1. Our favorite “aha!” moment with a student.
A: Recently, a student struggling with solving algebraic equations had it all fall into place for them when they realized not how to rearrange the equation to isolate the variable, but WHY that works the way that it does.
2. A time when a student earned a reward.
A: A student was so eager to redeem their prize stamps on a giant teddy bear I had, that she would practically beg her parents to let her stay longer and do more math to earn it faster. She was so excited to finally get it. She spent the entire session doing math with it on her lap.
3. Positive parent experience.
A: All the time, I hear from parents how happy they are that their child is bringing up their math grade, that their child who used to struggle is now more confident in their abilities, and they understand their schoolwork now whereas it used to be an enigma to them.
4. Favorite ways to teach concepts.
A: Most kids struggle with factors, they tend to try to think of pairs right off the bat, and end up missing some. But if you just start from 1 and ask yourself on every number if it is a factor, and with what other number, and keep going until you've counted up to a number you already found, you are guaranteed to get them all.
5. A time when a student scored well on a test.
A: One of my students managed to bring their trailing math grade up enough to make it into her school's honor roll! She worked so hard in here to really master all of her math topics, and couldn't be more deserving of the honor roll!
