I'm always looking ahead--for myself and my students. What is the next goal I will work on? What is next learning I will ask my students to take on. Often I have to remind myself to slow down. Honor the child's current understanding. Hover in this moment to really understand it? What is it that… Continue reading Honoring the now
Imaginative Mathematical Play
In my book I talk a lot about how math exchanges must be both contextually meaningful and mathematically significant. Many times "contextually meaningful" means relevant or useful to the life of the mathematician solving the problem. However, this year with my kindergarten class I've been exploring the role of mathematics in the imaginative play of… Continue reading Imaginative Mathematical Play
Math Is Storytelling
Just returning from the NAEYC annual conference in Orlando, my head is swimming with ideas--ideas that both extend and challenge my previous beliefs. I love that hopeful and refreshed feeling of returning to my classroom after an amazing conference feeling ready to take on the world! I want to share an abbreviated version of my presentation,… Continue reading Math Is Storytelling
A peek ahead…
Next week I travel to Orlando for the annual NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) conference. My presentation is called "Mathematics is Storytelling: Bringing Play and a Sense of Narrative to Problem Solving," and it is all about using storytelling to strengthen children's understanding of problem solving. I thought I'd give you a sneak peek at… Continue reading A peek ahead…
Counting
I'm always trying to find ways that the little mathematicians in my kindergarten class can participate in real, meaningful math that matters. Whatever I teach them, I ask myself "Do they see how this connects to the real world of mathematics?" "Do they see that what they do in math matters?" Each morning we start… Continue reading Counting
The Blog Tour Kicks Off Today
The Math Exchanges blog tour kicks off today with a review and interview over at Pat Johnson and Katie Keier's blog, Catching Readers . You can win a copy of the book (or any other Stenhouse book if you already own mine) by posting a comment or question on the blog. Take a look at the… Continue reading The Blog Tour Kicks Off Today
Wordless Wednesday
More Kindergarten Counting Collections...
Blog Tour
Math Exchanges has officially been released! My publisher, Stenhouse, and I have organized a blog tour to celebrate the release of the book. Here are the dates and blogs that will be hosting the tour: Catching Readers Before They Fall, hosted by Stenhouse Authors Pat Johnson and Katie Keier (October 3rd) Our Camp Read-A-Lot, hosted by Laura Komos… Continue reading Blog Tour
September
I love September for many reasons, but one very important one is I love the part of the year that is focused on the establishing of community, friendships, and exploring how we will learn together. After being a math coach at my school for several years, I returned to a classroom position this year as a… Continue reading September
Publishing Student Work
Publishing, sharing and celebrating student work is an integral part of reading and writing workshops. Students share books they have written, they blog about the books they are reading, we host author's teas and poetry slams to which we invite families and friends to celebrate our hard work. We acknowledge having an audience and a community as something… Continue reading Publishing Student Work
Math Exchanges 