Category Archives: Against the Norm
Behind the Scenes: The Creation of a Progression Video
In recent months, I’ve received a lot of questions asking how I create the progression videos. Here’s how it all goes down. Step 1: Research There are so many great resources available for early number concepts but I continually found … Continue reading
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The Progression of Early Number and Counting
If you’re not a pre-k, kindergarten, or 1st-grade teacher, you need to find one and give them a hug after watching this video. They do the work of an army and many times their work goes unnoticed. There’s so much happening … Continue reading
This Week a Webinar. Next Month a Workshop
On Monday night I had the pleasure of presenting the webinar 3 Act Math Tasks: What They Are & Why You Need Them in Your Class. The webinar was hosted by my good friend Christina Tondevold and focused on the … Continue reading
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The Progression of Fractions
I’m excited to share the 4th installment of the Making Sense Series which explores meaning, equivalence, and comparison of fractions. Fractions are the gatekeeper of algebraic thinking and probably a big reason why we suffer from arithmophobia as a society. I’m hoping this … Continue reading
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I’ll Rip Your Face Off: The Art of Defacing Manipulatives
It’s our fault. We have no one to blame but ourselves. We unknowing pigeonhole student thinking with the manipulatives we use. Take fraction tiles for example. Much to my disappointment, they come with labels and it kills me. Manipulatives that … Continue reading
GCTM 2016 – Ignite Talks
For the second year running, we tackled Ignite Talks at Georgia’s Math Conference. Mike Wiernicki Katie Breedlove Jenise Sexton Karla Cwetna Carla Bidwell Brian Lack
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Colorblind Teachers, Invisible Students (Ignite – GCTM 2016)
We recently finished up our state math conference here in Georgia. Last year I shared our Ignite Talks in this space and plan to do the same with our 2016 session. As I edit the videos and prepare to release them, … Continue reading
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The One-Handed Clock in a Digital Era
It’s tough to make a case for the analog clock in our digital world. I’ll leave the debate of its relevance up to the professionals. Nonetheless, the analog clock remains a staple in the majority of math curriculums. Let’s take the following standard for … Continue reading
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3-Act Task: A kindergarten lesson captured
Over the past few months I’ve been asked for videos that capture a 3-Act Task being taught in the elementary grades. I didn’t have any, or know of anyone that has captured an elementary 3-Act except for this Teaching Channel piece. … Continue reading
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Geometric Subitizing: A Different Kind of Number Talk
These Geometric Subitizing Cards have been in beta the past two years. I asked our buddy Joe Schwartz to take them for a test drive last spring and he reported back. Joe’s all in. How do they work? Let’s play… Last week I took them for … Continue reading
