Math Routines are Magical! Until They Are Not

February 24, 2027 17:30 -

Math Routines are Magical, Until They Aren’t: Troubleshooting Common Challenges with Math Routines Many curriculums and districts encourage the use of routines such as Math Talks, Which One Doesn’t Belong, Number Strings, Notice/Wonder etc. You see students sharing multiple strategies or those “aha!” moments. But there can be challenges. From students refusing to share, to no one understanding what to do, to finding resources, to a 10-minute routine turning into a boring 30 minutes, I’ve been there! This session will explore what can go wrong with routines and strategies to help it go right!

Annie Forest has spent 23 years in education, including 13 years in the classroom, an experience that continues to shape her work and perspective. A National Board Certified Teacher and Desmos Fellow, she received the 2014 ICTM Award for Middle School Teaching. She has served as an instructional coach and district math coordinator, supporting schools and teachers in rethinking how mathematics is taught, learned, and experienced by students. She is a former director and president of the Illinois Council of Teachers of Mathematics, where she worked to advance meaningful mathematics learning across the state. When her 3 kids ask her what she does for work, Annie explains that now she is a “teacher for teachers” as she is working in districts as a math consultant and at North Central College as an adjunct professor. Annie is especially passionate about helping teachers with instruction that centers sense-making, access, and joy in mathematics.

Annie Forrest