Great teachers know that students learn best when adults model a real joy for learning: enthusiasm, a gusto for problem-solving, and a commitment to pushing themselves. From November 29 to December 2, RDS second- and fourth-grade teachers Erika Lagrisola, Kelly Alexander, Taj Simmons, and Vicky Green put theory into action at the California Math Council - North Conference at Asilomar, returning to school full of new ways to further enhance their math curricula.

"I loved feeling like a student again," enthused Erika Lagrisola. "The best part was being given challenging questions and trying to get my head around them, just like my students do when I give them 'stumpers'."

"I literally came back with materials to add to my class starting on Monday!"Kelly Alexander reported. "I have new math warm-ups using mental math that I will be using to start our lessons and enhance those quick math skills. My class will also be introduced to "Mathemagic" problems where we perform number "tricks." Students will then be responsible for using math to prove why these number tricks actually work. I was also introduced to some fantastic projects that tied math and art, and I am already trying to decide which one to try out during our geometry unit next trimester. All in all, I was very inspired and my mind was spinning with new ideas I wanted to do with my class.  The time spent with three of my teaching colleagues was so valuable as we learned and shared what we were doing, what we were learning, and what we wanted to add to our classes."

"I've been going [to the conference] off and on since I started teaching," noted Taj Simmons. This year was a little different because I was able to spend quality time with Vicky [Green] and both fourth-grade teachers. It was a special time to talk about our mathematical pedagogy as well as the RDS experience. I went to five sessions and all except one had to do with problem solving.  Problem solving is a theme that should run throughout all mathematics, not just computation and number sense. Problem solving should  be embedded within lessons and not done on a separate occasions. Problem solving heuristics  -- strategies, rules of thumb -- are usually taught formally one at a time. By using one of the 15 heuristics at a time, kids can understand them more easily and in an applicable context. Once all 15 are taught, then it is important to teach students how to manage them, so they know which one to use for problems."