What makes a powerful, rigorous, and relevant math station activity?
1. Identify the content standard.
One of the activities that uses building blocks to concretely explore a concept is the Math Common Core State Standard from fourth grade, MCC4.OA.1a: Use the four operations with whole numbers to solve problems.…
“Teaching is a calling, too. And, I’ve always thought that teachers, in their way, are holy- angels leading their flocks out of the darkness.” -Jeannette Walls, Half Broken Horses
In September of 2013, I began to work with a team of teachers who were looking for a way to provide better math instruction to their students.…
“Each person holds so much power within themselves that needs to be let out. Sometimes they just need a little nudge, a little direction, a little support, a little coaching, and the greatest things can happen.” -Pete Carroll, Head Coach of the Seattle Seahawks
Since she has done an absolutely AMAZING job of supporting the teachers at Carter Academy in Aldine ISD, AND they have had amazing results, I posed this question to skills specialist Amanda Rodriguez.…
“The world is full of people who have dreams of playing at Carnegie Hall, of running a marathon, and of owning their own business. The difference between the people who make it across the finish line and everyone else is one simple thing: an action plan.” …
“Nothing so conclusively proves a man’s ability to lead others as what he does from day to day to lead himself.” -Thomas J. Watson, founder of IBM
“A leader is a dealer in hope.” -Napoleon Bonaparte
Since I’m not an administrator, I posed this question to principal Lorrie Kloss who began her journey in Tabor Rotation in May, 2014 and has seen ASTOUNDING results,
“How can an administrator support Tabor Rotation?”…
What is expanded form and how do we make the practice of expanded form hands on and engaging?
Let’s start with the first question.
Expanded Form is…
…the writing of a number to show the value of each digit.
…the sum of each digit multiplied by its place value.…
I have the distinct honor of working with some of the most dedicated educators on the planet. Some of these incredible educators have been trained in Project-Based Learning before learning more about the Tabor Rotation Framework. Those who believe in the power of PBL and small-group, differentiated instruction may have ask themselves this question,
“Can a classroom use Project-Based Learning and Tabor Rotation?…
After spending a day immersed in an initial training at a recent Tabor Rotation Institute, participants placed several sticky notes on the “parking lot” of questions. I promised I’d blog about those questions.
“When do you give homework?”
“When do you check homework?”
“When you’re using math stations and guided readiness groups, how will you have enough time check homework?”…
“There are two primary choices in life: to accept conditions as they exist or to accept the responsibility for changing them.” -Denis Waitley
The first challenge of differentiated Readiness Groups, based on your students’ level of understanding of skills and concepts, is realizing that all students deserve the opportunity to move further ahead in their depth of understanding.…
“We always hope for the easy fix: the one simple change that will erase a problem in a stroke. But few things in life work this way. Instead, success requires making a hundred small steps go right – one after the other, no slipups, no goofs, everyone pitching in.” …
