Multiplication facts with the Frayer model

I recently visited a 3rd grade class to share with the teacher ideas for teaching multiplication facts. She was particularly frustrated that her students were struggling with the larger facts – the sixes, sevens, eights, and nines. It was clear that while students had experience connecting multiplication with the idea of equal groups, students did […]

Benchmarks Assessments Don’t Work

I remember during the era of No Child Left Behind (NCLB), the concept of benchmark assessments took center stage. It seems like everyone was suddenly talking about using benchmark assessments to ensure students from every sub-group were learning. In my school district, the teachers settled on the idea of giving three or four benchmark assessments […]

The effect of great math teaching

Updated 5/6/2025: Added information about recent NCTQ report.   Teachers matter. Good teaching matters. In this week of Teacher Appreciation, I am reminded of an experience many years ago… After school one day, I wandered into the classroom of a new teacher to check how her day went. I saw this on her chalkboard… After […]

Math Teachers’ Circles

Imagine a golf coach who never plays golf. An English Literature teacher who doesn’t enjoy reading books. A lifeguard who can’t swim. Pretty absurd, right? Now imagine a math teacher who doesn’t do math. Unfortunately, this is often the case. Now I’m not talking about the math in the textbook. Of course, math teachers do […]