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The New 3Rs Academic Transformation

The Right Systems, The Right Resources, The Right People

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Pedagogical Reflection – The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
It is one of the primary functions of the campus administration’s job to support classroom teachers in improving core instruction and...
by Blaine Helwig
Oct 21, 20173 min read


How Long Until I am Good at this Teaching Gig?
New teachers struggle in the classroom. We all did. When I started, I expected to be much better at teaching kids, and I was 32 years old...
by Blaine Helwig
Oct 17, 20173 min read


Math Test Stamina Issues – Numeracy to the Rescue!
“My fifth graders can’t do 35 to 40 word problems in 4 hours! How can the State Education Agency expect any 10 year old to finish a math...
by Blaine Helwig
Oct 13, 20173 min read


Kinesthetic Vocabulary Learning – Math and Science Block
Prior to reading this short blog, it is recommended the educator read the October 2nd posted blog entitled: Kinesthetic Vocabulary...
by Blaine Helwig
Oct 6, 20174 min read


Kinesthetic Vocabulary Learning – Language Arts Block
Title 1 elementary students are experiencing difficulty with the most common, high frequency English words, and educators are trying to...
by Blaine Helwig
Oct 2, 20174 min read


What are the Benefits of Stop-Gap Resources?
I am of the belief that Title 1 academic education reformation involving high percentages of students classified as economically...
by Blaine Helwig
Sep 28, 20172 min read


What Are "Stop-Gap Resources?"
‘Stop-Gap Resources’ are a moniker that I believe accurately describes their function when used in Title 1 schools or with students...
by Blaine Helwig
Sep 14, 20173 min read


Beginning Teachers: When and When Not to Use Tactile Math Manipulatives
As discussed in an earlier blog, “Manipulatives, Pictorial Representation – then, Paper/Pencil,” arithmetic instructional design and...
by Blaine Helwig
Sep 5, 20173 min read


Manipulatives, Pictorial Representation – then, Paper/Pencil
Generally speaking, arithmetic instructional design and student learning should always follow a structured process: tactile, pictorial...
by Blaine Helwig
Aug 31, 20172 min read


General Algorithm Power is the Mathematical King
Students must memorize certain basic mathematics information. It cannot be avoided. But, elementary teachers must understand what kids...
by Blaine Helwig
Aug 22, 20173 min read


Professional Reflection – Apprentice to Master Teacher
Time passes quickly. No argument there. I graduated from high school about 35 years ago, and although it does not seem like yesterday,...
by Blaine Helwig
Aug 20, 20173 min read


Classroom Relationship Building – Bridging the Divide of Trust is Paramount!
If several human beings are involved in a common task and a successful outcome is to follow, positive interactions are of paramount...
by Blaine Helwig
Aug 16, 20173 min read


When 15 minutes is Lost, It is Expensive!
A paramount issue in any professional field is identifying key factors that highly influence performance outcomes. In public education,...
by Blaine Helwig
Aug 8, 20173 min read


Subtraction Facts – Elementary Students’ Math Fact Nemesis
God created the Earth in six days and rested on the seventh. While God was resting, the devil created subtraction facts. And, to most...
by Blaine Helwig
Jul 31, 20172 min read


Repetition and Practice – Necessary to Student Learning and Mastery
For all practice purposes, repetition is practice and vice versa; they are synonyms. Mastery of any subject or task requires that we...
by Blaine Helwig
Jul 25, 20173 min read


Decimal Place Value and Value – Use the Point
A frustrating math moment I remember as a ten year old is decimal numbers and understanding both place value and value of the digits...
by Blaine Helwig
Jul 18, 20173 min read


Student Math Skill Mastery - Spaced Repetition Instruction
Teaching preparation revolves around daily lesson plans – a structured instructional approach to ensure the teacher is ready for the...
by Blaine Helwig
Jul 9, 20173 min read


Classroom Failures are Informative
I have never met a person in over half a century that has done poorly on a task and felt good about it – absolutely satisfied with the...
by Blaine Helwig
Jul 7, 20173 min read


Spaced Repetition! A Game Changer in Student Learning
This short passage should have a different title than ‘spaced repetition.’ A more appropriate title may be ‘Elusive Obvious in Learning.’...
by Blaine Helwig
Jul 3, 20172 min read


Learning and Growth – In Small Chunks
About 30 years ago, I read a short book called, “The One Minute Manager” by Kenneth Blanchard. I was intrigued at the author’s Shamu...
by Blaine Helwig
Jun 22, 20173 min read
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