Math research behind student centered instruction strategy- Word Problem Workshop. Have the peace of mind knowing that the strategies and routines you’re using in your classroom are based on research. 

SALE- Word Problem Workshop is $20 off until Friday June 30th using code SUMMER MonaMath.com/WPW

Today we’ll chat about: 

• why research based instruction matters
• the research Word Problem Workshop is based on 

Summer Math PD don’t miss out on this chance to get FREE or low cost pd about MATH! Planning math lessons is one of our topics! MonaMath.com/summerpd to sign up now. 

Books I love & mentioned often: 

Adding it Up https://amzn.to/3FzM4as 

Children’s Mathematics Cognitively Guided Instruction  https://amzn.to/3FzLMQU 

Principles to Action: Ensuring Mathematical Success for All https://amzn.to/42o816h 

5 Practices for Orchestarting Math Discusions https://amzn.to/3zagEEl 

Other books I love: 

Choosing to See, Pamela Seda

 Taking Action Grades K-5 NCTM Book

 Taking Action Grades 6-8 NCTM Book 

Guide to Engaging Math Discussions

Leave a review!! 

If you love listening to Honest Math Chat, please take a few seconds to leave a review so other teachers know this is a valuable place to spend a few minutes each week. 

Want to read more about the Research behind Word Problem Workshop?

Do things in your classroom that are research based. 

• Character research 
• Math understanding research 
• Problem solving research 
• Constructivist research 
• Classroom community research 

Why does this even matter?
Because you want to know the approaches and lesson structures you use are ACTUALLY what help students get to deep understanding. I know you are doing everything you can to ensure your students learn, have fun in school, and become lifelong learners. However, for most of you that means that you are doing that for EVERY SINGLE SUBJECT. Being an elementary classroom teacher is hard work. So, knowing that the routines and structures you have in place are backed by proven research– both by educational researchers and IN THE CLASSROOM research is key. 

Also, it can’t just be one person or one institution that says “this works”. You really need to know that an approach is rooted in all types of research and well vested.

I’m here to tell you that Word Problem Workshop is not something I made up. In fact, I gave it this name because I felt that it spoke more accurately to what my students and I were doing. However, this routine and the elements– the planning structures, the facilitation, the reflection, the intentional character lessons are all based on the brilliant work of others. Other educators, researchers, scientists that I’ve had the pleasure of learning from- in PDs or through books.

So, I want to just re-assure you on today’s episode that the MAIN way I empower my students (and hopefully empower you to use with your students) is research based.

I’m constantly sharing about my favorite books because THAT is the research these methods are built upon. 

First Constructivist Theory –  Constructivism is based on the idea that people actively construct or make their own knowledge, and that reality is determined by your experiences as a learner. Basically, learners use their previous knowledge as a foundation and build on it with new things that they learn. So everyone’s individual experiences make their learning unique to them. 

Cognitively Guided Instruction – students construct knowledge rather than simply assimilate some part of what they are taught.  teachers construct their own understandings of students’ thinking. ), Analyzing students’ thinking that provides a basis for teachers to interpret, transform, and reframe their informal or spontaneous knowledge about students’ mathematical thinking. 

 (a) the development of students’ mathematical thinking; (b) instruction that influences that development; (c) teachers’ knowledge and beliefs that influence their instructional practice; and (d) the way that teachers’ knowledge, beliefs, and practices are influenced by their understanding of students’ mathematical thinking”

Adding it up: Helping Children Learn Mathematics- math proficiency rope 5 strands  calls for changes in curriculum, instructional materials, assessments, classroom practice, teacher preparation, and professional learning opportunities in an effort to improve mathematics teaching. Students from pre-kindergarten to grade 8 must learn to think mathematically and must think mathematically to learn. 

Student Centered Math – The concept of student-centered learning is to bring the classroom and students to life. The teacher is considered a “guide on the side”, assisting and guiding students to meet the goals that have been made by the students and the teacher. 

Principles to Action- NCTM’s landmark publication Principles to Actions connects research with practice. Specific, research-based teaching practices that are essential for a high-quality mathematics education for each and every student are combined with core principles to build a successful mathematics program at all levels. 

5 Practices of Orchestrating Discussions Anticipating students’ solutions to a mathematics task

Monitoring students’ in-class, “real-time” work on the task

Selecting approaches and students to share them

Sequencing students’ presentations purposefully

Connecting students’ approaches and the underlying mathematics

These 5 manageable practices have the power to put teachers in control of productive classroom discussions.

The work of creating an empowered math classroom is based on the research of how children learn math best. You’ll be inspired as you dive into this research, but also I caution you that it is A LOT. Take it slow… set manageable goals and celebrate your successes along the way. 

If you want to experiment with teaching math differently and empowering students to solve word problems, then word problem workshop is for you. I have a $97 course that will walk you through the steps to planning and facilitating this daily workshop.
SUMMER for $20 off to make it only $77 for this week only. 

Your Guide to Student Centered Math

The post 66: Math Research Behind Word Problem Workshop appeared first on Mona Math.

Tanner Bradshaw stepped into my Student Centered Math Classroom as a student teacher and this is an interview breaking down just exactly what he thought and learned from his experience. Tanner holds nothing back as he expresses what makes Word Problem Workshop different, what he got better at and how he’s still growing. 

At the end I say, “This is my summative assessment as your mentor teacher”… and it truly is. Come listen in as Tanner and I chat about what he learned about: 

• anticipating students’ solving strategies 
• creating a classroom community of math 
• grappling & productive struggle 
• being vunerable as the teacher in order to faciliate 
• and so much more! 

Now what? 

• Sign up for my FREE summer PD Monamath.com/summerpd
• Check out Word Problem Workshop Monamath.com/WPW
• Join me at College to Career Summit June 27th Details Here 

Come chat with my on instagram @HelloMonaMath 

If you have a second, could you hit review and leave a few sentences about how the ideas on this podcast have helped you in your classroom? Thanks so much, friend! 

My Favorite Books

Adding it Up https://amzn.to/3FzM4as 

Children’s Mathematics Cognitively Guided Instruction  https://amzn.to/3FzLMQU 

Principles to Action: Ensuring Mathematical Success for All https://amzn.to/42o816h 

5 Practices for Orchestrating Math Discussions https://amzn.to/3zagEEl

Bring Student Centered Math to your Classroom!

Check out the Student Centered Math Classroom Guide below

The post 65: My Student Teacher, Tanner, & I chat Math Instruction! appeared first on Mona Math.

If you’re ready to try something new and planning this summer to make some changes in your classroom or instruction you must listen to this episode about the 3 most common pitfalls of teachers that try something new in math. 

If you’re hoping to get your students problem solving, productively struggling, and discussing their math thinking next school year you gotta listen to these mistakes to avoid. 

We’ll chat about: 

• 3 mistakes to avoid 
• productive struggle, discorse, and differentiation (and it might not be what you expect)
• next steps to support your big, bold moves this summer! 
  

Now what? 

• Sign up for my FREE summer PD Monamath.com/summerpd
• Check out Word Problem Workshop Monamath.com/WPW 
• Join me at College to Career Summit June 27th Details Here 
• Come back Wednesday for a special interview all about Word Problem Workshop! 

Come chat with my on instagram @HelloMonaMath 

If you have a second, could you hit review and leave a few sentences about how the ideas on this podcast have helped you in your classroom? Thanks so much, friend! 

Want to read more about the 3 common pitfalls?

Over the summer as you have more time to think about what is really working in your classroom, pursue your passions, read new books… you might be making big plans to try something new this year.

First I want to encourage you to do that. Push yourself to try something new.
In fact, just yesterday I got a message on IG from a teacher that is ready to try something new next year. She was so open about what her students need and wants to go all in with Word Problem Workshop. LOVE that. Especially because over the summer there is a great amount of time to be able to watch trainings, attend PDs, and really create a solid plan that will work for you and your student next year.

However, I want to go through a few pitfalls I often see teachers make when jumping into a new way of teaching or when they are starting to implement effective teaching practices. 

1. Assume they don’t need to spend time on creating a community or establishing the culture 

-jump right into having students productively struggle without setting it up

-giving tasks to productively struggle with before setting norms and practicing struggle 

-yes practicing struggle. With things like WODB

2. Talking too much. The dominant voice should be your students. Your role in the discussion is to listen and guide, not talk and teach.
   1. But again… this takes time. Start planning your questions (you can start simply with tell us what you did and why you did it.) and start listening! 

3. Jumping in to save students through explaining and showing.
   1. Did you know no child has ever been scared by a minor failure or being off track on a problem. They’ve never been ruined as a mathematician for spending 8 minutes doing something all wrong. 
   2. Your teacher’s heart tells you to guide them through showing them what to do to get on the right track… but that’s not guiding that TELLING THEM. 
   3. You want to help your students that are off track. Ask them, “What did you do? Why?” Get them to explain what they did. Then, ask them “What in the problem told you to do that?” Or ask them, “Why does that work? Can you prove it?” 

Get the student to find the mistake and fix the mistake… that’s more powerful.

You know that. You like to fix your own problems instead of having your partner or boss lean over your shoulder and tell you exactly what to do differently… Am I right? 

Okay, so at this point you’ve either turned off the podcast because you’re sick of me or you’re like hell yeah Mona let’s go I want to do something differently this year.

So if you’re still here… let’s freaking go! 

Your Guide to Engaging Math Discussions

The post 64: Wait! 3 Common Pitfalls When Trying Something New in Math appeared first on Mona Math.

Janet @sunny_in_socal is a elementary teacher! Her teacher passion is so strong. The love for her students and learning is at the heart of our conversation today. I am sure you’ll find connections to her story. 

In this episode we’re chatting about: 

• behaviors of mathematicians 
• how to build the habits of mathematicians in our classrooms 
• our mutual love for Which One Doesn’t Belong

You can find Janet on Instagram @Sunny_in_socal

Summer Math PD don’t miss out on this chance to get FREE or low cost pd about MATH! Planning math lessons is one of our topics! MonaMath.com/summerpd to sign up now. 

Links Mentioned in the Episode: 

Guide to Engaging Math Discussions

Books I love & mentioned often: 

Adding it Up https://amzn.to/3FzM4as 

Children’s Mathematics Cognitively Guided Instruction  https://amzn.to/3FzLMQU 

Principles to Action: Ensuring Mathematical Success for All https://amzn.to/42o816h 

5 Practices for Orchestrating Math Discussions https://amzn.to/3zagEEl 

Bring Student Centered Math to your Classroom!

Check out the Student Centered Math Classroom Guide below

The post 63: Math Teacher Passion with Janet appeared first on Mona Math.

Teaching Math differently next year might be a goal of yours. If so, you’re in the right place! I’m ready to share tons of new ideas with you at the FREE Summer PD Be sure to sign up!  monamath.com/summerpd

However, maybe you’re thinking my teaching math doesn’t need to change… I already am teaching math differently and my math block is pretty good. Heck yes friend! But let me ask you a few questions…. 

In this episode we’ll chat about: 

• teaching math differently- are you ready? 
• 5 things that might hold you back from making a change 
• how Word Problem Workshop helped me start teaching math differently

Summer Math PD don’t miss out on this chance to get FREE or low cost pd about MATH! Planning math lessons is one of our topics! MonaMath.com/summerpd to sign up now. 

Links Mentioned in the Episode: 

 Episode about Math Surveys! 

Guide to Engaging Math Discussions

Books I love & mentioned often: 

Adding it Up https://amzn.to/3FzM4as 

Children’s Mathematics Cognitively Guided Instruction  https://amzn.to/3FzLMQU 

Principles to Action: Ensuring Mathematical Success for All https://amzn.to/42o816h 

5 Practices for Orchestrating Math Discussions https://amzn.to/3zagEEl 

Bring engaging conversations about math to your classroom! 

Check out the guide to engaging math discussions below

The post 62: Teaching Math Differently Next Year? Maybe or Maybe Not… appeared first on Mona Math.

In this mini math chat we’ll quickly chat about: 

• the value of teacher reflection
•  a few reflection questions to consider
• hit pause and reflection along with this episode!

Reflection Teacher End of Year/Summer Edition! 

In these Mini Math Chats you can expect quick & actionable episodes full of ideas to implement in your classroom today. 

Want to know more about how to help your students achieve Math Proficiency everyday in math class? Grab my guide to engaging math discussions here MonaMath.com/discussions

Leave a review! 

Do you enjoy Honest Math Chat? I’d LOVE your feedback! Leave a quick review!

Check out this resource on utilizing a mentor as you reflect. Read it here

Bring engaging conversations about math to your classroom! 

Check out the guide to engaging math discussions below

The post 61: Reflection Teacher End of the Year appeared first on Mona Math.

When shifting the culture of math in your school math mindset plays a big role.  Today I got to chat with Rachelle McCracken about thinking using surveys with both teachers & students to improve math mindset. We covered everything from building the survey, whole school shifts, and analyzing math mindset data!

In this episode we will chat about: 

• Math Mindset Surveys- what they are & how you can use them 
• How Rachelle used surveys at her school and what she found 

You’ll hear Rachelle & I thinking about math culture and community, and how mindset plays a big role in developing a positive math culture. 

Connect with Rachelle: 

• https://www.rachellemccracken.com
• Instagram: @mis_mccracken

Bring Student Centered Math to your Classroom!

Check out the Student Centered Math Classroom Guide below

The post 60: Math Mindset Surveys an Interview with Rachelle McCracken appeared first on Mona Math.