When my students returned from winter break last month, our 3rd grade team promptly began a 5 week unit on fractions. These students were
Read MoreReason #437 to love your IAs
I love my district. I really do! And as a teacher, I thrive on data, but I hate the process we have to go through in order to get the data. We used to proctor benchmark tests for math, ELA,
Read MoreThe Fate of Algebra 2: Euclid, Cicero, or Boaler?
“The laws of nature are but the mathematical thoughts of God.” Euclid, in Euclid’s Elements. “We have established as the limit of this art [mathematics] its usefulness in measuring and counting.” Cicero, as quoted by Leonard Mlodinow. “The powerful thinkers
Read MoreYes or No on Algebra 2?
Az House Bill 2278 would eliminate Algebra 2 as a high school graduation requirement. Below are some spontaneous thoughts that come to mind as I process a coherent opinion (stay tuned) about the bill. In the proposed bill, Algebra and
Read MoreMath Placement: A Tale of Two Districts
Math placement involves assigning students to a math class that best aligns with their skills and current knowledge. The default placement is grade level: 8th grade students take 8th grade math. But at every school, some students have advanced beyond
Read MoreAZ – SB 1051 – The High-Quality Teacher Pilot Program
SB1038 came about because Arizona schools were no longer offering physics. As teachers left, schools chose to eliminate programs as there was no one to teach this subject. We eventually got down to 159 certified and active physics teachers teaching
Read MoreThe Arizona Leaky STEM Pipeline
My wish for the next group of elected state officials is to adopt a growth mindset when you take on your new roles. But even more specifically, my hope is that this new crop will adopt a growth mindset
Read MorePhysics and Public Policy – Our Brief Story
In 2016 a small band of physics teachers got together to address the problem of a rapidly dwindling supply of qualified physics teachers in the state of Arizona. This team took it upon themselves to go straight to the capitol
Read MoreA Jonah Day aka Academic Struggle in High Achieviers
There I stood in my lovely class of 1st – 3rd graders with 29 eagerly engaged students and 3 crying in agony. The cries were not from physical pain, but the emotional turmoil that sets in when we sit in places of discomfort.
Read MoreSociety is Shaped in the Elementary Classroom
Renewable Resources Most agree that social justice in America is becoming more questionable. We are a nation drenched in biases, prejudices, and mistreatments. We have a multitude of programs and initiatives aimed at righting these wrongs ranging from the Civil
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