180 Opportunities to Notice

180 Opportunities Picture

In my previous post, Provide Massive Space to Notice, I described how to repeatedly use the same dot pattern to promote noticing.  In this post, I would simply like to give you 10 pages of dot patterns which you can download and use with your students.  The purpose is to promote a wide variety of…

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Provide Massive Space to notice

massive space to notice

Give students several copies of the same image – along with ample space to notice – and they will amaze you.  In this post, you’ll be taken on a tour of noticing.  At the end of the video, you’ll find a page which you can download and use with your students.  I encourage you to show…

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Scene 6: “Two Teachers Learning Together”

Scene 6 Still

In Scene 6, from the Animated Learning Walks Series, two teachers decide that they want to learn together, even when they is no learning walk scheduled.  So, they bring their students into one classroom in order to learn together. For more information with 4 challenges and practical tips on how to make this realistically happen, see the…

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Scene 5: “The Glimpse”

LW Scene 5 Still

In Scene 5, from the Animated Learning Walks Series, the observers in the hallway decide to step into the classroom a second time to briefly view the teaming exchange.  If they look closely enough, they will begin to see possibilities for learning alongside other educators even when learning walks are not scheduled. For more information with…

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Scene 4: “The Teaming Exchange”

LW Scene 4 Still

In Scene 4, from the Animated Learning Walks Series, the classroom teacher has arranged for a teaming exchange, an opportunity to briefly teach together as part of the exchange. For more information with 4 challenges and practical tips on how to make this realistically happen, see the recent blog post entitled, “Stepping Into Each Other’s Classrooms.” The…

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Scene 3: “The Return”

LW Scene 3 Still

In Scene 3, from the Animated Learning Walks Series, the classroom teacher detects two rare and powerful opportunities.  Instead of exchanging places, the teacher returns in a different way to take advantage of those two opportunities. For more information with 4 challenges and practical tips on how to make this realistically happen, see the recent blog post…

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Scene 2: “The Exchange”

The Switch Pic

In Scene 2, from the Animated Learning Walks Series, the observers return to the classroom, but they are now ready to try something new in order to make the experience even more powerful for everyone.  So they try out “The Exchange.” For more information with 4 challenges and practical tips on how to make this realistically…

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NYABS Part 4: An Average Algorithm Leads to Deep Thinking

Algorithms typically route us completely around opportunities for deeper thinking.  However, in this post, we see that using icons to represent a variety of strategies produces an opportunity to richly compare and contrast strategies, including an algorithm, to see what we can learn.  This post features 10 questions that can be used in this scenario…

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Touring KenKen

Ken Ken Pic

KenKen puzzles caught my attention recently while I was browsing through Marilyn Burns’ blog post.  Right away I was able to detect the power of these clever puzzles and their potential for developing number sense.  I was pleasantly surprised to find an entire site devoted to KenKen puzzles.  So, I set out to take a tour……

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16 Misconceptions

Number Line Misconception

I wrote these 16 images of common misconceptions before the September 17, 2015 #elemmathchat about “Mathematical Misconceptions.”  If you would like to use them in class, either play the silent video below and pause at key moments, or download the PowerPoint file here.     Feel free to leave comments, subscribe, or simply explore the rest…

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NYABS Part 3: Number Trading

Number Trading Comparison Pic

It’s possible you’ll feel that Number Trading is more like Leveling Off or that it is more like Passing Out.  Take a look at the Number Trading strategy.  You’ll understand a new way to find the mean, and then you’ll begin to wonder how these strategies are (and are not) related to one another. This…

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