Johnette Roberts Ballard provides engaging professional learning experiences in mathematics for elementary teachers and math coaches to help them transform their mathematics instruction and ultimately impact student learning. To implement reforms in mathematics education, teachers need time to learn mathematics more deeply, reflect on current practices, and explore practical methods of enhancing instruction.

Based on observations of teaching and learning in elementary schools, Teach 4 L.I.F.E. Enterprise primarily focuses on four areas of building a stronger foundation in mathematics:

Place Value

In order to achieve success in learning mathematics students must have a strong foundation in number sense and place value. It is important for teachers to have content and pedagogical content knowledge of the progression of place value concepts, models and strategies. Professional development workshops and coaching sessions are offered to help teachers to empower their students with place value understanding.

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Fluency

By the end of each elementary year of mathematics, students should be proficient in specific end-of–year fluency goals. While many curricula address fluency in lessons, students need conceptual understanding that leads to procedural skill and fact fluency. Teachers and schools may learn a possible effective system for focusing on fluency to help students to reach their end-of-year fluency goals.

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Fractions

Proficiency with fractions is an important foundation for learning more advanced mathematics (Fennel, 2007, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics). Unit fractions are the building blocks of all fractions. One of the most effective tools to help students gain a strong foundation with conceptual understanding of unit fractions, is the fraction kit (created by Dr. Marilyn Burns).

Teachers need time to experience building a fraction kit from a students’ perspective and then plan to intentionally use this tool as a scaffold to support student learning. This understanding takes time to develop, however using the fraction kit can yield great results in student understanding and achievement. Learn a possible system of professional learning, implementation, and coaching that has proven to yield positive results, especially on the LEAP test for schools that have used this system.

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Problem Solving

Many students fear or have difficulty with word problems, especially multi-step word problems. With a consistent process, a growth mindset, and use of the Mathematical Practices, students can be empowered to solve all types of problems and tasks.

One powerful process is Piaget’s (1945) process: Understand, Plan, Solve and Look Back. This process along with other structures, coupled with lots of practice and confidence, are sure to yield greater outcomes in the problem solving process.
Teachers and instructional coaches can learn more about a system for problem solving that supports any curriculum.

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According to the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, the goal of mathematics professional development is to improve instruction in order to improve student learning.

Teach 4 L.I.F.E. Enterprise, LLC

Learning

Based on observations of teaching and learning in elementary schools, Teach 4 L.I.F.E. Enterprise primarily focuses on four areas of building a stronger foundation in mathematics:

Place Value

Fluency

Fractions

Problem Solving

Mathematics professional development is effective when it promotes

mathematics teachers’ growth in four major areas:

Grow your expertise and love for math simultaneously…