All too often, students are faced with rules and procedures that are to be followed. They are shown exactly how to solve a problem, how to think, and how to proceed before they are then asked to practice what they were just shown.
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The city of Quincy has committed to a K-8 professional development plan to transform mathematics instruction with an emphasis on differentiation. All 11 elementary schools and 5 middle schools are receiving regular support as their teachers work to meet the needs of their diverse population.
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Happy October - one of my favorite times of year in education. By now, classroom teachers have routines in place and have gotten to know their students. Schools start to have that familiar hum of learning as we roll through the crisp fall days.
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My daughter is a senior in high school and is planning on majoring in elementary education. I have told her repeatedly, “education is the best job in the world!” She has witnessed my love of teaching and appreciated the balanced approach to life that education allows. But, lately, as I share this news with teachers, I keep hearing the same thing … “Tell her no!” I understand.
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Instead of writing a list of New Year's resolutions of what we will and won't do, there is a movement to determine one word that will focus our goals. This one word can shape decisions and serve as an inspiration throughout the year.
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In Memoriam to Richard J. Coppa - my father, my mentor, and the ultimate teacher. Long before Carol Dweck's research on growth mindset, there was my father's mindset - study, work hard, think creatively, tackle hard problems, stick with it, if you fail, try again... this is the record that plays in my mind.
Read MoreAt the National Education Summit in November, Governor Bush tells us, "Education is the great equalizer. A math problem doesn’t care whether you were born into privilege or poverty.
Read MoreIn an article recently posted by Grant Wiggins this point is brought home in a powerful way. A math coach shadows a student for two days and reflects, “I have made a terrible mistake.”
Read MoreI was thrilled when I recently came across the term generative learning, which describes much of what I believe about education. I like the very sound of the word and all of the implications that go with it.
Read MoreThis phrase describes many students of the 21st century. We are working with learners who are used to their questions being answered immediately. The world is full technology that supports quick, easy answers - found as simply as speaking into our hand-held devices.
Read MoreI remember distinctly when I decided to pursue more education. I was working as a fifth grade teacher, teaching 3 sections of math each day - and loving it. I was fortunate to have an uncle as a mentor who had taught the youth of Providence and advocated for higher standards of mathematics for all.
Read MoreAs I presented a visual model of a computation as an illustration of the new 2011 frameworks, there sat Erica. "This does not make sense to me. Why are we using this model?" I acknowledge such questions and answer with a question of my own, "Good questions. Just because the standard says to use a particular visual model, why is this better for students? And, how will you know it is better?" and thus our journey begins.
Read MoreIn 2007, a study led by Greg J. Duncan, PhD, of Northwestern University, researchers conducted a meta-analysis of the results of six large-scale longitudinal studies. The findings suggest that an early understanding of math concepts is the most powerful predictor of later school success.
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