

Struggling with Simplifying Radicals? Teach the Sock Basket Method
Picture this: It's laundry day. The dryer buzzes, you dump a mountain of clothes onto the bed, and somehow, without fail, every single sock ends up loose and unpaired at the bottom of the basket. Now picture your students' faces when you write √72 on the board. That same feeling of quiet overwhelm. Here's the good news: if your students are struggling with simplifying radicals, the laundry basket is the bridge they've been waiting for.
Apr 10


Why Students Struggle with Similarity (It Starts Before Geometry)
Students struggling with similarity? The problem often starts before geometry. Learn how gaps in ratios and proportions impact student understanding.
Mar 19


Teaching Quadrilaterals: Recognition vs. Application in Geometry
My students could classify quadrilaterals and explain properties with confidence. But when it came to multi-step angle problems, everything fell apart. Here’s what teaching quadrilaterals taught me about recognition vs. application in geometry.
Feb 23


When Language Supports Aren’t Enough for Struggling ELL Students in Math
Struggling ELL students in math often face challenges that go beyond language. Learn how to support SLIFE students while maintaining grade-level rigor through intentional scaffolds.
Feb 9


The RULES Framework: Helping Geometry Students Build Critical Thinking Skills
Geometry isn’t hard, understanding the question is. Learn how the RULES Framework helps students, especially English Language Learners, analyze geometry problems with confidence.
Feb 1


Reduce Cognitive Load: Unlock Understanding in Math for ELLs
Before even starting a math problem, many ELL students are managing multiple layers of language and instructions. This post explores why cognitive load matters and how simplifying problem language can help students access the math.
Jan 24


Why Math Vocabulary Matters for English Language Learners in High School
In high school math, vocabulary can be just as challenging as the problems themselves. Many struggling learners—and especially English Language Learners—get stuck on dense textbook definitions. In this post, we explore why math vocabulary for English language learners matters, why simplified definitions and visuals make a difference, and how teachers can start supporting ELLs in math today.
Jan 21


The Invisible Labor of Teaching: A Journey Through the Spring Semester
I came home after the first week of the spring semester feeling emotionally drained. Nothing major happened. No classroom blowups. No admin emergencies. No parent conferences gone wrong. Just… teaching. The Weight of Everyday Teaching One student was absent most of the week and only showed up for one day. Another is dealing with family situations that make it hard to focus on school right now. Several students are frustrated and refuse to use the supports provided to them, li
Jan 11
