Teaching and Learning
Scene 5: “The Glimpse”
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…
Read MoreScene 4: “The Teaming Exchange”
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…
Read MoreScene 3: “The Return”
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…
Read MoreScene 2: “The Exchange”
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…
Read MoreScene 1 – Animated Learning Walks Model: “The First Step”
In less than 2 minutes, I would like to paint a picture of a peer learning walk. My hope is that you will begin to consider this practice and that you will soon find yourself seeing instructional practices in another classroom, and then trying those practices in your own room where they will be valuable to…
Read MoreStepping Into Each Other’s Classrooms
Powerful instructional practices are occurring all around us. Sometimes those practices are in classrooms only a few feet away from us. So very close. There may be teachers just a few moments down the hallway who are using highly effective strategies that could quickly empower our own instruction and positively impact our students. We know…
Read MoreNYABS 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…
Read MoreTouring KenKen
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……
Read More16 Misconceptions
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…
Read MoreNYABS Part 3: Number Trading
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…
Read MoreNYABS Part 1: Leveling Off
When you begin watching the video you may agree that this is not your average blog series. Or maybe, it is. In this clip, pay particular attention to the challenge. Find out if you are able to nearly instantly level off. NYABS Part 1: Leveling Off NYABS Part 2: Passing Out NYABS Part 3: Number…
Read More5 × 9 Is More Than 45
Even though some students and teachers will chase multiplication facts, such as 5 x 9 = 45, in pursuit of memorizing the products, there is so much more waiting to be learned… Thank you for visiting my blog! You may also be interested in Experiencing Subitizing, which launched the Subitizing Series. The Animated…
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