I spent the last week in a kindergarten classroom, and it reminded me of how important it is to set your students up to be independent (unless, of course, you like managing…
Read More
Decomposing numbers is the pathway to flexibility and fluency in all operations. Knowing how a number is made gives you the knowledge you need to add, subtract, multiply and divide with…
Over the last few months, I have been in and out of classrooms, co-teaching and doing demonstration lessons, and I have noticed that they all one thing in common, interruptions. These…
Just a few weeks back, I was working in a second grade classroom, and a student “Marco” was really struggling with a grouping or repeated addition type problem. “ The…
When planning for CGI instruction, starting with the standards can help to ensure students are ready for the academic challenges that lie ahead this year and in the years to…
What ever happened to independent practice? In an effort to increase comprehension, collaboration, and conversation independence may not be getting the attention it needs I am noticing a trend. When…
Teaching is tough and sometimes I have to wonder if I’m not the problem! I have been working with a class of fifth graders on measurement conversions and plotting those…
There is a debate amongst teachers using Cognitively Guided Instruction in Math (CGI Math) as to whether or not to keep posing the same problem type for a week or two,…
As you facilitate learning in your classroom your apt to notice trends in students’ thinking, partial conceptions, representations, and areas in need of growth. You can use students’ independent practice as…
“What Would It Look Like If…?” is one of the most powerful tools I use when working with students. Why… because when posing CGI math problems, students tend to draw beautiful models…
