This past May and June, SEEC professional learning specialists Brandie Ulland and Ryan Lyson partnered with Jamestown Public Schools to deliver training focused on the Features of Effective Math Instruction. Educators engaged in hands-on sessions designed to strengthen classroom practice and build alignment with current standards. As part of the professional learning, teachers participated in a curriculum writing day. Their work included creating a year-long plan that integrates spaced learning over time and interleaved practice, helping students build fluency and deepen retention. Elementary educators also focused on making the most of Everyday Mathematics math boxes, ensuring these resources are used with greater intentionality to reinforce key skills.
To extend the impact of the training and to reflect on how the features of effective math instruction support a systems-wide approach to student success, district and building level leaders participated in walkthroughs across the district. The purpose of these learning walks were designed to collaboratively observe, reflect on, and strengthen evidence-based math instruction so that all students experience consistent, high-quality teaching that leads to improved learning outcomes.
Focus Areas for Observation:
· Explicit Instruction – begins with review, clear modeling, and planned examples.
· Guided & Independent Practice – scaffolded release to student ownership.
· Reflection – opportunities for students to process and self-monitor.
· Student Engagement – multiple opportunities to respond and actively participate.
· Teacher Feedback – timely, specific, and actionable.
· Instructional Pacing – maintaining a brisk yet responsive pace.
· Vocabulary Use – intentional and explicit academic math language.
· Concrete–Representational–Abstract (CRA) Modeling – making learning accessible and transferable.
· Fluency Building – structured practice to strengthen automaticity.
· Systematic Review – spaced or interleaved practice to deepen retention.
Through this professional learning series, Jamestown educators not only strengthened their instructional toolkit but also laid the groundwork for more consistent, intentional, and standards-aligned math learning experiences for students.
- Ryan Lyson, SEEC School Improvement & Math Specialist