Numeracy – Explore Learn Share

That Moment

Jo Boaler’s course titled: How to Learn Math, inspired me as a math teacher and learner. This course challenged me to think of ways to include Number Talks as part of my online course for grade three students. One way I have done this, is by developing Three Act Math lessons* in the form of videos to promoteContinue reading “That Moment”

Teacher Language Matters

As I listened to examples of number talks in the math classroom, this stands out, teacher language matters. “I think I heard you say.” “How did you know you should have…..” “Where do you think your mistake came from?” “So you are saying…” “How did you figure that out?” “Do we see it another way?”Continue reading “Teacher Language Matters”

My Mother and ‘The Number Talk’

My brother nodded in agreement and chuckled, “Yes our mother was great with numbers.” She had the ability to use numbers fluently, a skill we we both easily acknowledged. How well I remember standing next to my mother in a grocery store or bank as she quickly and easily calculated totals. I would line upContinue reading “My Mother and ‘The Number Talk’”

Shout it from the Roof Tops!

Current research helps us understand what high achieving math students do and it is most interesting, in fact Jo Boaler tells us it is worth shouting from the rooftops so here it is: High achieving math students use flexible thinking, are able to easily decompose and recompose numbers and naturally compress ideas to move onContinue reading “Shout it from the Roof Tops!”

It’s a scary mathematical world out there! Hmm… really?

Math, math, math, what are your thoughts on this subject? Is it true that math is portrayed as a hard subject? As a student have you ever received the message that some people are math people and others are not? Do we hold stereotypical messages about gender or race and ability to do math? WhenContinue reading “It’s a scary mathematical world out there! Hmm… really?”

An Online Math Course verses Summer Reading

This summer I am taking an online math course from Jo Boaler, Professor of Mathematics Education, Stanford University. It is fitting I think, that an online math teacher should take an online math course and it is logical then, that one of my interests is the very structure and organization of the course. How do I as aContinue reading “An Online Math Course verses Summer Reading”