Posts by Compass PD, LLC
The Power of Process: Using Strategic Tools for Modeling and Data Analysis
By Dr. Sherri Lorton Welcome back to our blog series on Mathematical Practices (MPs) in elementary classrooms! In our first post, we dove into Communicating Reasoning (MP3 and MP6), highlighting the need for students to build clear, precise arguments. This second installment shifts our focus from Communication to the question of relevance and application with…
Read MoreThe Power of Process: Using Strategic Tools in Secondary Classrooms for Modeling and Data Analysis
By Constance Hallemeier Welcome to the second in our three-part series on the Standards for Mathematical Practice (MPs) in the secondary classroom! The MPs are the heartbeat of math instruction; they describe the ways of knowing and habits of mind that we want to cultivate in our students as they grow into mature mathematical thinkers.…
Read MoreThe Power of Orthographic Mapping
By Dr. Stephanie Brenner There’s a moment every reading teacher treasures — when a student suddenly reads a word that used to stop them cold. You can see it in their eyes. That spark of recognition means something amazing has happened in their brain. The word finally stuck. That “stick” doesn’t come from luck, guessing,…
Read MoreMore Than Just Answers: Mathematical Communication in Secondary Classrooms
By Constance Hallemeier Welcome to the first in our three-part series on the Standards for Mathematical Practice (SMPs) in the secondary classroom! The SMPs are the heartbeat of math instruction; they describe the ways of knowing and habits of mind that we want to cultivate in our students as they grow into mature mathematical thinkers.…
Read MoreMore Than Just Answers: Mathematical Communication in Elementary Classrooms
By Dr. Sherri Lorton Welcome to the first in our three-part series on the Standards for Mathematical Practice (MPs) in the elementary classroom! The MPs are the heartbeat of math instruction; they describe the ways of knowing and habits of mind that we want to cultivate in our students as they grow into mature mathematical…
Read MoreBeyond the Label of Dyslexia
By Dr. Stephanie Brenner Dyslexia is not just a word on a page or a diagnosis in a file for me. It’s personal. I have family members who have dyslexia, and I’ve had the privilege of working with students and families who live with dyslexia every day. I’ve witnessed their struggles, their resilience, and their…
Read MoreCoaching New Teachers So They Shine From Day One
By Dr. Stephanie Brenner The first bell of a new school year rings, and somewhere a brand-new teacher takes a deep breath and dives headfirst into the whirlwind of routines, names, lesson plans, and locating that ever-elusive copier. For many new teachers, those first weeks can feel like trying to drink from a firehose while…
Read MoreWork Smarter, Not Harder: How AI Can Support Teaching and Learning
By Nicole Leachman Within the last five years, artificial intelligence (AI) has morphed from being a motif of science fiction to a ubiquitous part of everyday life, simultaneously altering the educational landscape. Tools like ChatGPT, Magic School, Grammarly, Diffit, and Kahnmigo have changed the way that both teachers and students approach learning. Many educators are…
Read MoreWhy Classroom Talk Matters More Than Ever
By Dr. Natalie Fallert I have twin 16-year-old boys, and for the past at least five years my husband and I have struggled in private conversations together and in one-on-one and family conversations with our boys about their utter lack of effective communication. Mind you, I have an undergraduate degree in Communication Management/Public Relations, worked…
Read MoreChange Feels Like a Diet: Why You Want to Quit and Why You Shouldn’t
By Dr. Carrie Hepburn Recently, I started a new nutrition plan. My old one wasn’t cutting it—my body was changing, and my needs were different. I spent hours researching, weighing options, and finally made the commitment. New plan, new me—right? Then reality hit. Tracking every macro, meal prepping, reading food labels, swapping out my favorites…
Read More