Empowering diverse learners in math, starring Keri Brown
Meet Our Guest(s):
Keri Brown
Keri Brown is an experienced K–2 educator, national presenter, and curriculum author from Alabama. She has taught both kindergarten and first grade and has also supported students through K–2 intervention. With over 17 years in education, Keri is passionate about using research-based practices, hands-on learning, and meaningful tech to support young learners. She loves helping fellow teachers through practical strategies they can use right away. You can find her sharing ideas on her website and Instagram.
Meet our host, Ana Torres.
Ana has been an educator for 30 years, working in both the K–8 and higher education sectors. She served as an administrator and instructor at various public and private colleges and universities and as a bilingual and dual language teacher, dual language math and reading interventionist, dual language instructional coach, assistant principal, and principal in K–8 schools. Ana is currently the Senior Biliteracy and Multilingual Product Specialist at Amplify, and delivers literacy and biliteracy presentations across the nation. Ana’s passion and advocacy for biliteracy and support for all students from all walks of life has led her to educate leaders, teachers, and parents about the positive impact of bilingualism and biliteracy in our world.
Meet our Classroom Insider, Eric Cross.
Eric Cross is a middle school science teacher who hopes to someday be a lifelong educator, like the guests on Beyond My Years! In each episode, Eric connects with host Ana Torres to discuss her guests’ best insights, gleaned from their long and rewarding careers in the classroom. Then, Eric talks about bringing some of their wisdom into his current classroom and busy life.
Quotes
“We start small with just talking to them, helping them figure out how to have a conversation about math. They can talk about everything else, but we have to teach them how to talk about math. We have to give them the words, give them the tools.”
“There's only so many ways you can teach the same thing. When I was teaching addition, there's only so many ways I could do it. But if that's their goal and that's what we're working on, I’ve got to try to come up with a hundred different ways to teach addition until they have mastered addition. And so you get very creative.”
“When [I] see the light bulb come on in a kid, I'm like, ‘Ah, this is why I teach.'”
“It's impactful to spend that little extra time saying, ‘Let me build some relationships and show these babies how to be students in my classroom.'”
“Predictable routines really help students feel safe, because they know what's going to happen.”
“When things are consistent and repeated, [students] know what to expect and it's not as big of a cognitive lift for them to do it. Each time eventually gets easier and you can get into the deeper learning.”
“That human aspect, that dependability, that consistency is a big, big barrier for students when they don't feel like it's there. When we can create that by creating these routines, learning happens deeper and faster.”
“Explaining requires you to juggle information in your working memory and then turn it into language.”