To know what you know and what you do not know, that is true knowledge.—Confucius
Choice Numeracy
I’m always intrigued by people who know what they don’t know. It’s important to know what you know, and powerful to know what you don’t know. So, when Mallory Messenger reached out to me with an email and expressed her gratitude for Choice Literacy, I perked up. Mallory explained that she is a math specialist turned instructional coach, and Choice Literacy helped her gain the tools, develop the knowledge, and boost her confidence when working in areas of literacy.
She then asked if there was a place for articles about math workshop that could help literacy specialists in the same way she was encouraged.
When Mallory and I connected for a conversation, she explained that she’d been looking for a site like Choice Literacy for math…a place where she could find several different voices from the field about giving choice and voice to students in math. “Choice Literacy is exactly what I needed,”she explained, “and I’d love to be a part of the same thing for math.”
I’m often quick to say no when a suggestion comes my way that isn’t intimately tied to uplifting the choice and voice of readers and writers. My first (shortsighted) reaction was that Choice Literacy is about literacy; it is not about math.
Yet, Mallory’s passion gave me pause. I thought a little more about what Choice Literacy is…
- A place for in-the-field educators to gain experience writing professionally by sharing their experiences, insights, and curiosities in uplifting student choice and voice.
- A place that gives educators practical ideas that will inspire them to teach the students in front of them rather than print pretty packets or implement lockstep formulas.
- A place that offers a range of voices from varied schools and backgrounds so that we are well rounded in our ideas while connected by the core belief in the importance of giving students choice and voice.
Choice Literacy is a place for articles about uplifting choice and voice to students. Mallory was asking to share some of the ways this happens in math.
Mallory was connected with a few other educators who were interested in writing about student choice and voice in math. I reached out to some regular Choice Literacy contributors and was met with passion and excitement for the idea.
“We need this,” the contributors told me at the Midwest Writing Retreat when I tossed out the idea of including articles about math.
Their resounding support made the choice obvious, and I put together a virtual writing group for contributors wanting to write about choice and voice in math. This week you will find articles that have literacy and math connections. From now until the end of the year, each week you will find a math article alongside our regular content. I hope it fuels your passion for uplifting choice and voice in all areas for all students as much as it has mine.
Shine on,
Ruth Ayres
Editor in Chief
Julie Johnson rekindles her love affair with math when she incorporates journals and sees her students become more adept at organizing and explaining their thinking. This article was first published in 2012.
Heather Rader explains how mentor texts for math instruction need some specific attributes. This article was first published in 2012.
NEW ANNOUNCEMENT: We are thrilled to announce NEW live virtual events. Join our contributors in a live virtual series to nourish your professional learning all school year and have access to the recordings until June 30, 2023.
ANNOUNCEMENT: We are pleased to offer a monthly membership to Classic Classroom. This is the perfect way to get a taste of the site without a yearlong commitment. Click here to find out more about membership options.
General Workshop Routines invites us to consider the routines of opening the day, workshop norms, meeting areas, and transitions to make workshop run smoothly.
New members-only content is added each week to the Choice Literacy website. If you’re not yet a member, click here to explore membership options.
Bitsy Parks shares an initial read aloud to encourage primary students to develop the ability to see math everywhere.
Mandy Robek shares a delicious list of picture books with recipes in order to connect reading and math engagement.
In the next installment of our Stay Sharp series, Christy Rush-Levine shares tips on how teachers can stay sharp.
In this encore video, Danielle French leads her first graders in a math lesson where they also build vocabulary and language skills.
New members-only content is added each week to the Choice Literacy website. If you’re not yet a member, click here to explore membership options.
In this Coaching Minute, Kate Mills and Tara Barnett streamline the sign-up system for working with a coach.
In this encore video and article, Heather Rader confers with second grader Maya about her math writing as Linda Karamatic listens in. Included is a debrief between Heather and Lisa.
Quote It:
Energy and persistence conquer all things.
—Benjamin Franklin
That’s all for this week!
