Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Fawn Nguyen @fawnnguyen.substack.com · 1d

Look what arrived! Just when you thought the K-5 book was big, the 6-12 is even thicker!
I've been through it already and wow—peterliljedahl.bsky.social and @webbkyle.bsky.social really delivered. You want this. 🔥

2 9

Fawn Nguyen @fawnnguyen.substack.com · 1d

Happy Friday!
I just tried all these fun activities that you can customize!
Check out our collection of free fall activities at #AmplifyClassroom! Students estimate quantities of candy in a jar, carve pumpkins, decorate their own fall scene, and more! classroom.amplify.com/collection/6...

Fall Favorites

"Fall" into engaging lessons and activities! Balance different pumpkins on a scale, estimate the number of candy, practice dilations with bats–or maybe just decorate a fall scene together!

classroom.amplify.com

3

Fawn Nguyen @fawnnguyen.substack.com · 5d

We now officially have 500 visual patterns! 🎉

Christophe from France just shared SIX wonderful building-brick patterns he discovered while playing with his daughter. 💕

Check out visual patterns #495-500: visualpatterns.org/451-through-...

Patterns 451-500 — Visual Patterns

visualpatterns.org

3 17

Fawn Nguyen @fawnnguyen.substack.com · 8d

Really loved this episode! "Kids in math class can have different answers that are right and that they can be wrong in a smart way."
@ddmeyer.bsky.social joined Anayansi (Ana) Torres on the latest episode of Beyond My Years from Amplify.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

The right questions for the “wrong” answers, starring Dan Meyer

Podcast Episode · Beyond My Years · 10/01/2025 · 39m

podcasts.apple.com

1

Reposted by Fawn Nguyen

Libo Valencia 🧮 MathPlay @mrvalencia24.bsky.social · 9d

Scary Visual Patterns via #MathPlay 🧮🎃 - How many shapes on the next bat🦇❓

#ITeachMath #MTBoS #ElemMathChat #STEM #EduSky #MathSky #MathsToday @fawnnguyen.substack.com

2 5 16

Fawn Nguyen @fawnnguyen.substack.com · 8d

Looking forward to NCSM in Atlanta! Hope to see you there!

It'll be my first time sharing "Building a PD Program for Mathematics Teachers & Coaches"
Tuesday, October 14, 2:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. - International Salon 9

5

Reposted by Fawn Nguyen

John Golden @johngolden.bsky.social · 14d

Don had such an amazing eye for a rich problem, that he always then turned into a rich, connected set of problems.

1 1 4

Reposted by Fawn Nguyen

Karen Campe @karencampe.bsky.social · 14d

Love this post Fawn, especially this. Hope you got a good nights sleep!!
#iTeachMath

This day also reminded me of something I never want to lose sight of: how challenging it is to be a teacher. My trying to be in classrooms regularly keeps me grounded in ways that observing from the outside never could. I’m so grateful that Amplify not only gives me the space to make this happen, but they understand that it’s part of the work. My colleagues do the same—they come into classrooms and teach actual lessons!

1 4

Fawn Nguyen @fawnnguyen.substack.com · 14d

Don't you dare, Carl. I'm trying to delete all the games on my iPhone. :p

1

Fawn Nguyen @fawnnguyen.substack.com · 14d

So great, Kathy! Score will always be 100 to 0, kids' thinking vs AI.

1 1

Reposted by Fawn Nguyen

Kathy H @kathyhen.bsky.social · 26d

Tried this problem with my math club today - they’re a group of 6th and 7th graders. They solved it in ~25 minutes. Take that, AI! lol. #ITeachMath #MTBoS

Fawn Nguyen @fawnnguyen.substack.com · 29d

NEW Post: When ChatGPT Calls Me Evil, I Know I’m Winning
fawnnguyen.substack.com/p/when-chatg...

HT to @mathforlove.bsky.social for the fun riddle!

When ChatGPT Calls Me Evil, I Know I’m Winning

What AI’s math failures can teach us about teaching math

fawnnguyen.substack.com

2 1 16

Fawn Nguyen @fawnnguyen.substack.com · 14d

You go, Matt! Bravo! And thank you for sharing.

Reposted by Fawn Nguyen

Matt Schaeffer @mschaefferedu.bsky.social · 26d

Also wanted to start strong on Thinking Classrooms (@pgliljedahl.bsky.social) work after some struggles last year. Very grateful for @fawnnguyen.substack.com's piece on giving yourself permission to go off-script. Kids especially enjoyed the Chicken Nugget Task and showed so much thinking! 3/3

A classroom whiteboard with the numbers 6, 9, and 20 written in large font across the top. The board is filled with multiplication expressions, starting with the multiples of 6, then multiples of 9, then multiples of 20.

1 1 2

Fawn Nguyen @fawnnguyen.substack.com · 14d

Wow. This is amazing, Maegan. Thank you so much for sharing! Those desks are fancy.

1

Reposted by Fawn Nguyen

Maegan Giroux @maegangiroux.bsky.social · 23d

Visual Patterns 🤝 Pattern Blocks
I am currently OBSESSED, in a (mostly) healthy way, with @fawnnguyen.substack.com visual patterns and @mathforlove.bsky.social pattern blocks for kids to learn and create patterns. Ah-may-zing. Also, I am in LOVE with Mary Vail's Thinking Desks, they are phenomenal!

2 4 10

Fawn Nguyen @fawnnguyen.substack.com · 14d

NEW post: Don't Forget to Kube Bake
fawnnguyen.substack.com/p/dont-forge...

Don't Forget to Kube Bake

Remembering Don Steward and staying connected to classroom reality

fawnnguyen.substack.com

2 2 11

Fawn Nguyen @fawnnguyen.substack.com · 29d

NEW Post: When ChatGPT Calls Me Evil, I Know I’m Winning
fawnnguyen.substack.com/p/when-chatg...

HT to @mathforlove.bsky.social for the fun riddle!

When ChatGPT Calls Me Evil, I Know I’m Winning

What AI’s math failures can teach us about teaching math

fawnnguyen.substack.com

1 3 15

Reposted by Fawn Nguyen

Maria D. at Natural Math @maria-naturalmath.bsky.social · Sep 6

Sophia (gr. 6) worked with VisualPatterns.org and wrote quirky and neat stories about each of her own two-color growing patterns. She also obtained recursive and closed formulas. Happy upcoming #MathStorytellingDay to @fawnnguyen.substack.com! naturalmath.com/2025/04/a-he... #iTeachMath #MathSky

A Heart That Continually Grows Forever or Infinitely - Natural Math

By Sophia Zhanissov (grade 6) and Maria Droujkova Some math activities are so rich in mathematical connections, inspirations, and energy! If mathematical routines were people, Growing Patterns would b...

naturalmath.com

2 12

Reposted by Fawn Nguyen

Adrienne Hestenes @ahestenes.bsky.social · Aug 29

Pullback cars must mean it’s time for Vroom Vroom ala @fawnnguyen.substack.com . Reviewing linear regressions was never so fun.

#iTeachMath #Algebra2

Three boxes of 3inch long pullback car toys, ready for students. My favorite are the pink and red mini coopers with the Union Jack on the roof, followed closely by the Volkswagen buses. Roughly 30 toy cars can be seen of various styles.

1 3

Fawn Nguyen @fawnnguyen.substack.com · Sep 9

Check out how Mr. Stadel starts Day 1 (you can start this on Day 16; it's never too late). Love the setup to begin a "low-risk high-trust" math class!

Andrew Stadel @astadel.bsky.social · Sep 6

Never tell an answer.
Classroom mantra #1 my students learn on Day 1 thanks to @fawnnguyen.substack.com
#mtbos #iteachmath

Here’s how I start the school year.
www.andrewstadel.com/blog/start-t...

How I Start The School Year - Part 1

Andrew Stadel shares how he starts the school year. In Part 1, there are two classroom mantras, 5 activities, and an introduction to the Thinking Classroom. More in Part 2.

www.andrewstadel.com

1 2

Fawn Nguyen @fawnnguyen.substack.com · Aug 27

NEW Post: The Problem Wasn't Order of Operations

open.substack.com/pub/fawnnguy...

The Problem Wasn’t Order of Operations

When division doesn't play nice—and kids don't know what to do

open.substack.com

1 6

Fawn Nguyen @fawnnguyen.substack.com · Aug 27

Heya! Will you be attending NCTM Annual? Join us for @Amplify 𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗮 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 on 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝟲, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 | 𝟲–𝟵 𝗽.𝗺. 𝗘𝗧! Bring a friend or two or ten.

𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲!
go.info.amplify.com/fy25_amplify...

Amplify Arcade and Trivia Night!

Heading to NCTM? Win prizes, mingle with math teachers, and maybe even bring home the new trivia champ title at our annual Amplify Arcade and Trivia Night on Oct. 16, 2025!

go.info.amplify.com

Fawn Nguyen @fawnnguyen.substack.com · Aug 20

Thinking of all the teachers starting the school year soon!
I wrote these posts 4 & 8 years ago. Most of what I said still holds true (the rest was me being dramatic or wrong).
Wishing you a great start!

👉 fawnnguyen.substack.com/p/7-deadly-s...
👉 fawnnguyen.substack.com/p/dear-new-t...

7 Deadly Sins of Teaching [Maths]

Originally posted August 24, 2017

fawnnguyen.substack.com

1 7

Fawn Nguyen @fawnnguyen.substack.com · Aug 13

Thank you so much, Nick. I'd be honored to guest teach in your room.

2

Fawn Nguyen @fawnnguyen.substack.com · Aug 12

NEW post: They Were Here the Whole Time
fawnnguyen.substack.com/p/they-were-...

They Were Here the Whole Time

The quiet power of starting fresh every day

fawnnguyen.substack.com

1 2 8