Math word problems were difficult for me when I was a kid. At the end of thirty or so skill base computation problems on the exercise...

Many State education agencies annual standardized math tests stress word problems in lieu of pure computation problems as they did 30...

Let’s teach/plan an elementary lesson on even and odd numbers – first step, compile the basic information on that topic: The even numbers...

My wife and I watched the Tom Hanks’ movie, Apollo 13 over the Holiday break. The movie has many memorable scenes of heroism and...

Kenton Weeks, a South Dakota rancher and farmer, opened the door of his truck. He and his dog got out of the cab and walked into his...

Educators test students throughout the school year. Students are frequently assessed via both formative and summative assessments ranging...

When I was in my late teens, I worked part-time nights and weekends in a grocery store while attending university. One of my nightly...

As an elementary principal, I would do my best to arrive at school at least 15 to 45 minutes prior to start of the opening school doors...

It is one of the primary functions of the campus administration’s job to support classroom teachers in improving core instruction and...

New teachers struggle in the classroom. We all did. When I started, I expected to be much better at teaching kids, and I was 32 years old...

“My fifth graders can’t do 35 to 40 word problems in 4 hours! How can the State Education Agency expect any 10 year old to finish a math...

Prior to reading this short blog, it is recommended the educator read the October 2nd posted blog entitled: Kinesthetic Vocabulary...

Title 1 elementary students are experiencing difficulty with the most common, high frequency English words, and educators are trying to...

I am of the belief that Title 1 academic education reformation involving high percentages of students classified as economically...

In late April of 2014, I was at central office for a meeting when I ran into another Title 1 elementary principal. The STAAR (State of...

‘Stop-Gap Resources’ are a moniker that I believe accurately describes their function when used in Title 1 schools or with students...

Mark Twain once said, “It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble. It's what you know for sure that just ain't so.” This...

As discussed in an earlier blog, “Manipulatives, Pictorial Representation – then, Paper/Pencil,” arithmetic instructional design and...

Generally speaking, arithmetic instructional design and student learning should always follow a structured process: tactile, pictorial...

A more often than not truism in an elementary classroom of children is, ‘if it starts poorly, it usually continues.’ This short phrase...

Students must memorize certain basic mathematics information. It cannot be avoided. But, elementary teachers must understand what kids...

Time passes quickly. No argument there. I graduated from high school about 35 years ago, and although it does not seem like yesterday,...

If several human beings are involved in a common task and a successful outcome is to follow, positive interactions are of paramount...

Over the last couple decades, I have always been amazed at the inability of people to 'read' other people. It is a skill set we learn...