I am a HUGE advocate for using manipulatives in the classroom... at all grade levels. I have not always thought this. Early on in my career when I went from teaching Algebra I to 4th grade, I saw teachers in my elementary building using manipulatives as I would walk by and think, "Why are they… Continue reading Top 5 Manipulatives: Pattern Blocks
As I've been in schools the last few weeks, I've heard teachers talk about the most dreaded part of the school year, State Testing Season. As a teacher of 17 years in testing grade levels, I know the stress of testing season. I know the weight you feel to plow through the content. I understand… Continue reading Fraction Flowers
It's that time of year again! My friend Kristin, of Hilty Consulting, and I are hosting the 4th Annual Digital Number Sense Summit June 13-14. Every year this is one of our favorite things to do, put together a conference to fit the needs of what we are seeing in classrooms and what teachers are… Continue reading Digital Number Sense SUMmit 2023
Who doesn't love a good mug of hot chocolate in the cold winter months? When I was teaching in the classroom still, I was always trying to tie in real-world experiences into my math lessons and what's better than combining math and hot chocolate? Do you have that one bulletin board in your building that… Continue reading Mathematicians Love Hot Cocoa
I am the first to admit, I'm not the biggest fan of worksheets. Too often when students are working independently on worksheets they are not fully engaged in their learning. They are going through the motions or mimicking what the teacher just did in the lesson. The assignment is not memorable. The worksheets are normally… Continue reading First to 5
Any one who knows me personally knows I love to cook and I love math. It’s even better when I combine the two! Maybe you’re like me and like to have a little bit of fun when you cut your brownies? My kids know what’s coming when I have one of them come over when… Continue reading Brownies with Fractions
