Jessica Humble-Crofts & Silvia Semana

Unleashing Conceptual Understanding: A Middle School Mathematics Classroom in Action

Jessica is an Education Coach & consultant

Silvia is CIS Coordinator and Quality Assurance Lead at the International School of the Hague

Workshop Information:

Join this interactive session where you'll step into a middle school mathematics classroom as a learner and experience the power of concept-based inquiry in action! 

This session will show how rich inquiry questions, grounded in deep conceptual connections, can spark curiosity, deepen understanding, and shift the cognitive focus from the teacher to the learner. 

It provides educators with strategies to empower students to think like mathematicians, fostering greater ownership and agency for the learner. 

Participants will engage in mathematical reasoning and problem-solving through the use of manipulatives, visual representations, and collaborative discourse.

Following the model lesson, we will debrief the pedagogical choices made, exploring how concept-based inquiry empowers both students and educators. 

Whether you're new to inquiry or looking to refine your practice, this session offers practical tools and powerful insights to transform your middle school mathematics classroom into a space of empowered thinking!

Session Outcomes:

• Learn how to use inquiry questions to drive learning towards deep conceptual understanding and foster pattern-seeking and meaning-making.

• Discover strategies to shift the cognitive load from teacher to student, using collaboration and discourse to build agency, autonomy, and confidence.

• Experience how manipulatives, visual models, and multiple representations help all students engage with complex ideas and construct meaningful mathematical understanding.

Biography:

Jessica Humble-Crofts is an experienced international educator, consultant, and coach who works with educators worldwide to develop innovative Concept-Based curricula.  As a certified independent Erickson and Lanning Concept-Based Curriculum and Instruction Trainer, Jessica has led workshops worldwide, presented keynotes, and facilitated a global professional learning community to cultivate best practices in Concept-Based Inquiry. She is one of the lead curriculum developers for The CBI Mathematics Project and has been involved in its development, implementation, professional development, and support. Jessica is the science specialist for the CBCI Institute and has successfully developed and led several professional development courses for Professional Learning International. Leaning on her extensive classroom experience in both middle and high school, Jessica is passionate about designing transformative learning experiences in the classroom.

Dr. Silvia Semana is an experienced international educator and leader specialising in formative assessment, concept-based inquiry, and innovative teaching practices. Currently serving as CIS Coordinator, she will transition into the role of Quality Assurance Lead for Teaching and Learning at the International School of The Hague – Secondary Division. In this capacity, she drives strategic initiatives in school improvement, student agency, and professional learning. Holding a PhD in Education, her research focused on teaching practices that support students’ self-regulation of learning. This foundational work continuously informs her approach to embedding formative assessment and concept-based inquiry across the curriculum.