Our Blog

Every Book a Math Book

  • by Kelly Harmon
  • Dec. 2, 2022, 7:40 a.m.

During this interactive webinar, educators will learn how to use books from their classroom library to engage students in math problem-solving. Picture books are an excellent resource that help students identify mathematical problems in everyday life, including number sense, geometry, measurement, and algebraic thinking. We’ll be joined by special guest and educational consultant Kelly Harmon, MAEd, who will model how to guide students through using literature to promote math learning and provide examples to illustrate the concept of math through literature.

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Math Professional Videos and Books

  • by Kelly Harmon
  • May 11, 2022, 1:48 p.m.

The following are videos and professional resources for building expertise in mathematics.  

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Math Podcasts

  • by Kelly Harmon
  • May 11, 2022, 1:47 p.m.

Here are some math podcasts I love.  

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How to Get Students Thinking About Their Own Learning

  • by Kelly Harmon
  • May 11, 2022, 1:45 p.m.

If you know me well, you know that my passion is helping students to take responsibility for their own learning. This starts with students setting daily learning goals and monitoring their own progress.

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Parent Night on Zoom

  • by Kelly Harmon
  • May 11, 2022, 1:44 p.m.

A Title 1 school in New Jersey recently asked me to share ideas with parents of second grade children who are receiving reading interventions. As this was my first Zoom with parents and their children, I didn't know what to expect. Would parents show up? Would they turn on cameras? Would they participate? Well, I'm happy to report the answers were "Yes, Yes, and Yes!!!" 

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Make a Wordle for Your Class

  • by Kelly Harmon
  • May 11, 2022, 1:43 p.m.

Playing daily word games can really help students discover and utilize the relationships of letter and spelling patterns. I recently ran across a great website 

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Who's Going to Summer Camp?

  • by Kelly Harmon
  • May 11, 2022, 1:14 p.m.

As we wind down this school year, many of our students will need to participate in extended learning during the summer. But who wants to go to summer school? Just the thought of it brings to mind "failure." So, this summer, let’s disrupt what’s been known as summer school and let’s call it summer camp!

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Building Thinking Classrooms

  • by Kelly Harmon
  • March 10, 2022, 2:13 p.m.

Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics by Peter Liljedahl is one of the most powerful books I’ve read in my entire education career.

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What is Missing in Reading Instruction?

  • by Kelly Harmon
  • March 10, 2022, 2:11 p.m.

When I began my teaching career in 1991, guided reading was a new practice that was being introduced in schools across the country. The focus of the guided reading groups was to help students develop metacognitive strategies they needed to process a text on their instructional reading level. In these groups, the teacher provided necessary scaffolds. It was up to the teacher to decide the type of scaffold the student might need. For example, a student might not have background knowledge related to the events or topic of the text. The teacher would then provide some background information to support comprehension.

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Monitoring for Learning

  • by Kelly Harmon
  • March 10, 2022, 2:07 p.m.

Douglas Elementary School in Tyler, Texas is a great example of professionals who focus on intentional teaching and learning. Under the leadership of Christina Roach, the Pre-K through fifth grade teachers have worked diligently over the past six years to refine their practices of using learning targets and success criteria, along with formative assessments to partner with their students for learning. The staff members are truly experts at intentional teaching.


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