In this elementary-focused session, participants will explore how coherence in mathematics emerges through intentional connections among addition and subtraction problem types. Educators will examine common word problem structures—such as joining, separating, part-part-whole, and comparison—and how these problem types develop across grade levels. Using the progression outlined in the TEKS, participants will analyze how learning builds over time and how connecting new problem types to students’ prior experiences supports deeper understanding. The session will highlight models and representations that support student reasoning and help teachers plan instruction that tells a connected, meaningful story of addition and subtraction.
In this session, participants will examine how thoughtful task selection and purposeful questioning set the stage for meaningful student thinking and mathematical independence. Using a task-quality rubric, educators will analyze and select tasks that promote conceptual understanding and strategic reasoning rather than answer-getting. Participants will also explore questioning strategies that surface student thinking, press for clarity, and support students in making sense of mathematics on their own. By the end of the session, teachers will leave with tools and examples for designing learning experiences where students do the cognitive work and build confidence as problem solvers.
In this session, math teachers will dive into strategies that make learning more interactive, relevant, and accessible for all students. Through collaboration and real classroom examples, participants will explore ways to promote critical thinking, encourage student discourse, and connect math to real-world experiences. Special emphasis will be placed on using simple tools—like sticky notes—to increase student engagement through quick checks for understanding, collaborative problem-solving, and student voice. Teachers will walk away with practical, ready-to-use strategies that foster active participation and help all students feel confident and capable in mathematics.
This session focuses on how math language routines can strengthen student sense-making, communication, and perseverance. Participants will experience and practice routines that support students in articulating their thinking, listening to others, and refining ideas through discussion. Emphasis will be placed on how consistent use of these routines helps students persist through challenging tasks while deepening understanding. Teachers will leave with practical strategies for embedding language routines into daily instruction to create classrooms where mathematical reasoning is made visible and shared.
This session focuses on how problem-solving routines can strengthen student sense-making, communication, and perseverance in mathematics. Participants will experience and practice pairing Read-Draw-Write with routines such as Three Reads and numberless word problems to support students in making sense of problem situations before focusing on computation. Emphasis will be placed on how these routines help students slow down, attend to meaning, and use representations to articulate and refine their thinking. Participants will explore how consistent use of these paired routines supports students in persisting through challenging tasks while deepening conceptual understanding. Teachers will leave with practical strategies for embedding these routines into daily instruction to make student thinking visible and support meaningful mathematical reasoning.
