Traveling the road to better teaching as we talk with Katy Pocreva, current University of Mississippi School of Education graduate student, who saw clear evidence of her elementary students’ understanding of parallel and perpendicular lines and angles—not just on their assessments, but in the designs they created.

After learning about these geometric ideas, students were challenged to design a park that used parallel and perpendicular lines and specific angle relationships. What emerged was more than correct answers; it was visible thinking, creativity, and meaningful application of what they had learned.

This conversation explores what counts as evidence of learning, how tasks can move beyond worksheets, and what becomes possible when students are asked to use mathematics in purposeful ways.

Links in the episode

Road to Better Teaching Episode E001 Ann Monroe: Zike's Fantastic Foldables

Amidon Planet E009 Teaching with Problems

Road to Better Teaching is supported by Amidon Planet.

Traveling the road to better teaching as we consider what happens when a teacher stops teaching the pacing guide and starts teaching the students in front of them?

In this episode, we hear from Emily Reese, Mississippi Excellence in Teaching Program Fellow, former high school English Language Arts teacher, and current University of Mississippi School of Education graduate student, who, working with a remedial class, chose to step away from prescribed standards and focus on helping students become stronger readers and writers. The result: deeper engagement, growing confidence, and students who began to thrive.

This is a conversation about trust, responsiveness, and the courage it takes to do what students actually need.

Links from the episode

Mississippi Excellence in Teaching Program

Practice Driven PD - Super Wrong, Kinda Right (see https://amidonplanet.com/episode135/)

What Great Teachers Do Differently by Todd Whitaker

More from Amidon Planet - Good Talk. Real Learning. Better Teaching.

Traveling the road to better education leadership with Cassandra Poulin, University of Mississippi Principal Corps administrative intern and former middle school mathematics teacher. Listen as Cassandra shares lessons from an innovative professional development experience that shaped her as an educator.

Links from the episode

Principal Corps

Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck
Mathematical Mindsets by Jo Boaler

Keeping the Wonder by Jenna Copper, Ashley Bible, Abby Gross, and Staci Lamb

Center for Mathematics and Science Education Mathematical Concept Progression Guide