by our superintendent’s words. And this brings us …
Clothesline Fractions
Fractions is one of the “F” words in math. (The other is functions, but I’m not working with that grade level). Whenever these two words are said, teachers usually groan with frustration (that other F word). Understood because both can be hard to understand for students. Part of my job is to turn that frustration into FUN! Third grade has …
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 …
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 …