In this time of state testing, many educators are focusing on how to improve their math scores…and rightly so. Rather than focusing on improving scores, let’s focus on improving mathematics instruction. The scores will take care of themselves. So…how do we improve math instruction? In this blog, I’ll share the six steps for improving math […]
There are lots of exciting (terrifying?) changes going on in the world of high school mathematics. I have written about some of them here. Mathematics pathways that meet the needs of the 21st century student A-G completion requirements High school courses that prepare students for community college (AB 1705) I encourage you to read this new article from […]
“What would you do with $20 million?” That was the question they asked me as we walked to our cars after a meeting at the end of the day. Trips to the Bahamas or purchasing a new guitar were out of the question because the $20 million in question was for the Mathematics Professional Learning Partnership (MPLP) […]
Nearly two years ago the California Department of Education released the revised version of the California Mathematics Framework (CMF). The CMF is a guidance document every 7-10 years to support high-quality mathematics instruction aligned with the Common Core State Standards. It provides research-based recommendations for curriculum design, instructional strategies, and assessment practices that promote equitable learning opportunities […]
The title of this blog post is technically “Improving math instruction at scale”, but if I was allowed a subtitle, it would be “A goal without a plan is just a wish.” When I ask various important people what is their vision for mathematics in their community, I generally get some sort of vague answer […]
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 […]
The newly revised California Mathematics Framework (CMF) is full of research-informed recommendations for how teachers should update their instructional strategies to be more aligned with current understandings of how students best learn mathematics. Unfortunately, the hard work of the CMF authors will be for naught unless we properly support teachers to carry out the changes […]