Here we are in January, 2025. As you have likely heard, in July, 2023 the California Board of Education unanimously approved the new revision of the California Mathematics Framework (this in itself should be a series of blog posts, but I’ll save that for another day), which means school districts throughout Merced County will soon […]
The 2023 California Mathematics Framework presents a transformative approach to math instruction, grounded in the latest research on student learning and equity. However, many teachers remain unaware of its recommendations because they have not had the time or opportunity to engage deeply with the document. At over 1,000 pages, the framework is an overwhelming read, […]
I have been teaching mathematics since 1989 and during this time I have experienced no less than 3 or 4 math coaching initiatives either as the recipient of the math coaching or the deliverer of said math coaching. These sudden moments of interest in math coaching are ALWAYS connected to some external event: the state […]
In 1989 I began my teaching career at Roosevelt Junior High School in Oakland where I taught 8th and 9th grade mathematics. I was completely ill-equipped to teach students who were just a few years younger than me. Chronic-absenteeism was so high, my class rosters were in the mid-40’s so as to ensure a daily […]
UPDATE 4/17/2025: Read this post. ORIGINAL follows… In September of 2022, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 1705 which would have fully phased in by Fall, 2025. AB 1705 would have created rules that mostly prevent colleges from offering remedial courses such as Trigonometry and Pre-Calculus. Essentially, AB 1705 would have made Calculus the lowest possible course for students with a STEM-related […]
When it comes to transforming mathematics instruction, one approach stands out for its effectiveness: curriculum-based professional learning (CBPL). This method, especially when combined with the expertise of a mathematics instructional coach, has the potential to elevate teaching practices and improve student outcomes. It is a great time to be thinking about CBPL since many districts […]