Sue O'Connell
@sueoconnellmath.bsky.social
Author and K-5 Math Consultant; Lead author of Math in Practice & Math by the Book (Heinemann); Developer of Navigating Numeracy Center Kits (hand2Mind); Director of Quality Teacher Development LLC www.qualityteacherdevelopment.com
Reposted by Sue O'Connell
Join #ElemMathChat on 2/5/25 at 8 pm CST / 9 pm EST with Kim Rimbey @kimrimbey.bsky.social We will explore Seeing the Math You Teach and how strong visuals help students truly see and understand the math. Because when YOU see it, THEY do too.
#ITeachMath #MTBoS #ElemMathChat
#ITeachMath #MTBoS #ElemMathChat
February 4, 2026 at 7:12 PM
Join #ElemMathChat on 2/5/25 at 8 pm CST / 9 pm EST with Kim Rimbey @kimrimbey.bsky.social We will explore Seeing the Math You Teach and how strong visuals help students truly see and understand the math. Because when YOU see it, THEY do too.
#ITeachMath #MTBoS #ElemMathChat
#ITeachMath #MTBoS #ElemMathChat
Reposted by Sue O'Connell
So many serious and more important things going on, but our bit of math and art silliness, AL, Logical, a mathy graphic novel goes live on Kickstarter on Wednesday. If you can help us spread the word then, we'd love it. #mathart #mathstory
February 1, 2026 at 6:14 PM
So many serious and more important things going on, but our bit of math and art silliness, AL, Logical, a mathy graphic novel goes live on Kickstarter on Wednesday. If you can help us spread the word then, we'd love it. #mathart #mathstory
Good night, everyone! Stay warm! #elemmathchat
January 30, 2026 at 3:02 AM
Good night, everyone! Stay warm! #elemmathchat
A9 I love those types of questions, too. What do you know now? What do you still have questions about? What was easy or hard about this task (that can be eye-opening)! #elemmathchat
A9: I love answers kids give to questions like: What made you feel confident/powerful today? What was frustrating? What’s one thing you learned? Who taught you something important today? What are you wondering about the math? Or - just tell me what you’re thinking about math today! #elemmathchat
Q9 How might written reflections deepen learning? What would you have students record? Do you do this? If so, share your experiences. #elemmathchat
January 30, 2026 at 3:01 AM
A9 I love those types of questions, too. What do you know now? What do you still have questions about? What was easy or hard about this task (that can be eye-opening)! #elemmathchat
#elemmathchat That is the quickest hour ever!!! Thanks for joining. Wish we had more time to chat.
January 30, 2026 at 2:59 AM
#elemmathchat That is the quickest hour ever!!! Thanks for joining. Wish we had more time to chat.
Thanks so much for joining #elemmathchat this evening! I appreciate you sharing your ideas! FYI - Many of the tasks I shared come from Navigating Numeracy Learning Progression Centers (hand2mind). If you want to find out more, visit my Math in Practice/Sue O'Connell Facebook group.
January 30, 2026 at 2:59 AM
Thanks so much for joining #elemmathchat this evening! I appreciate you sharing your ideas! FYI - Many of the tasks I shared come from Navigating Numeracy Learning Progression Centers (hand2mind). If you want to find out more, visit my Math in Practice/Sue O'Connell Facebook group.
A9 I am a big fan of having kids write summaries and reflections. We learn when we reflect on what we've done. #elemmathchat
Q9 How might written reflections deepen learning? What would you have students record? Do you do this? If so, share your experiences. #elemmathchat
January 30, 2026 at 2:55 AM
A9 I am a big fan of having kids write summaries and reflections. We learn when we reflect on what we've done. #elemmathchat
Q9 How might written reflections deepen learning? What would you have students record? Do you do this? If so, share your experiences. #elemmathchat
January 30, 2026 at 2:53 AM
Q9 How might written reflections deepen learning? What would you have students record? Do you do this? If so, share your experiences. #elemmathchat
A8 A centers tip: to do a thorough introduction before sending kids to centers otherwide there's too much off-task behavior and kids not doing what you intended. Role play what they should do. #elemmathchat
January 30, 2026 at 2:51 AM
A8 A centers tip: to do a thorough introduction before sending kids to centers otherwide there's too much off-task behavior and kids not doing what you intended. Role play what they should do. #elemmathchat
Q8 Centers can be a great way to organize interactive practice tasks. What tips do you have for teachers who want to introduce math centers? #elemmathchat
January 30, 2026 at 2:47 AM
Q8 Centers can be a great way to organize interactive practice tasks. What tips do you have for teachers who want to introduce math centers? #elemmathchat
Q7 Is it important for students to have opportunities to practice the current skill and to revisit previously-taught skills? How do you achieve that balance in your practice tasks? #elemmathchat
January 30, 2026 at 2:42 AM
Q7 Is it important for students to have opportunities to practice the current skill and to revisit previously-taught skills? How do you achieve that balance in your practice tasks? #elemmathchat
A5 Strike Out is one of my favorite games for rounding. It offers a visual model (number line) to support thinking, and once students have crossed out some of the balls they really have to consider what 3-digit number to create with their rolls. Requires and develops number sense! #elemmathchat
January 30, 2026 at 2:37 AM
A5 Strike Out is one of my favorite games for rounding. It offers a visual model (number line) to support thinking, and once students have crossed out some of the balls they really have to consider what 3-digit number to create with their rolls. Requires and develops number sense! #elemmathchat
Q6 How might you modify this task for different levels of learners? #elemmathchat
January 30, 2026 at 2:36 AM
Q6 How might you modify this task for different levels of learners? #elemmathchat
A4 I see both as valuable in different ways. The grid is about understand the multiplication by drawing models. If they don't know the facts, they can solve them with the models. The bingo game is about fluency through repetition. Both understanding and fluency are important. #elemmathchat
January 30, 2026 at 2:30 AM
A4 I see both as valuable in different ways. The grid is about understand the multiplication by drawing models. If they don't know the facts, they can solve them with the models. The bingo game is about fluency through repetition. Both understanding and fluency are important. #elemmathchat
Q5 What is the goal of the worksheet? What is the goal of the game? What features in the game might help develop conceptual understanding or challenge students' thinking? #elemmathchat
January 30, 2026 at 2:30 AM
Q5 What is the goal of the worksheet? What is the goal of the game? What features in the game might help develop conceptual understanding or challenge students' thinking? #elemmathchat
Q4 Both of these practice tasks focus on fact fluency. How are they alike and different? #elemmathchat
January 30, 2026 at 2:24 AM
Q4 Both of these practice tasks focus on fact fluency. How are they alike and different? #elemmathchat
A3 And it's okay for kids to explore for practice. Often they n eed more time to explore, model, talk... It doesn't have to be about an answer. #elemmathchat
A3 The layout alone makes this so much better. It gives the message, here is a place for you to figure out the math however you need to- draw a picture, make an array........ plus the rolling of the dice - the movement and time allowed makes this much more inviting and engaging! #ElemMathChat
January 30, 2026 at 2:21 AM
A3 And it's okay for kids to explore for practice. Often they n eed more time to explore, model, talk... It doesn't have to be about an answer. #elemmathchat
A2 If we look at them and don't want to do them, you know our students are feeling that, too. #elemmathchat
A2 I absolutly do not like worksheets. They are usually naked number problems that remove the math from the application. They are about answer getting and nothing fun about math!!!!!!!!!! Usually there are way to many problems. I don't want to do them. Why would I make kids do them? #ElemMathChat
January 30, 2026 at 2:17 AM
A2 If we look at them and don't want to do them, you know our students are feeling that, too. #elemmathchat
A2 I think worksheets like the ones I posted send a message to students that it is all about answers and repetition (memorization of process). Not all worksheets give a negative feeling, but many do! #elemmathchat
January 30, 2026 at 2:16 AM
A2 I think worksheets like the ones I posted send a message to students that it is all about answers and repetition (memorization of process). Not all worksheets give a negative feeling, but many do! #elemmathchat
Q3 How is this task different from a worksheet? Who might benefit from this type of exploration? Not all practice has to be a game, but could you modify it to make it a game? How? #elemmathchat
January 30, 2026 at 2:16 AM
Q3 How is this task different from a worksheet? Who might benefit from this type of exploration? Not all practice has to be a game, but could you modify it to make it a game? How? #elemmathchat
Yes, would love to see it, Courtney. Don't forget to include #elemmathchat
I like to encourage teachers to use whatever worksheets that have found as a starting point. I write a whole blog post on this once. I should find it!
January 30, 2026 at 2:14 AM
Yes, would love to see it, Courtney. Don't forget to include #elemmathchat
Reposted by Sue O'Connell
Hi! I always think about encouraging teachers to use the practice task to apply with a nudge. Like what can the task do to move them forward a little and *use* what they learned rather than practice what they learned?
January 30, 2026 at 2:12 AM
Hi! I always think about encouraging teachers to use the practice task to apply with a nudge. Like what can the task do to move them forward a little and *use* what they learned rather than practice what they learned?
Q2 What is the most commonly-assigned math practice task? Yes - worksheets! Are they our best option? Benefits? Drawbacks? #elemmathchat
January 30, 2026 at 2:11 AM
Q2 What is the most commonly-assigned math practice task? Yes - worksheets! Are they our best option? Benefits? Drawbacks? #elemmathchat
A1 It could be repetition for recall, but hopefully it is more than that. Pushing students' thinking, allowing them to explore a concept more deeply... #elemmathchat
January 30, 2026 at 2:10 AM
A1 It could be repetition for recall, but hopefully it is more than that. Pushing students' thinking, allowing them to explore a concept more deeply... #elemmathchat
A1 I think we sometimes just assign practice tasks because we feel like we should, but we should have a good reason to assign it (other than busy work). #elemmathchat
January 30, 2026 at 2:08 AM
A1 I think we sometimes just assign practice tasks because we feel like we should, but we should have a good reason to assign it (other than busy work). #elemmathchat