Author Archives: Cathy Yenca
Desmos From a Distance
Here in Texas, we received official word from our governor that our classrooms are closed for the remainder of the school year. We knew this was coming. It still stings. Such an abrupt ending to the communities we’ve built since … Continue reading
How To Be an Online Teacher in X Simple Steps
JUST KIDDING! That catchy title doesn’t begin to give justice to the hard-working colleagues I have the pleasure of planning with… the ones in my PLCs locally, AND the global ones who have been sharing about their experiences to help … Continue reading
TRUE or FALSE? Independent Events… and Socrative
Years ago when I had the pleasure of serving as a “math coach” in the Bethlehem Area School District in Pennsylvania, I learned a clever way to expose students to independent events. A colleague of mine provided his students with … Continue reading
How We Do “Four Corners” to Move & Talk About Mathematics
Search for the terms “Four Corners Classroom” online and you’ll find variation after variation of this cooperative learning strategy. The way we do “Four Corners” in my little corner of the world has evolved over the years. It’s one of … Continue reading
Goldi-Desmos and the Three… Layers? {I’ve got nothing}
Okay, so my attempt at a clever title is lacking here, but the idea in my brain still stands and seems sort of valid. Last Friday, my Math 7 crew needed support transitioning back to the curriculum after several days … Continue reading
Quality Time (not in the lesson plan)
Last week my Math 7 students spent several days exploring ratios and unit rates (including scenarios with complex fractions in the mix). We haven’t used the word “proportion” yet… we’ve just been “playing” with numbers, really. Encouraging students to think … Continue reading
A Classroom Visit from KLRU – Screens In School: Tech Transformation
My students and I had a unique opportunity recently to host guests from our local PBS station here in Austin, Texas. On the brink of iPad’s 10th anniversary, folks at KLRU came to visit our district, Eanes ISD, to chat … Continue reading
7,300-ish
Roughly 7,300-ish days ago, I began my teaching career in eastern Pennsylvania. I remember my very FIRST first-day-of-school morning… very vividly. I was a newlywed, new to the east side of PA (growing up north of Pittsburgh) and I remember … Continue reading
Ending Another Year {With Desmos}
School’s Out For Summer! Leaving my classroom after the halls have cleared is a bittersweet moment. I always take a photo of it – and looking at social media the past few days, I can see I’m not the only … Continue reading
“Lead & Learn” with “Stand & Talks” Across Content Areas
Several weeks back, our middle school teachers had the opportunity to #BeLikeFred (Rogers) in our #EanesNeighborhood – to either “Lead Like Fred” or “Learn Like Fred” during one of our early release (PD) days. I chose to “Lead Like Fred” … Continue reading