When we’re being honest about using math manipulatives, the number one concern I hear revolves around management – students simply don’t use them as intended. They urn these tools into something playful or even dangerous. You can learn what to do about that in my
Two recent reports sounded alarms about the health and educational well-being of our nation’s adolescents. In late May, in a report entitled Social Media and Youth Mental Health, the Surgeon General notes that social media use by youth is “nearly universal” and argues that while
By Ayanna D. Perry (coauthor of Answers to Your Biggest Questions about Teaching Secondary Math; coauthor of the forthcoming Answers to Your Biggest Questions about Teaching Secondary Science; pub date January 2024) I used to think that advocacy was an individual endeavor and that my responsibility was
Picture walking into a classroom and observing a teacher is leading a whole class discussion where they ask a series of questions and several of the same students raise their hands to respond. Then, imagine walking into another classroom where the teacher is posing a
Skilled Teachers Create Connections and a Shared Purpose By Dustin Bindreiff After years of observing hundreds of classrooms, I came to understand that skilled teachers are like symphony conductors. With grace and mastery, these teachers lead instruction, manage transitions, and provide feedback to the class in a
Do children ever surprise you with answers to your questions that go far beyond what you expected them to say or write? Have you been “wowed” by a child’s response to a question by an immediate and correct answer? Why do children learn some things
As we head into a new school year, we see and feel the excitement and passion we teachers bring to a fresh classroom. How can we honor that feeling and sustain it through the school year? And how can we empower ourselves to become more