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Recent Posts

The New Normal: Shifting from Remediation to Accelerating Learning

We are officially post-pandemic, post the upset in the traditional education paradigm. While students have returned to...


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Tags: Resources, Product Features, Accelerated Learning

5 Strategies for Optimizing Small Group Instruction

Whether students are in the classroom or learning from home, small group instruction is one of the most effective methods of...


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Tags: Resources, Student Engagement, California

How Equitable Practices Affect Student Performance

This blog discusses how district leaders, math coaches and teachers should consider research and data behind equitable practices...


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Tags: Equity

11 Strategies for Accelerating Math Fluency

A recent report from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), shows unprecedented learning loss across the country.


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Tags: Resources, Accelerated Learning

Understanding Oregon’s Mathematics Standards

Oregon’s Mathematics Standards should be taught through the lens of the Standards of Mathematical Practices (SMPs). Therefore,...


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Tags: Resources, SMP, Oregon

Understanding Tennessee’s Standards for Mathematical Practices

Tennessee’s Mathematics Content Standards should be taught through the lens of the Standards of Mathematical Practices (MPs)....


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Tags: Resources, Tennessee, SMP

10 Summer Reads for Teachers

After 180-days under the artificial lights in your classroom, you have earned some ME time in the sun. Grab your flip flops, a...


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Tags: Resources, Professional Development

7 Ways Teachers Can Relieve Stress Over Summer Break

Summer break is not just a well-earned reprieve for teachers, it's a necessary one.

In fact, an average of 60 percent of...

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Tags: Resources

Pattern Recognition: An Under-recognized and Under-appreciated Challenge to Learning Mathematics

Most people know about the importance of both conceptual understanding (deeper knowledge, ability to apply knowledge to new...


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Tags: Resources, Learning Targets

Connectivity Challenges for Students in Rural Areas and Economically Disadvantaged Communities

There are no schools or communities in the United States that weren’t impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. However, those located...


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Tags: Distance Learning, Equity, Tennessee

Equity in Action: How to Address Diversity and Inclusion in the Classroom

Tips for educators, administrators, and district leaders to raise awareness of diversity and inclusion and promote greater...


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Tags: Equity

4 Ways to Boost Student Engagement in the Classroom

Along with many other issues brought forth by the shifts in education through the COVID-19 pandemic, student engagement has...


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Tags: Student Engagement

Re-thinking Failure in the Math Classroom

It’s no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic has introduced many stressors to everyone’s lives. Students are no exception. At the...


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Tags: Accelerated Learning

Incorporating Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) into the Math Classroom

While it may seem like an overwhelming task, incorporating social and emotional learning (SEL) into the math classroom can be...


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Tags: Social and Emotional Learning

Understanding Data from Formative Assessments: When Performance Does and Does Not Indicate Learning

Teachers (and schools, more generally) are increasingly being asked to make data-driven decisions from a vast array of formative...


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Tags: Assessment

What Is Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)?

The pandemic has made a striking impact on students academically, but also socially and emotionally. As students return to...


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Tags: Social and Emotional Learning

From Summer School to Back-to-School: Did Summer School Accelerate Learning?

While the fallout of distance learning will take years to fully realize, early research suggests the COVID-19 pandemic has...


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What Is Accelerated Learning and What Are the Benefits?

While school may be out for the summer, parents, teachers, and administrators still have a lot on their minds regarding the...


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Tags: Accelerated Learning

End-of-School Checklist for Big Ideas Math

The 2021-2022 school year is coming to an end. Make sure you close out the year with these helpful Big Ideas Math tips.

It’s...


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Tags: Product Features

Equity in Action: Culturally Relevant Teaching in the Math Classroom

What is culturally relevant teaching (CRT) and how can educators incorporate culturally relevant instruction into the math...


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Tags: Equity

Mathematical Fluency: What Is It and Why Does It Matter?

Let’s address fluency in math by defining what fluency is, why it matters, and how the three stages of fluency are defined by...


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Tags: Florida

Equity in Action: Teaching with Equity in the Math Classroom

Teaching with equity in the math classroom helps support students from all backgrounds and learning styles. So what exactly is...


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Tags: Equity

How to Help Students of Color Overcome Challenges to Achieve Success in Math

When students of color face struggles outside of school, it can impact their ability to focus on meaningful learning within the...


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Tags: Equity

Understanding Florida's Mathematical Thinking and Reasoning (MTR) Standards

Florida’s B.E.S.T. Standards for Mathematics should be taught through the lens of the MTRs. Therefore, working to appropriately...


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Tags: Florida, MTR

Big Ideas Learning’s Mathematics Teaching Practices Series: Implementing Tasks That Promote Reasoning and Problem Solving

In this series, we will explore the eight research-based essential Mathematics Teaching Practices found in NCTM’s Principles to...


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Tags: Professional Development

Big Ideas Learning’s Mathematics Teaching Practices Series: Establishing Mathematics Goals to Focus Learning

In this series, we will explore the eight research-based essential Mathematics Teaching Practices found in NCTM’s Principles to...


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Tags: Professional Development

Making an Impact With Educational Research: A Deep Dive Into the Research Behind Big Ideas Math

Educational research is at the core of all student learning. It is our job as educators to make sure we are using the latest...


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Tags: Research

Big Ideas Math Tips for Keeping Students Engaged at the End of the School Year

The end of the school year is almost here. Here are a few Big Ideas Math features to keep students engaged in their remote...


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Tags: Product Features

Why You Should Teach Real-life Math Applications

Teaching real-life applications provides students with meaning and context for their learning. By using real-life math ...


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Tags: Professional Development

3 Ways to Use Big Ideas Math to Engage Students with Real-Life Applications

Students of all ages learn more effectively when they visualize math and connect it to the real world. Here are some suggestions ...


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Tags: Product Features

10 Big Ideas Math Features that Help Promote Productive Math Discussions

Big Ideas Math consultants share their favorite program features that help teachers encourage students to have productive math...


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Tags: Product Features

How to Create Productive Math Discussions in a Remote Learning Environment

Promoting productive math discussions is an essential part of helping students think, question, and problem solve-effectively....


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Tags: Distance Learning

Using Learning Targets and Success Criteria in Big Ideas Math

Learn how to effectively use Big Ideas Math's Learning Targets and Success Criteria to empower students to take ownership of...


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Tags: Professional Development, Product Features, Success Criteria,

How to Use Learning Intentions and Success Criteria Remotely and in the Classroom

Discover the most effective ways to use learning intentions and success criteria and learn why they can provide greater clarity...


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Tags: Professional Development

Lessons with Laurie: How Do You Model 6-Foot Social Distancing

How are businesses using math to model the 6-foot social distancing recommendation? In this lesson, learn about how area and...


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Tags: Resources

Lessons with Laurie: The Joy and Curiosity of Soap Bubbles

Everyone loves blowing soap bubbles. There is math and science involved, along with real joy and curiosity which should be a part...


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Tags: Resources

Sharing the Joy of Math: Making Deep Connections When Teaching Mathematics

Before we can get students to love math, we need to find ways to grow their confidence in math and avoid 'math trauma' by moving...


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Tags: Professional Development

Lessons with Laurie: Where's the Math in Board Games?

Dominoes, Yahtzee, darts, and many board games provide a natural environment to develop and use mathematics. In this lesson,...


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Tags: Resources

Understanding the Value of Teachers and the Teaching Profession

When it comes to connecting with children, teachers are the experts. It's more important now than ever to place value on teachers...


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Tags: Resources, Professional Development

Lessons with Laurie: What Can You Measure?

Can two glasses have the same height but different capacities? Line plots can be used to tell a story about the heights and...


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Tags: Resources

Lessons with Laurie: What Did You Do Today?

Picture graphs and bar graphs can be used to tell a story about what you did today. Learn about sorting and displaying...


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Tags: Resources

13 Tips for Teaching with Clarity and Purpose During Distance Learning

How to apply effective teaching strategies to ensure you are continuing to connect with your students in meaningful ways during...


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Tags: Distance Learning

Lessons with Laurie: Place Value

Place value is a BIG concept typically introduced in Grade 1, yet it is a concept not fully understood by many middle and high...


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Tags: Resources

How to Use Exit Tickets in Online Learning

Optimize student understanding in a changing world of online learning with digital exit tickets.

I have written...


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Tags: Distance Learning

Lessons with Laurie: How Do You Know?

This lesson explores the importance of asking “How do you know?” or similar questions when children are doing math. Asking this...


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Tags: Resources

Teachers Unite: An Open Letter to Schools from Sophie Murphy

Navigating the new school landscape during school closures. Supporting teaching and learning and well-being during the Covid-19...


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Tags: Distance Learning

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