Math Problems that Unlock Student Thinking

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Filled with dread, some math teachers have a problem. As they give problems to students to work their students become problems. Behavior problems. Boredom problems. Sometimes the problem is that students aren’t excited by the problems. However, math can be exciting. The “Open Middle” math problem format is NOT talking about middle school math, although it applies to middle, high school, elementary, and even college math just the same. Robert Kaplinsky, a math teacher and author on the “open middle math” talks about how math teachers can unlock student thinking and interest in how problems are posed to students. Busy math teachers can listen to this quick episode to get an introduction to open middle math and see if they want to dive deeper. Math can be exciting!

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Listen to Robert Kaplinsky explain open middle math and unlocking student thinking in math class

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Challenge

Check out these resources from Robert for math teachers. Robert says, “I created these free Depth of Knowledge matrices that teachers love: https://robertkaplinsky.com/tag/dok-matrix/

Add Robert Kaplinsky to your PLN (Bio As Submitted)

Robert Kaplinsky has worked in education since 2003 as a classroom teacher, teacher specialist for Downey Unified School District, instructor for the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and presenter at conferences around the world. He created the #ObserveMe movement, wrote the book Open Middle Math is president of Grassroots Workshops and co-founder of the website https://www.openmiddle.com/.

Blog: https://robertkaplinsky.com

Twitter: @robertkaplinsky

Instagram: @robert_kaplinsky

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robertkaplinsky

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/robertkaplinsky/

Disclosure of Material Connection: This is a “sponsored podcast episode.” The company who sponsored it compensated me via cash payment, gift, or something else of value to include a reference to their product. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I believe will be good for my readers and are from companies I can recommend. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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Vicki Davis

Vicki Davis has been an educator and IT director in Georgia since 2002. Today, she also works as an instructional technology coach, staying side-by-side with active teachers and students so her work stays grounded in real classrooms.

She's a mom of three, wife of one, and loves talking about the wise, transformational use of technology for teaching and doing good in the world.

She has blogged at the Cool Cat Teacher Blog since 2005 and hosts the 10 Minute Teacher Podcast and Cool Cat Teacher Talk (radio, public access TV, YouTube, and all major podcast platforms), interviewing remarkable educators around the world. Vicki focuses on what unites us — a quest for truly remarkable, life-changing teaching and learning. The goal of her work is to provide actionable, encouraging, relevant ideas for teachers, grounded in truth and shared with love.

If you talk to Vicki for long, she'll encourage you to "Relate to Educate," to "innovate like a turtle," or to be "a remarkable teacher." She loves homemade sourdough bread and cinnamon rolls and runs half marathons with her sisters. You can usually find her laughing with her students or digging into a book.

Thank you for reading, sharing, and telling your friends about the work we do here! - Vicki

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