My best advice to anyone preparing to implement the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for mathematics is to get students talking and writing about their work. Regardless of your stance on the CCSS, being an effective communicator is a valuable and often challenging life skill. It is even more challenging when the content is…
The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) emphasizes mathematical modeling, or “link[ing] classroom mathematics and statistics to everyday life, work, and decision-making” for all grade levels with Math Practice 4. Some content standards are easier than others to connect to everyday life, and often the more abstract the standard is, the more challenging it is to…
Teachers who attempt a problem-based learning lesson may be discouraged from trying it a second time if the experience doesn’t go the way they had hoped. Even if teachers are committed to its implementation, they may be unsure of what steps to take next. As a district math coach, my challenge has been successfully demonstrating…
My article on the interesting similarities shared by healthy eating and math education was published in Education Week (Vol. 31, Issue 33, Page 29) on June 6, 2012: The philosophies behind healthy eating and math instruction share interesting similarities that provide useful insight into the direction educational policymakers should take. Healthy eating means consuming the right…