How I got started….

Years ago, a colleague of mine suggested that I present at a local math conference. She had been witnessing some of the work that I had been doing in classrooms. Apparently the math ideas, lessons, and strategies were worth sharing. And so, I applied, spent months preparing for the presentation, and went off to my local math conference. I was hooked. I loved being able to share my students’ highs, lows and in betweens. I loved sharing to a group of people who were intent on learning. And listen to you explicitly!!

My original blog name

This was back in 2016. It’s now 2023 and I still get a kick out of presenting and working with teachers.

And as I’ve continued to bring presentations to conferences and districts…I adhere to a few of my own guidelines.

Practicality – my presentations are about information that’s practical to a teacher. I’m not here to talk about theories. Let’s be real about what works and what doesn’t. Teachers especially at the elementary level have limited time and 4-5 subjects to plan for. Let’s get down to business and discover routines that the students will enjoy in your classroom all the while are mathematically sound.
Engaging – if my participants aren’t laughing and conversing…something is very wrong. When participants laugh, ask questions, and enjoy themselves, they are buying in. No lecture. I always believe that teachers need to experience learning as the students. I love active learning. I love conversation, questions, and workshopping ideas. Let’s enjoy math through the lens of our students (I don’t do snoring and boring).
Collaborative – I make it a point to admit to the participants that I don’t have all the answers. I’m not the “sage on the stage” type. I’m there to give an idea and workshop it for their classrooms. I’m not the complete answer to their classrooms. I like to honor and respect all the years of experience of teachers who are in my sessions. As Graham Fletcher often says, “all of us are smarter then 1 of us.”