My Question

Question:

How will supporting teachers to implement number talks in their math classrooms inform my coaching practice?

Statement of Purpose:

I recently, and enthusiastically, became a member of the Girl’s Prep Bronx community in the position of Instructional Math Coach. As I begin this new work I am often considering ways to develop collaborative and thoughtful relationships with teachers in order to support the growth of both teacher and student alike. I am interested in coaching tools and coaching approaches that will engage teachers in a process of reflecting upon and refining their role as math learner and teacher. 
 
Last school year a group of teachers at GPB participated in a study group around Sherry Parrish’s book Number Talks. The teachers had expressed an interest in thinking more deeply about math and Josie, our principal, provided them with this resource. As a result of the positive feedback from the study group, and a generally school-wide interest, GPB has, for the first time, built in a 20-minute Number Talk time to the weekly schedule. As a community we are still exploring and defining how this time is to be used. However, teachers have discussed how this extra time provides girls with lots of opportunity to apply their understanding of number in order to flexibly and efficiently solve problems. I want to support teachers in implementing Number Talks and focus on how this work informs my coaching practice.