Kristin incorporates over 25 years of teaching experience, with a concentration in mathematics and a background in special education, into her idea-packed trainings. She has taught special education students, multiple elementary grade levels, and provided coaching and professional development to teachers across the United States. Kristin uses her classroom experience to provide practical insight to support teachers in addressing the shifts needed to transform their instruction and enhance student learning. Her breadth and depth of mathematical and instructional knowledge allow her to deliver results-driven professional development that is not only grounded in theory and best practices but is based on what works in the classroom. Kristin’s passion for empowering both teachers and students drives her to share the effectiveness of developing a community of mathematical thinkers in the classroom and leaves teachers revitalized and eager to implement her ideas.
Emily has seventeen years of experience in the classroom and an enthusiasm for teaching math. She is a always encouraging teachers to bring back lessons, ideas and activities to their classroom, school and district that promote learning and problem solving. Having taught two years of Algebra I at the high school level and fifteen years of math at the elementary level, she knows the progression of the math standards across the grade levels. She believes that “Math Talk” , “Math Language”, and conceptual understanding are key pieces missing in most math classrooms. Because of this, she has a passion for helping teachers embed these ideas into their lessons while spreading the word that math is everywhere in everyday life. Her emphasis is teaching audiences to make the shift from “How?” to “Why?” so students don’t just “do” math for procedural understanding, but they show a deeper conceptual understanding which develops children to become mathematical thinkers.
The goal here is to make math meaningful for all who engage in it, both in and outside of the classroom. One of Emily’s main goals is to help students use their metacognition to make connections from what they already know to the math they’re engaging with. She wants teachers and students to be able to find patterns, explain their thinking, and reason abstractly.
Emily has a love for math and using a variety of strategies when teaching, which clearly comes across when you watch her present. Her goals are to encourage teachers and students to THINK FREELY AND FLEXIBLY and to make learning math meaningful for both teachers and students.