Posted inClassroom Management, Featured, Instruction & Curriculum, Literacy, Mathematics, Social Studies

"I'm Done!" – Challenging Students Who Finish Early

“We have noticed our child is not reading near the amount of books he read last year,” a set of parents commented at conferences.  “He still has a passion for reading and he reads at home, but we are not getting new books as often.”  This same student loves Tuesday in my classroom.  Tuesday is […]

Posted inFeatured, Instruction & Curriculum, Mathematics

Concept vs Speed: The Math Timed Test

[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”] Accuracy, speed, process, meaning…these are all words that have been passed around the age-old discussion of math time tests.  Do students need to be able to prove their worth with sixty […]

Posted inFeatured, Instruction & Curriculum, Mathematics, Parents

A Parent’s Guide to the 1st Grade Math Common Core

So your precious Kindergarten student has successfully graduated and moving on to First Grade. They can count to 100, fluently add and subtract within 10, and even identify many geometric shapes. However, now they are in First Grade. That Kindergarten year sure did go by quickly! Here is what your now 1st grade student can […]

Posted inInstruction & Curriculum, Mathematics, Uncategorized

Common Core – An Initiative Gone Wrong?

[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”] For the past 10 years, I have taught Pre-Algebra and Algebra at the eighth grade level.  For the last two years, I have also been teaching a section of Advanced Algebra […]

Posted inInstruction & Curriculum, Mathematics

Mathematics Adventures for All with MTSS A.K.A.RTI

Education is known for their acronyms.  Today our adventure will use two interchangeably and demonstrate how to focus skills in mathematics to reach all learners.  Teacher are superheroes and this method enables you to meet all students needs through the power of many.  Welcome to an exciting adventure in education…MTSS also known as  RTI. RTI (Response […]