Teacher Talk (entire series)

Good Morning Miss Toliver, the landmark half-hour documentary about inner-city mathematics teacher Kay Toliver, has inspired tens of thousands of teachers to try out new teaching strategies based on the philosophy that all children can master mathematics. But, though it is used in many school districts in the U.S. as a valued staff development resource, its 30-minute documentary format made it infeasible for Good Morning Miss Toliver to do more than highlight some of Kay Toliver's wonderful lessons.

That's why the producer of Good Morning Miss Toliver, FASE Productions, created the Teacher Talk set. Drawn from classroom footage that was not able to be included in Good Morning Miss Toliver, this comprehensive staff development resource shows teachers exactly how to design and deliver inspiring and effective lessons that develop a thorough understanding of concepts and get students to practice their skills while having the time of their lives!

Watch a clip from Teacher Talk:

Hands-On Math - Ms. Toliver describes and demonstrates a "hands-on" approach to mathematics instruction, and strategies to get students actively involved in their classwork. Interviews with Ms. Toliver and her students offer insights into subjects ranging from teamwork and planning to the need for rules in the classroom.

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Mathematics and Communication - Ms. Toliver discusses and demonstrates the uses of speaking and writing as tools to develop-and assess-student understanding of math concepts. Other topics addressed include approaches to clarifying basic concepts and terms, and ways to create an atmosphere in which students can communicate freely.

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Oobleck - "Oobleck" (from the Dr. Seuss book "Bartholomew and the Oobleck") is the focal point of a lesson that combines literature, science and imagination. Ms. Toliver and her students demonstrate how motivation to learn math concepts can result from strategies that encourage creativity and curiosity.

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The Math Trail - The "math trail" awakens students to the mathematics that abounds in every day life. Using concepts from their math curriculum, students create books of problems based on objects and events in their environment. At the end of the trail, students understand more about their curriculum and their community.