How to prevent the summer slide in math skills

This 𝗢𝗡𝗘 thing is essential to increase student math discourse. This past week, I had the opportunity of model teaching math routines from the Illustrative Mathematics curriculum across multiple classrooms, supporting both middle school and Algebra 1 teachers in strengthening student discourse and reasoning. One key moment stood out. Students were solving, discussing, and thinking about the math, 𝘉𝘜𝘛, many were hesitant to share their ideas publicly or even write them down. When I asked why, one student said quietly, “I don’t want to be wrong.” ❌ That moment stopped me. 😯 Because it reminded me that you can have rigorous tasks, strong facilitation, and aligned curriculum, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙞𝙩 𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙞𝙛 𝙨𝙩𝙪𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙙𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡 𝙨𝙖𝙛𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙠𝙨. The missing piece? 𝗣𝘀𝘆𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆. A culture where mistakes are treated as data for learning, not evidence of failure. Here are a few moves that help build that culture of safety, discourse, and belonging in math classrooms: 📊𝗡𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴. Reframe errors as evidence of thinking. 🙏🏿𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗹 𝘃𝘂𝗹𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆. Share your own reasoning process, even when it’s imperfect, aka "Rough draft thinking" or "First-draft thinking". 💬𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲𝘀. Using prompts consistently, like “Who can build on that idea?” or “Do you agree or disagree, and why?” invites respectful reasoning. 🗺️𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗺𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀. Celebrate diverse strategies to show that math is about how you think, not just what answer you get. 🤝🏿𝗘𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘀. Co-create norms with students that define how the community will think, talk, and learn together. Place value on unfinished ideas, respectful discourse, and learning from mistakes. When students feel safe, they lean into challenge, share their thinking, and grow as mathematicians. 💭 I'm curious, how are you building spaces where students feel safe to take risks and share their thinking? __________________________________ Hi, I'm Dwight Williams. I coach math educators and partner with school leaders and districts to transform math instruction so every student builds confidence, identity, and achievement. 👍🏿Like | 🔔 Follow | 💬 Comment | 🔁 Repost

Math matters now more than ever – and at Springfield Prep Charter School, math class looks a little different. Instead of memorizing equations, students explore where math hides in the things they already care about – from dance choreography to global aid to democracy itself. In an op-ed for the Springfield Republican , Middle School Academic Dean Meaghan Graul shares how a creative, real-world approach to teaching math empowers students to think critically and see connections between numbers and their world. “We need young people who can ask the right questions, not just solve the ones already written for them.” Charter public schools give educators like Meaghan the flexibility to innovate – and, more importantly, to transform the way students experience learning. 📖 Read her full piece: https://lnkd.in/ezGR6FQe

A new Center on Reinventing Public Education study finds U.S. math performance has been declining for over a decade, worsened by teacher shortages and confusion over how to teach the subject. Nationally, nearly 4 in 10 eighth graders lack basic math skills, Jo Napolitano reports in The 7. https://lnkd.in/ebsdY-Mc

While national headlines focus on troubling math results, some states are proving solutions are within reach. Alabama’s commitment to daily math instruction, aligned teacher preparation, and innovative student supports has propelled it to the top in 4th grade math growth. Jocelyn Pickford explores what other states can learn from Alabama on #CurriculumHQ: https://lnkd.in/eeWj2Ye3

Last week, the South San Francisco Unified School District reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the needs of both teachers and students by taking another positive step forward in our math implementation journey. In collaboration with Jen Arberg and Mary Shaw-Lewis from Unbounded, our Teaching and Learning Math Team led by Karie Mullassery and Sathya Seigel, representatives from Special Education, Science, and Multilingual Learner teams, and site leaders, we conducted Curriculum Implementation Learning Walks across more than 50 classrooms, spanning grades 3 through Algebra 2 at every school site. It was inspiring to see teachers utilizing Imagine Learning Illustrative Mathematics, engaging students in problem-based learning, and fully committing to the work. These walks are integral to our continuous improvement cycles, supporting the district’s three instructional priorities: advancing high-quality math implementation, strengthening belonging in every classroom, and deepening academic discourse so students can explain and justify their thinking. Site leaders identified action steps based on school-level data, and the district implementation team will analyze districtwide trends to ensure responsive and sustained support for teachers and leaders. We also met with the SSFUSD PTA Council to strengthen support for families and look forward to ongoing collaboration. Thank you to our schools, educators, partners, and families for your collaboration as we continue to build a strong foundation for long-term impact on student learning in math and for advancing our shared district vision of high-quality math instruction.

Struggling to make small group math instruction work? On the BlueStreak blog, two Chicago Public Schools leaders—interventionist/MTSS lead Jen Baygood and former principal Vanessa Williams Johnson—share practical tips for grouping students, planning lessons, and managing your classroom during intervention time. Plus, see how BlueStreak Math makes it easier with real-time data and turnkey small group lessons. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gs22TbXC

https://lnkd.in/ecSnftgt As a parent, watching your child struggle with math can be heartbreaking. You might wonder if their difficulties are just a phase or if it's time to find a math tutor in Las Vegas. Recognizing the early warning signs can make the difference between a temporary setback and long-term academic challenges. Here are six clear indicators that your child could benefit from additional math support. 1. Homework Battles Have Become the Norm 2. Test Scores Keep Declining Despite Effort 3. Math Anxiety is Taking Over 4. They're Lost in Current Grade-Level Work 5. Confidence Has Disappeared 6. You Can't Help Anymore Don't wait until math struggles become insurmountable. Early intervention can turn a struggling student into a confident problem-solver, setting them up for success throughout their academic journey. If you are now asking yourself “where can i find a math tutor near Las Vegas”, findanytutor.com can be a help. HASHTAGS: #MathHelpinLasVegas #MathTutorinLasVegas #LasVegasMathTutoring #MathTutorNearmeinLasVegas #HowtoFindaMathTutorinLasVegas #FindaMathTutorinLasVegas #HowDoIFindaMathTutorinLasVegas? #HowtoFindaMathTutorForYourChildinLasVegas #FindaMathTutorNearMeinLa

New NY Math Guidelines: Well-Intentioned or a Step Backward? I don’t know about you, but I want my son to be able to multiply in his head, calculate a discount without a phone, and handle real-life math with confidence. That’s why I was concerned to read about New York State’s new math guidelines recommending the end of timed problem-solving tests, discouraging repeated practice of math facts, and favoring exploratory learning instead of explicit instruction. Yes, anxiety is real. But so is the need for fluency, mental math, and foundational skills. These are the tools that help our kids succeed in school, careers, and everyday situations. When did equity mean teaching less? Expecting less? Students are already leaving high school without the everyday math skills they need to manage a budget, understand interest rates, or even calculate a tip. Critics, including many math educators and researchers, are sounding the alarm. These changes could undermine the mastery of basic skills that students need before moving on to more complex math. Equity in education should mean giving every student the opportunity to master essential skills, not lowering the bar in the name of inclusion. https://lnkd.in/e6te_kvB

Recently Published Article in the Journal of Peer Learning: "A Paired-Course Comparison of Supplemental Instruction and Traditional Tutoring" by Sarah E. Gilman In an experimental comparison, Supplemental Instruction (SI) outperforms traditional drop-in tutoring: it boosts exam scores per session, particularly for underrepresented students, and attracts significantly higher attendance. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eS8cC_Yx

As the Florida Legislature is set to return to Tallahassee next week to begin Committee Weeks for the 2026 Session, Patricia Levesque lays out a policy roadmap to improve math outcomes in the Sunshine State: 👩🏫 increase math content knowledge for pre-service teachers and ongoing professional learning opportunities ⏱️ 60 minutes of uninterrupted math instruction per day for all K-8 students 🏫 improve middle school grades calculation 🤖 further invest in safe, proven education-focused AI platforms like Khan Academy’s Khanmigo to support personalized tutoring https://lnkd.in/ggq7pCpW