Posts By: Glenna Tabor

Tip for Small Groups in Math: Use Leaders!

“The task of leadership is not to put greatness in to humanity, but to elicit it, for the greatness is already there.”     -John Buchan This summer I’ve had the honor of working with a great number of dedicated educators. These educators have come with a positive attitude and an open mind.…

Grouping Students via a Value Line & Folded Spectrum

How can a teacher ensure simultaneous interaction in their classroom? How do you easily and quickly group students? How can one assess the depth of their students’ understanding of a concept? One simple, interactive, and non-threatening way to do this is by using a “Value Line” and a “Folded Spectrum.”…

Teachers, Tailors, & Swimming Pools

“The only person who behaves sensibly is my tailor.  He takes my measure every time he sees me.  All the rest go on with their old measurements.” -George Bernard Shaw I was reminded of the importance of on-going assessment while watching my children swim at the neighborhood pool.…

Engagement Matters!

A friend, knowing how strongly I feel about the power of engaging students in a classroom, sent me a link to a news article. After reading the article, she said it sounded like my kind of classroom. The study, conducted with Canadian college students, compared a lecture format with an interactive format.…

Simultaneous vs. Sequential Interaction

What is the difference between simultaneous and sequential interaction? When I first pose this question to students, I ask them to think about the definition of each word for a couple of minutes. Then I ask them to share with their partner what they thought (Think-Pair-Share).…

A Sneak “Peek” at Small-Group, Differentiated Instruction

How can a teacher become more efficient in the classroom? How can our schools make the most of mathematical minutes? What does RtI (Response to Intervention) look like in a high school classroom? What does a week of small-group, differentiated instruction look like? Help! Elementary & secondary level teachers, administrators, leadership teams, departments, and districts are looking for good examples of small-group, differentiated instruction in mathematics.…

Small Groups & Games in High School Math…Really???

“Without initiative, leaders are simply workers in leadership positions.” -Bo Bennet Why do I need to change the way I teach high school students? What’s the big deal with small groups? What does differentiated instruction have to do with high school math—that stuff is for the little guys!…

Have You Made Your Own AYP?

This weekend we spring forward in time. For some, this weekend is the beginning of spring break. For others, this weekend was the chance to do a little spring cleaning. Every year this season marks the beginning of state testing. The focus, for so many, becomes how well the students will perform.…

Pre-Asssessing, Gathering Information, Making Waves!

“Why go into something to test the waters ? Go into it to make waves.” Pre-Assessment and On-Going Assessment are some of the Essential Elements of the Tabor Rotation Framework. They’re also foundational components in a differentiated classroom. Whether you’re sophisticating your methods for assessing your students or just beginning to use on-going assessments, they’re a great place to begin a journey differentiating instruction in a classroom.…

So Much to Do…So Little

As I took my “To Do” list from today and used it as a reference for tomorrow’s “To Do” list, I wished for more time. I’m starting to make lists of my lists! All of this reminded me of the following illustration. As we explore measurement and time with our math students, have we thought about the following, too?…