When I was going through school, I always gravitated toward mathematics (and math-based science classes). I never really thought about what math actually is, only that, well, I liked it. As long as my grades were good, I didn't really pause to consider what the numbers stood for. Read more... 

The "Four Cs"-critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and communication-are widely recognized as the hallmark of 21st century learning. In reality, I have less than 30 minutes in my first grade teaching day that isn't designated for the three Rs-reading, writing, and arithmetic. Read more ... 

One of my fifth grade students walked into class and said, "My mom doesn't get why we don't just say 'the answer' instead of 'product.' I had to teach her what a product is!"  Read more... 

Recently I watched a toddler in a doctor's office working to sort shapes in one of those wooden shape sorter benches. He concentrated intently on his work. Rather than trying a block in each opening, he would study the block in his hand carefully before attempting to fit it into the correct spot. Read more ...