For the past 8 years, we have been working together to improve student number sense through incorporating spatial thinking into the daily routines and structures of the class. We dove into the research and implemented ideas over many years within a Grade 1 class, noticing huge differences in student interest, ability, deep learning and transfer.
This website has been created as a space of reflection of our ongoing journey in the hopes that something here might inspire you to question, reflect, try new ideas or explore this area more deeply. It is organized so that you can choose the pieces that fit into your own educational context and learning needs and references the 2022 Alberta Math Curriculum. Any resources or ideas presented are ones we have found to be impactful - some are available free of charge online, while others are texts that can been purchased. Please note that we do not receive any renumeration for recommending or highlighting any resource or site.
"Shifting to an integrated visual spatial focus has been the single best instructional move I've made in my career to
improve student mathematical thinking."
Lisa, Grade 1 teacher for over 25 years
Overview of this Website
The Benefits of Spatial Reasoning
Quick Links within Our Site
These links can also be found using the tabs at the top of the website
Planning: Research
Where to Start: Foundational Questions
Where to Start: Growth Mindset
Where to Start: Multiple Entry Points
Where to Start:
Guiding Questions
Planning: Timetabling and Long Term Planning
Planning: Class Set-up
Planning: Materials
Routines and Resources: Math Tubs
Routines and Resources: Ready to Use Tasks
Routines and Resources:
Student Collected Data