The Preparing Young Children for School Educator’s Practice Guide (Burchinal et al., 2022) identifies two evidence-based math recommendations: Provide intentional instruction to build children’s understanding of mathematical ideas and skills. Engage children in conversations about mathematical ideas and support them in using mathematical language. Using children’s literature to mathematize is a method that can be… Read More Using Children’s Literature to Mathematize
Innovative Strategies for VESOL Instruction
On January 18, 2023, T-TAC ODU hosted The VESOL Alliance at the Newport News Marriott. This unique professional learning event offered a range of high-interest sessions and free resources to over 80 attendees from across regions 2 & 3. Our expert presenters shared VESOL-referenced lesson plans that can be used to engage learners of all ages. If you were not able… Read More Innovative Strategies for VESOL Instruction
Promoting a Math-Positive School Culture
The beginning of a new school year is a great time to reflect upon practices in your school. Our attitudes about math as teachers and school leaders can have a tremendous impact on our students’ attitudes and views about learning mathematics. Below are two ways that a math-positive culture can be promoted at your school…. Read More Promoting a Math-Positive School Culture
Math Resources for “Learning in Place”
Providing virtual mathematics instruction to students can be challenging. However, there are several resources available to support teachers, parents, and students who are teaching and learning in an environment outside of school, or learning in place. A few of them are outlined below. Virginia Department of Education Resources The Virginia Department of Education has organized… Read More Math Resources for “Learning in Place”
Math Manipulatives at Your Fingertips
Math manipulatives are tools that can help students of all abilities explore and understand math concepts. As noted by Anstrom (2006), “selecting and accessing the appropriate tools and processes for students with disabilities is critical to their understanding of mathematics” (p.11). Whether concrete or virtual, manipulatives can be supportive tools for learning. Try it at… Read More Math Manipulatives at Your Fingertips
Promoting Equity in Math through Classroom Discourse
The 2018 VDOE Mathematics SOL Institutes highlighted the importance of strengthening the teaching and learning of mathematics through facilitating meaningful mathematical discourse. Why Discourse? Mathematical conversations and discourse among students, at all grade and ability levels, helps build a shared understanding of mathematical ideas (NCTM, 2014). Meaningful discourse supports metacognition and teaches students how to… Read More Promoting Equity in Math through Classroom Discourse
Rethinking “Calendar Time” for Preschoolers
Calendar is a staple of many preschool circle time routines and often justified as “math instruction” even though many of the skills targeted during calendar surpass Virginia’s standards for four-year-olds. Try the quiz below to see just how far. Hint: Research shows that temporal concepts like units of time (days, weeks) and their sequence… Read More Rethinking “Calendar Time” for Preschoolers
