Developing deeper math thinkers, with Kelly Serpa, Ed.D.
Show notes
Host Ana Torres is joined by Kelly Serpa, Ed.D., STEM product specialist at Amplify and passionate advocate for inclusive math instruction. Together, they explore what it takes to develop students' conceptual understanding in math and why an asset-based approach makes all the difference. Kelly shares the "aha moment" that transformed her teaching practice and breaks down practical strategies for developing deeper math thinkers—from hooking every student in the first five minutes with routines like Notice and Wonder to building fluency in an asset-based way, without the pressure of a timer. Classroom Insider and middle school science teacher Eric Cross joins Ana to share why these strategies for developing deeper thinkers are just as powerful in other content areas—including in his own science classroom—as they are in math.
Show notes:
- Connect with Kelly Serpa on LinkedIn.
- Explore Amplify's Advice for the Math Classroom on YouTube.
- Check out Amplify's Fluency Practice.
- Watch Student-Centered Math Practices on YouTube.
- Listen to the Beyond My Years' math playlist.
- Learn more about math that motivates your K–5 students.
- Follow us on Instagram.
- Subscribe to Beyond My Years.
- Connect with Ana Torres.
- Connect with Eric Cross.
Quotes:
"Engagement in the first five minutes of your math class is the most important thing." —Kelly Serpa
"Every single kid needs fluency practice every single day." —Kelly Serpa
"Build conceptual understanding first. Don't look at those lessons as fluffy, optional, or unnecessary." —Kelly Serpa
"Kids know stuff. They don't come to us as an empty slate." —Ana Torres
"Going from telling to questioning, that's really the engine of problem-based learning." —Eric Cross