Interviews One-on-One Archives - MARILYN BURNS MATH

Decimals Fractions General Interest Interviews One-on-One Number and Operations Numerical Reasoning

How Was Amber Reasoning?

The fifth-grade class I’m working with this year is studying addition and subtraction of fractions, and I asked to “borrow” the class to see how they would view Amber’s solution. I describe how I structured the lesson and have also included students’ writing.

Marilyn BurnsDecember 14, 2024

General Interest Interviews One-on-One Listening to Learn Number and Operations Numerical Reasoning

What’s the Difference Between a Number Talk and a Lesson?

This is a question that I’ve thought about for a while. It seems that I embrace the same pedagogical approach with both, but I know there are differences. I think I have some clarity now. Read on.

Marilyn BurnsJune 5, 2023

Addition Assessment General Interest Interviews One-on-One Listening to Learn Mental Math Number and Operations Numerical Reasoning

What Were Meeyah & Rocco Thinking?

During a Listening to Learn interview, when asked to figure out mentally the missing number in the problem 90 – ___ = 75, Meeyah and Rocco explained their reasoning in different ways. Listen to how they thought and how I used these two videos for a class lesson.

adminMarch 12, 2023

Fractions General Interest Interviews One-on-One Listening to Learn Numerical Reasoning Videos

What Was Adrian Thinking?

When asked in a Listening to Learn interview which fraction was greater, it was clear to Adrian that 5/6 was greater than 1/4. His explanation, however, was anything but clear. Listen to Adrian reason and learn how I used this video in a class lesson.

Marilyn BurnsFebruary 19, 2023

Addition Assessment General Interest Interviews One-on-One Listening to Learn Number and Operations Numerical Reasoning Subtraction Videos

What Was Rebecca Thinking?

Rebecca solved 7 – 3 by adding, demonstrating the important numerical reasoning strategy of applying the inverse relationship between addition and subtraction. Read about what happened when I used the video clip of Rebecca in a class lesson.

Marilyn BurnsApril 10, 2022

General Interest Interviews One-on-One Listening to Learn Mental Math Multiplication Number and Operations Numerical Reasoning Silent Math

What Was Nathan Thinking?

In a Listening to Learn interview, Nathan knew from memory that 6 x 5 equals 30. He explained to Rusty Bresser, "So, 6 divided by 2 equals 3, and you just add a zero behind it." Here's a suggestion for using that video clip in a lesson and what happened in two different classes.

Marilyn BurnsFebruary 22, 2022

Addition Do The Math General Interest Interviews One-on-One Listening to Learn Math and Literature Number and Operations Numerical Reasoning Place Value

A Children’s Book, Differentiating Math Instruction, and More

I love incorporating children’s books into math lessons. Since most of my teaching focuses on math, it’s a treat for me to read a book aloud to a class. After the students have a chance to enjoy the story and respond to the illustrations, then I use the book as a springboard for a math lesson.

Marilyn BurnsAugust 31, 2021

General Interest Interviews One-on-One Listening to Learn Number and Operations Numerical Reasoning

How We Begin the School Year Is More Important Than Ever

Over the years, I’ve collaborated with Lynne Zolli and Patty Clark on a variety of math education projects. For this blog, we worked together to share our thinking about how Listening to Learn math interviews can serve teachers and students.

Marilyn BurnsAugust 16, 2021

Assessment General Interest Interviews One-on-One Listening to Learn Mental Math Numerical Reasoning

Nine Ways to Have Deeper Conversations with Students about Math

David Brooks wrote an opinion column in The New York Times on November 19, 2020, “Nine Nonobvious Ways to Have Deeper Conversations.” K–5 math wasn’t his focus or even hinted at in his message, but his suggestions jumped out at me as useful and important for connecting with students.

Marilyn BurnsJune 8, 2021

General Interest Interviews One-on-One Listening to Learn Place Value

How I Got Hooked on One-on-One Math Interviews

Yes, that’s a photo of me, taken about 30 years ago when I was conducting my first ever math interview. That was an extraordinary experience. It dramatically shifted my professional focus and, after all these years, has finally resulted in Listening to Learn, a digital interview tool to help K–5 teachers learn about how their students reason.

Marilyn BurnsMay 25, 2021

Interviews One-on-One