Earlier this fall, I had the pleasure to join a high school principal on a math walk-through outing. This is a process where instructional leaders pop into multiple mathematics teachers’ classes to get a sense of how, as a department, instructional improvement efforts are unfolding. 

But, I am getting ahead of myself. In considering her students’ struggles in mathematics, the principal sought out ideas from her department chair and district math coordinator in the beginning of 2022. 

Together, they decided to frame the year’s efforts around NCTM’s 8 Effective Teaching Practices found in Principles to Actions (PtA). Commensurate with best practice, the team engaged their teachers in context-based professional learning around the practices while taking steps to ensure the structures were in place to attend to the “Essential Elements of Effective Math Programs.”

Among the essential elements is attention to the use of tools and technology, a mainstay of NCTM policy since 1991 for good reason. Technology-based tools can be incredibly helpful to students in visualizing mathematics while providing rich tasks that engage students in discourse and sense making. As they note in their slide presentation however, “Often students do not actually engage with technologies or tools in ways that promote mathematical reasoning and sense making.” 

Which is why, when the team decided on a technology tool that would align with the 8 practices, we were tickled when they chose Derivita. 

Back to the walk-through. Like every walk-through, we saw great progress in many areas and some that needed continued attention. Personally, I was glad to see Derivita bringing to life so many of the practices. 

Here are some Derivita examples aligned with the specific NCTM Effective Teaching Practice: